O Boy! The Best Boy Names Ending in O

Updated Thu Apr 18 2024

Boy names ending in O are trendsetters, offering a sound that’s unexpected and fun amid reams of names ending in a consonant.

How do we know they’re style-forward? O-ending names are always among the most popular names on Nameberry. This is a good indicator of what parents-to-be are interested in now, and which names are about to get more popular in real life.

At the moment there are three O-ending names in our twenty most-viewed names: Arlo, Hugo, and Milo. Also in our Top 100 are Leo, Otto, Theo, Elio, Nico, and Apollo, as well as Beau which ends in the same sound.

However, among the most popular baby names in the US, there were only five names ending in O in the whole Top 100: Mateo, Leo, Santiago, Leonardo, and Theo (plus Beau again). Most are on a rising streak, and we predict baby boy names ending in O will only keep getting more popular in the next few years.

As you might guess from the names above, many come from Spanish and Italian. There are also options from Portuguese, Finnish, Greek, Japanese, Hawaiian and other languages across the globe: names with an O ending often make great culture-crossing choices that travel easily.

Here’s our pick of the best boy names ending in O for every style, from much-loved favorites to unique options.

Popular Boy Names That End in O

The most popular O-ending boy name in the USA is Mateo, a Spanish classic that non-Hispanic parents are also adopting as a cool alternative to Matthew.

The other O-ending names in the Top 500 are mainly of Spanish and Italian origin, with a few exceptions like Arlo and Otto. In order of popularity, they are:

Modern Classic Boy Names Ending in O

If you like Mateo, you may want to consider more classic names that hit the sweet spot of familiar yet fresh. (Unlike, say, Pedro and Roberto, which peaked decades ago and are now more likely to be dad names.)

Here are Spanish, Italian and Portuguese names which have deep roots, but are not overused. They could honor heritage, or be an alternative to the English equivalent, like Marco instead of Mark. Many are more popular in Europe, like Francesco: in the Top 5 in Italy, but below the Top 1000 in the US.

Fun and Friendly Boy Names Ending with O

These names are short, sprightly, and often playful alternatives to serious choices: think Milo and Nico versus Miles and Nick. Some started out as nicknames, but stand strong in their own right. They can also be creative paths to honor names, like Mikko for Michael.

Grandiose O-Ending Boy Names

Can boy names be frilly? These ones are certainly full of drama, syllables, and often impressive namesakes. In these days when William and Sebastian are more likely to go by their full names than by Will and Seb, these names work splendidly in all their glory too.

Cool Boy Names Ending in O

Cool boy names that end in O include those at the top of the charts and white-hot picks that are shooting up.

Celebrity Baby Names Ending in O

Celebs often hold a magnifying glass up to baby name trends, giving a boost to names that were hovering on the edge of the radar or just starting to become popular. These are some of the coolest O-ending celebrity baby names from across the decades.

Aeko (Ammika Harris and Chris Brown)

Apollo (Gwen Stefani)

Brando (Jacqueline Wood & Elan Ruspoli)

Caruso (Sebastian Maniscalo)

Cosmo (Scarlett Johansson)

Echo (Amanda Knox)

Francisco (Lin Manuel Miranda)

Fuego (Robin Thicke’s son Julian Fuego)

Halo (Halle Bailey)

Kenzo (Kevin Hart)

Laszlo (Pete Wentz’s son Saint Laszlo)

Lorenzo and Angelo (Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi)

Michelangelo (Tom and Giovanna Fletcher’s son Buzz Michelangelo)

Monaco (Jeezy)

Rocco (Madonna)

Romeo (David and Victoria Beckham, Alec and Hilaria Baldwin)

Santino (Mario Lopez)

Vittorio (Hope Solo and Jerramy Stevens)

Place Names Ending in O For Boys

You’ve heard of place names like Brooklyn and Camden, so why not an O-ending place name? These are some of the most usable.

Many of these names are used for girls as well as boys. For example Rio was about 75% male, 25% female in the latest baby name statistics, while Chicago is better known as a girl name, thanks to Kim and Kanye — but would be cool for boys too.

Boy Names Ending in O with Great Meanings

All names have meaning to the parents who choose them, but these wear it on their sleeves more than most. They include spiritual choices, and word names in English and other languages.

Faux O Endings For Boys

These end in the same stylish sound, but get there with a different spelling.

For more great options, see our list of Best Boy Names Ending in O — or for something a bit different, check out our Unique Boy Names Ending in O.

About the Author

Clare Green

Clare Green has been writing for Nameberry since 2015, covering everything from names peaking right now to feminist baby names, and keeping up-to-date with international baby name rankings. Her work has featured in publications such as The Independent and HuffPost. Clare has a background in linguistics and librarianship, and recently completed an MA dissertation researching names in multilingual families. She lives in England with her husband and son. You can reach her at clare@nameberry.com