Boy Names Lists
By Brynn McKeon · Updated September 2026
Across 7 pages
of 7
English word name
"strength of character"
Grit became a buzzword in the 2010s, thanks to both the 2010 film True Grit and psychologist Angela Duckworth's 2016 book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perserverance . The book, based on Duckworth's…
Spanish
"devil"
The Spanish word for "devil" makes for a very daring baby name, but in the era of babies names Hades, Azrael, Loki and even Lucifer, it feels like a plausible possibility. Indeed, 5 baby boys were…
Word name
"person who fires a gun; member of a sports team who scores goals"
More than 300 babies have been named Shooter in the US since 2002, which, depending on who you ask, is arguably about 300 too many. One of the violent names for boys that have gained traction in…
Sheriff may sound law-abiding, but it also has a Wild West feel.
English place- and word name
This British river name sounds sleek and strong but perhaps a bit too energetic.
"storm"
Tempest is one of those names that could go either way. Cool, evocative modern word name? Or asking for trouble? Your call, but if you decide the former image is dominant, be warned that some people…
Short form of Sargent, spelling variation of Sergeant, Latin
"to serve"
Sarge is plausibly one of the new aggressive, militaristic names favored by parents hoping for a bossy son.
Variation of Caliber, English word name
"ability level; diameter of a gun barrel"
Spelling it with a K doesn't do much to separate Kaliber from Caliber's violent image.
Dutch form of Christopher or English word name
This Dutch nickname has been in use for hundreds of years in the Netherlands, and is as energetic as they come. Of course, the jokes practically write themselves.
"month name"
Along with August, March is one of the month names perfectly suited to boys. This brisk single-syllable name – which derives from the name of Mars, the Roman god of war – is worth considering as…
"cartel"
Not a great idea to associate your newborn with drug lords.
We're seeing lots of Bad Boy Names, and Menace fits right in with brothers Rocket, Rowdy, and Wilder. Menace can work for children of any gender.
Latin
"dispatch"
Short form of Micajah, Hebrew
"Who is like God?"
Sounds a bit like a nickname in a Dickens novel, but this short form was used in New England a few centuries ago, back when names like Micajah were popular. Both short and long forms are now ripe for…
American word or occupational name
Another bad boy occupational name, joining Bandit, Rogue, and Gunner, though Vandal feels more obviously destructive. The Vandals were a tribe that swept through Europe and North Africa in the sixth…
"villager, country-dweller"
While patriot Thomas Paine is a worthy honoree, the mere association with the word 'pain' knocks this name out of bounds.
One of the aggressive new boys' names, ala Tracker and Heller, that have become fashionable among parents who are courting trouble.
Variation of Wrecker
"a person or thing that wrecks or damages something"
Rekker comes to us thanks to actor Cam Gigandet, who gave his son this phonetic spelling of badass word name Wrecker. Use at your own peril.
"flash of lightning"
Bolt is more popular for dogs (a la the 2008 Disney movie of the same name) but debuted on the American charts as a boy name in the 2020s. Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt may well have inspired some…
Word or occupational name
"outlaw, thief"
We hesitate to call Bandit an occupational name, any more than Rogue or Vandal are occupational names, yet its use by one of the bandmembers of My Chemical Romance (for his daughter: we're thinking…
