- Crusoe
Origin:
Literary surnameDescription:
Crusoe, as in castaway hero Robinson, is a literary invention by author Daniel Defoe. The character says his name is an Anglicization of the German Kreutznaer, which may be a place name or mean a crossing of the river Nahe. Short form Cru was given to nearly 50 boys in a recent year.
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- Artemio
Origin:
Spanish variation of ArtemisDescription:
Artemio gives energy to this august Greek mythological name.
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- Ephron
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"fawn-like"Description:
Ephron was the Old Testament son of Zohar who sold his field and cave to Abraham to use as a family burial ground. Ephron is also a Biblical place-name, a mountain range that formed the northern border of the land of Judah.
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- Ornette
Origin:
Musical nameDescription:
Long associated with jazz great Ornette Coleman, this name's main problem is that almost all other ette-ending names -- from Annette to Paulette -- are unequivocally feminine.
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- Kaito
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"man, person"Description:
A Japanese name with a great meaning, a cool Kai sound, and lots of potential to become an international export.
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- Iggy
Origin:
Latin, diminutive of IgnatiusMeaning:
"fiery"Description:
Iggy is the quintessential pop star name, though it's the nickname Cate Blanchett uses for son Ignatius. Iggy does bring any grander-sounding name down to earth.
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- Ultan
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"man from Ulster"Description:
This name of eighteen Irish saints of the past is relatively popular in Ireland, though little known outside it.
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- Dodge
Origin:
English, diminutive of RogerDescription:
This old short form is more than a little dodgy now. In a recent film, Steve Carell's character is named Dodge, seen by one critic as symbolizing his risk-averse personality.
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- Jowan
Origin:
Cornish form of JohnDescription:
A rare but appealing and accessible member of the John family. It sees steady low-key use in England.
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- Quest
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"seek; mission"Description:
Cool new Q-starting possibility which suggests a sense of curiosity and purpose.
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- Faulkner
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"falconer"Description:
Faulkner is an old occupational surname that was used for someone who kept and trained falcons when falconry was a popular sport in medieval Europe. Anyone using it in contemporary America would probably be honoring Southern novelist William Faulkner. While we love the author, Falconer would probably be a slightly easier name to carry on the playground.
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- Vero
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"true"Description:
The o ending and the positive meaning in many languages makes this a winner, and with the feminine Vera making a surprise return, and the new love for the letter 'V', this becomes a name that has definite possibilities.
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- Carver
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"wood carver"Description:
Carver is an occupational name with an artistic bent, as is the newly arrived Painter, which has a fresher feel than the 1990's Carter. It also has eminent last-name links to botanist and educator George Washington Carver and short story master Raymond Carver.
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- Orsino
Origin:
Italian variation of OrsonMeaning:
"bearlike"Description:
Orson is being rediscovered and Orsino is every bit as attractive.
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- Fern
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"plant name"Description:
A fresh, green, rising nature name for girls that would make a cool possibility for a baby boy as well. It has ranked in the US Top 1000 for boys a handful of times since naming records began.
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- Alakai
Origin:
HawaiianMeaning:
"leader"Description:
Alakai is an Anglicization of Alaka’i, a Hawaiian name meaning "leader". However, some parents are using it as more of an invented name, as a variation of Malakai.
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- Didier
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"desired, beloved"Description:
Didier is kind of a Desiree for boy--a lively, confident name that's widely used in France and has definite possibilities here. It's the name of an early French saint.
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- Arledge
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"dweller at the rabbit lake"Description:
Stiff and formal surname. Try Roone instead.
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- Mauro
Origin:
Spanish and ItalianMeaning:
"moorish"Description:
Mauro, a Top 100 name in Spain and Puerto Rico, is etymologically unrelated to the girls' name Maura, but that won't stop many English speakers from drawing the comparison.
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- Zephaniah
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"God has hidden"Description:
A minor prophet who has his own Book, Zephaniah is another Old Testament gem waiting to be rediscovered now that Noah and Abraham are becoming too trendy. The vowel-sound ending of Zephaniah is currently band on trend, along with other Biblical boys' names with softer sounds – think Elijah, Asher and Isaiah. Zephaniah would make a perfect lesser-used alternative to Zachariah.
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