Celebrity Names · Name Image
Athletic Baby Names
Across 13 pages
of 13
Lautaro
Mapuche
"swift hawk"
The most famous Lautaro was a leader of the indigenous resistance against the Spanish in Chile in the 16th-century, making it a historically significant choice, still used today in Argentina, Chile,…
Arturs
Lativian form of Arthur
"bear"
Also spelled Artūrs, this is one of many international forms of the classic Arthur. Both spellings of the name are popular in Latvia and ranked in the Top 100 in a recent year. Notable bearers…
Kodai
Japanese
"large"
Kodai Senga, a Japanese professional baseball player and pitcher for the New York Mets, introduced this one to the US audience. Kodai, with its similarity to the more familar Koda and Kai, just might…
Althea
Greek
"with healing power"
Althea is a poetic, almost ethereal name found in Greek myth and pastoral poetry, associated in modern times with the great tennis player Althea Gibson, the first African-American to win at…
Amare
African
"handsome"
Originating in Ethiopia, this warm-feeling name is now associated with Phoenix Suns basketball player Amare Stoudemire. It has ranked in the US Top 1000 since 2005.
Apolo
Apolo is a masculine name that serves as a variant spelling of Apollo, the Greek god of light, music, healing, and prophecy. This simplified spelling is particularly common in Spanish and…
Arjan
Dutch, Punjabi, Albanian
"from Hadria; gaining; golden life"
There's something particularly attractive about names with an interior " j " and Arjan is a prime example. The Punjabi version is pronounced with a conventional j as in jar; the Dutch Arjan, which is…
Armstrong
English and Scottish surname
"strong arms"
Last name occasionally used as a first, can be seen as a Lance Armstrong athlete-hero name.
Arroyo
Spanish surname and nature name
This name has two distinctive associations: the Southwestern natural formation of a gully or stream, and the Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo.
Asante
Ashanti, Akan, Twi
"African ethnic group; warlike"
Although Ashanti is a much better known name via the female hip-hop singer, Asante is also an appealing way to honor Asante or Ashanti heritage. It's the name of a people and language based in Ghana.
Ashe
English surname; diminutive of Ashley, Ashton, etc
Although usually spelled without the final 'e', this version commemorates tennis immortal Arthur Ashe. Seth Meyers' son Ashe was given his wife's maiden name.
Becker
German
"baker"
One of the less common members of the currently popular craftsmen's guild, Becker once had a self-named sitcom, and is also associated with Wimbleton tennis legend Boris Becker.
Boris
Slavic
"to fight"
Boris is one of the old Russian names being revived by chic Europeans; it hasn't quite made a comeback yet in the U.S., but it does have potential. For a long time the name has been associated with…
Bradman
English
"at the wide river"
Most parents would prefer BRADLEY or BRADFORD to get to eternally cool nickname BRAD--unless they wanted to honor cricket legend Donald Bradman, considered the greatest batsman of all time.
Branch
Word name
Branch is an attractive name with associations both with trees and with branching out into brave new worlds. Baseball's Branch (born Wesley, with Branch as his middle name) Rickey broke the color…
Breezy
English word name
"pleasantly windy"
This light and cheerful word name conjured up imagery of breezy days at the beach, kids flying kites, or wind blowing through the trees — all lovely associations. Sixteen baby girls were named Breezy…
Brett
Celtic
"from Brittany"
Football great Brett Favre single-handedly kept this name in the limelight, though it continues to sink in popularity. Brett originated in the Middle Ages as an ethnic name for one of the Bretons who…
Bronson
English
"son of brown-haired one"
This surname has a modern yet old New England feel, perhaps because of the association with the transcendental teacher and reformer Bronson (born Amos Bronson) Alcott, father of Louisa May. (One-time…
Cam
Diminutive of Cameron, Scottish
"crooked nose"
Cameron is still more popular as a boy's name than a girls and this simple, snappy short form works well for either sex.
Carew
Welsh
"fort near a slope"
Noted bearers of this surname include a metaphysical poet, a Nobel Prize winner, and a baseball Hall of Famer, so there's plenty of hero-name inspiration.