Andrew
Andrew means "strong" and "manly." It all started with the Greek name Andreas, which is rooted in the Ancient Greek root andr-, meaning "man" or "warrior." (It's the same root as the name Alexander!) In the Bible, Andrew was the first of Jesus' 12 disciples.
This timeless name has received plenty of attention throughout the years in English-speaking countries, and has ranked in the top 100 boy names since the Social Security Administration started tracking baby names in 1880.
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Angus
Angus is the English version of a Scottish Gaelic name meaning "one choice." The name is thought to come from the Irish god of love and youth. With the adorable nickname possibility Gus, you can't go wrong.
Angus is one of those classic vintage names that's long overdue for a comeback – it had a brief stint in the top 1,000 boy names in the early 1900s, but hasn't been seen since.
Evander
Evander is the name of a heralded Trojan War hero in Greek mythology. The name means "good man" or "good warrior." But Evander is also sometimes used as an anglicized version of Iomhar, the Scottish version of Ivor, a Scandinavian name that means "bow warrior."
Evander is a pretty rare name that's gained attention in the past few years – it only started ranking in the top 1,000 boy names in the U.S. in 2021.
Everett
Everett is a variant of the name Everard, which is rooted in the Old English words eofor, meaning "boar," and hard, meaning "strong," "hardy," and "brave" – so it essentially means "strong as a boar."
After ranking in the top 100 boy names in the early 1900s, it fell out of the limelight for the rest of the century – but it's back now and more popular than ever, ranking in the top 100 since 2018.
Ezekiel
Ezekiel is rooted in a Hebrew word that means "God strengthens." Ezekiel was an Old Testament prophet who lived in Jerusalem. This wise mouthful of a name manages to feel both older than the hills and yet new and trendy. It doesn't hurt that Zeke is an adorable nickname.
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It's one of several previously obscure biblical names making a splash right now – it first joined the top 100 boy names in 2017.
Griffin
Griffin derives from a word meaning "prince" in Old Welsh. In mythology, a griffin is a magical creature that is half eagle and half lion – an icon which, carved from stone, graces and protects many important buildings around the world. In that sense, the word griffin is derived from an Old French word meaning "bird of prey."
Griffin is one of the more uncommon names on this list, and has never ranked in the top 100 boy names in the U.S.
Idris
Idris has roots in two languages: Welsh and Arabic. In Welsh, it means "ardent lord" or "impulsive lord," while in Arabic it's thought to mean "scholar" or "teacher."
English actor, DJ, and musician Idris Elba, along with many Welsh public figures over the years (and even a mountain in Wales), bear this cool and sophisticated name.
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It's much rarer in the U.S., and only started ranking in the top 1,000 boy names in 2018.
Kendrick
Kendrick is a name with a complicated history. It may come from the Old Welsh name Cyrwrig, which may be rooted in words meaning "exalted summit" or "high hill." It may also come from the Middle English name Cenric, which means either "keen power" or "royal power."
And lastly, as a surname it's the anglicized version of the Gaelic name MacEanraig, which means "son of Henry."
This earnest name first appeared among the most popular baby names in the U.S. in the 1960s and has held steady in the top 500 or so for the past few decades. The most well-known bearer of this name is Kendrick Lamar, an American rapper and songwriter.
William
William comes from an Old French name rooted in the Germanic words wil, meaning "desire" or "will," and helm, meaning "helmet" or "protection" – often leading to the poetic meanings "resolute protector" or "strong-willed warrior."
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The name of several kings and even a saint, William has been a favorite for centuries. It's been in the top 20 boy names for most of the nearly 150 years the Social Security Administration has recorded baby names.
