Boy Names Lists
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 4 pages
of 4
Scottish
"someone who lived near wet ground"
When actress Deborah Kerr entered the scene, there was a great debate over her name's pronunciation. Car or Ker. Your choice.
Hungarian
"being"
An extremely popular choice in its native Hungary (at #3 for the past decade), Levente is an ancient Hungarian royal name , in use since at least the 10th century. This name sounds the same but has a…
"son of life"
Although appearing as a patronym (nope, it doesn't mean "son of Elizabeth"), Macbeth originated as a given name. It is derived from the Gaelic MacBeatha, describing a religious man. The Shakespearean…
German
"blessed, happy in life"
Selig comes from the Yiddish vocabulary word meaning 'happy, fortunate, blessed.' Most of us are more familiar with its Woody Allen variation, Zelig.
Latin
"I breathe"
Grandparents are sure to link this to disgraced Nixon vice president Spiro Agnew.
Finnish
"wild aurochs; energy"
Tarvo has two potential origin stories. The first is that it derives from the Old Finnish word tarvas , meaning "wild aurochs," a wild species of cattle that is now extinct. The second possible…
Spanish
"goes on to another life"
Rarely used Spanish name, referring to shifting to another life beyond this one. Boy names that mean life are an elite group of which this is an unusual member.
Slavic variation of Vitus, Latin
"life"
In Slavic cultures, Saint Vitus is called Sveti Vid, making this a saintly appellation.
English from Latin
"force, strength, liveliness"
No-no appelation of a child saint and martyr whose name is a term for the nervous condition known as Saint Vitus' Dance. Its one recommending feature is that it's among the elite group Boy names that…
Greek
"life of Zeus"
Zealous and noble, an unusual and strong choice -- and if the original is too much of a mouthful, you can always call him Zen.
Russian literary name
For lovers of Pasternak's great doctor, a lively middle name choice, one made by actress Nia Long.
Russian variation of Zenobios, Greek
An upbeat and unusual name featuring the fashionable V sound and striking initial Z.
Spanish derivation of Greek
A male take on the feminine name Zoe, it's hard to give an attractive pronunciation.
