Are you expecting a baby boy? One of the first — and most important — decisions you will make is what to name him. With so many great baby boy names to choose from, that decision can seem daunting. There are several things to consider when choosing a baby name, according to Lesley Bolton, author of “The Complete Book of Baby Names.”
These include how the name sounds (say it aloud many times to see how it rolls off your tongue), its connotation (what ideas or qualities it makes you think about), its literal meaning and its spelling. “But I believe the most important thing is to choose a name that is meaningful for you,” Bolton says. “If you choose a name you’re proud of, your child will be proud of it too.”
One way to find a name you and your boy will be proud of is to “pick a name that will mean something to your child — one that will remind him of a wise leader, a hero, a great athlete or a beloved family member,” says Bruce Lansky, author of “100,000+ Baby Names.”
Need more inspiration? Check out the Social Security Administration (SSA)’s list of top 10 baby boy and girl names by birth year, decade and state. Then consider where other parents are currently finding baby boy names:
- The British Monarchy
“With the birth of Princess Charlotte, we’re seeing another wave of royal names hit the scene for girls and boys alike,” says Bolton. “Even the name Royal is becoming a favorite.”
- Television
“People continue to be affected by popular TV shows, like ‘Game of Thrones,'” says Lansky. “Names from these shows often become fads.” Just be careful, because many of these names — take Tyrion or Sandor, for instance — will be difficult for people to pronounce and spell.
- Trendy Names
“Traditionally, boys’ names have stayed more conservative, while girls’ names have taken more of an ‘anything goes’ approach,” says Bolton. “Parents are breaking away from that mold now and experimenting more with boys’ names. We’re seeing more trendy names such as Atlas and Lennox.”
- The Bible
“There continue to be at least five names on the SSA’s top 10 list from the new and old testaments of the Bible,” Lansky says. “Many parents think biblical names show character and values.”
- Girls’ Names
Many names that were once unisex and then became primarily girls’ names are now being taken back by the boys. “It may still be awhile before we see Ashley and Leslie again become popular boys’ names,” says Bolton. “But that’s the direction we’re headed in if this trend continues to gain steam.”
- Tradition
“Even though we’ve seen boys’ names become more daring, the traditional, solid names remain popular. There is something very comforting and charming about a Michael or a James,” says Bolton. “And I think that the strong, positive connotations these names have are what keep them in the top ranks year after year.”
Here are 101 baby boy names that are consistently popular or are currently gaining in popularity. Get their meanings, origins, popularity and other fun facts about them and thousands of other baby boy names at Baby Names.
- Abel
- Aiden
- Alexander
- Ashley
- Atlas
- Atticus
- Austin
- Beckett
- Brandon
- Benjamin
- Bentley
- Brecken
- Bo
- Brody
- Camden
- Carlos
- Charles
- Christian
- Clark
- Clyde
- Connor
- Daniel
- Declan
- Dominic
- Dylan
- Elijah
- Ethan
- Ezra
- Felix
- Finn
- Fitzgerald
- Franco
- Gavin
- Giovanni
- Grayson
- Gregor
- Gus
- Harrison
- Harvey
- Hiro
- Homer
- Hudson
- Ian
- Isaiah
- Jackson
- Jacob
- James
- Jayden
- Jordan
- Jose
- Joseph
- Joshua
- Jude
- Kayden
- Kingston
- Knox
- Legend
- Lennox
- Leo
- Liam
- Lincoln
- Lochlan
- Logan
- Lucas
- Luis
- Lucas
- Malik
- Mason
- Matthew
- Michael
- Nathan
- Noah
- Nolan
- Oliver
- Otto
- Owen
- Parker
- Peter
- Quentin
- Rhett
- Roman
- Ryan
- Santiago
- Sawyer
- Sebastian
- Silas
- Stetson
- Thomas
- Titus
- Tristan
- Truman
- Vincent
- William
- Winston
- Wright
- Wyatt
- Xander
- Xavier
- Zachary
- Zeke
- Zion
Want more ideas? Check out these 28 Old-Fashioned Baby Names.
Jennifer Marino Walters is a Washington, D.C.-based parenting writer who relied on both books mentioned in this story when choosing her three children’s names. She tweets at Twitter
