Names Ending in -er for Boys

Ebenezer is the name of a biblical place --the stone set up by Samuel to mark his victory over the Philistines--rather than a person. It was adopted by the British Puritans as a first name and then exported to America, where it had some early popularity, even entering the Top 1000 in the 1880s.
 After appearing in Walter Scott's novel Waverly and Robert Louis Stevenson's Kidnapped, it made its most lasting impression as Dickens's miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, pretty much annihilating the name, but since Scrooge did reform at the end of A Christmas Carol, maybe there's some slight hope for the old name yet. If you have a sense of humor, you might consider it one of the darker <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/412/christmas-baby-names">Christmas baby names</a>.
 The good news: the appealing short form Eben--so if you find Ebenezer too loaded and quirky for your taste, you might skip straight to the nickname.

Ebenezer

Mercer is an attractive possibility which is an occupational name that doesn't sound like one. Mercer and its cool, sophisticated short form Merce project a super creative image via their artistic namesakes.
 Johnny Mercer was a talented and charming songwriter-singer who wrote the lyrics for more than 1,500 songs, including Moon River. Jazz great Duke Ellington named his son Mercer, and he in turn became a respected musician in his own right. Stone Temple Pilot's Scott Weiland used Mercer as the middle name of his son Noah.
 In the visual arts, Mercer Mayer is a prolific children's book writer and illustrator.
 The short form Merce is associated with avant garde dancer/choreographer Merce Cunningham, born Mercier, whose name still resonates with an aura of bold originality.

Mercer

More and more frequently heard as the Gallic version of Oliver, Olivier could be seen as a tribute to the great British actor, Sir Laurence O.


Olivier

Stryker adds the trendy letter Y to Striker to join the new gang of boys' names that have two syllables, end in -er, spring from words, and have a macho meaning and image. 
 
Stryker is given to around 50 boys each year, steamrolling Striker which is typically used less than 10 times per year in the U.S. Many parents are interested in these names that feel aggressive and powerful, but we wouldn't recommend them.

Stryker

Cutter was an old-fashioned term for a tailor or barber that was eventually adopted as a surname. That gives it more legitimacy than many of the other aggressive boy names — Striker, Shooter, Breaker, et al. — but Cutter remains equally threatening — and is associated with symptoms of mental illness. 

Despite or perhaps because of its violent image, Cutter was one of the fastest rising boys' names in 2023, jumping more than 1000 places in popularity though still fairly obscure below the US Top 1000. In a recent count, 48 boys were given the name, placing it alongside Collins, Hershel, Isaak, Cale, and Slate in the same year.

Cutter

Riker gets relatively little use as a variation of Ryker, likely because of the connection to Riker's Island, the New York City prison. It was named after NYC magistrate Richard Riker, whose ancestor Abraham Rycken first purchased the island.
 
Richard and Riker actually come from very similar roots, as each contain the Germanic element rīc or rīk, which can be interpreted to mean "rich" or "powerful."

Riker

Anyone who's seen "The Book of Mormon" or visited Utah knows this as the title taken by male Mormon missionaries during their term of service. We'd advise anyone who lives somewhere with any significant Mormon population to avoid it for that reason. That said, Elder does have some history as a boys' name, especially in Latin America, where the stress is on the second syllable. The "el-" sound has become extremely fashionable, so we wouldn't be surprised if this started climbing up the charts.

Elder

Maher is a masculine name of Arabic origin meaning 'skilled' or 'expert.' Widely used throughout the Middle East and Muslim communities globally, it carries positive connotations of competence and mastery. The name appears in the Quran, giving it religious significance for many Muslim families. Maher has gained some recognition in Western countries through notable bearers like comedian Bill Maher, though his name stems from a different etymology. The name's short, strong sound makes it accessible across cultural boundaries while maintaining its Arabic roots. For parents seeking a name with Islamic heritage that's relatively easy to pronounce in multiple languages, Maher offers an appealing option balancing tradition with simplicity.

Maher

Yasser is a masculine name of Arabic origin meaning 'wealthy' or 'ease, prosperity.' It gained international recognition through Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat (1929-2004), who brought the name to global attention. Common throughout the Middle East and Muslim communities worldwide, Yasser carries positive connotations of abundance and success. The name has a flowing, melodious quality while remaining strong and distinctive. In Western countries, it's primarily found within Arab diaspora communities and among Muslim families. Despite its political associations for some, the name's fundamental meaning of prosperity and its cultural significance continue to make it a meaningful choice for parents connected to Arabic heritage.

Yasser

Lazer has some biblical cred as a form of Eliezer, Eleazar, or Lazarus, all relatives, and it's also a modern bad boy name a la Ranger and Breaker. Our recommendation would be to use one of the biblical forms as the proper name and Lazer as a nickname.

Lazer

Bayker

A floral and celestial choice, Aster is the name of a daisy-like flower, with a star like shape. Derived from the Greek word for "star", Aster entered the Belgian Top 200 in 2021 for boys inn 2021.
 
In the US, Aster has been used quietly and sporadically for girls and boys since at least 1912, however, it began to climb for girls in the 2010s. A more recent year saw it leaning more neutral again, given to 57 girls and 43 boys, perhaps owing to its similarity to Asher, Aspen, Adler, Atlas, and Alistair, as well as to Astrid, Juniper, and Astoria.
 
Actress Bonnie Wright and her husband Andrew Lococo named their son Aster Sky in 2026.

Aster

A neologism coined for the 2012 Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, which aims to come up with new terms for emotions that currently lack words

Sonder

Aleister is a masculine name of Scottish origin, representing a variant spelling of Alistair or Alastair, which themselves derive from Alexander. The name ultimately comes from Greek elements meaning 'defender of mankind.' This particular spelling was popularized by the notorious British occultist Aleister Crowley (1875-1947), giving the name strong associations with mysticism and the esoteric. Despite this controversial connection, the name has a distinguished sound and maintains its Scottish heritage appeal. Aleister has never been extremely common but has attracted parents seeking a name with both traditional roots and an unconventional edge. It carries a somewhat mysterious, intellectual quality while maintaining its classic masculine strength.

Aleister

More unique than Cooper, and a favorite among pet parents. Copper was the loveable bloodhound from Disney's Fox and the Hound. Keep in mind that Copper is also slang for a policeman. 

Copper

This try-too-hard variation is just begging to be spelled at every turn.

Konner

Allister is a variant spelling of Alistair or Alastair, which derived from the Scottish Gaelic form of Alexander. The name ultimately traces back to Greek origins meaning "defender of mankind." This spelling with double 'l' emerged as an Anglicized version that maintains the name's distinguished Scottish heritage while being somewhat easier to pronounce and spell for English speakers. Allister conveys strength, nobility, and protection. The name has maintained steady but modest popularity, appealing to parents seeking a name with classic appeal that isn't overly common. Notable bearers include various politicians, athletes, and fictional characters, contributing to its image as a name with substance and character. Its sound is strong yet sophisticated.

Allister

Lander is a name that straddles two trends. It's an er-ending surname name, ala Cooper and Carter. And it's also, more subtly, a green name, in the manner of Fielder or Reed.

Lander

Sander is a more conventional form of Zander or Xander, heard frequently on its own in Europe. It is now a Top 20 name in Norway, and is also popular in Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands.


Sander

This occupational surname could find new life with those wishing to honor someone in their heritage who was connected to the tough-as-nails breed that was the pre-modern coal miner. Coll and Collie are some sweet nickname options to tone down the formality of this name.

Collier

Boy names that end in -er are among the top baby names today, encompassing many choices from the trendy occupational name and surname name groups.

Along with Top 10 Oliver, baby boy names ending in -er that rank in the US Top 100 include the classic Alexander, the surname-name Carter, and the Biblical Asher. Top boy names that carry the same ending sound as -er include Arthur and Oscar in the UK Top 10, Hector in Spain, and Kasper in Norway.

 that end in -er that make our recommended list include Abner, Booker, Eleazer, Luther, and Evander.

Here is our full range of baby names that end in -er for boys, ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry.

Boy names that end in -er are currently fashionable, such as Jasper, Oliver, and Asher (Page 7)

Boy Names That End in -er