As we noted in C is for Girls, the letter C has been neglected in favor of K.  But parents hoping for an original name can do far better than Kaleb or Konner.

In fact, parents searching for a name that stands out are best advised to turn away from the khaotic krowd of K names and redirect their attention to the third letter of the alphabet.

Two-syllable, nickname-free names for boys have been all the rage in recent years.  Think Logan, Aiden and Jordan.  Little wonder, then, that classic boys’ name Christian (#21 in 2006) is now nearly as popular as perennial favorite Christopher (#7 in 2006).  For parents hoping for a similar, but far less popular alternative, Carsten – the German version of Christian – might appeal.  Carsten has never ranked in the Top 1000.  Beyond its long history of use in Germany and Scandinavia, the name has a certain surname-vibe, close to the trendy Carson (#87 in 2006) but far more striking.

Another two-syllable charmer is Crispin, a name familiar because of quirky actor Crispin Glover.  But Crispin is actually a 3rd century saint, as is his twin brother, Crispinian.  Their historical validity is doubtful, but every student of Shakespeare stumbles across a reference to St. Crispin’s Day in Henry V, where the King rallies his troops to win the Battle of Agincourt.  Crispin is a name both historic and exceedingly rare.  It has never ranked in the Top 1000 in the US.

Speaking of saints, Cassian seems like another unused gem.  While the official pronunciation is the three syllable CASS ee ahn, we’d suggest rhyming this one with passion and using the country-cool nickname Cash.  Cassianus was a Roman family name, and so there were actually two saints Cassian, plus a saint John Cassian, all earning their halos between 300 and 500 AD.  Despite the name’s long history and that very appealing nickname option, Cassian has never charted in the Top 1000 in the US.

Following on our Babes in the Woods post on nature names, coolteamblt suggested the spicy Coriander as a candidate for a hippie chic boys’ name.  It’s a daring choice, but one that offers both Cory and Andy as nickname options.  And while it is undeniably a nature name, with four syllables, this one feels more like the imperial Alexander or Maximillian than Rainbow or Sky.  You won’t be surprised to learn that Coriander has never been in the Top 1000 in the US.

Many parents were drawn to Jackson because of innovative American painter Jackson Pollock.  Jackson has surname flair and indie artistic cred, but today it is also wildly popular, ranking #36 and inspiring ill-advised variants like Jaxon.  So what’s a parent to do?  Move from action painting to mobiles, and borrow the last name of artist Alexander Calder.  The name also has a nature vibe:  a caldera is a hollow created by a volcanic explosion; the Yellowstone Caldera is one of the most famous.  Calder has never ranked in the Top 1000 in the US.

For a name worn by saints and a legendary Persian emperor, it is funny that Cyrus has acquired something of a hillbilly aesthetic in recent generations.  Perhaps it is because of Billy Ray “Achey Breaky Heart” Cyrus; maybe it is because one of Canada’s Trailer Park Boys goes by the name.  In any case, Cyrus seems like it is primed for a revival.  It has never been out of use – in 1907, it was the 545th most popular name given to baby boys in the US; a century later, it stands at #515.  Actor Cybill Shepherd has a son named Cyrus Zachariah, after his great-grandfather Cyrus; however he is known as Zack.

Yes, there’s the friendly ghost.  But Casper is much more than an animated children’s spook.  It is also a place name (think Wyoming) with a certain Western flair.  Like Cyrus, it is another Persian name, this time worn by one of the Biblical Magi.  Certainly Casper is a better candidate for your child’s name than Melchior, but perhaps no less outlandish than Balthasar.  The name is in steady use elsewhere on the globe, but has not cracked the Top 1000 in the US since 1933.  However, it’s not unheard in the US.  DJ Casper is responsible for bringing the world the Cha-Cha Slide.  Ahem.

So there you have it – a handful of names that are far more original than calling your son Korey.

Speaking of Korey, we’re calling the following one to avoid:

Cody

While Cody also has an undeniable Western vibe – Buffalo Bill’s full name was William Frederick Cody, and he lent his name to another town in Wyoming – it must be said that Cody is simply past its moment.  It was already in the Top 50 when Kathie Lee Gifford chose it for her son in 1990.  After endless chatter with Regis about her baby boy, the name pushed into the Top 25, holding at #24 for three years, from 1991 to 1994.  It has slowly edged out of the Top 100, hitting #106 in 2006.

While it was always one of the flimsier cowboy choices, it is now not only insubstantial, but dated – and best avoided.