As a doula and baby planner who’s been part of hundreds of births, I’ve heard just about every kind of boy name out there — from timeless classics to cool and creative picks. If you’re searching for the perfect name for your little guy, you’re in the right place. This guide features some of the most loved baby boy names across all styles — from unique and modern to strong and traditional. Whether you’re building your list or narrowing it down, these boy names are sure to inspire.
Boy Name Ideas by Style and Theme
We’ve noticed that many of today’s most popular boy baby names are cool, rare, and short — or come with a stylish nickname. To help spark inspiration, here are some of our most-loved name lists organized by theme.

Cool Boy Names
If you want your little guy to have a name that stands out, these cool picks are full of swagger, style, and charm. From edgy to effortlessly modern, these baby boy names are made for trendsetters.
Aiden
Jameson
Grayson
Thor
Rex
Reed
Levi
Owen
Duke
Hawk
Aston
Leo
Brody
Ryder
Jaxon
Knox
Rome
Ellis
Braxton
Scout
Want more cool picks? View all cool boy names.
Cute Boy Names
Whether you’re looking for something sweet, soft, or full of charm, these baby boy names have that irresistible “aww” factor. From timeless picks to trendy favorites, these cute names are sure to melt your heart.
Asher
Benjamin
Dylan
Henry
Jackson
Andy
Archie
Bryson
Casey
Charlie
Theo
Brooks
Cal
Jude
River
Felix
Finley
Jeffrey
Jamie
Joey
Want more adorable ideas? View all cute boy names.
Modern Boy Names
These boy baby names are fresh, stylish, and on the rise. From sleek sounds to bold spellings, these modern picks are perfect for parents who want something current and cool without being overly trendy.
Asher
Jaxon
Milo
Kai
Ezra
Zane
Knox
Axel
Rowan
Enzo
Cruz
Beckett
Ryker
Orion
Luca
Grayson
Kairo
Jett
Nico
Bodhi
Looking for more trendy picks? View all modern boy names.
Unique Boy Names
If you’re hoping to choose a one-of-a-kind boy name that stands out from the crowd, these unique picks are full of charm and individuality. Each one brings something unexpected — perfect for parents looking for something truly original.
Bear
Elias
Flynn
Jagger
Jett
Nolan
Phoenix
Beckett
Easton
Fox
Grey
Khai
Romeo
Shiloh
Tucker
Atlas
Creed
Colton
Beck
Thiago
Want more one-of-a-kind options? View all unique boy names.
Rare Boy Names
If you love the idea of a name that’s truly uncommon, this list of rare boy names might be exactly what you’re looking for. These picks are under-the-radar but full of personality — perfect for parents who want something a little different.
Anders
Arlo
Aspen
Bear
Bentley
Blaze
Brinley
Camden
Elio
Fox
Colter
Everett
Falcon
Henley
Atlas
Gavin
Henley
Landon
Zale
Kit
Want more under-the-radar ideas? View all rare boy names.
One-Syllable Boy Names
Short, strong, and easy to remember — these one-syllable boy names pack a lot of personality into just a few letters. They’re perfect as first names or bold middle name choices.
Beau
Brooks
Charles
Gael
Jace
Abe
Joel
Jude
Sean
Dale
Jack
James
Kai
Luke
Miles
Grant
Guy
Josh
Lance
Mike
Want more short and strong options? View all one-syllable boy names
Looking for something more grounded in current trends? The names below are some of the most popular choices across the U.S. — perfect if you want a name that’s well-loved and widely recognized.
Most Popular Boy Names
Want to know which names parents across the country are loving most right now? Here are the most popular baby boy names in the United States — including the national top 10 and the top names in select states.

Top 10 Boy Names in the United States
These are the top 10 boy names in the United States, based on the most recent data from the Social Security Administration.1 Each of these popular names has stood the test of time — and they’re still going strong.
Liam
Noah
Oliver
James
Elijah
Mateo
Theodore
Henry
Lucas
William
Most Popular Boy Names by State
Baby names can trend differently depending on where you live. To give you a peek at what’s popular in different parts of the country, here are the top baby boy names in two big states: Texas and New York.
Texas
Liam
Noah
Mateo
Santiago
Sebastian
Elijah
Oliver
Ezra
Lucas
Levi
New York
Liam
Noah
Lucas
David
Joseph
Oliver
James
Michael
Jack
Jacob
Want to see what’s popular in your state? View all popular baby names by state.
Looking for names that start with a specific letter? Check out some of our most popular baby boy name lists by letter below — from A to M and more.
Boy Names by Letter
Families often love choosing a name that starts with a specific letter — whether for tradition, style, or sibling name coordination. If you have a favorite letter in mind, we’ve featured some of the most popular baby boy name lists below to help inspire your search.

Boy Names That Start With A
Looking for strong or sweet baby boy names that start with A? This list includes some of our favorite picks — from timeless classics to cool modern choices.
Aaron
Adrian
Ahmad
Aiden/Aidan
Alexander
Andrew
Angel
Anthony
Asher
Axel
Addison
Alban
Alcott
Alfred
Allen
Alton
Arnold
Aubrey
Allston
Amar
Look for more? View all Boy Names That Start With A.
Boy Names That Start With C
These boy baby names that start with C range from cool and classic to cute and uncommon. Whether you love a strong sound like Caleb or something softer like Cameron, this list has something for every style.
Caleb
Cameron
Camille
Carson
Carter
Charles
Christian
Christopher
Colton
Connor
Cooper
Courtney
Casey
Cody
Colby
Collin
Corey
Craig
Curtis
Cash
Looking for more? View all Boy Names That Start With C.
Boy Names That Start With J
These baby boy names that start with J include some of the most popular choices of all time — like James and Jackson — along with fresh, modern picks like Jaxon and Jayden. If you’re drawn to names with bold energy and charm, this list delivers.
Jack
Jackson
Jacob
James
Jayden
John
Joseph
Joshua
Josiah
Julian
Jace
Jameson
Jason
Jasper
Jaxon
Jeffrey
Jeremiah
Jonah
Jonathan
Jordan
Want even more J names? View all Boy Names That Start With J.
Boy Names That Start With M
Whether you’re drawn to meaningful classics like Matthew or modern favorites like Maverick and Mateo, this list is full of boy name options that start with M. There’s something for every style — from timeless to trendy.
Mark
Mason
Mateo
Matthew
Maverick
Maxwell
Micah
Michael
Miles
Milo
Madison
Marco
Marcus
Mario
Marshall
Miguel
Mitchell
Morgan
Murphy
Malcolm
Want more M name ideas? View all Boy Names That Start With M.
Have a favorite letter in mind? Tap below to explore boy names by letter.
Interested in names with cultural meaning or family roots? Next, explore our baby boy name lists by origin.
Baby Boy Names by Origin
When I was pregnant with my son, I knew I wanted an Irish or German name — something that sounded right with our last name and reflected our family’s heritage. Our history and culture shape so much of who we are, and choosing a name with meaning can be a beautiful part of that story. If you feel the same way, you’ll love these curated baby boy name lists by origin — each one filled with handsome, meaningful options.

Italian Boy Names
These baby boy names from Italy are full of style, strength, and meaning. Whether you’re honoring your heritage or just love the romantic sound of names like Matteo and Luca, this list has plenty of beautiful options to consider.
Abramo
Achille
Alberto
Aldo
Alessandro
Alessio
Alfio
Amerigo
Amilcare
Andrea
Angelo
Antonio
Arnaldo
Brando
Carlo
Carmelo
Carmine
Carlo
Matteo
Luca
Want even more? View all Italian names.
Irish Boy Names
These boy baby names from Ireland are rich with history, spirit, and lyrical charm. Whether you’re honoring your roots or simply drawn to names like Declan and Finn, this list is full of meaningful options that feel both timeless and modern.
Aidan
Alan
Amon
Bard
Barry
Branna
Broderic
Brogan
Cadan
Carrick
Clark
Colin
Conan
Conner
Darren
Deegan
Declan
Egan
Emmett
Finn
Want even more? View All Irish Names.
French Boy Names
These elegant and charming boy name picks from France bring a touch of sophistication and flair. From timeless names like Louis to softer, modern choices like Remy, this list offers plenty of beautiful inspiration.
Adrien
Alexandre
André
Blaise
Chase
Denis
Diggory
Emile
Gable
Guy
Henri
Jacques
Jean
Jules
Louis
Maison
Marc
Nicolas
Phillippe
Remy
Want even more? View all French Names.
German Boy Names
These strong and timeless baby boy names from Germany are full of history, charm, and character. From bold classics like Max and Otto to distinctive picks like Adler and Fritz, this list offers meaningful options rooted in tradition.
Emil
Otto
Hugo
Maximilian
Adler
Walter
Bruno
Kurt
Fritz
Hans
Rainer
Manfred
Erik
Lothar
Dieter
Franz
Heinrich
Karl
Leonhard
Andreas
Want even more? View all German Names.
Still haven’t found the perfect name? These additional baby boy name lists offer even more inspiration — from short and strong picks to cool nicknames.
More Boy Name Lists
If you’re still on the hunt for the perfect name, don’t worry — we’ve got even more ideas. These baby boy name lists cover short names, strong names, and fun nicknames that might just be the right fit.

Short Boy Names
Short names are simple, strong, and easy to remember — perfect for parents who want something bold and minimal. These baby boy names may be small in length, but they make a big impression.
Alex
Andy
Axel
Ben
Caleb
Cole
Eli
Ethan
Evan
Ezra
Isaac
Jack
Jett
Levi
Luca
Mason
Miles
Ozzy
Quin
Will
Want more? View all Short Boy Names.
Strong Boy Names
These names have a powerful presence — whether they’re rooted in meaning, sound, or both. If you’re looking for a name that feels bold and confident, this list of boy names delivers.
Abraham
Aldric
Anders
Andrew
Arnold
Brian
Conrad
David
Drew
Eli
Eric
Evander
Forest
Garrett
Gordan
Harvey
Jacob
Julius
Leonardo
Onan
Want more powerful picks? View all Strong and Powerful Boy Names.
Nicknames for Boys
Some names come with the perfect built-in nickname. Whether you want something playful, casual, or just a cool alternative, these boy baby names come with nicknames you’ll love.
Hank (Henry)
Ben, Benny, or Benji (Benjamin)
Alex, Zander, or Lex (Alexander)
Chris (Christopher or Christian)
Tony (Anthony or Antone)
Jules (Julian or Julius)
Harry (Harold or Harrison)
Auggie or Gus (August or Augustus)
Izzy (Isaiah)
Albie (Albert or Albus)
Toby (Tobias)
Mel (Melvin)
Fitz or Pat (Fitzpatrick)
Mac (MacGregor, McAlister)
Rob, Robbie, or Robin (Robinson)
Cam (Camden or Campbell)
Ty (Tyson)
Terry (Terrance)
Dash (Dashiell)
Eli (Elijah or Elias)
Want more ideas? View all Nicknames for Boys.
Still exploring? Browse all baby name lists here.
Still feeling unsure? These tips can help you narrow down your favorites and feel confident in your final choice.
Tips for Choosing Baby Names
As you can see, there are so many baby boy names to choose from — from modern and cute to strong and unique. We know it can be tough to sort through all the options and settle on the right boy name for your little one. Don’t worry — we’ve got you covered. These helpful articles offer tips to make the decision easier:
- 12 Things to Consider When Choosing a Baby Name
- 7 Tips for Picking the Perfect Baby Name
- What to Do When You Can’t Agree on a Baby Name
This is such an exciting milestone! Be sure to have fun with it. Before you know it, you’ll be holding your sweet baby boy in your arms — and calling him by name.