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 research, attributes success to grittiness. Clearly, the message stuck with parents, as Grit debuted as a name for boys in 2021.

Sarge is plausibly one of the new aggressive, militaristic names favored by parents hoping for a bossy son.

Khaos debuted in 2008, two years after Chaos appeared on the charts. These days, it tends to be more popular than the original.

Other wild animals like Fox, Wolf and Bear are catching on as baby names, and Tiger is a rarer option with several famous namesakes, including golf champ Tiger Woods, who was born Eldrick. Other famous Tigers include Indian actor Tiger Shroff, born Jai, and British actor Tyger Drew-Honey, who spells his name with a Y.

Could a child named Warrior be anything but fierce and willful? We count Warrior among our Magic Names, those that are chosen for their ability to influence and protect their bearers. We see Warrior rising significantly in the next few years, joining current favorites like Legend, Hero, and Saint.

Raider is one of the new genre of badass word names, which also includes Rogue, Rebel, Danger, Wilder, and so on. Choose it at your own peril.

Used to describe an amazingly beautiful person and a surprisingly good day or event, Stunner also also in the scifi series, Dune as a type of weapon. Similar in vibe to Gunner or Cannon, it was given to five babies in 2024.

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 represents a modern trend of using traditional surnames as given names, adding a distinctive and strong character. The name carries a sense of craftsmanship and reliability. While still uncommon as a first name, Dekker has gained modest popularity in the Netherlands and among parents seeking unique masculine names with historical roots. Its simple yet distinctive sound and spelling make it memorable without being difficult to pronounce.

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.

Wrecker is a new entry to the newly trendy group of badass baby names -- names mostly for boys that sound wild (or Wilder) and summon the kind of kid that races around (Racer), breaking things (Breaker), and yeah, why not, being a Wrecker while he's at it. Actor Cam Gigandet introduced this one, with a more phonetic spelling, when he named his son Rekker.

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 named Diablo in 1975 – the only year the name has made the US extended list for either sex.

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 such violence-promoting names — there are better routes to the nickname Cal.

Spelling it with a K doesn't do much to separate Kaliber from Caliber's violent image.

Not a great idea to associate your newborn with drug lords.

A patriotic spin on Armie, with roughly the same meaning whether you consider it a variation or a totally separate word name.

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.

Messer has trendy surname style, but a "messy" first syllable and sharp imagery may give some prospective parents pause. Reality star Stassi Schroeder named her son Messer Rhys in 2023, brother to Hartford Charlie Rose.

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.

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.

A turbulent bad boy name, no matter how you spell it.