10 French Names You Never Thought of Using: Boys

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Last week was our first installment of this new series, and I want to know what you guys think! How is it compared to the alphabet letters? Today's list is all about French names for boys. Americans love French names for girls, but many don't consider using one on a boy (or don't even know their favorite boy name is French). Take a look.

Bastien- Bastien is the French form of the Latin Sebastian, and is often considered an alternate spelling to the more popular Bastian. Bastien, Bastian, and Sebastian are all skyrocketing in popularity, each one at an all time high (with Sebastian at #34). Bas or Baz makes a cute nickname.

Croix- Croix means cross in French, making him a sweet and subtle way to honor both heritage and religion. He can be prononced KROY (like the drink La Croix, most Americans' first association) or KWAH (as it would be said in France).

Emeric- Emeric would make a great import to America. The Em- prefix is very popular right now, and unlike most of them, he's exclusively for boys.

Florin- The Flor- names (mostly Flora and Florence) are experiencing a slight rise in the United States, and they're all over the place in Europe. Florin is quite popular in France, and would be very charming on this side of the pond.

Gable- With Gabriel being so fashionable (#24), it shocks me that Gable isn't even in the top 5000. He's such a wonderful name! Clark Gable makes a dashing namesake, especially if you love Old Hollywood.

Jules- Jules may sound girly to American ears, but in French he's very masculine (and trendy! He's #6). I think it's time for Jules to go back to the boys--we need a swanky nickname for all our Julians and Juliuses.

Mathis- Matthew is an ever-popular classic, and Matthias is on his way to becoming mainstream. Next in line? Mathis. Pronounced like Matisse, he's a slim, stylish variant of Matthew with a lot of potential.

Olivier- Oliver is becoming a big hit in the U.S., and soon parents are going to be searching for alternatives. Olivier (oh-LIV-ee-ay) could be the answer. Oli or Ollie are nice nicknames.

Vardon- I've been hearing a lot of -arden names lately, is that the next big sound? If so, put Vardon on your list before the trend hits. He's a French surname meaning "green knoll."

Yann- Yann is the French form of John, and makes a very preppy pick for a baby boy. He can be a nickname for Yancy or Yannick if you prefer longer names.

10 V Names You Never Thought of Using: Boys

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V names may be getting trendy for girls, but they're far from popular with the boys. The first one on the top 1000 is Victor--and he's only at #101. You won't find many V boy names in use--which could be perfect if you want an uncommon name. Here are my picks for the 10 best V names outside the top 1000.

Van- He's concise, easy to spell and pronounce, and won't be confused for other names. That makes Van perfect, in my book.

Vardon- Vardon is a French surname that would translate easily to an American baby. For those of you who like nicknameless names, Vardon (or the alternate spelling, Varden) is a good option.

Vasco- If you need a name that would work in the United States and Latin America, Vasco tops my list of suggestions. He's got serious swagger and spunk.

Venn- Venn will always remind me of Venn diagrams (maybe because I'm still in high school), but that's not a bad association at all. He makes a great alternative to Ben--though that could be confusing at times.

Vermont- Hands down, Vermont is one of the most beautiful states in America. He would also make an unusual, yet super rad name for a boy. If you have some sort of connection to Vermont, it might be worth it to consider him for a son.

Vero- If you've been reading this series long enough, you know how much I love a short, ends-in-o name for boys. Vero is no exception. He sounds a lot like the slowly rising Vera, but has a more youthful feel.

Viggo- I can't even begin to tell you how much I adore Viggo. I'm definitely a sucker for Scandinavian names. He is modern and unique, yet people are familiar with the name. Viggo's a winner.

Ving- Ving has pizzaz and vitality. Sure, he's originally a diminutive of Irving, but Ving has potential. At the very least, he'd make a good nickname.

Vito- I don't put much stock into the meaning of names, but it can be an important factor for some parents. Vito means "life," which is one of the best meanings out there. Want to make a "life" meaning sibset? Check out this list. Vito and Liv, maybe?

Vlad- Vlad is kind of a tough sell. He's got some rough associations (to be fair, he has some good ones, too) and is rarely used in America. That being said, he has a nice sound, and would be a lovely choice if you have Russian heritage.