30 popular boy names and their meanings

Aidan

Aidan is an Irish name meaning “fiery,” derived from the name of the Celtic god of the sun and
fire, Aodh.

According to baby name trend tracking site Nameberry,

Aidan

and its related spelling Aiden have enjoyed a recent resurgence of popularity in the past decade
that inspired many “sound-alike” names such as Caden, Jayden and Braden. It’s a cool

gender-neutral name

for girls, too.

Alexander

Alexander is a name of Greek origin meaning “defender.” Famous Alexanders in history include
Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, inventor and scientist Alexander Graham Bell and of course the
ancient conqueror Alexander the Great.

According to Nameberry,

Alexander

has been among the top 25 most popular boys’ names since the 1990s, with numerous “spinoff” names
and nicknames such as Xander, Sasha and Alex.

Andrew

Andrew is boy’s name derived from the Greek

aner,

meaning “man.” Andrew means “strong, manly,” and is the name of one of the first apostles in the
New Testament, as well as two American presidents (Jackson and Johnson) and the patron saints of
Russia, Greece and Scotland.

Andrew is one of those names that has been popular for decades, although

Nameberry

notes that it slipped out of the top 20 boys’ names in 2013. Drew and Andy are two likeable
nicknames for Andrew, and variations on Andrew from around the world include Anders, Andre, Andreas
and Andrei.

Anthony

Anthony is a Latin name meaning “priceless.” Originally a family name from ancient Rome, “Antonii”
evolved into the given names Anthony and Antony in the 17th century, according to

Nameberry

, and is the name of the patron saint of Italy and the poor.

While Anthony’s popularity

peaked in the 1980s

, it still ranks in the top 30 for boys names.

Benjamin

Benjamin is a Biblical boys’ name derived from the Hebrew for “son of the right hand.” Benjamin was
a founder of one of the Twelve Tribes of Israel in the Old Testament, and in more recent times
famous Benjamins have been inventors (Franklin), composers (Britten) and even Jedi (Solo, Kenobi).

Gentle and a bit old-fashioned, Benjamin has been in the top 10 for boys’ names since 2015. The
nickname Ben is a friendly shortened version with vintage appeal, while Benji has a playful feel.

Christopher

Christopher is a Biblical name of ancient Greek origin meaning “bearer of Christ.” The name
Christopher has been borne by saints, actors (Plummer and Eccleston, to name two), explorers
(Columbus), architects (Wren) and authors (Colfer and Hitchens), but the best-loved Christopher of
them all might be Christopher Robin, of

Winnie the Pooh

.

Chris is, of course, a popular nickname, but as

Nameberry

reports, some appealing and lesser-known variations are on the rise, including Topher, Kit and Kip.

Daniel

The Biblical name Daniel is taken from the Hebrew for “God is my judge,” and is associated with the
faithful Daniel of the Old Testament book of the same name. It has been among the most popular
boys’ names since the 1970s, and according to

Nameberry

, over 10,000 baby boys are given the name Daniel every year.

Daniel is traditionally a popular boy name among Irish families, thanks to the classic Irish ballad
“Danny Boy” and the similar-sounding Gaelic name Donal or Domhnall.

David

David is a boys’ name of Hebrew origin meaning “beloved.” The Biblical David is the famous one who
slew the giant Goliath with his slingshot, making David the namesake of triumphant underdogs
everywhere. That same David is also the poet and champion of the arts who inspired the famous
Renaissance sculpture by Michelangelo. Quite a heritage to live up to!

With its artistic and religious pedigree combined with its classic appeal, David has ranked among
the most popular boys’ names for decades, coming in second only to Daniel in boys’ names that begin
with D, according to

Nameberry

.

Dylan

A

gender-neutral name

that has skyrocketed to popularity in recent decades,

Dylan

is a Welsh name that means “son of the sea.” Most Americans associate the name Dylan with the
Nobel-prize-winning musician Bob Dylan, but perhaps fewer know that Bob Dylan adopted his
performing name from the great Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, who wrote “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good
Night,” among others.

Elijah

Elijah is a Biblical name of Hebrew origin meaning “the Lord is my God.” In the Old Testament,
Elijah was the prophet who confronted the controversial queen Jezebel and king Ahab of Israel, and
who was later carried up to Heaven in a chariot of fire.

Classic and musical-sounding, Elijah is also an especially popular name among celebrity kids: Bono,
Cher and a

surprisingly long list of other notables

have given their sons the name Elijah. Elijah is also

gaining ground

as a name for baby girls.

Ethan

Ethan is an ancient Hebrew name meaning “enduring.” Its popularity in recent decades may have been
kickstarted by the Tom Cruise character in the

Mission: Impossible

series, by 90s indie dreamboat Ethan Hawke—or maybe just by the name Ethan’s
classic-yet-cheerful feel.

According to the baby name popularity tracking website

Nameberry

, Ethan peaked at #3 for boys names in 2012, but is still holding strong in the top 30.

Gabriel

Gabriel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning “God is my strength,” combining

gever

, meaning “strong,” and

‘el

, God. In the religious traditions of Christianity, Judaism and Islam, the archangel Gabriel offers
counsel, reveals the meaning of dreams and visions and provides a line of communication between
humanity and the divine. Gabriel is also known as the herald of the birth of Christ.

Noble and musical, Gabriel is a popular name choice for January babies and sons born on a Monday,
since as reported by

Nameberry

, Gabriel is associated with both Januarys and Mondays—appropriate for a figure so strongly
connected with new beginnings.

Henry

Henry is a Germanic name meaning “ruler of the home,” derived from “heim,” meaning

home

, and “rich” meaning rule. A long line of British monarchs named Henry dates from all the way back
in the tenth century to the modern Prince Henry, a.k.a. Harry. But well beyond its royal pedigree,
Henry has been the earthy, accessible name of great artists, inventors and pioneers from Henry Ford
to Henry James to Henry “Hank” Aaron.

Henry is also one of those names that celebrities seem to love bestowing on their sons, including
Julia Roberts, Viggo Mortensen, Meryl Streep, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Rachel Weisz, Jack White, Colin
Farrell, and

many more

.

Jackson

Jackson is an English name meaning “son of Jack,” which has risen to such massive popularity in
recent decades that it has surpassed both John and Jack on the Social Security Administration’s
annual record of top names for boys. Jackson sounds like a slightly more formal version of either
Jack or John, which may help explain its durable appeal. The name has gained even more renown
thanks to modern-day Jacksons like American artist Jackson Pollack, singer Jackson Browne and
Jackson Wang of Korean boy band Got7.

Even more than Henry, it seems,

Jackson

is a favorite boy name among celebrities. Notable people who have named their sons Jackson include
Spike Lee, Patti Smith and Charlize Theron.

Jacob

Jacob is a Hebrew name meaning “supplanter.” In the Biblical story of Jacob and his twin brother
Esau, Jacob repeatedly deceives his older twin in order to deny Esau his rights as the eldest son.
But then the Old Testament describes how Jacob goes on to face numerous challenges—including
wrestling with an angel—before eventually reconciling with his brother and becoming a leader
of a new nation. Jacob’s legacy is complex, but he’s an incredibly important figure in Judaism and
Christianity.

Ironically enough, Jacob’s revived popularity as a boys’ name in the late 1990s was inspired by
another controversial Jacob, one-third of the love triangle in the

Twilight

series. According to Nameberry,

Jacob

was the number 1 boys’ name in America from 1999 to 2013, when it was supplanted (see what we did
there?) by Noah.

James

Classic boys’ name James is the Anglo-Saxon version of the Hebrew name Jacob, meaning “supplanter.”

James

was the most popular boys’ name in America from the late 1930s into the 1940s, and it has never
really gone out of style (in fact,

James

has evolved into a great gender-neutral name for girls in recent years). As Nameberry notes, more
U.S. Presidents have been named

James

than any other name. Kings, apostles and fictional international super-spies have all carried the
name of James, too.

While James is a name with a serious pedigree, it has some pretty friendly nicknames, including
Jamie, Jim, and Jake.

Jayden

Jayden is the Americanized version of the Hebrew name Jadon, meaning “thankful.”

Jayden

is most often considered a kind of hybrid of the names “Aiden” and “Jason,” and the name started
its rise to popularity in the 1990s (thanks to Britney Spears choosing “Jayden” and Will and Jada
Smith using “Jaden” for their sons), eventually

peaking

at #4 in the early 2010s.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and the popularity of Jayden has propelled a host of
wildly popular sound-alike names up the Social Security Administration’s top name
lists—Caden, Braydon, Peyton, even Mason. But Jayden is the grandaddy of them all…or, to
put it in gender-neutral terms, the grand

parent

, since

Jayden

is also a popular name for girls.

John

John is an English version of the Latin name Iohannes, meaning “God is gracious.”

John

is the most popular boys’ name of the last 400 years, and like the name James, it has never really
gone out of style—even though it’s less used today than ever, John still

ranks

consistently in the top 30 boys’ names.

Timeless, classic and durable, the name John has a band of international “brothers” that are just
as beloved: Sean (Irish), Juan (Spanish), Ian (Scottish), Evan or Ewan (Welsh), Giovanni (Italian)
and Jean (French).

Joseph

Joseph is the Latin form of the ancient Hebrew name Yosef, meaning “may God grow.” The most famous
Joseph is probably the New Testament father figure and husband of the Virgin Mary, but

Joseph

is also the instantly recognizable, distinguished name of authors (Heller), athletes (DiMaggio),
actors (Fiennes, Gordon-Levitt) and political leaders (Biden, Lieberman).

Joshua

Joshua is a name of Hebrew origin meaning “the Lord is my salvation.” Gentle-sounding with just a
hint of the Wild West, the Biblical name

Joshua

has been popular since the 1980s, reaching its highest ranking in the Social Security
Administration data for baby names in the early 2000s. By 2015 Joshua had fallen out of the top 20
boys’ names in the U.S., but Joshua remains one of the most well-loved names of the last 50 years.

Famous namesakes include Joshua Tree National Park and a baseball teams’ worth of well-known actors
(Brolin, Hutcherson, Gad, Hartnett, Radnor, Duhamel, Jackson, Charles…).

Liam

Liam is a boys’ name that means “protector.” An Irish variation of the English-German name William,
Liam is currently the most popular boys’ name in the U.S., and one of the fastest-rising names on
record (it wasn’t even in the top 10 until 2012, according to

Nameberry

).

Well-known Liams include actor Liam Neeson, musicians Liam Payne (of One Direction) and Liam
Gallagher (of Oasis) and a number of Irish cultural and political figures including novelist Liam
O’Flaherty.

Logan

Logan is a Scottish boys’ name meaning “small hollow.” Originally a Scottish family name,

Logan

has been growing in popularity as a first name for boys since the 1970s thanks to the sci-f-
classic

Logan’s Run

. Logan is also a cool gender-neutral name for girls.

The Marvel X-Men character Logan, a.k.a. Wolverine, is a big part of the name’s appeal in the U.S.,
along with Logans on

Gilmore Girls

and a number of other shows. Zora Neale Hurston’s novel

Their Eyes Were Watching God

also features a character named Logan.

Lucas

Lucas is a Latin name meaning either “from Lucania” (a region in southern Italy) or “light,” if
Lucas is considered a variation on the name Luke. The variation Lukas is the most popular boys’
name in the Netherlands, Spain and Norway.

Lucas is a big name among big-screen cowboys from

Cool Hand Luke

(a.k.a. Lucas Jackson) to Lucas McCain of

The Rifleman

, and a number of fictional characters from

Ivanhoe

to

Stranger Things

have been named Lucas as well.

Mason

Mason is a popular gender-neutral name of English origin meaning “stone worker,”

derived

from an Old English word

macian

meaning “to make.” It’s a name for creators, hard workers and—according to pop
culture—werewolves. (And Kardashians.)

Mason

peaked at #2 in 2011, but its enduring popularity has boosted a number of sound-alike names such as
Cason and Grayson.

Matthew

Matthew is the English form of the Hebrew name Mattiyahu, meaning “gift of God.” Like Joshua and
John,

Matthew

is a soft-yet-strong Biblical boys’ name that has been popular for decades, especially in the 1980s
and 1990s. Name “spin-offs” from Matthew that are also popular now include Matteo, Teo and Mattias.

Matthew and Matt, much like Lucas and Luke, are old-school names that bear a hint of the Wild West
thanks to gunslingers like Matt Dillon. But Matthew has a gentle feel too, thanks to its sound and
namesakes like Matthew Cuthbert of the

Anne of Green Gables

books.

Michael

Michael is a name of Hebrew origin meaning, “Who is like God?” The rhetorical question posed by
this Biblical name isn’t intended to be answered of course—but it suggests the importance of
humility, grace and sincerity in life. The archangel Michael, important to Jewish, Islamic and
Christian traditions, leads an army of angels to victory against Satan and is the

patron saint of soldiers

, making Michael a popular name in military families.

Michael

was the #1 boys’ name in America for over 50 years.

Notable Michaels in history and literature are almost too many to list, but modern Michaels have
included sports legends (Jordan), designers (Kors), actors (Douglas, Fassbender) and political
leaders (Pence, Bloomberg). And of course, Michael Scott of

The Office

, best boss ever.

Noah

The boys’ name Noah is of Hebrew origin and means “peace.” The Biblical story of Noah and the ark
is known by children around the world, and word-lovers are grateful to American lexicographer Noah
Webster for his pioneering dictionary.

Noah

is one of the most popular boys’ names of the last two decades and currently ranks #2, although it
hasn’t always been as widely-used as it is

today

. Along with old-fashioned Biblical names such as Elijah, Micah and Jonah, Noah has resurfaced as a
gentle-sounding boys’ name with a serious feel.

Oliver

Oliver is a Latin name meaning “olive tree,” an ancient symbol of friendship and peace. While the
name Oliver fell seriously out of fashion in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it has
resurfaced in a big way in the last two decades as a likeable vintage-sounding name for boys with a
friendly meaning (and a wildly popular twin sister, the name Olivia).

Oliver isn’t just popular in the U.S.—it’s also enjoying a big surge in popularity abroad.

Oliver

is the #1 boy name in England, Australia and New Zealand and #2 in Scotland.

Samuel

Samuel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning “heard of God,” and makes a sweet name for a
much-wished-for little boy. Samuel has a serious, old-fashioned appeal while its softer, friendlier
nickname Sam is both gender-neutral and easy-going. A Biblical name with a long history of
popularity,

Samuel

has many notable namesakes, from Samuel Clemens (a.k.a. Mark Twain) to revolutionary Sam Adams to
film legend Samuel L. Jackson.

William

William is an English name meaning “resolute protector,” derived from the German “wil” meaning

will

and “heim” meaning

helmet.

According to Nameberry,

William

is one of the most popular boys’ names of the last 4 centuries, second only to John.

William has numerous royal and presidential namesakes from Prince William to William Clinton, in
addition to world-shapers like William Shakespeare and William the Conqueror.

William

is one of the top 10 boys’ names of the past decade.

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