Handsome Boy Names

A name which strikes the balance between gentle and strong, Truett has been a fast rising option in the 2020s. Given to 131 American boys in 2019, a more recent count saw it given to 578, placing it just outside the Top 500. 
 
Ranking alongside Tru and Truce, Truett likely comes from the English place name Trewhitt, which takes its meaning from the Old Norse tyri meaning "dry resinous wood" and the Old English whit, which means "river bend". As such, it's an outdoorsy, nature-connected choice, with the additional appeal of sounding adjacent to the virtue Truth.
 
In fact, it is also considered a variation of the Germanic Treuhardt, meaning "true, faithful" and "strong, brave", reinforcing the more virtuous associations.
 
Some may well relate the name to the Baptist church in the Southern USA due to former leader George Truett. Others may think it sounds like "truant" or, more favorably, "truest".

Truett

Rio is a reductive ranchero place-name with an attractive Tex-Mex lilt. No Doubt's Tom Dumont has a son named Rio Atticus. 
 Also a South American place name, and associated with the Rio Grande, it's been used as a swaggering cowboy name in films spanning from a William S. Hart character in 1915 to Marlon Brando's in One-Eyed Jacks. Adding to its international credibility, Rio is also a Japanese name meaning "place of the cherry blossoms".
 Rio is gender neutral, given to about 500 baby boys versus 100 baby girls. It's noted as a girl's name in the catchy Duran Duran song.

The Dorians were an ancient Greek tribe, one of the three major pre-Spartan tribes. It literally means "of Doris," a Greek district, or "of Doros," referring to the son of Helen of Sparta. Dorian derives from the Greek doron, meaning "gift," along with related names such as Dorothy and Dora.
 
Dorian was introduced as a first name by Oscar Wilde in his 1890 novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, the story of a narcissistic character who retains his youthful good looks while his portrait in the attic ages grotesquely. Despite this negative reference, Dorian's attributes have kept it consistently on the boys' list since the 1960s.
 Dorian also has a musical reference, being the name of one of the modes.
 Actor Dorian Harewood has been a familiar presence in movies and on TV.
 Rhythmic and unusual, Dorian makes a distinctive choice.

Dorian

Augustine is more substantial (and saintly) than August, less pretentious than Augustus, and, along with its nickname Gus, is definitely a viable choice. 
 Augustine is actually the diminutive form of Augustus and achieved its fame via the great fourth century saint, St. Augustine of Hippo, whose teachings and writings had a great effect on early Christianity.
 A major character in Uncle Tom's Cabin is Augustine St. Clare. The full name of the author of Ulysses and Finnegans Wake is James Augustine Aloysius Joyce.
 Model Linda Evangelista chose the French form Augustin for her son, also used by Jerry Hall and Mick Jagger as a middle name for their son James.
 The Spanish Agustin is experiencing a wild burst of popularity in South America: in recent years it has been the number one name in Uruguay and in the Top 5 in Argentina.

Augustine

This Latinate name would have no problem fitting into an American classroom. It has made frequent appearances in the US Top 1000 over the last several decades. Borne by several Spanish saints, it  boasts both a rhythmic sound and popular o-ending.

Eliseo

This name once seemed a bit grand and pompous for an American baby boy, but a significant number of parents are now preferring it as a substantial platform for the nickname Max, among them Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, who chose it for their twin son.
 Maximilian was a traditional royal name among the Hapsburgs in Austro-Hungary and also in Bavaria. In literature, it appears as the husband of Rebecca in the eponymous novel and also in The Count of Monte Cristo. Maximilian Schell was a highly respected Austrian actor who won a Best Actor Academy Award in 1961.

Maximilian

Russian forms, like Russian supermodels, are hot these days. This is a strong, worldly way to make Nicholas new; it was chosen for his son by Barry Bonds, Jr.

Nikolai also comes with several attractive nickname options, including approachable Nik, spunky Niko, or even hip Kai. A traditional nickname for Nikolai in Russia is Kolya. 

Nikolai

Lachlan is as Scottish as haggis and tartan plaid kilts—a favorite used throughout England, Scotland, Australia, and New Zealand—and just beginning to be noticed in the US: it reached the Top 1000 for the first time in 2013. An ancient name, Lachlan was originally used to describe the Viking invaders of Scotland, those from the land of the lochs.
 Americans and Australians tend to pronounce the first syllable of the name like Lock, but the genuine Scottish pronunciation sounds more like Lack.
 In Ireland, the name was Anglicized as Laughlin; in Scotland the pet forms are Lach, Lachie, or Lockie.
 Lachlan has been a top name in Australia for at least a decade. It has been in the headlines recently via the eldest son of media mogul Rupert Murdoch.
 Somewhat surprisingly, Lachlan has US presidential cred, as the son of tenth president John Tyler, whose other children included Lyon, Letitia, Tazewell, and Pearl.

Lachlan

Hassan is a handsome and familiar Arabic choice, which has appeared in the US Top 1000 every year since 1971. The name can be viewed as a spelling variation of Hasan meaning "beautiful, handsome" or it can be seen as a separate Arabic name, meaning "improver"
 
If viewed as a variation of Hasan, it is a significant choice for Shia Muslims who connect it to the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. As a separate name, it connects to a poet who was a companion of the Prophet Muhammad.
 In one Nigerian tribe, it's used for the first born of a pair of male twins, while the name may be considered a Scottish surname ("descendant of Osáin") or a Jewish surname ("cantor" from Hazzan).

Hassan

Shane ambled into the picture via the 1953 movie, adding a cowboy twist to its Irish essence. A variation of Sean with a hint of Shay and Zane, it is a popular choice in Ireland. 
 
Singer Siobhan O'Connor and actor Kevin Sorbo have sons named Shane, while others may associate it with singer Shane Ward, YouTuber Shane Dawson, and actor Shane Richie.

Shane

Amias is a friendly and attractive sounding name, with a lovely meaning and knightly feel. Though it might sound like a Biblical name, similar as it is to Amos and Ozias, it is in fact a Latin name, ultimately from the elements amicus or amo meaning "friend" and "love" respectively. 
 
Originally spelled as Amyas and used as a surname, it may have derived as a form of Amis or Amice, Medieval French and English names meaning "friend". Alternative theories are that it could have been used for someone from the French city of Amiens ("city of the Ambiani, those all around"), as a derivative of Amadeus ("love of God"), or as a masculine form of Amée or Amy ("beloved").
 The Amyas version became known via the hero of the mega-popular 1855 Charles Kingsley novel, Westward Ho!, Captain Sir Amyas Leigh, but it is the Amias spelling that is currently in favor, ranking in the Top 700 in the US in a recent year.

Amias

Samir has a pleasing sound and lovely meaning. One of those distinctive names that can also fit right in—and you could always call him Sam.

Samir

A name that crosses cultures, Idris was virtually unknown in the US before the emergence of the charismatic actor Idris Elba, first on The Wire and then for depicting Nelson Mandela. Since then, the name has grown with the actor and is a popular choice in the UK and Belgium, and a familiar one in The Netherlands, France, and the US. 
 
From its Arabic origins, Idris means "to learn or study" and is often linked to being either studious, or to interpretation, as Idris is the name of a prophet mentioned in the Quran, and the equivalent of the Biblical Enoch. As such, it has long been popular among Islamic families, and is a familiar choice across Nigeria, Turkey, and India.

Idris is also a Welsh name, however, with completely different roots and origins, Meaning "ardent lord", it appears in Welsh mythology, where it is borne by Idris Hawr, a legendary seventh-century Welsh giant and magician who gave his name to a well-known mountain, Idris's Fort.

Versatile and magical, Idris makes a wonderful, multicultural choice, pronounced as eed-REES (rhyming with "creed" and "lease") in Arabic and IHD-rihs (rhyming with "did" and "miss") in Welsh. In a recent year, it ranked just outside the UK Top 150, while in the US, it was in the Top 800, given to around 350 boys.

Idris

Evander is a name that could build on the popularity of shorter form Evan, and could work and play well with schoolmates like Zander and Xander.
 Evander was prominent in Greek and Roman mythology: in classical lore Evander was a wise Arcadian hero who founded the city in Italy that preceded Rome, appearing in Virgil's Aeneid.
 Evander also derives from a Norse name meaning bow warrior.
 In modern times, the name has been associated with boxing champ Evander Holyfield.
 Evander could make a more distinctive aternative to Alexander.

Evander

A favorite Muslim name, Kareem first appeared on the US Top 1000 list in 1972 (jumping in at Number 405!), coinciding with the early career of basketball great turned writer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (born Lewis Alcindor). It has continued to chart every year since.
 
Derived from the Arabic karuma, meaning "to be generous", the name encourages charitable and honorabe behaviour. Also transcribed as Karim, it is significant in Islamic tradition, al-Karīm being one of the 99 names of Allah.

Kareem

Aarav is derived from the Sanskrit root "rav," which is related to peace and music. Aarav is also associated with the concept of wisdom. It has traditionally been a common name among Hindus, who intentionally select names to inspire particular values in their children.
 
This Hindi name has a wonderfully calming meaning. In the US, Aarav entered the Top 1000 in 2008, and is now the most popular Indian name in America. Cool guy nickname Ravi only adds to its considerable appeal.

Aarav

Bellamy is a surname name with an admirable meaning and upbeat rhythm, similar to jovial choices like Rafferty, Barnaby and Willoughby. 

 Bellamy is rising simultaneously for boys and girls at the moment, making it a truly gender-neutral choice. It entered the Top 1000 for girls for the first time in 2018, before dropping out in 2019 and entering for boys. Since 2020, Bellamy has finally been in the Top 1000 for both genders.

 Muse frontman Matt Bellamy and Bellamy Blake from The 100 are notable male namesakes.

Bellamy

Gentle but grandiose and beloved by British novelists including Evelyn Waugh and P. G. Wodehouse, Ambrose was a fast rising name in 2022. Entering the UK Top 1000 for the first time and proving popular among Nameberry users, its elegance, softness, and vintage style means it fits in with popular Theodore, Sebastian, and Jeremiah. 
 With an air of blooming well-being, Ambrose feels a bit upper-class, a little posh, but not too stuffy. It comes from the same Greek root as 'ambrosia', the food of the gods, said to confer immortality.
 Ambrose was the name of one of the important doctors of the early Christian church, the fourth century St. Ambrose. It also belonged to one of the four great Latin teachers of Christianity, who also developed the use of music in church services. TV fanatics might be interested to know that in 1961, Ambrose was designated the patron saint of educational television by Pope John XXII.
 One thing that might given some parents pause is the problem of finding a nickname for the stately Ambrose. Ami? Bro? Amby? They might work for some, but other options include the stylish Bo, the literary Bram, the sweet Ro, or even the unexpected and unisex Rose.

Ambrose

Tough-yet-cuddly Bruno is an international name even in its origins: it derives from the Germanic word for "brown" plus a Latin ending, and was borrowed as a color word in many European languages.
 
Today, Bruno is popular in Latin America, Spain, and Eastern Europe, but has been — until recently, at least — neglected in North America.
 
In the middle ages, it was worn by several rulers and bishops, and an eleventh-century saint. In modern times, Bruno gets its "strong man" image from people like wrestler Bruno Sammartino, and Frank Bruno, the British boxer. That, and the fact it was traditionally a name for bears in children’s tales.
 
However, Bruno also has a more gentle, soulful side that more and more parents are seeing. Singer Bruno Mars (born Peter, but nicknamed Bruno from a young age after Sammartino) has done a lot to raise its popularity in the last 20 years.
 
The Disney movie Encanto may do even more, thanks to its misunderstood prophetic Uncle Bruno, and the catchy song We Don’t Talk About Bruno.
 
As <ahref="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/901/boy-names-ending-in-o">boy names ending in O</a> continue to rise, we can see this appealing to parents looking for something well-known, multicultural, and not too popular.
 
Its color meaning makes it especially good for a <ahref="https://nameberry.com/list/351/names-for-autumn-babies">boy born in autumn.

Bruno

Magnus is a Latin name, literally meaning "greatest," that has a Scandinavian feel. It dates back to Charlemagne being called Carolus Magnus, or Charles the Great. Norwegian king Magnus I, named after Charlemagne, introduced it to his culture, and thus Magnus was the name of six early kings of Norway and four of Sweden. It is still a highly popular name in Denmark and Norway.
 
Magnus, a powerful name with a commanding presence, is one of the newly unearthed ancient artifacts. It was picked for their sons by Will Ferrell (whose wife Viveca Paulin is Swedish), Kristy Swanson, and Elizabeth Banks—likely credited for this name's jump into the Top 1000 for the first time in 2013, as one of the year's fastest-rising names. Its fashionable s ending may keep it in popular use.
 
Magnus has made appearances as a vampire in Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles and as a character in Roald Dahl's Matilda. And for an extra ego boost, in Charles Dickens's The Pickwick Papers, there's the following dialogue: 
 "'Magnus is my name. It's rather a good name, I think, sir.'
 'A very good name, indeed,' said Mr. Pickwick."

Magnus

Handsome boy names are just that — handsome! These are attractive, often 

 that conjure up images of handsome guys. Some of them are literally

, such as Beau and Jamal, while others just have a dapper and becoming aura.

 include Cyrus, Soren, Leo, Aarav, Roman, Zayn, Wells, and Amari. 

include Amory, Fielding, Levon, and Rami.

Italian names and Hispanic names are often considered handsome. 

 worth considering include Alessandro, Elio, and Vittorio. If you are looking for handsome Hispanic boy names, you may like options such as Gael, Joaquin, and Tadeo.

Everyone's definition of handsome may vary, but we think these are incredibly handsome.

Handsome boy names including boy names that mean handsome as well as names that sound handsome and romantic, with meaning, origin, and popularity (Page 6)

200+ Handsome Boy Names