Athletic Baby Names

Ichiro

Japanese

"firstborn son"

Ichiro is a good classic choice for the first boy in a Japanese family.

London

Place-name

"Capital city of England"

In the US, London is popular for both sexes, though as the name has risen for girls, it's levelled off for boys. Currently given to around 200 boys each year, it is nearly five times more popular for…

Luther

German

"army people"

Once restricted to evangelical Protestants honoring the ecclesiastical reformer and theologian Martin Luther, leader of the Protestant revolution. In more recent times it has been favored by parents…

Magic

Word name

For basketball fans, in honor of Magic Johnson. Or anyone who believes in magic.

Malone

Irish

"a devotee of Saint John"

Classic Irish surname with a lot of character and some interesting associations: the title character of a Samuel Beckett novel and basketball great Karl Malone. Malone is a popular name for baby boys…

Manning

Irish surname

"monk"

For football fans who have decided Peyton has become too feminine. Or they could look to brother Eli for inspiration.

Marino

Latin

"of the sea"

Marino is an Italian first and surname with distinct crossover possibilities, having pleasant seaside undertones, and is far more unusual in the U.S. than sister Marina. Marino Marini was an Italian…

Marquis

English rank of nobleman between duke and count

There are ordinary folk named Prince, Earl, and Duke, so why not this rank of nobility as well? Many spellings compete, the most common being Marquis, Marquise, and Marquez. Rapper 50 Cent chose the…

Clemente

Spanish, Portuguese, Italian

"mild, merciful"

A more romantic form of old school Clement, which ranks in the Top 100 boy names in Chile. Clemente, like Clement, derives from the Late Latin name Clemens, the name of 14 popes and several saints.

Melky

Hebrew

"his kingdom, his counselor"

Dominican-born New York Yankees outfielder Melky Cabrera has brought this name into the spotlight. Many parents might find it too milky--in fact, Cabrera's nickname is "Leche"--Spanish for "milk."

Hogan

Irish

"youth"

Logan came from nowhere in the past few decades to break the Top 25, and Hogan is a good bet to follow, now that "Hogan's Heroes" has faded from memory.

Clemens

Latin

"merciful and gentle"

This surname related to Clement is strongly associated with Major League pitcher Roger Clemens, winner of more Cy Young awards than any other pitcher in baseball history, and has a softer sound than…

Montana

Spanish place-name; "mountainous"

"mountainous"

Relaxed western place-name that still has some masculine punch, but be warned: this whole posse of similarly trendy names, like Sierra and Dakota, will soon ride toward the sunset.

Moss

English

"descendant of Moses"

This evocative green nature name, heard much more frequently as a surname, is associated with playwright Moss Hart (born Robert), who co-wrote (with George S. Kaufman) such enduring Broadway comedies…

Neville

French

"new town"

More often used in Britain than here, where most names ending in ville fall into the unthinkable class, this might make an exception via fans of the musical Neville Brothers. Charles Dickens used the…

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.

Griffey

Irish surname

Though you might think you were honoring baseball's Ken Griffey, most people would think you were using a term of endearment for GRIFFIN or GRIFFITH.

Giles

Greek

"young goat"

One of those names that most Americans find just too too tea-sippingly British to consider; its meaning has led to occasional use for Capricorn boys.