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Historical Scientist Names for Boys

Tiffotwo
By Tiffotwo
Updated Thu May 25 2023
  1. Albert

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "noble, bright"

    • Description:

      Albert has acquired a new gloss as one of the top royal baby boy names, a considerable upgrade from its serious, studious image (think Einstein, Schweitzer).
  2. Blaise

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "to lisp, stammer"

    • Description:

      As modern as it sounds, Blaise is an ancient Christian martyr name. In Arthurian legend, Blaise is the name of Merlin the Magician's secretary. Its relation to the word and name Blaze gives it a fiery feel. Amanda Beard named her baby boy Blaise Ray.
  3. Darwin

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "dear friend"

    • Description:

      Enough parents have found naturalist Charles Darwin, the father of the theory of evolution, a worthy hero to keep Darwin relatively consistently in the Top 1000 (it dropped off in 2021 but is back in 2022)—though some might just like its trendy two-syllable sound. It has a lovely meaning too—"dear friend."
  4. Edison

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "son of Edith or Adam"

    • Description:

      This rhythmic last-name-first-name projects the creativity and inventiveness of Thomas Edison. It's an English surname deriving from either Adam or Eda, a medieval diminutive of Edith.
  5. Edwin

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "wealthy friend"

    • Description:

      Some might be surprised to learn that Edwin has been a consistent presence on the popular names list since statistics have become available.
  6. Einstein
    • Franklin

      • Origin:

        English

      • Meaning:

        "free landholder"

      • Description:

        A doubly Presidential name, via Pierce and Roosevelt, Franklin was given an initial boost via the fame of Benjamin Franklin. It also has a literary tie to the main character of the Wilkie Collins classic The Moonstone.
    • Herschel

      • Description:

        Herschel is a masculine name of Yiddish origin, derived from 'Hirsch' meaning 'deer' or 'stag,' symbolizing gentleness and swiftness. It was traditionally used as a diminutive of the Hebrew name Tzvi, which carries the same meaning. The name gained recognition through notable bearers like astronomer Sir William Herschel, who discovered Uranus, and various Jewish scholars and rabbis throughout history. While popular among Jewish communities in the early 20th century, Herschel has become less common in recent decades. However, it retains a dignified, intellectual quality that appeals to those drawn to traditional or family-honoring names. Its distinctive sound and rich cultural heritage give it a unique character among contemporary name choices.

    • Hawking
      • Jefferson

        • Origin:

          English

        • Meaning:

          "son of Jeffrey"

        • Description:

          The name of the third U.S. President sounds, like Harrison and Jackson, more modern and stylish now than its root name. Used as a first name long before our surname-crazed era, Jefferson was most famously used as a first name by the President of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis, which may justifiably make you not want to use it. Jefferson is the middle name of another Prez, William Clinton.
      • Leonardo

        • Origin:

          Italian and Spanish variation of Leonard, German

        • Meaning:

          "brave lion"

        • Description:

          For centuries this name was associated primarily with the towering figure of Italian Renaissance painter-scientist-inventor Leonardo da Vinci, and was scarcely used outside the Latin culture.
      • Newton

        • Origin:

          English

        • Meaning:

          "new town"

        • Description:

          Named after Isaac. Or Wayne.
      • Nikola

        • Origin:

          Serbian from the Greek Nikolaos

        • Meaning:

          "Victory of the people"

        • Description:

          Nikola is generally masculine in Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Bulgaria and Macedonia, while in Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Estonia and the Czech Republic it is usually feminine.
      • Noam

        • Origin:

          Hebrew

        • Meaning:

          "pleasantness, charm, tenderness"

        • Description:

          Noam is an underused modern Hebrew name with any number of attractive attributes attached to its meaning; it doesn't have the biblical weight of Noah, but could make a more distinctive alternative to that popular choice. Noam is a Top 10 boys' name in Israel.
      • Pascal

        • Origin:

          French; English

        • Meaning:

          "of the Passover; Easter"

        • Description:

          The French-accented Pascal was historically used for sons born at Easter, and can make an interesting choice for a boy with Gallic roots arriving around that holiday.
      • Tycho

        • Origin:

          Greek, Dutch, Old Norse

        • Meaning:

          "hitting the mark; thunder"

        • Description:

          A name with a number of variations including the Danish Tyge, the Swedish Tyko, and the Dutch Tygo, which are popular throughout modern Europe. Tycho was the name of a Greek saint and the Danish astronomer, Tycho Brahe.