These 'Rich Boy' Names Will Convey Power Prestige
There’s a reason everybody is “looking for a man in finance, with a trust fund” — because there’s just something intriguing about the world of lavish, unimaginable wealth. And whether you come from that world or just want to sound like you do, you can give your child a name that conveys power and prestige. These classic “rich boy” names”don’t give the vibe of someone who came from humble beginnings; they’re giving born-with-a-silver-spoon-in-hand, wine cellar bigger than an apartment, cufflinks that cost more than a year’s tuition. He’s a businessman with an Italian leather briefcase with his initials monogrammed on it in gold, wears custom-tailored suits, and has homes in Aspen and Ibiza for when he want to jet off for a little getaway. Or, you know, you could just slum it at his villa in the Hamptons.
Names that convey wealth — rich boy names — are often surnames first. Starting in the 17th century, family names with significant social status and influence started to be adopted as first names, often to preserve a distinguished ancestral name. That’s why society tends to associate surnames-turned-first names with prestige and an illustrious family legacy.
Of course, naming your child a name that sounds wealthy and powerful doesn’t mean they will be any of those things. But who’s to say? It might be the naming equivalent of “dress for the job you want” — if your child goes through life “wearing” an affluent-sounding name, maybe it will influence his destiny after all … or at least, how people perceive him.
More from SheKnows
Best of SheKnows
Sign up for Sheknows' Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Magnus
Magnus is a Late Latin name meaning “great” — which is also the root from where we get the word “magnate,” meaning someone who is wealthy and powerful (particularly in business). You can’t get a better rich boy name!
Spencer
Derived from the Middle English word spense, meaning pantry, this was a name designated to a person who distributed supplies. Over the centuries, it has become a surname that’s synonymous with aristocracy; it is, after all, the maiden name of Princess Diana!
Chauncey
Although it is said to be of Norman French origin, the meaning of Chauncey is unclear — but it was the surname of Charles Chauncey, who was president of Harvard in the 17th century and whose family was very prominent. It’s like Chance, but with a flair!
Preston
An English surname meaning “priest town”, Preston has always had an air of preppiness and a buttoned-up feel — which makes it a perfect fit for our list of rich boy names!
Barrett
If you’re superstitious about the meaning of your baby’s name, you may want to steer clear of Barrett; while its origin story isn’t rock-solid, the name could possibly mean “deceptive” or “quarrelsome.” But despite its meaning, Barrett has an upscale vibe — and, one might argue, you’ve got to be a strong person to be quarrelsome!
August
From the Latin augere, meaning “to increase” (as in wealth, perhaps?!) August sounds distinguished — but has the benefit of a cute nickname option: Auggie!
Winston
The name Winston is derived from the English surname Wynnstan, which is comprised of two Old English elements meaning “joy” and “stone.” Not sure what joy has to do with stones (unless that stone happens to be a gemstone!), but any name that’s made up of the words “wins” and “ton” has got to be auspicious!
Theodore
Whether he goes by the aristocratic-sounding Theodore, the more casual but still buttoned-up Ted, or the much more laid-back Theo or Teddy, you can’t go wrong with this classic name meaning “gift of God.”
Bradford
A name that both starts and ends with a strong sound, Bradford feels distinguished through and through. It’s an English place name meaning “broad ford.”
Sutton
In keeping with the rich boy name trend of surnames-turned-first-names, we have Sutton: an English place name meaning “south town.” For a stronger-sounding beginning and a vibe that’s a bit more rugged, you could go with Dutton — though Sutton sounds more upscale.
Conrad
Derived from Old German and meaning “brave counsel, the name Conrad has been borne by medieval royalty — and, in modern times, someone from a prominent American family too: hotelier (and Paris’s great-grandfather!) Conrad Hilton.
Anderson
Unsurprisingly, this name means “son of Andrew” — but Anderson possesses a strong, dignified sound that Andrew just doesn’t have, probably because it’s also used as a surname.
Brooks
No surprise here, either; as a name, Brooks was historically used to denote a person who lived by a brook or stream. But it’s a strong surname-turned-first-name (and fits right in with the nature name trend as well!). Alternately, you could use Banks — which is also definitely a rich boy name!
Remington
Like Brooks, Remington is a surname inspired by a place near water; in Old English, riming was the word for stream, and the “-ton” suffix indicates a town. Remington also sounds polished and prestigious. But unlike Brooks, it comes with a very cute and more casual nickname possibility: Remy!
Piers
What do Piers and Peter have in common? They’re from the same root name — Petros, meaning “stone.” Piers is actually the Old French form of the name, but it has an upper-crust appeal that still stands today.
Grant
The meaning of Grant — both the name and the word — makes it doubly fitting for a list of rich boy names! As a name, it originated with the French grand, meaning “great.” As a word, it means a financial award. Perfect!
Marshall
Marshall is a surname that comes from the word — you guessed it — “marshal.” The name means “horse servant,” because a marshal was responsible for getting the royal horses ready for battle. But since then, the title of Marshal has grown even more prestigious, in military, law enforcement, and fire protection. Its powerful connotations make it a perfect rich boy name.
Stanton
Stanton is a place name derived from the Old English elements stan, meaning “stone,” and tun, meaning “town” — so, stone town. It has a distinguished sound that could also be accomplished with its similar counterparts, Staton and Stanford.
Barron
As a word, “baron” means a person who’s powerful and important within a certain industry (i.e., an oil baron). It’s also a rank in British nobility. You can spell the name just like the word, but adding an extra R makes it more namelike.
Blaine
Blaine is a surname of Scottish origin, derived from a word meaning “yellow” (which means it was likely used to denote someone with blonde hair). Its association with an upper-class sound may be partially due to Andrew McCarthy’s character in the movie Pretty in Pink — rich, preppy heartthrob Blane McDonnagh.
Werner
Originating with Old German elements meaning “aware” and “army,” Werner conveys strength and stature right off the bat. Warner is a similar alternative.
Rhys
Sure, you could spell it Reese or Reece, but there’s just something infinitely classier about its traditional Welsh spelling. It comes from the Old Welsh name Ris, which means “enthusiasm.” It’s a simple one-syllable name like Rich or Bryce that packs a lot of punch.
Philip
Worn throughout history by royalty and saints, Philip is a distinguished classic with a strong pedigree. It also has the sweetest meaning: “friend of horses.”
Wesley
From the Old English elements west (meaning, you guessed it, “west”) and leah, meaning “meadow,” Wesley is a classic place name with an aristocratic but not-too-stuffy feel — especially when you use its more casual nickname, Wes.
Pin It!
Solve the daily Crossword
