Brody

Possibly “muddy place”, through the Scottish place name behind the surname.

Brody is a boys’ name used in English, taken from a Scottish surname related to Brodie. That connection leads to Moray, where Brodie Castle preserves the family’s association with the place. “Muddy place” is a possible meaning of the underlying Gaelic place name, rather than a certain translation of Brody itself. To my ear, Brody has the relaxed warmth of a familiar short form, although it stands on its own as a given name. The rounded first vowel and bright ee ending give its two syllables a buoyant rhythm. Its sound feels casual and contemporary, while the surname connection offers a more rooted, geographic story.

Etymology: From the Scottish surname Brody, a variant of Brodie, associated with Brodie in Moray. The underlying Gaelic place name may mean “muddy place”; its exact interpretation is uncertain.