Boy Names Lists
By Brynn McKeon · Updated September 2026
Across 7 pages
of 7
English word name
"bold"
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.
Nature name
"hawk, a bird"
Animal names are on the rise, especially more of the aggressive Hawk-Fox-Wolf variety than cute little Bunnys or Robins, and Hawk is a prime example. Hawk is more commonly heard as a surname,…
"person in charge"
A commanding word name that feels occupational like Miller, Palmer, and Shepherd, while also fitting in with ambitious choices like Legend, King, Major, Maverick, and Saint. Referring to someone who…
"a loud rumbling or crashing noise heard after a lightning flash"
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…
Variation of Chaos, English word name
"disorder and confusion"
Khaos debuted in 2008, two years after Chaos appeared on the charts. These days, it tends to be more popular than the original.
Diminutive of Sebastian, word name
"from Sebastia; party, hit, or endeavour"
Self-assured and playful, Bash is a short form of the popular Sebastian, sharing the same energy as Dash, Colt, and Nash. It could work as a quirky, rough-and-tumble alternative to the more familiar…
"widespread destruction or mayhem"
Havoc may be viewed in two ways: a violent boy name associated with widespread destruction and devastation, or a more playful choice, associated with mayhem and mischief, a more gentle kind of chaos.…
Word and occupational name
In this era of Scout and Ranger and Hunter, we suppose Trapper is an inevitability. About 30 baby boys got that somewhat frightening name in the US last year.
Modern nickname
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…
Word name
Gage we get. Cade we get. But Cage? Not really, and yet, it was given to about two dozen baby boys in one recent year.
German
"judge, magistrate"
A German occupational surname with links to justice and the legal system, but possibly more associated with the Richter Scale, used to measure the magnitude of earthquakes.
"stormy"
Stormy and variations have always been more common among girls, but there's no reason you shouldn't use it for a son. Storm was historically more masculine, until the arrival of Stormi Webster.
"deliberately setting fire to property"
Sure, Arson is a crime, but anecdotally, many of the parents who choose this name do so because Arson = "our son."
"tank"
Military word names, from Cannon to Major, are in, but Tank might push things a bit too far.
English
"a private soldier in a cavalry or armored unit; state police officer; reliable, supportive person"
A surname-style word name, associated with the military in the UK, the police in the US, and more generally, with a supportive, dependable person who shows up without complaint. With the popularity…
"ability level; diameter of a gun barrel"
Caliber belongs to the class of tough boy names — along with Shooter, Wesson, and Trigger — that are given to a small but notable number of boys each year. We generally discourage parents from using…
Dekker is a Dutch occupational surname derived from the Middle Dutch word 'decker' or 'dekker,' meaning 'roofer' or 'thatcher' - someone who builds or repairs roofs. As a first name, Dekker…
English or Mapuche
"villager, country-dweller; blue"
The y helps a bit, but still a painful image.
Power is one of the new crop -- Justice, Liberty, Peace -- of strong, clear-cut, declarative choices, though this one carries more assertiveness than virtue.
English, Irish, or Jewish surname
"wild, untamed; grandfather"
It doesn't matter if Savage is a surname on your family tree — it's a highly controversial choice for a first name with connections to racism and colonialism. Despite this, over a dozen sets of…
