Saint Names For Boys 

Joachim is an undiscovered biblical name with potential, although most modern parents would probably prefer the more lively Spanish version, Joaquin. Like many Old Testament names, it was primarily in use in the seventeenth century, and then became rare. In the Bible Joachim is a king of Judah; according to the Gospel of James, Saint Joachim was the husband of Saint Anne and the father of the Virgin Mary.
 br/>Currently well-used in France, the name Joachim is known in countries and languages around the world and pronounced somewhat differently in each. While American might be most familiar with the Spanish version of the name, Joaquin via actor Joaquin Phoenix, that pronunciation wah-keen is not similar to any of the pronunciations of Joachim, which all have three syllables often with the emphasis on the second.

Joachim

Ferdinand is a traditional name among Spanish royal families and also appears in Shakespeare's The Tempest, borne by the handsome young prince shipwrecked on Prospero's island. Bold, daring, and poetic, it was a popular choice in the US in the 19th and early 20th century, but the 1938 movie Ferdinand the Bull has left it with a lingering clunkiness and it has been out of style since the 80s. 
 
Derived from Fredenandus, Ferdinand is made up of the element nanþa, meaniing "boldness, daring", combined with either friþus or farþa, meaning "peace" and "journey" respectively. As such, the name can mean "bold voyager", "peaceful and bold", or perhaps even "bold but peaceful voyager".
 
Notable bearers include the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan (the first European to cross the Pacific and the first person to circumnavigate the earth) and the racing driver Ferdinand Habsburg, along with various political and royal leaders throughout history.
 
The sleeker Spanish and Portuguese version Fernando is more popular currently in the US, Spain, Mexico, and Chile, while other international forms include the Dutch Dinand, Catalan Ferran, and Hungarian Nándor.

Ferdinand

In Celtic lore, Fergus was the ideal of manly courage, making it a charming, slightly quirky Scottish and Irish favorite.
 As a name, Fergus forms a link between Ireland and Scotland, as Gaelic tradition has it that Irish Prince Fergus Mac Eirc and his two brothers crossed the sea and founded the kingdom of Argyll in Scotland, thereby making this an excellent choice for parents of either country or those of combined heritage.
 Fergus has often popped up in children's literature, such as in Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, and is the name of one of Shrek and Fiona's triplets. On a loftier level, there is the Yeats poem, Who Goes With Fergus? and Fergus MacIvor is a central character in Walter Scott's novel Waverley.
 With the nickname Fergie having been appropriated by two high-profile females, Gus might make a more approachable option these days.

Fergus

Urban was not an uncommon name through the 1930s (rising as high as Number 435), having been attached to several saints and early popes, but it has completely disappeared from the landscape--both urban and rural. Yet in this era of word name appreciation and trend for 'an'-ending boys' names, we're thinking it might be ready for a return.
 In the New Testament, Urban is an active member of the Christian church in Rome.
 Urbano is the commonly heard Italian version, and the French Urbain was used by Henry James for an--yes--urbane character in The American.
 These days, the name is associated with musician Keith Urban.

Urban

Crispin, which was introduced into the mainstream by actor Crispin Glover and which means "curly-haired" in Latin, has an image very much like its first syllable: crisp, autumnal, and colorful.
 St. Crispin, the patron saint of shoemakers, died in the third century and, as rousingly referenced by Shakespeare, Henry V fought a great battle on St. Crispin's Day. Crispin Glover was actually named for the Shakespearean speech.
 In the Harry Potter books, Crispin Cronk is an egyptophile wizard who kept several sphinxes in his backyard.
 Crispian is an interesting, rarely used variation, as is Crispus, associated with African-American hero Crispus Atticus, the first colonist to die for independence in the Boston Massacre.

Crispin

When it's spelled with two dots over the 'u' in German, Gunther is pronounced GUWN-ter, but it has a much softer sound when the 'h' is voiced by English-speakers, as it was, for example, for the name of a character in Friends.
 Gunther has never been as well used in this country as the Scandinavian version, Gunnar, which now ranks at Number 502, making Gunther all the more distinctive.
 Well-known Gunthers include German novelist Gunt(h)er Grass and the character in the German epic poem Die Nibelungenlied, which formed the basis for Richard Wagner's Ring cycle of operas.

Gunther

On paper, with its stylish ties to fashion legend Yves Saint-Laurent (born Henri), Yves looks great, but the pronunciation--EVE-- could lead to gender confusion. German variation Ivo might be cooler and clear up the issue.

Yves

Ephrem is a spelling variation of the Biblical Ephraim, most often used for an early saint, Ephrem the Syrian, who was a 4th century theologian. This makes a cool, religiously appropriate choice.

Ephrem

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. 

Giles

Playful but with plenty of substance, Bartolo is an Italian short form of the grand Bartholomew which could lead you to further nicknames Bo and Tolly. Also used in Spanish, a notable bearer is Bartolo Longo, a former Satanist priest who returned to Catholicism and dedicated his life to his faith and charity. He was canonized as a saint in 2025 by Pope Leo XIV, which could renew interest in the new. 

Bartolo

Though most Mels are playing pinochle with Murray and Morris, there was a notable Saint Mel. He is one of the earliest Irish saints, a nephew of St. Patrick.  He became a  priest, then built a great monastery where he served as abbot.

Godfrey was very popular in the Middle Ages, but today you're more likely to hear it as a surname than a first name. It has a solid, old-man charm, but a couple of possible deal-breakers: the first syllable being God, and no obvious nickname. Goff, maybe? For a different feel, we also like the Italian artist's version Giotto.

Godfrey

A somewhat solemn appellation, Anselm is a saint's name, connected to the twelfth century archbishop of Canterbury, and in modern times tied to the German neo-expressionist painter Anselm Kiefer.


Anselm

This spelling, which came to the attention of readers of the best-selling Angela's Ashes as the name of author Frank McCourt's father and brother, the latter of whom wrote a bestseller of his own, lends the biblical name a more expansive, almost boisterous image. Malachy is one of the <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/168/irish-names">Irish baby names</a> that manages to strike the golden mean between familiarity and distinctiveness.
 
Malachy is also the anglicized version of Melaghlin, one of St. Patrick's first companions. It was borne by the High King Malachy, who defeated the Vikings at the Battle of Tara in 980. St. Malachy was a reformer who reorganized the church in Ireland after the Viking raids.
 
Another origin, via a somewhat circuitous route, is from the surname Mac Seachnaill, "son of Seachnall", the Irish form of Secundus.
 
Irish actor Cillian Murphy has a son named Malachy.

Malachy

Colman is best known as the name of the mustard, but is also the name of several Irish saints. The Colman spelling is less widely used than Coleman, which is just outside the Top 1000.

Colman

Benno is a cool name in its own right -- there was a tenth century Saint Benno -- though it is also used as a lively nickname for Benjamin. Saint Benno of Meissen is the patron saint of anglers and weavers and, strangely enough, alliteration.
 Benno came to attention in the U.S. via the father and son duo of Benno Schmidt Sr. and Jr. Senior was the venture capitalist who invented the term venture capitalist and Junior was the president of Yale University. Benno is also the appellation of a student character in Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose.

Benno

Cosmas was the name of an Arabian saint who was martyred with his twin brother Damian. They are the patron saints of physicians.
 
Cosmas is related to the more familiar Cosmo. a name gaining more attention in recent years . About 90 baby boys were named Cosmo in the US in a recent year, while five were called Cosmas - not a huge number, but then the name has only been appearing (infrequently) in the stats since 2012.

Cosmas

Saint Roderic was a priest in Spain who was persecuted by the Moors. Another form of this name is Ruderic.

Roderic

Bráulio was a medieval bishop and saint whose name has an energetic, modern quality. 

Bráulio

A variation of the Irish name Ailbhe, Ailbe is notably associated with a 6th-century saint, known for founding a monastery at Emly in Munster. While the Ailbhe form is used predominantly for girls, Ailbe has been given to a handful of boys in Ireland in recent years, perhaps owing to its similarity to Alby,
 
Pronounced AL-bay, it likely comes from the Celtic albiyo meaning "world, light, white", though other possible sources include the Irish ail meaning "rock" or aith-bhric meaning "speckled, freckled".
 
St. Ailbe is known as the patron saint of wolves owing to the legend that Ailbe was raised by a she-wolf, after he had been left in a forest to die as a baby.

Ailbe

are of interest to parents looking for inspirational names with spiritual or religious meaning. Saints' names also are important if you're looking for 

It is tradition, though no longer a requirement, in the

 for a child receiving baptism to be given a saint's name. However, even parents who don't find themselves particularly religious have begun to take interest in the

 rare, uplifting, and sometimes unheard-of names of saints

 for their sons and daughters. Names of notable saints such as St. Sebastian and St. Jude are listed here, as well as those of lesser-known saints.

 include Adrian, Elias, Fabian, Henry, Israel, Jonah, Killian, and Owen. More uncommon names such as Amias, Benno, Cassian, and Leander are also saints' names worth considering.

If you are interested in ancient names, saints' names are a great source of inspiration.

Saint names for baby boys, with names of male saints that work for boys today and confirmation names, including meanings, origins, and popularity. (Page 5)

Saint Names for Boys