Bold Boy Names

Starbaby name that might prove too supercharged for real life, but if like director Robert Rodriguez you're interested only in <a href="https://nameberry.com/search/boys-names/r">boys' names starting with R</a>, you may need to add Rocket (and Rebel and Racer) to your list. 
Musician and fashion director Pharrell Williams named his son Rocket, telling Oprah, "In the same way the Indians named their children after a force or animal or element, we named him after a man-made machine that was meant to go up, meant to ascend."

Rocket

Lucifer is the name of the archangel cast into hell and while theologians disagree on whether he and Satan are separate beings, it long been on the list of forbidden names for religious and non-religious parents alike. With connotations of hell and devilry so strongly attached to it, the name is officially banned in some places, including New Zealand.
 
But is there hope for Lucifer? With its light-related meaning and its rebellious, edgy feel, parents who enjoy Lilith, Riot, Rebel, Rogue and similar, may be drawn to it, especially with modern portrayals of the the figure, in series such as Lucifer (2021). 
 
A controversial choice, Lucifer had never appeared in the US stats before 2002, when it began to be sporadically used for a small handful of boys. Over the last decade, however, use of the name has picked up, with more than 70 babies given the name in 2021. The number dropped to 43 in 2023, placing it alongside Jedediah, Remiel, Olsen, Kyzir, and Ted in the charts.

Lucifer

In Greek mythology, Poseidon is the wild God of seas, storms, earthquakes and horses — which he could tame with a strike of his trident. He is notable for helping the Greeks against the Trojans during the Trojan War nd for punishing Odysseus and his men after they kill the Cyclops Polyphemus. 
 
An equivalent to the Roman Neptune, the name Poiseidon could mean either "lord of the earth", "master of the water", or "earth shaker", though the exact etymology is debated. 
 
Poseidon would make a very bold option, but with Greek names like Odysseus and Perseus on the rise, Poseidon isn't out of the question. In fact, it's been appearing in the US stats since 2010, with 22 boys given the name in a recent count.

Poseidon

Icarus, the mythological figure famous for flying too close to the sun, has a couple of negatives: his rash reputation, and those "icky" nicknames. 

Icarus

A new, rising word name for boys that has the advantage of sharing sounds with more common names like Bryson and Braydon. And the disadvantage of getting confused with them.

Brazen

Epic feels like it could be the boys' version of Saga. Epic poetry tells some of our most celebrated stories - from Beowulf and the Odyssey, to the Divine Comedy and Paradise Lost. Despite being short, Epic is a lot of name, so it might be a choice for an adventurous middle name.

Epic

This booming word name has been used every year since 1988, yet at most was given to 30 baby boys in a single year. But with names like Thunder, all it takes is one celebrity to bring it to the mainstream, and Usain Bolt could be the guy. He welcomed a son named Thunder (yes, Thunder Bolt) in 2021, twin to Saint Leo and brother to Olympia Lightning.
 
Thunder may seem like an odd choice for popularization, but related celebrity baby names such as Stormi, Zephyr, and Sunny are on the rise, so Thunder isn't that far of a stretch.

Thunder

This began as a nickname, usually for someone who was a "third," as in William III.  But in an age where any noun goes, this could be thought of as representing a little voyager -- hopefully not into psychedelic realms. 

Trip

The two X's may be a challenge for even the most intrepid baby namer. Xerxes was the name of two early kings of Persia and the Handel opera Serse or Xerxes is loosely based on Xerxes I.

Xerxes

This rarely used boys name is one of the few gem names for a boy. Obsidian is actually a type of volcanic glass, formed when lava cools very quickly. This ultra-cool name might spark a love of volcanoes and geology in a little boy.

Obsidian

Cort

This one's cutting right to the chase, but with such names as Justice and Peace on the rise, why not?  And we guarantee your seven-year-old son will love it, though your 17-year-old, maybe not so much.  Could be used as a middle name, as Talisa Soto and Benjamin Bratt did.

Bravery

This name projects a sense of well-being, as in "hale and hearty", while also having a nature-adjacent meaning, referring to someone who lives near a hollow, a nook, or a remote area of land. Rhyming word hail adds a hint of storminess to the name too.
 
Unusual but accessible, with a clear simple sound, it may appeal to those who enjoy Hayden, Hayes, or Hal. Namesakes include Revolutionary War hero Nathan Hale, along with Margaret Hale and Mr Hale of Elizabeth Gaskell's novel North and South.

Hale

An old-fashioned nickname in the Bud/Buzz/Biff mold; this one's kind of belligerent. Michelle Hicks and Jonny Lee Miller moved outside the box when they used it for their son--given the safer middle name of Timothy.

Buster

The name of a monk who is the patron saint of blacksmiths -- not a twentieth-century occupation or baby name. 

Baldemar

Possibly meaning "bold", this West African surname is less commonly found as a first name, too.

Diallo

This variation of Rostam might be more English-friendly given its resemblance to the familiar Russ or Russell.

Rustam

Military word names, from Cannon to Major, are in, but Tank might push things a bit too far.

Tank

Rose and Briar are popular, and Hawthorn is cool – so why not the equally prickly Thorn? Add an E to give it a surnamey spin.

Thorn

It's been shown that notable political figures often impact the use of their names, and the same can — sort of — be said about Bernie Sanders. His name increased in use by 47% between 2015 and 2016 (albeit, to a peak of only 21 baby boys given the name). By 2017, Bernie has decreased in usage by almost 60%.

Bernie

male names that mean bold, brave, adventurous, wild, strong, and powerful

, along with names that carry a bold, brazen image.

Some of these bold names for boys are obvious: Wild and Braver, for instance. Others, like Archie and Howard, carry their meanings out of sight.

 that say you're a brave baby namer and you don't care what anyone thinks. We'd put names like Noaz, Vivid, and Leopold in that category.

Nature names of bold animals, trees, storms, and other forces of nature count as bold names for boys. And 

Here is a complete list of bold names for baby boys.

Bold boy names that mean brave, adventurous, wild, strong, powerful, and bold, including meanings, origins, and popularity. (Page 6)

Bold Boy Names (with Meanings & Popularity)