Hipster, nerdy, funky-clunky… Call them what you will, there’s no denying that geek chic names for boys and girls are cool.

　　But fashion moves fast, and some of the original names on our Geek Chic Boys master list — like Jasper, Cyrus and Augustus — now feel almost mainstream.

　　So we’ve been busy adding lots of intriguing new options to the roster: some a little bit edgy, some simply overlooked, but all outside of the US Top 1000 and ripe for revival today.

　　Below is a small selection of our favorite unique boy names; which other geek-chic gems would you nominate for this list?

　　

Aldous

Huxley is hot, but Aldous is cool… in a nerdy kind of way, that is. Notably borne by the author of Brave New World, this ancient name derives from the Old English element eald “old”. It has a simple, solid sound and a Potteresque charm.

　　

Barnaby

Consistently in the Top 300 for boys in England & Wales, bouncy Barnaby has never cracked the US Top 1000, despite famous fictional bearers including Charles Dickens’ Barnaby Rudge and TV detective Barnaby Jones, played by Buddy Ebsen.

　　Natural nickname Barney has a similar cute/clunky appeal, but there’s always Barnes if the purple dinosaur is too strong an association.

　　

Chester

Another retro name which is popular across the pond, but in the US today you’re far more likely to run into a canine Chester than a human one — it’s high up on our list of the most popular names for dogs. Still, that’s not putting parents off Max or Bella, and music-lovers might appreciate the jazzy nickname Chet.

　　

Cornelius

A Catholic saint’s name with a magical aura, thanks to characters in the enchanted worlds of Dr Faustus, Harry Potter and Narnia. There are plenty of fun nicknames to consider beyond the obvious: try the Dutch Cor, Irish Con/Conor, or the literary Neely (A Tree Grows in Brooklyn).

　　

Digby

This aristocratic English surname has gained some traction there as a first name over the past decade, now sitting just inside the Top 1000. It’s far rarer in the US, but with similar surname names like Shelby, Kirby and Ashby all in regular usage, why not the debonair Digby?

　　

Elmer

We know, we know… Fudd. But hear us out! El- names are in, -er endings are huge, and how cute is the cosy, nature-inspired nickname Elm? With the old associations fading from the memories of today’s new parents, this much-maligned vintage option just might start to feel fresh again.

　　

Fergus

Cool guy Gus also makes the list of Geek Chic Boy Names, but it's been hovering on the bounds of the Top 1000 for the past few years, and no longer quite qualifies as an undiscovered gem. But give him the full name Fergus and you’d be onto a winner: super rare in the US, but with a long and rich history in Irish legend.

　　

Isidore

With Theodore in the Top 10, it seems surprising that this handsome alternative is absent from the official list. But at #422 on the Nameberry charts, the Berries certainly rate it — and that’s usually a pretty good indication of real-life popularity gains to come…

　　

Jethro

Once the ultimate hillbilly name, now one of the intriguingly unique names in the fashionable o-ending gang. And British prog rock band Jethro Tull lends this name an extra shot of rock ’n’ roll cool.

　　

Ludovic

Lu– names Luke and Lucas have been mainstays of the US Top 100 for over two decades. Lately, other options with the same starting sound, like Luca and Louis (as well as Lucy, Luna and Louisa) have all been climbing too. Ludovic, or its jaunty short form Ludo, fit right in — but would certainly stand out from the crowd.

　　

Llewelyn

A classic Welsh name which, despite its rather complex spelling and pronunciation (to the English eye and ear), has the benefit of broad familiarity outside of Wales. As a bonus, sweet short form Llew coincides with the Welsh word for “lion”.

　　

Ned

Ted and Teddy are riding high in the UK at the moment, and both are starting to catch on in the US as well, particularly as nicknames for the popular Theodore and Edward. But Edward and the other old-fashioned Ed– names, like Edmund, Edgar, Edwin or Edison, can also be shortened to the adorably nerdy Ned — or just use it as it is.

　　

Percy

A literary choice, whether your inspiration is the Romantic poet Bysshe Shelley or the pompous prefect Weasley. Sometimes short for Percival, but perfectly legitimate as a full name in its own right, Percy is among the Top 300 most searched boys’ names on Nameberry.

　　

Sylvester

This soft-yet-strong name was a mainstay of the US Top 200 until the mid-1920s, when it started on a downwards trend which was accelerated by the creation of the hapless cartoon cat. According to the 100-Year Rule, it’s due a revival, and edgy nickname possibilities like Silver and Sly certainly seem appealing in 2023.

　　

Woodrow

Carter, Lincoln, Franklin, Reagan, Kennedy… Woodrow has never caught on in the same way as many other presidential names, but it’s got an interesting, unconventional sound — though we’d recommend the rugged Woods or Row over Woody for short!

　　

About the Author

　　

Emma Waterhouse

　　Emma Waterhouse joined the team in 2017, writing about everything from the top baby name trends 2023 to how not to choose the next big baby name. As Nameberry's head moderator, she also helps to keep our active forums community ticking.

　　Emma's articles on names and naming trends have been featured in publications including the Huffington Post, People, Today's Parent, Fatherly, and Good Housekeeping.

　　A linguist by background, Emma speaks several languages and lives in England's smallest county with her husband and four young children. You can reach her at [email protected].

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