Strong Boy Names With Powerful Meanings
Fact checked by Karen CilliFact checked by Karen Cilli
If you're expecting a baby in the coming months, you're probably in the process of choosing a name. Maybe you're considering naming your baby after a family member, a pop culture reference, or a stylistic preference.
From nature to Taylor Swift songs, when it comes to baby names, there is no shortage of inspiration out there. With so many names to choose from, the search for the right one can feel overwhelming.
If you're looking for a hearty name that will carry your baby throughout their life, then let's narrow that search a bit by looking into strong boy names. Keep reading to see if any of the 37 names on this list will be a strong contender for your baby's name.
Parents
Although many baby names are often separated by gender, Parents believes that sex does not need to play a role in selecting names. It's important to choose a name you feel fits your child best.
Popular Strong Boy Names
All across the world, expecting parents have looked for strong boy names for their babies, resulting in some being used more frequently than others. We have compiled a list of some of the more popular names from different cultures and languages below!
Liam
Origin: Irish
Meaning: Strong-willed warrior
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Lyam (German)
Famous Namesakes: Actor Liam Hemsworth, singer Liam Payne
Peak Popularity: Liam has been the #1 most popular boy name since 2017.
Noah
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Rest, repose
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Noa (French)
Famous Namesakes: Singer Noah Cyrus, singer Noah Kahan
Peak Popularity: Noah ranked the #1 most popular boy name from 2013-2016 and is still an extremely popular choice.
Oliver
Meaning: Olive tree, ancestors descendant
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Olivier (French)
Famous Namesakes: Actor Oliver Hudson, athlete Oliver Kahn
Peak Popularity: Oliver jumped to the #3 most popular boy name in 2019 and has remained since.
James
Origin: Hebrew, English
Meaning: Supplanter
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Jaimes, Jaymes
Famous Namesakes: Actor James Franco, President James Monroe
Peak Popularity: James was the #1 most popular boy name from 1940 through 1952 but has remained in the top 20 since 1900.
Fun Fact: James Monroe was the fifth president of the United States and is a Founding Father.
Elijah
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Yahweh is God
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Alijah
Famous Namesakes: Actor Elijah Wood, comedian Elijah Daniel
Peak Popularity: Elijah broke the top 10 boy names in 2016 and, at it's peak popularity, ranked #4 in 2020 and 2021.
Fun Fact: Elijah is a prominent figure in The Bible.
Mateo
Meaning: Gift of God
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Matheo
Famous Namesakes: Actor Mateo Arias, athlete Mateo Flores
Peak Popularity: Mateo was the most popular it has ever been in 2023, ranking #6 most popular baby boy name.
Theodore
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Gift of God, divine gift
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Theodoor (Dutch)
Famous Namesakes: President Theodore Roosevelt
Peak Popularity: The name Theodore ranked just under Mateo at #7 in 2023.
Fun Fact: Theodore Roosevelt won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906.
Henry
Origin: German
Meaning: House ruler
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Henri
Famous Namesakes: Actor Henry Cavill, singer Henry Rollins
Peak Popularity: In 2022 Henry reached the #7 most popular boy name.
Lucas
Origin: Greek, Latin
Meaning: Bringer of light
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Loukas (Greek)
Famous Namesakes: Actor Lucas Grabeel, actor Lucas Till
Peak Popularity: From 2018-2022, Lucas ranked as the #8 most popular boy name. It fell to #9 in 2023.
William
Origin: German
Meaning: Resolute protector, strong-willed protector
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Willum
Famous Namesakes: William Shakespeare
Peak Popularity: William was extremely popular in the early 1900s, ranking #2 from 1900-1920, except for 1910 when it was beat by the name James and became #3. It is still very popular, ranking #3 from 2016-2018.
Fun Fact: William Shakespeare wrote 37 plays and over 150 poems during his lifetime.
Unique Strong Boy Names
Looking for a strong boy name that your baby won't have to share with plenty of their classmates? A more unique name may be the right choice for you.
Aidan: Meaning 'born of fire,' Aidan is a unique boy name for a baby who will light up any room.
Ferguson: Ferguson isn't very common, but is a Gaelic name meaning "man of vigor" and "man of strength."
Peter: The name Peter has biblical roots and is the name of the popular Disney character Peter Pan.
Griffin: Derived from Welsh and Irish origin, Griffin means "lord" or "prince" and is representative of a winged mythical creature.
Wyatt: This gender-neutral name means "strong fighter" and could have a nickname of Wye.
Axel: Popular in Sweden, Denmark, and Germany, the name Axel means "father of peace" and also has biblical roots.
Xander: Xander means "defender of humankind" in Greek.
Phoenix: Not only is Phoenix a state capital, but also is reminiscent of a mythological bird who rises from ashes.
Raymond: With German roots, Raymond means "wise protector" and can be shortened to Ray.
Marcus: Associated with Mars, the Roman god of war, the name Marcus means "warlike."
Vintage Strong Boy Names
Turning to the past is a great way to find strong boy names for your baby. From classics like Benjamin, to more rare names like Gideon, there are plenty of vintage names to choose from!
Donovan: The name Donovan comes from a history of nobility in 10th century Ireland.
Gideon: A biblical name that reflects strength and courage similar to that of a warrior.
Richard: From German origin, the name Richard means "powerful" and "strong ruler" making it a great strong boy name.
Arthur: Arthur is commonly associated with strength and solidarity.
Benjamin: Derived from Hebrew, the name Benjamin means "son of the right hand" which indicates a position of importance and significance.
Patrick: The name Patrick has been used for generations and can have playful nicknames such as Pat or Patty.
Joel: The name Joel has origins in the Bible and is often picked for its simple nature.
Duncan: Derived from Gaelic to mean "chief warrior," Duncan is a strong and powerful boy name.
Roger: Similar to Duncan, Roger means "famous warrior" and has German roots.
Felix: Felix is a strong name that means "happy" and "fortunate."
Strong Boy Names From Pop Culture
There are plenty of strong boy names from books, movies, tv shows, music, and more to take inspiration from.
Troy: Name your child after the lead basketball player in Disney Channel's High School Musical.
Walter: For Disney lovers, the name Walter can be a strong choice that pays homage to the legendary Walt Disney himself.
Maximus: With Latin roots, the name Maximus means "greatest" and is also the name of Rapunzel's horse in Tangled.
Oscar: Channel your love of Sesame Street with the name Oscar after the iconic Oscar The Grouch.
Justin: Justin Bieber and Justin Timberlake are two singing legends with "J" names that your child can take after.
Cyrus: If you love Miley Cyrus, consider the name Cyrus which means "sun-like."
Reese: Whether you like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups or Reese Witherspoon, the name Reese is playful, simple, and strong.
More Baby Name Ideas
For more baby name inspiration, take a look at the following lists:
For more Parents news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on Parents.
