by Pamela Redmond Satran

　　There’s a new class of boys’ names trending today that has a short clipped sound, contains only one syllable, is undeniably masculine yet not traditionally so.  Many of these boys’ names barely existed a generation or two ago: They’re definitely not your father’s or grandfather’s baby names.

　　But in some ways, they are the heirs to names like Glenn and Craig and Sean that took over in the 1960s and 70s from the traditional Bills and Toms.  They seek to reinvent masculinity while preserving qualities like strength and energy.

　　There are names with more conventional roots that you might consider part of this new brigade of short boys’ names: I’m thinking of such popular, stylish choices as Finn and Jack, Max and Jude.

　　But I’d like to focus today on those boys’ names that are newer and, some may say, fresher than Jack or Jude.   In 1970, most of these boys’ names barely squeaked onto the Social Security extended list, given to only a handful of baby boys.  Today, most are on the Top 1000, many of them moving up quickly.

　　The new boys’ names on the block include:

　　[column1]

　　Ace

　　Ash

　　Blaine

　　Bo

　　Brock

　　Cade

　　Cash

　　Clay

　　Cole

　　Colt

　　Cru

　　Dax

　　Gage

　　Gray

　　Jace

　　Jax

　　Kane

　　[/column1]

　　[column2]

　　Kase

　　King

　　Knox

　　Lane

　　Nash

　　Pax

　　Reed

　　Rhys

　　Sage

　　Tate

　　Trace

　　Trent

　　Trey

　　Trip

　　Wade

　　West

　　Zane

　　[/column2]

　　What do you think of this kind of new boys’ names?  Did you or would you give one to your son?  Why or why not?