Caleb
Popularity rank in the US: #35
Meaning: Dog
The steadily rising Caleb is a solidly masculine boy name with an on-trend nickname (Cale). In the Old Testament, Caleb was an ancient Israelite who made it to the Promised Land. In the modern day, it's a boy name for the kids of celebs Jack Nicholson and Julianne Moore.
Elijah
Popularity rank in the US: #11
Meaning: Jehovah is God
Hot on the heels of the popular Noah, Elijah seems poised to break the Top 10 any day now. While Hebrew, the name resonates with Christians and Muslims as well and gets some additional Hollywood cred from actor Elijah Wood.
Elon
Popularity rank in the US: Not ranked
Meaning: Oak
Elon Musk has single-handedly given the name Elon an air of irreverent, larger-than-life ambition. But even before him, the name already stood on its own. Elon was the name of a judge in Israel in Biblical times, and there's a sense of steady strength that comes straight from the name's meaning.
Ezra
Popularity rank in the US: #119
Meaning: Help
Another E-name for boys that is striking higher and higher on the name charts, Ezra, in the Bible, helped liberate slaves and lead them back to Jerusalem. His name, "Ezra the Scribe," plus the poet Ezra Pound, give this boy name a certain scholarly, literary air, while the Z keeps things upbeat and fun.
Levi
Popularity rank in the US: #45
Meaning: Joined, attached
Despite its association with the iconic jeans and their founder, Levi Strauss, the name Levi somehow doesn't feel ubiquitous or overused. In the Bible, Levi was the son of Leah and Jacob and also the name of Matthew before he became an apostle. Today, it's a Top 50 baby name chosen by the likes of Matthew McConaughey and Sheryl Crow.
Lilith
Popularity rank in the US: #635
Meaning: Storm goddess
Lilith is not a name for the meek – and that could be just what the doctor ordered, depending on the spirit of your little gal. In the Bible, Lilith was Adam's first (and rejected) wife. In the '90s, Lilith was the name of an all-woman alt-rock mecca. As far as names go, it's fierce, feminine and maybe a little dangerous.
Noa
Popularity rank in the US: Not ranked
Meaning: Movement, motion
A homonym to the No. 1-rated boy name in the U.S. (Noah), Noa, a distinctly female name from the Old Testament, is a heavy favorite in Israel and Spain. While it's rarely used stateside, it's easy to see how that could change – Noa falls in quite nicely with Top 10 girl names like Olivia, Emma and Eva that are feminine, lilting and end in "a."
Noemi
Popularity rank in the US: #726
Meaning: Pleasant
Naomi, make way for your way more interesting cousin. Noemi, a variant of the more common Naomi, carries all of that name's rich history, but with a slight edge.
Oren
Popularity rank in the US: Not ranked
Meaning: Pine tree
If you're simply looking for an O-name, Oren is a wonderfully fresh remix of the popular Owen. A favorite in Israel, Oren, in a U.S. context manages to sound both vintage and modern at the same time.
Rae
Popularity rank in the US: Not ranked
Meaning: Diminutive of Rachel; ewe
Rae is typically more popular as a middle name, and in a somewhat Southern context – think Sally Field's Norma Rae. It's short for the classic Hebrew name Rachel. And like the best nicknames, Rae manages to be sassy, modern and unisex, without feeling at all trendy.
