There are many names for boys, but some names are more popular than others. Listed below are some great examples. Remy is an uncommon name with an ancient French origin. It means “oarsman.” Hutton is a Scottish or English name that means “settlement on a bluff.” Sebastian is a Latin or Greek variant of Reuben, meaning “god is salvation.” Jasper is an English variation that means wood, forest, or tree. Other popular names include Nicholas, which means “people of victory,” and Oliver, which is a short form of Jet.
English boys names have a long history. Classics include Paul, which derives from the Hebrew name Mattiyahu, which means “gift of God.” More recently, the name James has become a gender-neutral name for boys. Besides being popular today, James has been given to presidents, kings, apostles, and fictional international super-spies. Numerous nicknames include Jim, Jake, and Jamie.
A name with historical significance is Andrew, which means “manly.” This name derives from the ancient Greek word aner, which means “strong, manly.” It is the patron saint of Italy and the poor. Despite its popularity in the 1980s, Anthony remains in the top 30 most popular boy’s names. Benjamin is a Biblical name, and comes from the Hebrew word ahd-. Its meaning is “son of the right hand.”
100 Top Boys Names, Origins, and Meanings
Everything is dependent on your name. It’s the basis of who you are. Many people don’t know the meaning of their names or where they came from. Here’s a list with some of the most beloved boy names around the globe. Each name is listed with its origin, definition and fun fact. This is the list to look at if you are looking for a name to give your child or to find out more about your family’s history.
- Aaron
Origin: Arabic, Hebrew
Meaning: Forest, strength, high mountain, lofty
Fun fact: In the bible, Aaron is the name of Moses’ brother.
- Adam
Origin: English, Hebrew
Meaning: Son of the red earth
Fun fact: In the bible, Adam is the name of the very first human ever created.
- Albert
Origin: English, German, Hungarian, Swedish
Meaning: Noble, bright
Fun fact: Albert was the name of Queen Victoria’s partner, as well as the name of one of the greatest minds of mankind.
- Apollo
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Manly beauty
Fun fact: In Greek mythology, it is the name of the god of medicine, music and poetry.
- Arthur
Origin: English
Meaning: Noble, courageous
Fun fact: It is the name of one of the most famous legendary kings in literature.
- Baron
Origin: English, French, Hebrew, Teutonic
Meaning: Warrior, noble fighter
Fun fact: As well as functioning as a name, ‘Baron’ is also used as a title of nobility.
- Benedict
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Blessed
Fun fact: There have been at least 15 popes named Benedict.
- Blake
Origin: English, Scottish
Meaning: Black or white, dark, dark-haired, fair
Fun fact: Blake is one of those names that means opposite things- it can also be used as a girl’s name, so it does seem fitting.
- Brandon
Origin: English
Meaning: From the beacon or broom hill
Fun fact: More contemporary versions of this name include Brendan, Braden and Landon.
- Caleb
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Dog, bold
Fun fact: Joshua was one of the few Israelites who left Egypt with Moses and survived long enough to get to the Promise Land.
- Chad
Origin: Celtic, English
Meaning: Defense, warrior
Fun fact: This name also happens to be the name of an African country.
- Christopher
Origin: Greek, Latin
Meaning: One who carries Christ
Fun fact: Christopher is the name of the patron saint of travelers.
- Connor
Origin: Irish
Meaning: Wolf lover
Fun fact: It’s from the Gaelic word ‘Conchobar,’ which means lover of hounds.
- Cyril
Origin: English, Greek
Meaning: Lordly
Fun fact: A saint with this name created the Cyrillic alphabet.
- Damian
Origin: Greek
Meaning: One who tames or subdues
Fun fact: Saint Damian and his twin brother are the patron saint of physicians.
- Desmond
Origin: Celtic, Gaelic, Irish
Meaning: From Desmond
Fun fact: Desmond happens to be one of the four provinces of Ireland.
- Diego
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Supplanter
Fun fact: Diego is actually the Spanish equivalent of ‘James.’
- Dmitri
Origin: Greek, Russian
Meaning: Earth-lover
Fun fact: This name is probably the most popular name for Russian boys in existence.
- Duke
Origin: English, Latin
Meaning: Leader
Fun fact: Not only is Duke a common name for boys, but it’s also pretty popular for dogs.
- Earl
Origin: English
Meaning: Nobleman
Fun fact: A strange alternative to this name is Erroll.
- Edward
Origin: English
Meaning: Prosperous guardian
Fun fact: This classic name has been the name of every type of man from kings to vampires.
More Boys Names and Origin
- Elijah
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: The Lord is my God
Fun fact: Elijah was a prophet who went to heaven in a chariot of fire.
- Emmanuel
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: God is with us
Fun fact: It doesn’t seem like it, but Emmanuel is another name for Jesus, in the bible.
- Eric
Origin: Norse, Scandinavian
Meaning: Eternal ruler
Fun fact: This is said to be the name (Leif Ericson) of the Viking who discovered the Americas before Christopher Columbus.
- Fabian
Origin: English, Latin, Swedish
Meaning: Bean farmer
Fun fact: This name- Fabius, back in the day, was given to over 15 saints as well as many Roman emperors.
- Finn
Origin: English, Irish
Meaning: Blond, fair
Fun fact: This name is rising in popularity and is even being used as a girl’s name.
- Floyd
Origin: Celtic, English
Meaning: Gray
Fun fact: Boxer Floyd Mayweather and rock band Pink Floyd are two well-known uses of this name.
- Frederick
Origin: German
Meaning: Peaceful ruler
Fun fact: Nicknames for this popular royal name include Fritz, Freddy and Frici.
- Gerard
Origin: German
Meaning: Spear strength, brave with a spear
Fun fact: Gerard has been a popular name for boys since the Middle Ages.
- Giovanni
Origin: Italian
Meaning: God is gracious
Fun fact: This cool-sounding Italian name is just shy of making it into the top 100 most popular boy names.
- Grant
Origin: English, French, Scottish
Meaning: Bestow or great, tall
Fun fact: This name rose in popularity when Ulysses S. Grant became President of the United States.
- Gunner
Origin: Swedish, Teutonic
Meaning: Battle strong, bold warrior
Fun fact: An equally popular spelling for this name is ‘Gunnar.’
- Hamilton
Origin: English, Scottish
Meaning: From the proud town/estate
Fun fact: It is one of the surnames of the great families of Scotland.
- Harry
Origin: English, Scandinavian, Scottish
Meaning: House protector, army commander
Fun fact: This name rose to prominence because of J K Rowling’s Harry Potter series.
- Hector
Origin: Greek, Latin, Spanish
Meaning: Steadfast
Fun fact: The man who saved Troy during the Trojan war was named Hector.
- Howard
Origin: English
Meaning: High watchman, noble watchman
Fun fact: In history, Howard was a pretty powerful surname.
- Hubert
Origin: German
Meaning: Bright in spirit
Fun fact: Hubert is the name of the patron saint of hunters.
- Ian
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: God is gracious
Fun fact: Ian is actually the Scottish version of the name ‘John.’
- Idris
Origin: Arabic, Welsh
Meaning: Eager lord
Fun fact: It is the name of an important Muslim prophet, who also goes by the name Enoch.
- Isiah
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: God is salvation
Fun fact: Isiah is one of the few names that has remained popular among a wide variety of ethnicities.
- Jacob
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Supplanter
Fun fact: This name leaped to the top of the baby names list when the Twilight movies were released.
- Joseph
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: May God give increase
Fun fact: Joseph was the name of Jesus’ father and the Virgin Mary’s husband.
- Julian
Origin: English, Latin
Meaning: Youthful
Fun fact: Julian is a form of the iconic biblical and Roman name, Julius.
- Kai
Origin: Finnish, Hawaiian, Scottish, Welsh
Meaning: Rejoice, the sea, keeper of the keys
Fun fact: Kai is one of the few names that has origins in wildly diverse parts of the world.
- Kane
Origin: Celtic, Gaelic, Irish, Japanese
Meaning: Battle warrior, putting together
Fun fact: Kane, despite its spelling, is inspired by the biblical name, ‘Cain.’
- Kennedy
Origin: Gaelic, Irish, Scottish
Meaning: Helmet head, misshapen head
Fun fact: In the United States, this name is often associated with politics.
- Kingston
Origin: English
Meaning: From the king’s village/estate
Fun fact: Not only is Kingston a popular ‘k’ name for boys, but there are also many cities around the world named Kingston.
More Boys Names and Origin
- Lancelot
Origin: French
Meaning: Assistant
Fun fact: Lancelot was one of King Arthur’s bravest knights.
- Leo
Origin: English, Latin
Meaning: Lion
Fun fact: The was one of the most popular boys’ names in Ancient Rome,
- Lewis
Origin: English
Meaning: Renowned fighter
Fun fact: Despite this being a well-known first name, it’s even more popular across the world as a surname.
- Logan
Origin: Gaelic, Scottish
Meaning: From the hollow
Fun fact: Logan happens to be the name of the iconic superhero, Wolverine.
- Lucas
Origin: English, French, Gaelic
Meaning: Light giving, light
Fun fact: For parents who love having the meaning ‘light’ as their kid’s name, Lucas is the go-to choice.
- Magnus
Origin: Danish, Latin, Norse, Scandinavian, Swedish
Meaning: Great
Fun fact: Magnus has been the name of several kings of Norway and Sweden.
- Matthew
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Gift of God
Fun fact: In biblical times, Mathew was the name of the twelve apostles.
- Melvin
Origin: Celtic, English, Irish
Meaning: Leader or chief, mill friend, armored chief
Fun fact: International variations of this name include Melvyn and Malvin.
- Mikhail
Origin: Russian
Meaning: Who resembles God
Fun fact: This name is the Russian version of ‘Michael.’
- Murray
Origin: Celtic, Irish, Scottish
Meaning: Protects the sea, lord of the sea
Fun fact: Murray is much more common as a surname than a first name.
- Nathan
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Gift from God
Fun fact: In the Bible, Nathan was the name of a prophet who was around during the time of King David and King Solomon.
- Neville
Origin: English, French
Meaning: From the new town
Fun fact: Neville is the name of one of Harry’s best friends in the popular J K Rowling series.
- Nicholas
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Victorious
Fun fact: Nicholas has been one of the most popular names for boys since the mid-90s.
- Odell
Origin: English, Irish
Meaning: Of the valley
Fun fact: This is the name of one of the most popular players in the NFL, Odell Beckham Jr.
- Olaf
Origin: Danish, Norse, Scandinavian
Meaning: Ancestral heritage
Fun fact: This was the name of Anna and Elsa’s pet snowman in the movie, Frozen.
- Oscar
Origin: English, Irish, Scandinavian
Meaning: God’s spear, deer friend
Fun fact: Famous people with this name include Oscar Wilde and Oscar the Grouch.
- Pascal
Origin: French, Hebrew
Meaning: Born at Passover or Easter.
Fun fact: This name was usually given to male babies born during either of these spring holidays.
- Patrick
Origin: English, Irish, Latin
Meaning: Noble, patrician
Fun fact: A man named Patrick was the patron saint of Ireland.
- Paul
Origin: English, French, Latin
Meaning: Little
Fun fact: Paul was the name of a very important leader in the Bible.
- Pierre
Origin: French
Meaning: Rock
Fun fact: This name is a variant of ‘Peter.’
- Quentin
Origin: English, French, Latin
Meaning: From the Queen’s place or town, born fifth
Fun fact: Quentin (spelled Quintin) is the name of a martyred saint, who inspired the name of one of San Fran’s famous prisons.
- Quin
Origin: Celtic, Gaelic, Irish, Spanish
Meaning: God will judge
Fun fact: In some way, this name is like a base, adding a few letters can change both the name and its meaning drastically.
- Ralph
Origin: English, German
Meaning: Wolf counsel
Fun fact: Outside the United States, Ralph is pronounced “Rafe.”
- Ramses
Origin: Egyptian
Meaning: Begotten by or belonging to Ra
Fun fact: Ramses was the name of a very powerful Egyptian pharaoh.
- Romeo
Origin: Italian, Latin, Spanish
Meaning: Pilgrim to Rome, from Rome
Fun fact: Romeo is the name of the male star in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
- Rupert
Origin: German, Teutonic
Meaning: Bright with fame
Fun fact: This name is actually a variation of the infamous ‘Robert.’
- Sawyer
Origin: Celtic, English
Meaning: Woodcutter
Fun fact: Sawyer is known for being a playful name, and now, it’s also being used as a girls name too.
- Sean
Origin: Irish
Meaning: God is gracious
Fun fact: Sean is actually the Irish version of ‘John,’
- Simon
Origin: English, Greek, Hebrew
Meaning: Hearkening, listening
Fun fact: Simon was one of the most common names in biblical times.
- Solomon
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Peace
Fun fact: In the Bible, Solomon became king, after his father, David.
- Stephen
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Crown, garland
Fun fact: A man named Stephen is often known as Christianity’s first Martyr.
- Tariq
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Way, road, path
Fun fact: The meaning of this name may change depending on its spelling and where the emphasis is placed when enunciating.
- Teddy
Origin: English
Meaning: Wealthy protector, brave people, God’s gift
Fun fact: Before this was considered a name on its own, it was a nickname for the serious-sounding ‘Theodore,’ and it still is today.
- Terrance
Origin: English, Latin
Meaning: Roman clan name
Fun fact: The more popular variation of this name is spelled ‘Terrence.’
- Thomas
Origin: German, Teutonic
Meaning: People’s rule
Fun fact: There have been famous Thomases throughout history, from the Bible to famous inventors and even a president.
- Trevor
Origin: English, Welsh
Meaning: Fair town
Fun fact: The alternate spellings of this name sound nothing like it. They are Tringad, Treasign and Treacy.
- Ulric
Origin: German, Latin, Swedish
Meaning: Strong-willed, determined
Fun fact: This name is rumored to be the familiar form of ‘Ursula.’
More Top Boys Names and Origin
- Umberto
Origin: Italian, Russian
Meaning: Renowned warrior
Fun fact: This nickname for Umberto is nothing like the name itself; it’s ‘Yuma.’
- Urian
Origin: Greek
Meaning: From heaven
Fun fact: Most people confuse this name with the more popular and similar-sounding ‘Orion.’
- Valentino
Origin: Latin, Spanish
Meaning: Brave, strong
Fun fact: Valentino is the name of one of the world’s most popular luxury brands.
- Vincent
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Conquering
Fun fact: This name has been popular since the Middle Ages.
- Vladimir
Origin: Slavic
Meaning: Renowned prince
Fun fact: This is one of the most classic Russian boy names in existence. The country’s current president is named Vladimir.
- Watkins
Origin: English, Teutonic
Meaning: From the intelligent one’s town, active
Fun fact: This name is much more popular as a surname than a first name.
- William
Origin: German
Meaning: Resolute, brilliant
Fun fact: This name belongs to some of the most famous men in the world- Shakespeare, Clinton, Faulkner, the Prince of Wales, etc.
- Winston
Origin: English
Meaning: Wines town
Fun fact: The most famous Winston is the WWII hero, Winston Churchill.
- Xavier
Origin: Basque
Meaning: New house
Fun fact: Professor X from the X-Men is actually named Charles Xavier.
- Xerxes
Origin: Persian
Meaning: Monarch
Fun fact: This name was said to get a boost in popularity after the Spartan movie, 300, was released.
- Yanni
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: God is gracious
Fun fact: Outside of certain cultures, this name is not very popular. Some sources rank it over 5000 when it comes to popularity.
- Yousef
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Jehovah increases
Fun fact: Over the years, Yousef has become more and more popular among boys, even those outside the Jewish culture.
- Zacharius
Origin: Greek
Meaning: The Lord has remembered
Fun fact: Zachary is the more common form of this old biblical name.
- Zayne
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Rose, visitor
Fun fact: Last year, this name nearly made it to the top 400 male names.
- Zion
Origin: Hebrew, Russian
Meaning: Highest point,
Fun fact: Zion is known as the Promise Land in some religions.
- Zoltan
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Shining
Fun fact: Zoltan was the name of a 10th-century Hungarian prince and a Hungarian composer.
