200+ Cute Surfer Boy Names for Your Beachy Babe

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A surfer name should feel like a day at the beach: easy to say, easy to shout across the sand, easy to grow into. Some of these come straight out of surf culture — nicknames surfers give each other, words for waves and tides — while others just sound like they belong barefoot on a board. Scroll down for 200+ picks, from classic Hawaiian names to easy, breezy options that’ll fit any beach town.

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Popularity below is calculated from Social Security Administration data through 2024, the most recent year on record.

Here’s what’s in store –

Surf Legend Classics

Hawaiian Wave Names

Short & Sun-Bleached

Australian & Indo Board Rider Names

California Golden State Names

Wild & Free Spirit Names

Polynesian & Pacific Rim Names

Underdog Gems Worth Reviving

Surfer boy names have a certain energy that’s hard to fake. They’re grounded but free-spirited. They can be traced back to Hawaiian ali’i royalty, Portuguese surf culture, Australian coastal towns, or the ancient mythology of people who have always lived by the sea. What unites them isn’t an aesthetic — it’s a feeling. These are names that breathe.

Whether you’re a beach-town local who grew up watching the WSL, or you just have a deep, inexplicable love for the ocean and everything it represents, this list is for you. We’ve pulled together over 200 names organized by theme — from legendary surf icons to wild-spirit nature names to underdog gems that deserve a serious second look.

Grab your iced coffee. Let’s find the one that sounds like home.

Surf Legend Classics

These are the names carried by the athletes who’ve made surfing history — names you might recognize from WSL leaderboards, surf films, and the kind of highlight reels that make you want to drop everything and move to the coast. They’re not gimmicky; most of them have deep roots and solid meanings that stand entirely on their own.

Kelly

Origin: Irish
Pronunciation: KEL-ee · ˈkɛli
Meaning: uncertain — leading candidates are ‘bright-headed,’ ‘strife,’ or ‘monastery/church’
Popularity: #1,579 and rising (#1,749 → #1,579, 2024)

Made permanently iconic by Kelly Slater, 11-time world champion — but it’s genuinely beautiful as a boy’s name on its own terms.

Laird

Origin: Scots
Pronunciation: LAIRD · lɛərd
Meaning: Scots term for a landed-estate owner, i.e. lord
Popularity: #11,690 as of 2022 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Laird Hamilton redefined big-wave surfing, and this name has a quiet, commanding authority that works beautifully in any era.

Duke

Origin: English (title/vocabulary name, also occupational surname)
Pronunciation: DOOK · ˈduːk
Meaning: a leader or nobleman, from the title ‘duke’
Popularity: #709 and falling (#683 → #709, 2024)

Duke Kahanamoku brought surfing to the world stage; this name carries that same generous, larger-than-life energy.

Kolohe

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: koh-LOH-heh · koʊˈloʊheɪ
Meaning: mischievous, a rascal
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Kolohe Andino made this name globally recognizable, and honestly, “little rascal” is a perfect thing to call a baby.

Gabriel

Origin: Hebrew
Pronunciation: GAY-bree-el · ˈɡeɪbriəl
Meaning: God is my strength
Popularity: #43 and falling (#38 → #43, 2024)

Gabriel Medina’s explosive surfing style made this name synonymous with fearless power; it’s a classic that never feels tired.

Filipe

Origin: Portuguese (from Greek)
Pronunciation: fee-LEE-peh · fɪˈliːpɛ
Meaning: lover of horses
Popularity: #10,070 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Filipe Toledo brought incredible aerial surfing and this warm, slightly exotic name into the mainstream.

Kanoa

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: kah-NOH-ah · kɑːˈnoʊə
Meaning: the free one, freed of taboo (ka ‘the’ + noa)
Popularity: #4,128 and falling (#2,917 → #4,128, 2024)

John

Origin: Hebrew
Pronunciation: JAHN · ˈdʒɑːn
Meaning: Yahweh has shown favor (God is gracious)
Popularity: #21 and rising (#26 → #21, 2024)

John John Florence is two-time world champion, and the double-name tradition aside, plain John is having a quiet, confident revival.

Italo

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: EE-tah-loh · ˈiːtəloʊ
Meaning: of Italy
Popularity: #6,971 and rising (#9,238 → #6,971, 2024)

Griffin

Origin: Welsh
Pronunciation: GRIF-in · ˈɡrɪfɪn
Popularity: #223 and falling (#214 → #223, 2024)

Griffin Colapinto has become one of the most exciting names on the CT, and Griffin is a name with serious backbone.

Ethan

Origin: Hebrew
Pronunciation: EE-thun · ˈiːθən
Meaning: strong, firm, enduring
Popularity: #19 and rising (#25 → #19, 2024)

Ethan Ewing surfs with a precision that matches his name — steady, dependable, quietly excellent.

Taj

Origin: Persian/Arabic
Pronunciation: TAHJ · tɑːdʒ
Meaning: crown
Popularity: #1,461 and rising (#1,462 → #1,461, 2024)

Taj Burrow was one of Australia’s greatest surfers, and this one-syllable name has a regal softness that’s genuinely lovely.

Owen

Origin: Welsh/Irish (anglicization of Owain / Eoghan)
Pronunciation: OH-en · ˈoʊən
Meaning: Young warrior
Popularity: #26 and falling (#20 → #26, 2024)

Owen Wright’s comeback story after a traumatic brain injury gave this classic Welsh name a new layer of meaning.

Mason

Origin: English (occupational surname)
Pronunciation: MAY-sun · ˈmeɪsən
Meaning: occupational surname for a stoneworker, adopted as a given name
Popularity: #42 and falling (#30 → #42, 2024)

Koa

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: KOH-ah · ˈkoʊə
Meaning: warrior, courage; also the name of a native Hawaiian tree
Popularity: #292 and rising (#298 → #292, 2024)

Nathan

Origin: Hebrew
Pronunciation: NAY-thun · ˈneɪθən
Meaning: he gave
Popularity: #62 and falling (#59 → #62, 2024)

Nathan Florence charges Pipeline with the same calm precision his name suggests — generous, steady, completely assured.

Mick

Origin: English/Irish (pet form of Michael, from Hebrew)
Pronunciation: MIK · mɪk
Meaning: who is like God? (as a nickname for Michael)
Popularity: #3,652 and falling (#2,872 → #3,652, 2024)

Mick Fanning is a three-time world champion and shark-puncher; Mick is the kind of name that just sounds like it gets things done.

Joel

Origin: Hebrew
Pronunciation: JOH-el · ˈdʒoʊəl
Meaning: Yahweh is God
Popularity: #219 and falling (#212 → #219, 2024)

Joel Parkinson won the world title in 2012 with the most beautiful surfing style of his generation; his name is unpretentious and warm.

Andy

Origin: English (diminutive of Andrew and variants)
Pronunciation: AN-dee · ˈændi
Meaning: manly, brave (pet form of Andrew and variants, occasionally of Andrea)
Popularity: #488 and rising (#500 → #488, 2024)

Andy Irons won three world titles and remains one of the most beloved figures in surf history; the name is simple and full of heart.

Rob

Origin: Germanic (short form of Robert)
Pronunciation: ROB · rɒb
Meaning: bright fame
Popularity: #12,009 and falling (#7,640 → #12,009, 2024)

Rob Machado’s fluid, creative surfing defined an era, and Rob is a name that’s due for a proper comeback.

Shane

Origin: Irish (Anglicized form of Seán)
Pronunciation: SHAYN · ˈʃeɪn
Meaning: God is gracious
Popularity: #601 and falling (#555 → #601, 2024)

Shane Dorian evolved from free-surfer to the world’s most respected big-wave pioneer; the name has an effortless coastal cool.

Dane

Origin: English (ethnonym, ultimately Old Norse/Old English)
Pronunciation: DAYN · ˈdeɪn
Meaning: a Dane, person from Denmark
Popularity: #880 and rising (#903 → #880, 2024)

Dane Reynolds essentially invented modern surfing’s aesthetic — the name carries an understated, artistic edge that matches.

Jordy

Origin: English (short form of Jordan, also a modern spelling of Geordie)
Pronunciation: JOR-dee · ˈdʒɔːrdi
Meaning: flowing down (as a short form of Jordan, from the river’s Hebrew name); alternately a respelling of Geordie, itself from George
Popularity: #1,162, holding steady (2024)

Jordy Smith is South Africa’s greatest surfer, and Jordy feels like the kind of name a kid immediately owns.

Jack

Origin: English
Pronunciation: JAK · ˈdʒæk
Meaning: God is gracious (inherited from John)
Popularity: #15 and falling (#14 → #15, 2024)

Jack Robinson is the rising Australian powerhouse; Jack is classic, strong, and currently having a well-deserved moment.

Caio

Origin: Portuguese (from Latin Gaius)
Pronunciation: KY-oh · ˈkaɪoʊ
Meaning: traditionally glossed as ‘rejoice’ (as a Portuguese form of Gaius), though the ultimate origin of Gaius is uncertain
Popularity: #3,695 and falling (#3,063 → #3,695, 2024)

Caio Ibelli is a consistent CT threat, and this Brazilian name has a buoyant, happy energy that’s hard to resist.

Yago

Origin: Spanish/Galician (form of Jacob/James, ultimately Hebrew)
Pronunciation: YAH-goh · ˈja.ɡo
Meaning: form of James/Jacob, ultimately from the Hebrew root for ‘heel’
Popularity: #9,813 and rising (#12,173 → #9,813, 2024)

Yago Dora surfs like he’s dancing; this Iberian name is unusual enough to be interesting, familiar enough to land easily.

Leo

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: LEE-oh · ˈliːoʊ
Meaning: lion
Popularity: #24 and falling (#18 → #24, 2024)

Leonardo Fioravanti goes by Leo in the water, and this name is currently everywhere for good reason — it works.

Rio

Origin: Spanish/Portuguese
Pronunciation: REE-oh · ˈriːoʊ
Meaning: river
Popularity: #516 and rising (#570 → #516, 2024)

Crosby

Origin: Old Norse
Pronunciation: KROZ-bee · ˈkrɔːzbi
Meaning: settlement by the cross
Popularity: #1,198 and falling (#1,051 → #1,198, 2024)

Crosby Colapinto is Griffin’s brother and equally gifted; this vintage name with Norse roots has a wonderfully retro-cool feel.

Hawaiian Wave Names

Hawaii is where modern surfing was born, and Hawaiian names carry that origin in every syllable. These names often come from the natural world — the sea, the wind, the sky — and they tend to be musical, meaningful, and deeply connected to a place and culture that deserves respect. If you’re drawn to these names, take a moment to learn about their roots.

Kai

Origin: Germanic/Scandinavian (also popularly linked to Hawaiian)
Pronunciation: KY · ˈkaɪ
Meaning: possibly from Latin Caius, or a Frisian pet form of Gerard/Cornelius/Nicholas (‘warrior’); popularly reinterpreted in the US as Hawaiian for ‘sea’
Popularity: #76 and falling (#61 → #76, 2024)

One of the most popular Hawaiian names globally, and still one of the best — short, strong, and unmistakably oceanic.

Kaimana

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: ky-MAH-nah · kaɪˈmɑːnə
Meaning: diamond
Popularity: #3,290 and falling (#2,915 → #3,290, 2024)

A gorgeous compound name that’s more substantial than Kai alone; it sounds like something said slowly at sunset.

Nalu

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: NAH-loo · ˈnɑːluː
Meaning: wave
Popularity: #8,113 and falling (#7,162 → #8,113, 2024)

There is possibly no more perfect name for a surfer’s baby — it literally means wave, and it sounds like one too.

Makoa

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: mah-KOH-ə · məˈkoʊ.ə
Meaning: brave, bold
Popularity: #1,117 and rising (#1,435 → #1,117, 2024)

Strong, direct, and full of energy; Makoa is the kind of name that announces itself without apology.

Ikaika

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: ee-KY-kah · iˈkaɪkə
Meaning: strong, powerful
Popularity: #4,461 and rising (#4,512 → #4,461, 2024)

The repetition of sounds makes this name rhythmically memorable — it’s one of those names you want to say out loud again.

Makani

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: mah-KAH-nee · məˈkɑːni
Meaning: the wind
Popularity: #4,801 and falling (#4,417 → #4,801, 2024)

Soft and airy but with real movement behind it; Makani is a name for a child who never sits still.

Keanu

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: kee-AH-noo · kiˈɑːnuː
Meaning: the coolness / cool breeze
Popularity: #632 and falling (#537 → #632, 2024)

The ‘over the mountains’ elaboration is an embellishment not found in standard sources; the core meaning is simply ‘the coolness/cool breeze.’

Keola

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: kay-OH-lah · keɪˈoʊlə
Meaning: the life (or ‘the healthy one’)
Popularity: #7,030 and rising (#9,366 → #7,030, 2024)

Simple, profound, and quietly beautiful; Keola is not overused and deserves far more attention than it gets.

Kaleo

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: kah-LAY-oh · kɑːˈleɪoʊ
Meaning: the voice (ka ‘the’ + leo ‘voice, tune’)
Popularity: #1,103 and rising (#1,352 → #1,103, 2024)

Makai

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: mah-KY · mɑːˈkaɪ
Meaning: toward the sea/ocean
Popularity: #535 and falling (#491 → #535, 2024)

Pono

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: POH-noh · ˈpono
Meaning: righteousness, moral correctness, or balance
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A deeply meaningful name in Hawaiian culture; to be pono is to be in right relationship with the world.

Hoku

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: HOH-koo · ˈhoʊkuː
Meaning: Star
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Short, bright, and easy to carry; Hoku feels like a name for a child who lights up every room.

Lono

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: LOH-noh · ˈloʊnoʊ
Meaning: Hawaiian god of agriculture/fertility; also ‘news’
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A mythological name with gravitas that doesn’t feel heavy — Lono has a warm, rounded sound.

Kahale

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: kah-HAH-leh · kɑˈhɑːleɪ
Meaning: the house
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

There’s something quietly profound about naming a child “home” — it suggests rootedness, belonging, and warmth.

Kawika

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: kuh-WEE-kuh · kəˈwiːkə
Meaning: Hawaiian form of David; traditionally ‘beloved’
Popularity: #7,022 and falling (#5,351 → #7,022, 2024)

Kekoa

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: keh-KOH-ah · kɛˈkoʊə
Meaning: the warrior
Popularity: #2,604 and falling (#2,161 → #2,604, 2024)

Related to Koa but with the definite article; Kekoa has a formality and strength that Koa’s brevity doesn’t quite carry.

Nainoa

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: ny-NOH-ah · naɪˈnoʊə
Meaning: the calmed seas
Popularity: #4,384 and rising (#7,159 → #4,384, 2024)

Nainoa Thompson is a celebrated Polynesian wayfinder; this name suggests stillness and navigational wisdom.

Moku

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: MOH-koo · ˈmoʊkuː
Meaning: island, or a land district
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A name that means island is inherently poetic; Moku is brief, distinct, and carries its geography lightly.

Manu

Origin: Sanskrit and/or Hawaiian/Polynesian (dual origin)
Pronunciation: MAH-noo · ˈmɑːnuː
Meaning: progenitor of humankind (Sanskrit) / bird (Hawaiian)
Popularity: #5,352 and falling (#4,994 → #5,352, 2024)

Shared across Polynesia with slightly varying meanings; as a name it suggests freedom, flight, and something that can’t be caged.

Lani

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: LAH-nee · ˈlɑːni
Meaning: sky, heaven
Popularity: #1,911 and rising (#2,041 → #1,911, 2024)

Often used for girls but traditionally gender-flexible in Hawaii; Lani has a lightness that feels genuinely celestial.

Malo

Origin: Breton/French (traditional name, as in Saint Malo)
Pronunciation: MAH-loh · ˈmɑːloʊ
Meaning: Victorious
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Short, punchy, and positive — Malo has a confidence that doesn’t need to shout.

Keoki

Origin: Hawaiian (from English George, ultimately Greek)
Pronunciation: keh-OH-kee · kɛˈoʊki
Meaning: Hawaiian form of George, ultimately ‘earth-worker’ (farmer)
Popularity: #13,267 and falling (#8,599 → #13,267, 2024)

George becomes something entirely different and more beautiful in Hawaiian; Keoki is warm and distinctly Pacific.

Akana

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: ah-KAH-nah · əˈkɑːnə
Meaning: Active, quick
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A name that suggests energy and alertness; Akana would suit a child who hits the ground running.

Kaimoku

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: ky-MOH-koo · kaɪˈmoːku
Meaning: island in the sea
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A compound name with Kai (sea) and Moku (island) — layered, poetic, and deeply Hawaiian in construction.

Kahananui

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: kah-hah-nah-NOO-ee · kəˌhɑːnəˈnuːi
Meaning: strenuous, hard work; a big undertaking
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A name that carries expectation in the best possible way — it suggests a life lived with purpose and scale.

Keli

Origin: unclear (possibly Hawaiian)
Pronunciation: KEH-lee · ˈkɛli
Meaning: Hawaiian form of Kelly
Popularity: #16,424 and falling (#11,720 → #16,424, 2024)

Where Kelly reads Irish in most contexts, Keli has a Pacific warmth that makes it feel entirely at home on this list.

Short & Sun-Bleached

Some names just sound like they’ve been left out in the sun too long — in the best possible way. These are the monosyllabic and two-syllable names that feel effortless, strong, and a little salt-worn. They work just as well on a birth certificate as they do shouted from a beach.

Reef

Origin: English (word name)
Pronunciation: REEF · ˈriːf
Meaning: a ridge of rock or coral near the water’s surface
Popularity: #2,584 and falling (#2,141 → #2,584, 2024)

Bay

Origin: English (from a common word)
Pronunciation: BAY · ˈbeɪ
Meaning: from the ordinary English word ‘bay’ — either a coastal inlet or the bay (laurel) tree
Popularity: #11,071 and rising (#12,368 → #11,071, 2024)

Soft, calm, and complete; Bay is one of those names that’s so simple it loops back around to being interesting.

Wade

Origin: Old English (surname)
Pronunciation: WAYD · ˈweɪd
Meaning: a ford, or place to cross a river
Popularity: #341, holding steady (2024)

A name that literally means moving through water — for a surfer’s kid, that’s almost too perfect.

Colt

Origin: English
Pronunciation: KOHLT · ˈkoʊlt
Meaning: young horse
Popularity: #276 and falling (#264 → #276, 2024)

There’s an energy and youth baked into this name that never quite disappears; Colt suggests someone who hasn’t learned to slow down yet.

Jett

Origin: English
Pronunciation: JET · ˈdʒɛt
Meaning: black, like the mineral jet (also evocative of speed, as in a jet aircraft)
Popularity: #161 and rising (#207 → #161, 2024)

Sharp, fast, and visually vivid; Jett has a speed to it that matches the feeling of a clean takeoff on a good wave.

Ace

Origin: English (from the word “ace”, ultimately Old French/Latin as, “a single unit”)
Pronunciation: AYSS · ˈeɪs
Meaning: one who excels; top-ranked
Popularity: #165 and falling (#157 → #165, 2024)

Simple and confident; Ace is the kind of name that comes with a built-in expectation of greatness delivered without pressure.

Cade

Origin: English (surname, multiple possible roots)
Pronunciation: KAYD · ˈkeɪd
Meaning: from an English surname with several possible roots: a personal-name element meaning ‘lump/swelling,’ an occupational term for a barrel-maker, or a word for a hand-reared farm animal
Popularity: #272 and rising (#280 → #272, 2024)

Short and easy to carry through a lifetime; Cade has a no-nonsense quality that pairs well with a longer surname.

Flynn

Origin: Irish
Pronunciation: FLIN · ˈflɪn
Meaning: Descendant of Flann; Flann is an old Irish byname meaning “red” or “ruddy,” likely describing hair color or complexion.
Popularity: #737 and rising (#782 → #737, 2024)

Flynn has a brightness and warmth to it that feels coastal and cheerful; it’s been on the rise and for good reason.

Knox

Origin: Scottish/Old English (surname and place name)
Pronunciation: NOKS · ˈnɑːks
Meaning: small hill with a rounded top
Popularity: #209 and falling (#208 → #209, 2024)

Strong and a little rugged; Knox has the texture of stone and the kind of name that ages well at every stage.

Beau

Origin: French
Pronunciation: BOH · ˈboʊ
Meaning: handsome
Popularity: #69 and rising (#80 → #69, 2024)

Light, warm, and effortlessly charming; Beau is a Southern coastal name that translates perfectly to the Pacific.

Chase

Origin: English (surname)
Pronunciation: CHAYSS · ˈtʃeɪs
Meaning: from the English surname Chase, an occupational nickname for a hunter
Popularity: #173 and falling (#154 → #173, 2024)

High-energy and forward-moving; Chase has an urgency that feels right for a kid who’s always heading somewhere.

Dex

Origin: Uncertain (possibly a short form of Dexter)
Pronunciation: DEKS · dɛks
Meaning: Right-handed, skillful
Popularity: #3,809 and falling (#3,186 → #3,809, 2024)

Punchy and modern; Dex has a competence built right into its sound.

Cole

Origin: English (Middle English)
Pronunciation: KOHL · ˈkoʊl
Meaning: coal-black, swarthy
Popularity: #162 and falling (#155 → #162, 2024)

Dark and warm at the same time; Cole is a name with a quiet depth that doesn’t announce itself too loudly.

Cruz

Origin: Spanish
Pronunciation: KROOZ · ˈkruːz
Meaning: cross
Popularity: #303 and rising (#329 → #303, 2024)

Cruz has a Latin warmth and a coastal California feel that’s made it genuinely popular without feeling overused.

Jax

Origin: English (short form of Jackson, or fanciful spelling of the surname Jacks)
Pronunciation: JAKS · ˈdʒæks
Meaning: God is gracious
Popularity: #315 and falling (#287 → #315, 2024)

Jax has an energy and informality that works particularly well on active, outdoorsy kids; it’s casual in the best way.

Rex

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: REKS · ˈrɛks
Meaning: king
Popularity: #794 and falling (#723 → #794, 2024)

Hawk

Origin: English (word/nature name)
Pronunciation: HAWK · hɔːk
Meaning: the bird of prey (hawk)
Popularity: #3,343 and falling (#3,137 → #3,343, 2024)

Sharp, fast, and distinctly wild; Hawk is a nature name that reads more rugged than gentle.

Ash

Origin: Old English (word name/surname)
Pronunciation: ASH · ˈæʃ
Meaning: ash tree (one who lived near ash trees)
Popularity: #1,147 and falling (#1,064 → #1,147, 2024)

Soft but grounded; Ash has an understated quality that makes it work beautifully in either direction on the gender spectrum.

Drake

Origin: English
Pronunciation: DRAYK · ˈdreɪk
Meaning: dragon
Popularity: #661 and rising (#681 → #661, 2024)

Drake has a surprising range — it sounds tough but also carries a mythological weight that’s interesting.

Nash

Origin: English (surname)
Pronunciation: NASH · ˈnæʃ
Meaning: dweller by the ash tree
Popularity: #240 and rising (#259 → #240, 2024)

Nash has a warm, slightly Southern quality that translates nicely to a beach town; it’s easy to say and easy to love.

Gray

Origin: English (surname)
Pronunciation: GRAY · ˈɡreɪ
Meaning: surname either from a Norman place-name (ultimately ‘Greek’) or a nickname for gray hair/beard
Popularity: #1,343 and falling (#1,174 → #1,343, 2024)

Color names for boys are having a moment, and Gray is the most restrained and beautiful of the lot.

Cove

Origin: English
Pronunciation: KOHV · ˈkoʊv
Meaning: small sheltered bay/inlet
Popularity: #1,207 and rising (#1,319 → #1,207, 2024)

A name that is literally a safe harbor — Cove is quiet, precise, and quietly lovely.

Stone

Origin: English (surname, from Old English “stan”)
Pronunciation: STOHN · ˈstoʊn
Meaning: from the English word for stone/rock; originally a surname for someone who lived near a notable stone or worked with stone
Popularity: #1,048 and falling (#995 → #1,048, 2024)

Solid and elemental; Stone has a geological permanence that somehow still feels current and distinctive.

Flint

Origin: English
Pronunciation: FLINT · flɪnt
Meaning: A hard stone historically used for tool-making and striking sparks to start fires; used as a transferred word/surname name.
Popularity: #1,970 and rising (#2,133 → #1,970, 2024)

Sharper than Stone but related; Flint has a spark built into it — literally, since flint is what makes fire.

Rhys

Origin: Welsh
Pronunciation: REES · ˈriːs
Meaning: enthusiasm, ardor
Popularity: #354 and falling (#353 → #354, 2024)

Rhys (pronounced “Reece”) is one of those Welsh names that’s been slowly gaining traction; it’s clean, strong, and has real energy.

Penn

Origin: English (surname/place name)
Pronunciation: PEN · ˈpɛn
Meaning: as a surname, either ‘an enclosure’ or, from a Celtic place-name root, ‘hilltop/head’
Popularity: #2,978 and falling (#2,119 → #2,978, 2024)

Simple and strong; Penn has a quiet authority and literary associations that give it real range.

Bram

Origin: Dutch (short form of Hebrew Abraham)
Pronunciation: BRAM · ˈbræm
Meaning: father of multitudes (via Abraham)
Popularity: #2,948 and rising (#3,062 → #2,948, 2024)

Bram Stoker gave this name a gothic tinge, but it’s actually warm and ancient; it deserves a full revival.

Zed

Origin: uncertain (English letter name Z, or short form of Zedekiah)
Pronunciation: ZED · zɛd
Meaning: God is righteous
Popularity: #6,167 and rising (#7,727 → #6,167, 2024)

Zed has a British surf-town cool to it; one letter, maximum personality.

Australian & Indo Board Rider Names

Australia produces more elite surfers per capita than anywhere else on Earth, and Australian naming culture has a flair for names that are distinctive without trying too hard. These names carry that easy confidence — some with British roots, some with Indigenous or European influence, all with that particular breezy quality.

Bodhi

Origin: Sanskrit/Pali (Buddhist term)
Pronunciation: BOH-dee · ˈboʊdi
Meaning: awakening or enlightenment
Popularity: #302 and falling (#294 → #302, 2024)

Zane

Origin: English / Italian (Venetian)
Pronunciation: ZAYN · ˈzeɪn
Meaning: God is gracious
Popularity: #306 and falling (#277 → #306, 2024)

Zane has an edge that John doesn’t; it’s the same root name but with a completely different energy.

Luca

Origin: Italian (from Latin/Greek)
Pronunciation: LOO-kah · ˈluːkə
Meaning: a pet form of Lucius, or of Loukanos (‘man from Lucania’)
Popularity: #23 and rising (#24 → #23, 2024)

That’s a folk etymology (paralleling the same misconception about Luke/Lucius and Latin lux) — Luca actually derives as a pet form of Lucius, or of Loukanos, meaning ‘man from Lucania.’

Hugo

Origin: Germanic (Latinized form of Hugh)
Pronunciation: HYOO-goh · ˈhjuːɡoʊ
Meaning: mind, thought
Popularity: #403 and rising (#415 → #403, 2024)

Hugo has a scholarly warmth that somehow also reads as athletic; it’s been big in Europe and is catching up in Australia.

Wilder

Origin: English (occupational surname)
Pronunciation: WYL-dur · ˈwaɪldər
Meaning: wild one; also historically ‘a hunter of wild game’
Popularity: #392 and rising (#422 → #392, 2024)

Wilder is exactly what it sounds like — a name for a child who will not be easily contained, and that’s a gift.

Jarrah

Origin: Noongar (Aboriginal Australian)
Pronunciation: JAR-uh · ˈdʒɑːrə
Meaning: Eucalyptus tree
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Jarrah is a beautiful piece of Australian geography; the jarrah tree is native to Western Australia and its timber is legendary.

Rafferty

Origin: Irish (Ó Rabhartaigh surname)
Pronunciation: RAF-ur-tee · ˈræfərti
Meaning: descendant of Rabhartach, a name rooted in the word for flood or spring tide
Popularity: #5,182 and rising (#5,611 → #5,182, 2024)

Rafferty has a rollicking, unpredictable energy that makes it impossible not to like; it’s a name that comes with its own momentum.

Hamish

Origin: Scottish Gaelic (form of James)
Pronunciation: HAY-mish · ˈheɪmɪʃ
Meaning: supplanter (traditional gloss); ultimately from Hebrew Jacob via James
Popularity: #5,982 and rising (#6,660 → #5,982, 2024)

Hamish is classic in Scotland and quietly beloved in Australia; it has a warmth and humor to it that James alone doesn’t quite capture.

Angus

Origin: Scottish Gaelic
Pronunciation: ANG-gus · ˈæŋɡəs
Meaning: one choice, unique choice
Popularity: #2,149 and falling (#1,986 → #2,149, 2024)

Wiktionary and Wikipedia agree the underlying name Aonghas means ‘one’ plus ‘choice,’ not ‘strength’ — ‘one strength’ is a popular but unsupported rendering.

Saxon

Origin: Old English/Germanic (ethnonym for the Saxon people)
Pronunciation: SAK-sun · ˈsæksən
Meaning: a member of the Saxon people, whose name comes from ‘seax,’ a type of single-edged blade they were known for
Popularity: #3,081 and rising (#3,400 → #3,081, 2024)

Saxon has a rugged historical weight and an unexpectedly beautiful sound; it’s distinctive without being outlandish.

Archer

Origin: English (occupational surname)
Pronunciation: AR-chur · ˈɑːrtʃər
Meaning: bowman
Popularity: #115 and rising (#129 → #115, 2024)

Archer has a precision and a directionality that makes it feel purposeful; it’s a name that knows where it’s going.

Tasman

Origin: Dutch (surname)
Pronunciation: TAZ-mun · ˈtæzmən
Meaning: from the Dutch surname Tasman, literally ‘pouch/purse’ + ‘man’; given-name use via explorer Abel Tasman and the places named after him
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The explorer who mapped much of the Pacific lends his name this sense of discovery and open water.

Arlo

Origin: Italian (uncertain origin)
Pronunciation: AR-loh · ˈɑːrloʊ
Meaning: Fortified hill
Popularity: #146 and rising (#158 → #146, 2024)

Arlo has a gentle, artistic quality that’s made it extremely popular — it’s one of those names that’s everywhere but still earns its place.

Felix

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: FEE-liks · ˈfiːlɪks
Meaning: happy, fortunate, lucky
Popularity: #177 and rising (#192 → #177, 2024)

Felix is one of those ancient names that never loses its relevance; its meaning is pure optimism and that energy carries through.

Tyson

Origin: English
Pronunciation: TY-son · ˈtaɪsən
Meaning: firebrand (from an Anglo-Norman nickname), though the surname also has rival roots
Popularity: #460 and falling (#394 → #460, 2024)

Tyson has a competitive edge to it, which fits perfectly in surf culture; it’s strong without being aggressive.

Brody

Origin: Scottish (variant of Brodie)
Pronunciation: BROH-dee · ˈbroʊdi
Meaning: ditch or muddy place (disputed, inherited from Brodie)
Popularity: #224 and falling (#204 → #224, 2024)

Brody sounds more rugged than its meaning suggests; it has a coastal roughness that works perfectly for this list.

Ziggy

Origin: Germanic
Pronunciation: ZIG-ee · ˈzɪɡ.i
Meaning: pet form of Germanic names beginning with ‘Sieg-‘ (victory)
Popularity: #1,358 and rising (#1,402 → #1,358, 2024)

Ziggy is joyful, slightly anarchic, and completely impossible to take too seriously — which is sometimes exactly what you want.

Ollie

Origin: English
Pronunciation: AH-lee · ˈɑːli
Meaning: pet form of Oliver/Olivia (‘olive tree’); also used as a diminutive of other names, e.g. Welsh Olwen
Popularity: #1,044 and rising (#1,080 → #1,044, 2024)

Ollie has a softness and warmth that Oliver doesn’t quite carry alone; it’s the friendly version of a classic name.

Rhett

Origin: Dutch (anglicized surname)
Pronunciation: RET · ˈrɛt
Meaning: advice or counsel, from a Dutch surname (de Raedt)
Popularity: #174 and falling (#165 → #174, 2024)

Rhett has a warm, Southern-meets-coastal quality; it’s strong, short, and has aged beautifully across generations.

Callan

Origin: Irish (surname)
Pronunciation: KAL-un · ˈkælən
Meaning: battle-mighty (little Cathal)
Popularity: #242 and rising (#339 → #242, 2024)

Callan has a strong, steady quality; it sounds like it’s been around for centuries because it has been.

Stellan

Origin: Swedish (etymology not firmly established)
Pronunciation: STEL-an · ˈstɛlən
Meaning: Calm, tranquil
Popularity: #1,441 and rising (#1,485 → #1,441, 2024)

Stellan Skarsgård made this name recognizable; its meaning — calm — is a beautiful counterpoint to all the wave energy on this list.

Marley

Origin: English (place name/surname)
Pronunciation: MAR-lee · ˈmɑːrli
Meaning: from an Old English place name whose first element is uncertain — ‘boundary’, ‘pleasant’, or ‘marten’ — combined with ‘woodland clearing’; a surname transferred to given-name use
Popularity: #1,238 and falling (#1,203 → #1,238, 2024)

Bob Marley gave this name a permanent coastal association; as a boy’s name it’s warm, musical, and instantly likeable.

Levi

Origin: Hebrew
Pronunciation: LEE-vy · ˈliːvaɪ
Meaning: traditionally ‘joined, attached’ per the Genesis naming story; true root uncertain
Popularity: #12, holding steady (2024)

Levi is having a massive moment right now — it’s a Biblical name that somehow feels entirely contemporary and coastal-casual.

Remy

Origin: French
Pronunciation: REM-ee · ˈrɛmi
Meaning: oarsman, from Latin Remigius
Popularity: #400 and falling (#390 → #400, 2024)

Remy has a French ease that translates perfectly to Australian surf culture; it’s light, warm, and a little bit elegant.

California Golden State Names

California surfing has its own distinct mythology — Malibu, Rincon, Trestles, that golden late-afternoon light that makes every wave look like a painting. These names carry that particular energy: expansive, sun-drenched, slightly mystical, and always looking toward the horizon.

Pacific

Origin: Latin (word name)
Pronunciation: puh-SIF-ik · pəˈsɪfɪk
Meaning: peaceful, peace-making (from Latin pacificus, applied by Magellan to the ocean after a calm crossing)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Naming your son Pacific is a statement, but it’s also a name with a genuine meaning — the Pacific Ocean was named for its perceived calm.

Phoenix

Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: FEE-niks · ˈfiːnɪks
Meaning: the mythical firebird symbolizing rebirth and renewal
Popularity: #275 and falling (#269 → #275, 2024)

Phoenix is bold and mythological; a name for a child you believe will rise to every occasion.

Atlas

Origin: Greek (possibly pre-Greek substrate)
Pronunciation: AT-luss · ˈætləs
Meaning: possibly ‘the enduring one’ (disputed, may be pre-Greek with no recoverable meaning)
Popularity: #101 and rising (#111 → #101, 2024)

That reflects the myth (Atlas was condemned to hold up the sky), not a confirmed translation — the name’s actual etymology is disputed between ‘the enduring one’ and an unrecoverable pre-Greek origin.

Orion

Origin: Ancient Greek (etymology uncertain)
Pronunciation: oh-RY-un · oʊˈraɪən
Meaning: uncertain; possibly ‘heaven’s light’ (a speculative Akkadian derivation, not firmly established)
Popularity: #325 and rising (#373 → #325, 2024)

‘Hunter’ isn’t an etymological meaning — it describes the mythological figure, not the word’s origin, which is actually uncertain (a speculative Akkadian ‘heaven’s light’ derivation remains unproven).

Caspian

Origin: English (from Latin ‘Caspius’)
Pronunciation: KAS-pee-an · ˈkæspiən
Meaning: of/from the Caspian Sea
Popularity: #578 and rising (#664 → #578, 2024)

Hendrix

Origin: Dutch/Low German (patronymic surname, variant spelling of Hendricks, from Henry)
Pronunciation: HEN-driks · ˈhɛndrɪks
Meaning: son of Hendrick, tracing back to Henry’s ‘home ruler’
Popularity: #296 and rising (#303 → #296, 2024)

Jimi Hendrix gave this name a permanent association with creative brilliance and wild talent.

River

Origin: English
Pronunciation: RIV-er · ˈrɪvər
Meaning: a naturally flowing body of water
Popularity: #112 and rising (#116 → #112, 2024)

River Phoenix made this name matter in the 80s and it’s been gaining ever since; it’s elemental, moving, and simply beautiful.

Nico

Origin: Greek (via Nicholas/Nicola/Nikos)
Pronunciation: NEE-koh · ˈniːkoʊ
Meaning: victory of the people
Popularity: #213 and rising (#240 → #213, 2024)

Nico is cool without effort; it has an international quality that works across cultures and coastlines.

Zuma

Origin: uncertain (possibly a Chumash place name or Zulu surname, transferred to given-name use)
Pronunciation: ZOO-muh · ˈzuːmə
Meaning: Lord frowns in anger
Popularity: #12,296 and rising (#14,194 → #12,296, 2024)

Zuma Beach in Malibu is legendary; Gwen Stefani named her son Zuma, which gave it a California celebrity stamp.

Marlowe

Origin: English (place name: Marlow)
Pronunciation: MAR-loh · ˈmɑːrloʊ
Meaning: Drained lake remnant
Popularity: #2,768 and rising (#3,154 → #2,768, 2024)

Marlowe has a literary, slightly moody quality that’s very California-cool; it’s distinguished and a little unexpected.

Beckett

Origin: English (surname)
Pronunciation: BEK-it · ˈbɛkɪt
Meaning: beehive; bee cottage
Popularity: #166 and rising (#196 → #166, 2024)

Beckett has a playwright’s reputation and an increasingly California-cool feel; literary with a laid-back delivery.

Holden

Origin: Old English (surname)
Pronunciation: HOHL-din · ˈhoʊldən
Meaning: hollow valley
Popularity: #281 and rising (#286 → #281, 2024)

Holden Caulfield gave this name a rebellious, searching quality; it’s a name for someone who questions everything.

Sawyer

Origin: English (occupational surname)
Pronunciation: SAW-yer · ˈsɔːjər
Meaning: one who saws wood; a woodcutter
Popularity: #132 and falling (#127 → #132, 2024)

Sawyer has a Tom Sawyer adventurousness baked in; it’s a name for a child who’ll always be finding trouble in the best way.

Ryder

Origin: English (occupational surname)
Pronunciation: RY-der · ˈraɪdər
Meaning: rider or cavalryman, from the occupational surname for one who rides
Popularity: #134 and falling (#128 → #134, 2024)

Ryder is active and forward-moving; it has an energy that suits a kid who’s always on the go.

Santi

Origin: Spanish/Italian (short form of Santiago)
Pronunciation: SAHN-tee · ˈsɑːnti
Meaning: little saint, or short form of Santiago (Saint James)
Popularity: #1,304 and falling (#1,268 → #1,304, 2024)

Santi is warm, cheerful, and carries the Spanish coastal culture that’s so embedded in California surfing.

Crew

Origin: Welsh (via the place name Crewe, Cheshire)
Pronunciation: KROO · ˈkruː
Meaning: weir — a river dam or fish-trap
Popularity: #250 and rising (#260 → #250, 2024)

Crew is unusual but not strange; it suggests community, teamwork, and the particular bond of a lineup.

Parker

Origin: Old English
Pronunciation: PAR-kur · ˈpɑːrkər
Meaning: an occupational surname for a gamekeeper or park-keeper
Popularity: #97 and falling (#91 → #97, 2024)

Parker has a professional warmth that somehow doesn’t fight its coastal associations; it’s easy to wear at every age.

Brooks

Origin: English (surname)
Pronunciation: BROOKS · ˈbrʊks
Meaning: one who lived near a brook
Popularity: #67 and rising (#73 → #67, 2024)

Brooks sounds like water, which is the point; it’s soft and moving and has a gentleness that pairs well with a strong surname.

Miller

Origin: English (surname)
Pronunciation: MIL-er · ˈmɪlər
Meaning: one who grinds grain
Popularity: #438 and rising (#528 → #438, 2024)

Miller is a surname-name that’s crossed over beautifully; it’s warm, unpretentious, and currently having a real moment.

Sterling

Origin: English (surname)
Pronunciation: STUR-ling · ˈstɜːrlɪŋ
Meaning: originally a surname referring to the starling bird, or a variant of the Scottish surname/place name Stirling
Popularity: #372 and rising (#403 → #372, 2024)

Sterling has a quiet elegance that doesn’t feel fussy; it suggests quality without announcing it.

Malibu

Origin: Chumash (place name); homograph with the unrelated Malibú people/language of Colombia
Pronunciation: MAL-ih-boo · ˈmælɪbuː
Meaning: Place that makes loud sounds always
Popularity: #7,094 and falling (#4,944 → #7,094, 2024)

The most famous surf beach in the world lends its name here — bold, geographic, and entirely Californian.

Wild & Free Spirit Names

For the parents less interested in surf culture specifically and more drawn to the energy it represents — freedom, movement, the natural world, time measured by tides rather than clocks. These names come from nature, from the elements, from the feeling of being exactly where you’re supposed to be.

Zephyr

Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: ZEF-er · ˈzɛfər
Meaning: the west wind
Popularity: #1,133 and falling (#1,121 → #1,133, 2024)

Forest

Origin: English
Pronunciation: FOR-ist · ˈfɔːrɪst
Meaning: Wooded land; from Old French forest, adopted as an English surname and later used as a given name.
Popularity: #724 and rising (#746 → #724, 2024)

Forest is a name that smells like trees and sounds like quiet; it’s wild but not chaotic.

Sage

Origin: English (from Old French/Latin)
Pronunciation: SAYJ · ˈseɪdʒ
Meaning: a wise person; also linked to the sage herb plant
Popularity: #413 and rising (#416 → #413, 2024)

Sage works across genders but carries a particular strength as a boy’s name; it’s a name that promises thoughtfulness.

Cedar

Origin: English
Pronunciation: SEE-dur · ˈsiːdər
Meaning: the cedar tree
Popularity: #1,197 and rising (#1,252 → #1,197, 2024)

Cedar has a warm, woody quality; it’s a nature name that feels grounded rather than ethereal.

Rowan

Origin: Irish
Pronunciation: ROH-en · ˈroʊən
Meaning: little red one
Popularity: #71 and rising (#76 → #71, 2024)

The rowan tree was considered protective in Celtic mythology; Rowan is established enough to be easy but distinctive enough to be interesting.

Indigo

Origin: Greek (via the color/dye name)
Pronunciation: IN-dih-goh · ˈɪndɪˌɡoʊ
Meaning: named after the deep-blue indigo dye/color
Popularity: #1,629 and rising (#1,718 → #1,629, 2024)

Indigo is a color name with depth — literally and figuratively; it’s unusual for a boy but genuinely beautiful.

Cosmo

Origin: Greek (via Italian Cosimo)
Pronunciation: KAHZ-moh · ˈkɑːzmoʊ
Meaning: order, the ordered universe (and by extension, beauty/adornment)
Popularity: #1,683 and rising (#1,746 → #1,683, 2024)

Cosmo has a wide-eyed, expansive quality; it’s the name of someone who finds everything interesting.

Canyon

Origin: English (modern word/nature name)
Pronunciation: KAN-yuhn · ˈkænjən
Meaning: Large gorge
Popularity: #1,433 and falling (#1,390 → #1,433, 2024)

Canyon is geographic and dramatic; it suggests scale, depth, and something carved by time.

Ridge

Origin: English (topographic surname)
Pronunciation: RIJ · ˈrɪdʒ
Meaning: a long, raised strip of land or hilltop
Popularity: #528 and falling (#505 → #528, 2024)

Ridge is crisp and topographical; it’s the kind of name that sounds like it was made for someone who runs along cliff edges.

Dune

Origin: English (nature/vocabulary word)
Pronunciation: DOON · duːn
Meaning: a hill or ridge of sand shaped by the wind
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Dune is quietly beautiful — a landscape name that’s minimal and evocative at once.

Tide

Origin: Germanic (common word, not a dedicated given name)
Pronunciation: TYD · taɪd
Meaning: the rise and fall of the sea
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Naming a child after the tides is an act of poetry; the name is unusual but its meaning is profound.

Zenith

Origin: English word name (ultimately Arabic, via Old Spanish/Medieval Latin)
Pronunciation: ZEE-nith · ˈziː.nɪθ
Meaning: the highest point; peak
Popularity: #2,906 and rising (#3,289 → #2,906, 2024)

Lark

Origin: English
Pronunciation: LARK · ˈlɑːrk
Meaning: the songbird
Popularity: #13,368 and falling (#10,333 → #13,368, 2024)

Larks sing at dawn; this name has a brightness and an early-morning optimism baked right in.

Wren

Origin: English (Middle English)
Pronunciation: REN · ˈrɛn
Meaning: the small songbird
Popularity: #1,025 and falling (#984 → #1,025, 2024)

Wren is tiny and precise and completely beautiful; it’s one of those names that’s impossible not to love.

Birch

Origin: English (nature name/surname)
Pronunciation: BURCH · ˈbɜːrtʃ
Meaning: the birch tree
Popularity: #9,873 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Birch trees are pale, graceful, and incredibly resilient; the name carries those qualities quietly.

Flare

Origin: English (modern word-name)
Pronunciation: FLAIR · flɛər
Meaning: a sudden burst of light or flame (word-name)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Flare is vivid and unexpected; it’s a name for a child whose personality arrives before they do.

Crest

Origin: Old French (via the English word ‘crest’)
Pronunciation: KREST · krɛst
Meaning: the top or summit, as of a hill, wave, or ridge
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Drift

Origin: English (word name, ultimately Germanic)
Pronunciation: DRIFT · drɪft
Meaning: to be carried steadily by wind or current
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Drift is calm and purposeful in its wandering; it’s a name for someone who moves through the world at their own pace.

Arbor

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: AR-ber · ˈɑːrbər
Meaning: tree
Popularity: #3,596 and rising (#5,260 → #3,596, 2024)

Arbor has a quiet scholarly elegance; it’s unusual enough to be interesting but grounded enough to carry easily.

Soleil

Origin: French
Pronunciation: soh-LAY · soʊˈleɪ
Meaning: sun
Popularity: #8,847 and rising (#12,111 → #8,847, 2024)

Umber

Origin: English
Pronunciation: UM-ber · ˈʌmbər
Meaning: Shade, warm brown pigment
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Polynesian & Pacific Rim Names

The Pacific Ocean connects cultures across thousands of miles of open water, and the naming traditions of Polynesia, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, and Aotearoa New Zealand are among the richest in the world. These names often come directly from the natural world or from mythology, and they carry a depth of cultural meaning that deserves acknowledgment. Use them with respect and genuine affection.

Tane

Origin: Māori/Polynesian (mythological name)
Pronunciation: TAH-neh · ˈtɑːneɪ
Meaning: in Māori and wider Polynesian mythology, the god of forests and trees (also generically ‘man, male’ in Māori)
Popularity: #13,977 as of 2012 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Rangi

Origin: Māori
Pronunciation: RAHN-gee · ˈɾaŋi
Meaning: sky, heavens
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Rangi is the sky father in Maori mythology; it’s a name that looks upward by definition.

Tama

Origin: unclear from this data pull
Pronunciation: TAH-mah · ˈtɑːmɑː
Meaning: Boy, son, child
Popularity: #10,608 as of 2018 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Simple and direct; Tama is a name that is exactly what it says — a boy, a child, a young one.

Mahi

Origin: Maori
Pronunciation: MAH-hee · ˈmɑːhiː
Meaning: Work, activity
Popularity: #9,507 and falling (#9,428 → #9,507, 2024)

Also the name of the mahi-mahi fish; as a name it suggests purpose, effort, and the satisfaction of doing something well.

Hemi

Origin: Māori (form of James)
Pronunciation: HEH-mee · ˈhɛmi
Meaning: supplanter (via James)
Popularity: #7,926 and falling (#5,752 → #7,926, 2024)

Wiremu

Origin: Māori (transliteration of William)
Pronunciation: WEE-reh-moo · ˈwɪərɛmuː
Meaning: will + protection — ‘resolute protector,’ the Māori form of William
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

William becomes something completely new in te reo Maori; Wiremu is strong, rolling, and distinctly Pacific.

Sione

Origin: Tongan/Samoan (Pacific form of John)
Pronunciation: see-OH-neh · siˈoʊneɪ
Meaning: God is gracious
Popularity: #3,957 and falling (#3,693 → #3,957, 2024)

Sione is one of the most common names across Polynesia and for good reason — it’s warm, open, and deeply communal.

Toa

Origin: Polynesian (Maori word name)
Pronunciation: TOH-uh · ˈtoʊ.ə
Meaning: warrior, brave, strong
Popularity: #7,667 and falling (#6,473 → #7,667, 2024)

Short and powerful; Toa carries the same warrior energy as Koa but from a different Pacific tradition.

Tangaroa

Origin: Māori/Polynesian (mythological name)
Pronunciation: tah-ngah-ROH-ah
Meaning: the Polynesian/Māori god of the sea (in some Samoan and Tongan traditions, the supreme or creator god)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Tangaroa is the most important sea deity in Polynesian mythology; as a name it’s significant, layered, and genuinely magnificent.

Fetu

Origin: Samoan
Pronunciation: FEH-too · ˈfɛtuː
Meaning: Star
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Fetu is the word for star in Samoan; it’s simple, luminous, and one of those names that translates its meaning into its sound.

Vaha

Origin: Tongan
Pronunciation: VAH-hah · ˈva.ha
Meaning: space, gap; channel between (islands)/sea
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The channel between islands is the open water navigated by traditional wayfinders — it’s a name about the journey.

Vai

Origin: Polynesian
Pronunciation: VYE · vaɪ
Meaning: water
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

One syllable, elemental; Vai is to Pacific languages what Kai is to Hawaiian — simple and foundational.

Tavita

Origin: Samoan (form of David)
Pronunciation: tah-VEE-tuh · tɑːˈviːtə
Meaning: beloved (via David, ultimately from Hebrew ‘beloved’)
Popularity: #12,073 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

David becomes something richer and more musical through Samoan; Tavita is warm and completely distinct.

Roa

Origin: Maori
Pronunciation: ROH-ah · ˈroʊ.ɑː
Meaning: long, tall
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Levu

Origin: Fijian
Pronunciation: LEH-voo · ˈlɛvuː
Meaning: Great, large
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

In Fiji, levu appears in Viti Levu (Great Fiji) and Vanua Levu (Great Land); as a name, it carries that scale.

Nuku

Origin: Polynesian
Pronunciation: NOO-koo · ˈnuːkuː
Meaning: land, place
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Nuku appears across Polynesian place names; it’s a name about the land itself.

Maru

Origin: Multiple, unrelated: Māori / Spanish / Japanese
Pronunciation: MAH-roo · ˈmɑːruː
Meaning: varies by culture: a Māori war-deity’s name, a Spanish short form of María Eugenia, or the Japanese word for ‘circle’
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Ama

Origin: Akan
Pronunciation: AH-mah · ˈɑːmə
Meaning: born on Saturday
Popularity: #6,383 and falling (#5,762 → #6,383, 2024)

Tupou

Origin: Tongan (surname)
Pronunciation: too-POH · tuˈpoʊ
Meaning: Of royal descent
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Tupou is a royal name in Tonga — the Tupou dynasty has ruled for centuries; as a name it carries that lineage lightly.

Pita

Origin: Polynesian (Māori/Tongan/Samoan form of Peter)
Pronunciation: PEE-tah · ˈpiːtɑː
Meaning: rock (a Polynesian form of Peter)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Peter becomes something warmer and more Pacific through Pita; it carries the same solidity but with a different warmth.

Pio

Origin: Italian
Pronunciation: PEE-oh · ˈpiː.oʊ
Meaning: pious, dutiful — Italian equivalent of Pius
Popularity: #7,125 and falling (#6,145 → #7,125, 2024)

A name carried through the Pacific through missionary influence; Pio has a softness and a quiet spiritual quality.

Kiri

Origin: Māori; also European (short form of Cyril/Kyrillos)
Pronunciation: KEE-ree · ˈkiːri
Meaning: in Māori, ‘skin’ or ‘bark of a tree’; separately, a European short form of Cyril/Kyrillos (‘lordly’)
Popularity: #7,405 and falling (#6,545 → #7,405, 2024)

Tolu

Origin: Polynesian
Pronunciation: TOH-loo · ˈtoːluː
Meaning: three
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Numerical names have a quiet power in Pacific cultures; Tolu is spare and unusual and carries its heritage directly.

Underdog Gems Worth Reviving

These are the names that deserve a comeback. They’ve been sitting in the waiting room of name history — too classical, too unusual, too associated with one era — but they’re actually extraordinary. Any one of these would be genuinely remarkable on a 2026 baby.

Leander

Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: lee-AN-der · liˈændər
Meaning: man of the people (Greek ‘people’ + ‘man’)
Popularity: #1,752 and falling (#1,512 → #1,752, 2024)

Leander swam the Hellespont every night for love in Greek mythology; it’s romantic, classical, and almost entirely unused today.

Callum

Origin: Scottish Gaelic
Pronunciation: KAL-um · ˈkæləm
Meaning: dove (via the name Calum, ultimately Latin columba)
Popularity: #159 and rising (#222 → #159, 2024)

That’s not supported and looks like a mix-up with a different name; Callum actually traces through Calum/Columba, meaning ‘dove.’

Calder

Origin: Scottish (Cumbric river name)
Pronunciation: KAWL-der · ˈkɔːldər
Meaning: rough or hard-flowing water
Popularity: #1,991 and falling (#1,549 → #1,991, 2024)

Lorcan

Origin: Irish Gaelic
Pronunciation: LOR-kuhn · ˈlɔːrkən
Meaning: little fierce one
Popularity: #7,513 and falling (#5,586 → #7,513, 2024)

Cormac

Origin: Irish (Old Irish)
Pronunciation: KOR-mak · ˈkɔːrmæk
Meaning: son of the charioteer
Popularity: #1,254 and falling (#1,238 → #1,254, 2024)

Cormac is one of the great Irish names — borne by ancient kings, used by Cormac McCarthy — with a gravitas that few names match.

Peregrine

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: PAIR-uh-grin · ˈpɛrəɡrɪn
Meaning: traveler or pilgrim (from a Latin word originally meaning ‘foreigner’)
Popularity: #3,365 and rising (#3,855 → #3,365, 2024)

The peregrine falcon takes its name from this word; Peregrine is unusual but it has a built-in sense of adventure that’s hard to beat.

Marino

Origin: Italian
Pronunciation: mah-REE-noh · məˈriːnoʊ
Meaning: of the sea (inferred, masculine counterpart of Marina)
Popularity: #4,805 and falling (#4,683 → #4,805, 2024)

Saint Marino gave his name to a country; as a first name it’s warm, Italian in feel, and directly tied to the ocean.

Leandro

Origin: Spanish/Italian/Portuguese (from Greek Leander)
Pronunciation: lee-AHN-droh · liˈɑːndroʊ
Meaning: Spanish/Italian/Portuguese form of Leander; roughly ‘man of the people’
Popularity: #499 and rising (#524 → #499, 2024)

Leandro is the Romance language version — warmer and more musical than Leander but carrying the same mythological energy.

Tiernan

Origin: Irish
Pronunciation: TEER-nan · ˈtɪərnən
Meaning: little lord
Popularity: #4,166 and falling (#3,404 → #4,166, 2024)

Sullivan

Origin: Irish (surname, Ó Súilleabháin)
Pronunciation: SUL-ih-vun · ˈsʌlɪvən
Meaning: descendant of the ‘dark-eyed one’
Popularity: #339 and rising (#358 → #339, 2024)

Sullivan is a surname-name with a warmth and a slight mystery; it suggests someone who sees more than they say.

Donovan

Origin: Irish
Pronunciation: DON-uh-vun · ˈdɑːnəvən
Meaning: descendant of the dark-haired one
Popularity: #504 and falling (#468 → #504, 2024)

Donovan has a musical association and a darkness to its meaning that’s balanced by a warm, rolling sound.

Cassius

Origin: Latin (Roman family name)
Pronunciation: KASH-us · ˈkæʃəs
Meaning: Vain
Popularity: #567 and rising (#576 → #567, 2024)

Muhammad Ali was born Cassius Clay, and that association alone makes this name remarkable; Cass is a beautiful nickname.

Theron

Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: THAIR-on · ˈθɛrɑːn
Meaning: hunter
Popularity: #2,857 and rising (#2,996 → #2,857, 2024)

Cillian

Origin: Irish (contested)
Pronunciation: KIL-ee-an · ˈkɪliən
Meaning: of disputed origin: possibly ‘strife/war’ or ‘church’ (Old Irish ceallach/ceall), or separately from Latin Caecilianus
Popularity: #463 and rising (#594 → #463, 2024)

Cillian Murphy has brought this name to global attention; it’s dramatic, distinctive, and one of the most interesting Irish names in use.

Cian

Origin: Old Irish
Pronunciation: KEE-an · ˈkiːən
Meaning: long-lasting, enduring
Popularity: #1,525 and falling (#1,439 → #1,525, 2024)

Oisín

Origin: Irish
Pronunciation: oh-SHEEN · oʊˈʃiːn
Meaning: little deer, fawn
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The mythological poet-warrior Oisín lived in Tír na nÓg, the land of eternal youth; this name is steeped in Irish mythology and genuinely beautiful.

Declan

Origin: Irish
Pronunciation: DEK-lun · ˈdɛklən
Meaning: traditionally glossed as “full of goodness” (an alternate theory holds “man of prayer”)
Popularity: #131 and rising (#132 → #131, 2024)

Declan is established enough to feel familiar but distinctive enough to still stand out; it’s warm, direct, and completely wearable.

Phelan

Origin: Irish
Pronunciation: FAY-luhn · ˈfeɪlən
Meaning: anglicized from Ó Faoláin, ‘descendant of Faolán’; Faolán is a pet form of ‘faol’ (wolf), roughly ‘little wolf’
Popularity: #9,624 and falling (#9,523 → #9,624, 2024)

Phelan doesn’t mean ‘wolf’ outright — it’s an anglicized surname meaning ‘descendant of Faolán,’ and Faolán is the diminutive (‘little wolf’) that carries the wolf sense.

Riordan

Origin: Irish
Pronunciation: REER-dən · ˈrɪərdən
Meaning: Royal poet, bard
Popularity: #7,636 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Riordan suggests someone who makes meaning — a poet, a storyteller, a person who finds the words for things others can’t express.

Whitman

Origin: Old English (surname)
Pronunciation: WIT-muhn · ˈwɪtmən
Meaning: descriptive surname meaning ‘white man’ — a fair-haired or fair-skinned man
Popularity: #4,174 and falling (#3,991 → #4,174, 2024)

Walt Whitman gives this name an enormous literary shadow; Whitman suggests a child who will find their own way of seeing the world.

Brennan

Origin: Irish
Pronunciation: BREN-an · ˈbrɛnən
Meaning: Irish surname with two possible roots: ‘descendant of Branán’ (little raven) or ‘descendant of Braonán’ (little drop/moisture)
Popularity: #1,054 and falling (#1,023 → #1,054, 2024)

Counterintuitively, Brennan sounds energetic and warm despite its somber meaning; it’s a name that has grown completely past its etymology.

Caelán

Origin: Irish/Scottish Gaelic (related to Caolán)
Meaning: slender, narrow
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings