Ben Names

Ben is a very popular among today's parents. It's easy to see why too. Ben is an everyman, he can be the lawyer or the teacher, the doctor or the chef. If Ben is just too short for you, here are some names that he could be short for.

Benaiah
Benard
Benedict
Benedetto
Benen
Benicio
Benigno
Benjamin
Benji
Bennett
Benning
Benno
Benoit
Benson
Bentley
Benton
Eben
Gerben
Reuben

Stylish Choices Outside the Top 1000: 2014 Boys

Image Credit

Uninspired by the names in the top 1000? Looking for something particularly unusual? Consider one of the following names for your son--none of them were given to more than 204 boys last year (and some were only given to 5!) It's all after the jump.

10 Japanese Names You Never Thought of Using: Boys

GIF credit

Japanese names are super fun. They are lively, cheerful names with fabulous meanings. If you're looking for dapper Japanese names that you won't hear in the U.S., check out the following list.

Fuji- Ever since the renaming of Mt. McKinley to Denali, mountain names have been on my mind. Fuji is one of the most distinctive of the bunch. He is strong yet gentle--a tough balance to strike.

Haruki- Many people will instantly recognize Haruki as the first name of Murakami, author of famous books such as 1Q84. Fans of his writing might be instantly motivated to use Haruki, but even if you're not a literature fan, he's still a great choice. Haruki means "born in the spring," so he'd be an extra special name for an April, May, or June baby.

Iku- It's not often that I find and "I" name that I'm excited about, but I was thrilled to learn about Iku. He's simple, stylish, and not too difficult for English speakers. Iku means "nourishing," which I find quite endearing.

Issey- On the same note, Issey is also a wonderful "I" name. He has a slighly feminine feel, but it's not too concerning, considering plenty of boys respond to Izzy. Issey is traditionally used for the first born child in a family.

Jiro- Jiro is a nice, upbeat name that means (but is not reserved to) "second born son." Jiro Ono is the Japanese sushi chef that is featured in the documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi, and might be a good namesake.

Kenji- Like Jiro, Kenji is also a name that means "second born son." He's part Benji, part Ken, a useful combination when it comes to honoring people fashionably. There are many famous Japanese Kenjis, ranging from professional athletes to musicians. Kenji was briefly in the United States top 1000 from 1978-1979.

Ren- Ren is a popular unisex name in Japan, though more often than not, he's used for boys. Americans have mostly male associations with the name as well, from Ren & Stimpy to the protagonist in Footloose. Ren doesn't have an overwhelming Japanese sound. He'd fit in with many names, from most (if not all) cultures.

Sanjiro- If Jiro was just a little bit slight for you, Sanjiro might be a better option. The two are completely unrelated. Sanjiro even has a different meaning--"admired." Of course, Jiro would still work as a nickname, but I think Sanji is pretty cute as well.

Seiji- Seiji (SAY-jee) comes from the Kanji characters meaning "truth" and "just," making him a virtue name of sorts. He shares a lot of sounds with Sage--a name rising for both girls and boys--but is a bit more masculine.

Yukio- Depending on how you translate it, Yukio can mean "happy man," or "snow boy." Either one is fantastic--it's a win-win situation. Yukio is considered strictly masculine in Japan (the -o ending makes it so), although there is a female Marvel character with the name. There also appear to be other Yukios in comic series who are male, though none as prolific as Marvel's Yukio Okumura.

Stylish Choices Outside the Top 1000: 2015 Boys

via Studio MPLS

It can feel almost impossible to find a unique, uncommon name for a boy. But trust me, not everyone gives their son a name in the top 20, and there are some wonderful options out there if you want a name on the less popular side. I've culled the beyond the top 1000 list (so you don't have to) and picked out some of the best underused names, with between 202 and 5 uses. Last year's list is here--click over the jump to view this year's.

Celebrity Baby Name Predictions: Volume 21

Patterns in sibsets can be very cute and add cohesion when done right. But sometimes it can get you into trouble. Take Ayesha and Steph Curry. They have two daughters named Riley and Ryan, and now Ayesha is pregnant with their third child. Ryker or Ryder seems like the obvious choice for a boy, but if they have another daughter, this could be the end of the Ry- pattern.

Kimberly and James Van Der Beek are also in a predicament if they have another baby girl. Each of their children has a 3+ syllable name, and their daughters names all start with different vowels—O, A, and E, which leaves I and U. My top choice for them is Isla, which follows the different vowel pattern, but not the syllable count one. 

All this to say—patterns can be great, but if they're too restrictive, be prepared to give up some of the requirements as more children are added to the mix. I'm excited to see how these celebrities handle the challenge, and I've weighed in with my advice below. 

Laina Rose Thyfault and Chris Klein

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Frederick Easton "Easton"

Laina Rose Thyfault and Chris Klein's son Frederick is named for Chris's dad, Fred. The kiddo actually goes by his middle name, Easton, which gives us a better sense of his mom and dad's naming style. However, I'd love to see them follow a similar pattern of using the honor names first. Chris's mother's name offers some great possibilities—her maiden name, Bergen, would be darling on a son, and while slightly dated, her first name, Therese, lends itself to the sweet (and not at all dated) nickname Tess.

Girl: Addison, Delaney, Hadley, Harper, Piper, Quinn, Sydney, Tess, Therese

Boy: Beckett, Bergen, Carter, Clayton, Greyson, Landon, Lincoln, Tucker

*Update* It's a girl--welcome Isla Rose!

Ayesha and Steph Curry

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Riley, Ryan Carson (g)

Golden State Warriors player Steph Curry and his wife Ayesha are expecting their third child, but after daughters named Riley and Ryan, which name comes next? There are only so many Ry- names left (and many of them rhyme with Ryan), so my best guess is that they might give up the Ry- sound pattern for the broader R initial one.

Girl: Raelyn, Raven. Reagan, Reese, Rhiannon, Ria, Ridley, Ripley, Rissa

Boy: Rayden, Raymond, Rico, Rigby, River, Roman, Rowan, Ryder, Ryker
*Update* They didn't go with another Ry- name--it's a boy named Canon W. Jack!

Luisana Lopilato and Michael Bublé

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Noah, Elias

Noah and Elias are both gentle names for boys that have a religious bent. They also work well in Luisana Lopilato's native Spanish, an important factor to consider when naming cross-cultural babies. Luisana and Michael obviously aren't afraid to use names higher up on the popularity charts, so I imagine they will use another well-liked moniker for Elias and Noah's baby brother or sister.
Girl: Amelia, Annabella, Eden, Grace, Hannah, Isabel, Lily, Mia, Olivia, Sofia

Boy: Asher, Benjamin, Caleb, Ezra, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, Levi, Micah, Samuel
*Update* A little girl--Vida!

Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent

Gender: boy

Siblings: Poppy

Interior design superstars Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent are adding a baby boy to their brood! They named their daughter Poppy back in 2015—a stylish choice that's underused in America, but quite popular across the pond. In all likelihood, they'll choose a similarly friendly and fashionable name for her younger brother.

Boy: Graham, Felix, Jack, Jasper, Leland, Lyle, Milo, Oliver, Otis, Theo, Toby
*Update* Welcome, Oskar Michael!

Michelle Branch and Patrick Carney

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Owen Isabelle (previous relationship)

Singer Michelle Branch gave her daughter the gender-bending name Owen over a decade ago. Now, twelve years later, she is expecting her second child. Have her tastes shifted over the years, or would she go for another masculine name for a daughter? Whatever she picks, I'm sure it will be modern and stylish.
Girl: Elliot, Finley, James, Jude, Kit, Mason, Noa, Parker, Rory, Sawyer

Boy: Beckett, Camden, Dashiell, Griffith, Jack, Magnus, Sullivan, Wyatt
*Update* Hello, Rhys James!

Rachel McAdams and Jamie Linden

Gender: unknown

Siblings: none

Rachel McAdams may be best known for her acting, but she's also an active environmentalist. That makes me wonder if she'll choose a nature name for her baby, although with a surname like Linden, it could become too much of a good thing. Perhaps a name with subtle nature ties, like Cyrus or Daphne, might be better for Rachel and Jamie's son or daughter. 

Girl: Clover, Daphne, Flora, Laurel, Magnolia, Mavis, Rose, Violet, Willow

Boy: Canyon, Cyrus, Danner, Dune, Field, Forest, Fox, Grove, Lachlan, River

Kimberly and James Van Der Beek

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Olivia, Joshua, Annabel Leah, Emilia

After four children, the Van Der Beeks have clearly defined preferences when it comes to baby names. Long, soft names are a must for either gender, and for their daughters, they like names that start with different vowels. Some of these requirements are easier met than others, so I'm eager to see which ones Kimberly and James value the most when they name baby number five. 

Girl: Adeline, Audrey, Elena, Elodie, Camilla, Grace, Iris, Isla, Ivy, Lilia, Lucia

Boy: Adrian, Benjamin, Elijah, Elliott, Jameson, Noah, Samuel, Silas, Wesley
*Update* Another girl, but not another vowel name--baby girl is Gwendolyn!

Sophie Flack and Josh Charles

Gender: unknown

Siblings: Rocco

The friendly, charming name Rocco was chosen by Sophie Flack and Josh Charles for their son back in 2014. Although the name is Italian in origin, neither Sophie nor Josh have Italian heritage. That makes me think they chose Rocco more its style cred than its backstory, so I don't think we should expect another Italian name from Sophie and Josh. Although who knows? Rocco and Luca makes a pretty darn cute combination. 

Girl: Adele, Alma, Cleo, Della, Evie, Frieda, Gemma, Luella, Stella

Boy: Arlo, Benji, Cosmo, Duke, Hugo, Julius, Luca, Maxim, Nico, Otto