40 Hipster Baby Boy Names That'll Totally Give Him Street Cred
We all know that hipsters have the best insider knowledge. They know the best music, clothes, books, types of plant-based milks -- even baby names! That's right, we said it: Hipsters know good baby names. As much as it pains us to admit, this group of highly obsessive consumers sort of have some pretty thorough knowledge of the unique and interesting. And that knowledge extends to baby names, where hipsters can let their freak flags fly.
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Folks may not want to cement their hipster status by declaring themselves as members of this granola-munching tribe, but the truth is, hipsters are mainstream now. It's time to embrace the fact that we all want to be a little bit hipster these days!
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Want to be in with the cool crowd? Or maybe pick baby names worthy of starting a family band? With the help of BabyNameWizard.com, we found the coolest boys' names for all the future baby hipsters. So grab a bicycle, a handlebar mustache, and possibly an underground polka band that others have "probably never heard of," and check out these adorably obscure and oh-so-hip baby boy names.
And let us know -- which hipster baby boy name is the best of all?
ELVIS
This name is 100% American, baby! Elvis is an American creation, made popular by -- you guessed it -- the king himself. Naming a baby Elvis almost definitely means up the odds of getting a little crooner! Plus it just sounds so effortlessly cool.
ARLO
A name for all the folk lovers out there! Arlo had a small blip of popularity from the 1900s-1930s, though it never topped any US baby name lists. The most popular Arlo is Arlo Guthrie, son of folk legend Woody Guthrie, who was known for making protest music. Far out, man!
EDISON
Possibly one of the most recognizable names in science! Edison, meaning "Edie's son" in Old English, was the last name of Thomas Edison, inventor of the light bulb, the telegraph, and the phonograph (among many other inventions). Electric!
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OTIS
A sweet little name for a little ragamuffin! Otis, meaning "wealth" or "fortune" in German, is a popular name among celebrities. Take, for instance, singer Otis Redding, Otis the dog from The Adventures of Milo & Otis, and even the son of Jason Sudeikis and Olivia Wilde. Oh, baby!
CALVIN
This is a name perfect for baby boys and not just ones that have a tiger named Hobbes! Calvin is a derivative of the name calvinus meaning "little bald one." Possible nicknames for Calvin are Cal, Vinny, or Calvie. There are so many possibilities!
ROSCOE
Here's a name that's truly old-fashioned. Roscoe was once a popular last name in England, but has since transitioned to first name status. It is a composition of the Norse words rá (meaning "a roe deer") and skógr (meaning "a wood"). How's that for a rustic baby name?
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MILLER
Miller, a common last name, means "one who works in a mill," in German. It also has become a popular first name, spiking in popularity in 2014. There are also plenty of famous Millers to look to: writer Arthur Miller, Stella McCartney's son Miller Willis, and even David Duchovny and Tea Leoni have a Miller of their own (their son's name is Kyd Miller).
HOLDEN
The ultimate hipster novel is almost certainly Catcher in the Rye. Holden Caulfeld, the narrator, is a teenage boy who is both disenchanted and disillusioned with the outside world. Interestingly, Holden has remained steadily popular throughout several decades. It's been trending upwards since the 1800s!
DUKE
This name has a little bit of a royal flair. Duke, from the title granted to an English noblemen who ranks just below a prince, is a strong name for a unique little guy! Think jazz musician Duke Ellington and John "The Duke" Wayne. It really doesn't get any cooler than that.
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MATTEO
A fun twist, for those who think the name Matthew is a little too boring. Matteo is a derivative of the Latin name Matthaeus and the Ecclesiastic Greek Matthaios. It is also derived from the Hebrew Mattiyah meaning "gift of God."
RYDER
We think this name is totally cool. Ryder, from the Old English Ridere, means "knight" or "mounted warrior." It also has only been getting more popular since the '90s! Famous Ryders include Ryder Robinson (son of Kate Hudson) and '90s heartthrob Rider Strong. *Heart eyes emoji*
VAN
Beep, beep! Here comes little Van! No, not like the automobile, Van like the English surname that has quickly become a popular first name. Van comes from the Middle English Vanne and the French Van, meaning a "winnowing machine." Historically, Van has been an element of some last names, but clearly this cool moniker is ready to take center stage.
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CORMAC
Book lovers might be most familiar with this name because of Cormac McCarthy, the famous novelist and author of The Road and No Country for Old Men. Cormac is actually a popular Irish name, though its meaning is a little uncertain. Some claim it means "charioteer" while others believe it means "son of defilement." So mysterious!
JUDD
Originally a pet name for Jordan, Judd means "descending" or "flowing down." Judd had a quick spike of popularity in the '70s, but for the most part has stayed under the radar. Sounds like just the type of obscure baby name that hipster love!
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JONES
Another last name being used as a cool first name! Jones is most certainly a popular American last name, but most parents might not know it also had a run of popularity for being a first name from the 1880s to 1910? Hipster and vintage all in one!
COLTON
This name is blowing up, fast! Colton was virtually unheard of before 1970, but has since exploded in popularity. Perhaps it's because Colton is a sturdy, solid name that doesn't sound too old-fashioned; perhaps it's because of celebrities like Colton Haynes. We can't be too sure -- all we know is, Colton is awesome in our book!
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HUCK
A shortened form of Huckleberry, Huck is truly for those who want some literary credentials. Huckleberry Finn, protagonist of the Mark Twain novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, is one of the most classic American characters in literature. And anyone who shares this moniker is sure to be adventurous, whip smart, and full of spirit. Sweet little Huck!
BYRON
A great name for fans of Romantic poetry, Byron -- like Lord Byron, not like the name Brian -- is a classic name. It comes from the Old English phrase aet byrum meaning "at the cowsheds." Hmm, well that's not very romantic, is it?
BECKETT
Avant-garde writer Samuel Beckett may be responsible for this hipster reference point. As a name, Beckett means "dweller near the brook." Good options for nicknames include Bex, Becks, or Kit. Too cute!
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SANFORD
A cute name that we can't get enough of! Sanford is another last name that has become popular for first names. In fact, in the early 1900s it was an incredibly popular first name, though it has since dipped in popularity. This name is a total diamond in the rough!
LUCA
This baby name is popular the world over! Making the top baby lists in Australia, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Austria, and Belgium (to name just a few), Luca clearly is a winner. The root of Luca is the Latin word lux, meaning "light," though some believe the name comes from the Greek Loukas, meaning "man who comes from Lucania." Either way, Luca rocks!
BEAR
A good name for a cuddly little fellow! Bear is, of course, a name taken from the animal, but we really like how trendy it has become. Of course, the most famous Bear is Running Wild's Bear Grylls, but did you know that One Direction member Liam Payne just named his baby Bear Payne? Bear is just too cute!
JACK
Yes, this name could be a little basic. But parents shouldn't rule it out too easily. Jack, a pet name of John, is also one of the most popular names internationally. Think about it: Jack Nicholson, Jack Kennedy, Jack Sparrow -- those are some freakin' cool Jacks!
OLLIE
Masculine names starting with the letter "O" have been having a moment -- especially Oscar and Oliver, both choices that have been super popular lately. Ollie is a great choice for parents who like names starting with a vowel but who are wanting something a little bit more uncommon.