Modern Baby Boy Names

Reminiscent of Puritan and Pilgrim name choices, Sincere is a relatively modern virtue name that has been in the US Top 1000 since the 2000s.
 
Derived from the Latin word sincerus meaning "pure and clean", Sincere is associated with being honest, acting from the heart, and feeling deeply - qualities many parents hope their children grow up to possess.
 
The name was given to nearly 500 boys in 2023, placing it within the Top 600, and while the name does feel bold, it also fits in besides Chosen, Loyal, and Boone.

Sincere

A place name with plenty of history, Memphis is associated with the place in Ancient Egypt where many of the pyramids were built, and with the bluesy US city that was named after it. With its lovely meaning and cool, musical vibe, it is currently in the US Top 500 names for boys. 
 
Deriving from the Greek form of the Egyptian name Men-nefer, Memphis has been notably borne by rapper Memphis Bleek and by Dutch footballer, known mononymously as Memphis (who likely inspired its brief appearance in The Netherlands Top 1000 in 2015). In the US, it is a unisex name, however, it is used three times more often for boys, with 484 receiving the name in 2024.

Memphis

Anakin Skywalker, aka Darth Vader, is the antagonist in the original Star Wars trilogy. The name Anakin first entered the US Top 1000 in 2014. Its meaning is unknown but is thought to be an homage to a friend of George Lucas.

Anakin

This uppity name has been a fast climber in recent years, but we still think it's a bit much.  Even abroad, where the connection to the prestigious university will be weaker, any name beginning with "Prince" will sound pretentious.

Princeton

Cool, solid, and often spiritual, Creed derives from the Latin word credo meaning "I believe". It appeared sporadically in the US Top 1000 back in the late 19th century, but remained only quietly used the 2000s. By 2016 it was back in the charts, and in a recent year more than 460 boys were given the name, placing it in the Top 700.
 
Referring to any set of beliefs and principles that someone follows, the word Creed is often associated with religion, specifically with a formal declaration of Christian belief. It could therefore be considered a modern Christian baby name, joining the likes of Messiah, Saint, Psalm, Chosen and Cruz - though it could easily be secular too.
 
Creed likely got a bump up the charts from the seventh movie in the Rocky series, called simply Creed, while others may be familiar with it thanks to Creed Bratton on the popular television show The Office.

Creed

We've had Jackson, Jaxcon and Jaxon, and now we have Jaxton.

According to our most recent Playground Analysis, which calculates the popularity of names when all spellings are considered together, Jackson and brothers are the third most popular boys' name. And that's not even throwing Jaxton into the mix.

If you're considering Jaxton, you probably want a name that's a little bit different. But is Jaxton different enough? That's a decision only you can make.

Jaxton

This bold choice soared in popularity from 2008 to 2013, and now seems to have plateaued. But watch out—the character Major Major Major Major in the classic absurdist novel Catch-22 had a terrible time.

Major

Looking for a Texas name more distinctive than Austin and Dallas?  Houston is a lanky, roguish place-name, right in style with its Texas accent and cowboy image.

Houston

Madden is an Irish surname relative of Madigan rising through the charts thanks to its trendy two-syllable, -en ending sound along with its appeal to Madden Football video game-playing dads.  John Madden is a former pro football player who went on to coach the Oakland Raiders and become a popular NFL commentator. Madden is also the surname of groovy Nicole Richie baby daddy Joel Madden.

Madden

Peyton is the most-used spelling of this popular name, thanks to football star Peyton Manning. It rose to fame in the 90s and was solidly - or statistically - unisex in the early 2000s, however, the 2010s saw it shift to a more feminine leaning option. Nevertheless, with its surname-style and gentle sounds, Peyton could still fit in with the likes of Grayson, Everett, and Cameron.
 
Derived from an English place name, Peyton means "Pæga's town" or "fighting man's estate", though other sources associate it with Patton and Patrick, giving it the meaning "nobleman's town". Given to a not-insubstantial 500 boys each year, Peyton ranked at 604 in the US charts in 2023. 
 
Besides Peyton Manning, there are a number of other sport stars with the name, including footballers Peyton Hillis, Peyton Thompson, and Peyton Siva. Actors Peyton Meyer and Peyton Clark are other notable bearers, while historically, the name was borne by Founding Father, Peyton Randolph.

Peyton

This word name entered the US Top 1000 for both genders in 2015, though it premiered a little higher for girls. There are still more baby girls named Briar than baby boys -- 594 vs. 361 in 2021 -- but it's rising in popularity for both.

Briar fits the trend for <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/329/nature-baby-names">nature names</a>, and it also offers a fresh option for honoring a Brian.

Briar

The appealingly energetic Dax, with its trendy X-ending, re-entered the Top 1000 in 2007. Its somewhat sci-fi vibe emanates from his appearance as a fictional being in the Star Trek universe, seen on the TV show "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine." The Power Rangers character Dax Lo was the Blue Ranger.
 In real life, actor Dax Shepard hosts the popular podcast Armchair Expert and played the TV character of Crosby Braverman on "Parenthood." His parents named him for the protagonist of the best-selling Harold Robbins novel, The Adventurers-- Dax Xenos.
 Dax is also a French community famous as a spa.
 Dax is unlikely to become popular in Australia, sounding too much like the word dacks, which means boys' underwear.

A recent addition to the Most Popular list, Bridger has the trendy two-syllables and 'er' ending, and a historical reference to Jim Bridger, a foremost nineteenth-century frontiersman, explorer, trapper, scout, and teller of tall tales. 
 Bridger might be a nice name for a baby whose heritage bridges two cultures.

Bridger

This first name was once a surname derived from Old English. Used quietly a century ago, the current fashion for two-syllable boy names ending in n makes this one a new hit.

Layton

Ryatt — which may be a combination of names like Ryan and Wyatt — gives you the sound of Riot without the violent connotations. Naturally, it's almost twice as popular among baby boys than Riot, even cracking the Top 1000 in 2022.

Ryatt

Nature names like Ocean and River are flowing back into favor, especially with nature lovers and green-oriented parents. In 2024, it was given to 483 boys and 325 girls, making this a unisex favorite in the US, while in the UK, it is considerably more popular for girls.
 Forest Whitaker, an inspired child namer (his other kids are called Sonnet and True), has a son named Ocean Alexander, while Amber Heard named one of her twins Ocean in 2025, brother to Agnes. 
 Variations include Oceanus, the name of the child who was born during the voyage of the Mayflower, and Oceane, a wildly popular girls' name in France.

Ocean

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

Cannon sits amongst other weapon names like Colt, Pistol, Lance, and Remington. Definitely a name that offers bombast.

Cannon

A brisk and unconventional name that could be a style stand-in for confederates Casey, Chase, Cale, and Cade. 

Case

Huxley is definitely rising as a surname name, with its X that makes almost any name cooler. It debuted in the US Top 1000 in 2015. The modern nicknames Hux and Huck certainly don't hurt.
Last year, about 370 babies were named Huxley in the US, more than 90 percent of them male. Huxley honors writer Aldous, author of Brave New World, and other members of his distinguished family.

Huxley

 are names used mostly since the start of the 21st century, names that break the traditional masculine mold for baby boys.

Modern names for baby boys can be drawn from several different genres. 

 popular modern baby boy names. Place names

 such as London and Kenya fit the category of modern names for boys.

 can be classified as modern male names. These might include respellings or entirely new names: Jaxon, Shai, Ryatt.

Modern names for baby boys, including word names, place names, and other unique names used for contemporary children, with meanings, origins, and popularity (Page 7)