Maverick

Commonly associated with an independent, nonconforming spirit in modern English.

Maverick is a modern male given name in English-language usage. In everyday meaning, it’s closely associated with the idea of an independent person who doesn’t follow the crowd, which is why many people read it as confident and adventurous. Etymologically, it comes from the English word maverick, which later became used as a given name. That word has historical ties to a surname in U.S. contexts, and over time it developed the broader “independent” meaning that’s widely recognized today. Pronunciation is typically MAV-uh-rik with three syllables. A practical tip is that it shortens naturally to Mav, and the middle syllable is usually kept light (MAV-uh-rik rather than overemphasizing “-er-”).

Etymology: From the English word maverick (independent person), which entered modern naming as a given name; the word is also historically tied to a surname in U.S. usage.