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Cool Cowboy Names

  1. Chord

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Meaning:

      "three musical notes played together"

    • Description:

      Chord may be considered a variation of the cowboy-cool name Cord, or an independent musical name. Actor Chord Overstreet, of Glee fame, introduced this name to many American parents.
  2. Maclain

    • Description:

      Maclain is a masculine name of Scottish Gaelic origin, functioning as an Anglicized spelling variant of 'MacIain' or 'MacIan,' which literally means 'son of John.' As a surname-turned-first-name, it carries the strong heritage and clan associations common to Scottish patronymic naming traditions. The name has a distinguished, somewhat aristocratic quality while maintaining a contemporary sound. Though rare as a first name, Maclain appeals to parents with Scottish heritage or those seeking a distinctive name with clear cultural roots. The pronunciation may vary, with some saying 'mak-LANE' while others prefer 'mak-lin.' Maclain offers the trendy appeal of surnames as first names while providing a direct connection to Celtic heritage and history.

  3. Brawley

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "meadow at the slope of the hill"

    • Description:

      A rowdy name nobody ever heard of, till Nick Nolte gave it to his son.
  4. Riles

    • Origin:

      English surname

    • Meaning:

      "rye hill; roe deer hill"

    • Description:

      Riles is the coolest surname name that nobody's using. Seriously nobody — Riles (and the older version of the name, Ryles) have never been given to more than five American baby boys in a single year. But we're hoping to put Riles on the map. Its similarities to trendy names like Riley and Miles make it a great option if you're looking for a name that fits in but stands out.
  5. Case

    • Origin:

      Word name

    • Description:

      A brisk and unconventional name that could be a style stand-in for confederates Casey, Chase, Cale, and Cade.
  6. Breck

    • Origin:

      Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "speckled"

    • Description:

      Sudsy name that could be a new character on "Days of Our Lives."
  7. Wagner

    • Origin:

      German occupational name

    • Meaning:

      "wagon maker"

    • Description:

      Whether pronounced like the wag of a tail or as the correct German VAHG-ner, this might be something a devoted opera buff could consider as a middle name.
  8. Cager

    • Origin:

      Short form of Micajah, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "Who is like God?"

    • Description:

      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 revival.
  9. Nat

    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Nathan or Nathaniel

    • Description:

      Just the kind of old-fashioned nickname coming back into style.
  10. Camp

    • Origin:

      Word name

    • Meaning:

      "a place of temporary accommodation; deliberately theatrical and exaggerated"

    • Description:

      The word name Camp fits into the trendy, woodsy category for boys, where it joins Arrow, Trail, Venture, and Timber. While it was given to only 17 boys in a recent year, it has been quietly gaining more attention since the late 2010s.
  11. Laird

    • Origin:

      Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "lord of the land"

    • Description:

      Laird is a Scottish title for the landed gentry – it ranks just below a Baron – with a pleasantly distinctive Scottish burr that must have appealed to Sharon Stone, who chose it for her son.
  12. Jessejames

    • Origin:

      Combination of Jesse and James, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "God exists and supplanter"

    • Description:

      While still rare, this compound name for boys jumped nearly 3000 places in rank last year, perhaps thanks to its cowboy-core vibe and its bad boy image.
  13. Bronco

    • Origin:

      Spanish

    • Meaning:

      "rough, unbroken horse"

    • Description:

      For the parent who might also have Buck and Ryder on his list.
  14. Rawlings

    • Origin:

      English surname

    • Meaning:

      "son of Raul"

    • Description:

      Rawlings was a surname brought to England with the Norman invasion and has ties to the name Raul, which means "wolf counsel."
  15. Rancher

    • Origin:

      Occupational name

    • Description:

      Any name that combines two big trends -- in this case, occupational and western names -- has potential.
  16. Ralston

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "Ralph's settlement"

    • Description:

      Down-to-earth surname name with a drawl, also associated with cereal and dog food.
  17. Brose

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Ambrose, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "immortal"

    • Description:

      A thoroughly old-school nickname for Ambrose — one that lightens up the serious full form.
  18. Frisco

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Francisco

    • Meaning:

      "free man"

    • Description:

      Frisco is a frisky, roguish semi-place-name (San Francisco natives never call it that) that could make a lively, unusual o-ending choice.
  19. Hewitt

    • Origin:

      English, Scottish, and Irish surname

    • Meaning:

      "descendant of Hugh; one who lives near the wood clearing"

    • Description:

      Modern way to honor an ancestral Hugh.
  20. Bingham

    • Origin:

      British surname

    • Meaning:

      "homestead at a hollow"

    • Description:

      Bingham is the unusual surname name chosen by Kate Hudson and Matt Bellamy for their son. It was Bellamy's mother's maiden name, and the nickname Bing, coincidentally, belongs to almost-stepfather Kurt Russell's dad. We haven't heard Bing since crooner Crosby, but it does have a lot of zing.