Lately I’ve been thinking about boys’ names that feel traditional but seem stuck in style limbo: Randall, Marshall, Alan and Allen, Curtis, Wayne, Eugene, Clayton, Philip, Gerald, Vincent, Bradley. Some of these names strike me as rather handsome and underused—names we may be overlooking for no good reason. Others feel clearly out of step for a baby today. My reactions are partly shaped by usage and trends, and partly by personal taste. What feels wearable to one person can feel dated or quirky to another, and opinions shift over time.
One striking thing about name trends is how quickly tastes can change. A name that seemed to be fading can suddenly surge in popularity again. For example, Alfred had been declining for decades, yet it climbed 161 places in 2014. Clyde disappeared from the Top 1000 in the 1990s but returned and jumped 191 places in a single year. Other notable gainers included Harvey (up 122 places), Clark (up 75 places), and Lionel (up 73 places). Those kinds of rebounds show that names don’t always follow a straight path toward obscurity once they begin to fall out of favor.
Girls’ names also move through trends, of course. But I wonder whether people tend to be more hesitant about reviving vintage boys’ names. Are we more cautious when choosing a classic male name that might sound old-fashioned? I’m not sure—maybe it’s cultural, maybe it’s generational—but I’d love to hear your thoughts on whether we’re slower to reclaim older boys’ names than older girls’ names.
Below are some interesting pieces I’ve come across recently that explore creativity, revival, and the wide variety of naming choices people are making today. I’m sharing the highlights and a few personal reactions to some of the lists and posts I read.
- The Art of Naming — a list titled “Whimsical Names for Baby Boys” that features names like Fielding, Tolliver, Dempsey, Tennyson, Wiley, Caldwell, Gable, and Rafe. Some of those feel more adventurous than whimsical to me; others—Atreyu, Feivel, Seven, Quill, Timber—clearly lean toward the fanciful end of the spectrum. I tend to be drawn to the more conservative options on that list, while appreciating the creativity behind the bolder picks.
- The Beauty of Names — a post sharing “guilty pleasure” names. It’s the kind of list that makes you hesitate and smile at the same time: so many intriguing possibilities and so many different tastes represented that it’s hard to pick favorites.
- Grantland shout-out — a mention on Grantland asking whether names like Beauregard work for babies. I’m a fan of Beau, and Beauregard earns a cautious “maybe” in my book: it has character and history, but it also feels distinctive enough to inspire strong opinions.
- A list of youth hockey player names — a roundup showing popular modern variants for boys: Paycen, Calen, Jett, Kaid, Brevin, and many Coles and Chases. It’s a reminder that names common among today’s kids will, in a few decades, be perceived as the older generation’s names—grandpa names to future parents—showing the cyclical nature of naming trends.
- Victorian era oddities — a collection of unusual names from 1868, including Krensenz, Secret, Asia, and Capriella. That historical perspective shows that inventive and unexpected names have always existed; what’s novel today often has a precedent in the past.
- An Italian naming curiosity — a discovery that some Italian families historically translated Assunta (from the Feast of the Assumption) as Susan. There isn’t a direct linguistic connection between the two names, but similarities in sound and cultural practice can lead to surprising naming choices and translations.
- Parental anxiety about unusual names — coverage noting that many parents worry a favored name is “too out-there” and opt for something safer instead. When I asked readers, many said they were more likely to reject a name for being too mainstream, which suggests different communities balance novelty and familiarity in different ways.
- Family criticism and naming stress — a difficult situation where relatives’ blunt honesty can become hurtful, affecting parents’ confidence in their name choices. Thoughtful advice in that post focused on navigating criticism with kindness and setting boundaries while making a name decision that feels right for your family.
- Middle-name suggestions — a roundup offering ideas for a middle name to pair with Annabelle. Practical, sensible suggestions can help round out a full name so it sounds balanced and intentional.
- Pop culture and name resurgences — a note asking whether TV shows like Suits might be responsible for a renewed interest in names such as Harvey. Popular culture can have an outsized influence on naming choices, nudging certain names back into the spotlight.
That’s everything for this week. Thanks so much for reading, and I hope you have a wonderful week. I’d love to hear which vintage or underused boys’ names you think deserve a comeback, and which ones you’d pass on.