Alphabet: B is for Boys

Yes, B is quite literally for boy.

But we’re not just spelling it out here on ApMtn. Or maybe we are.

We’re talking about a few underused, less considered names for baby boys that all happen to begin with the letter B.

Here goes …

• Bay – Nature names often seem to be reserved for girls – Daisy, Willow, Ruby. But there are a select few that work nicely for boys, and the simple, direct Bay is among them. It’s a body of water, a leaf and a color of horse. It’s also a surname, so that makes Bay fair game. (Bay has never appeared in the Top 1000.)
• Beckett – The nickname Beck appeals to many parents, and the super-stardom of David Beckham might lead some to consider the formal name Beckham. But we at ApMtn suggest that Beckett is a far more appealing choice. It has literary overtones, thanks to the Tony-award winning play about the life of Saint Thomas Becket. But it is the two-T version – Beckett – that broke in the Top 1000 at #758 in 2006.
• Beau – We’ve noted that Beau is an appealing option for girls, and it remains equally charming for boys. If you’re looking for a name for your little cowpoke, this is a good pick – and a strong alternative to the worn-out Cody. (Beau was #438 in 2006.)
• Becan – Celtic names are cool, whether you’re Irish or just like to toast with Guinness. But many are woefully overexposed – Aiden, Connor and Ryan spring to mind. Saint Becan was one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland (though at my last count there are about 15 of them) and his name remains obscure. It has never been in the Top 1000 in the US. With the short form Beck and the two-syllable sound of Becan, this offers an interesting choice to parents looking for a lesser-known Irish charmer.
• Bodhi, Bode – The first time I spotted Bodhi, I’ll admit I thought it was an outlandish choice. Then I Googled it. Turns out that Bodhi is Sanskrit for enlightened – the Buddha achieved enlightenment while sitting under the Bodhi tree. The name might’ve caught parents’ attention back in 1991, when Patrick Swayze played a bad guy surfer called Bodhi in Point Break. The spelling Bode, worn by the famous American alpine skier Bode Miller, offers an alternative spelling that might seem more masculine. (Bodhi has never been in the Top 1000, but Bode entered at #848 in 2006.)
• Bram – Traditionally a nickname for Abraham – which made our A is for Boys post – Bram could stand on its own. The most famous Bram is doubtless the author of Dracula, Bram Stoker. (Bram has never been in the Top 1000.)
• Barney – This old-fashioned name would be a daring choice for parents, indeed. Not only is there the purple dinosaur, there’s sidekick Barney Rubble on The Flinstones, Homer’s drinking buddy Barney on The Simpsons and the hapless Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show. And yet, if Henry is hot, Barney might just make a comeback. Today the most famous Barney on TV may be the character played by Neil Patrick Harris on How I Met Your Mother – the womanizing Barney Stinson – a far-cry from the saccharine children’s show. (Barney has not been in the the Top 1000 since 1976.)
• Bryson – It must be said that I don’t care for the name Bryce, and find Brycen absolutely dreadful. But the surname alternative Bryson has real appeal. Travel writer Bill Bryson lends the name some cachet. In fact, this name is almost too popular to rate a nod from ApMtn – it came in at #176 in 2006.