I have always thought that naming boys was so much harder than naming girls! My husband and I can NEVER agree on boy names! There are so many great ones out there but we never like the same ones. I like more classic, meaningful boy names whereas my husband likes more unique ones. If you’re looking for more unique names, make sure you check out this list of unique baby boy names!
I love names that have meaning and date back in history. It’s so neat to read about what great people bear the same names and delve into their stories. Sometimes, it makes me think twice about a name too, depending on these things as well!
Because picking out a name for our little bundles of joy can be so hard, I decided to compile a big, long list of classic boy names with each of their meanings and origins. Hopefully, my husband and I can agree on one or two, and hopefully, you can too!
Classic Baby Boy Names
A
- Abraham
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Father of many; ancestor of a multitude
- Adam
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Son of red earth
- Alan
- Origin: Celtic
- Meaning: Little rock, noble, fair, and handsome
- Alexander
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Defender of the people, a warrior
- Alvin
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: A noble friend
- Ambrose
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Immortal, divine
- Archie
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Genuine, bold, or brave
- Arthur
- Origin: Celtic
- Meaning: Bear, stone, noble
B
- Barnaby
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Son of consolation
- Bartholomew
- Origin: Aramaic
- Meaning: Son of Talmai (the farmer)
- Benjamin
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Son of the right hand
- Brooks
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Water or a small stream
C
- Caleb
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Faithful, whole-hearted, bold, or brave
- Charles
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Free man
- Chester
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Fort or camp
- Christian
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Follower of Christ
- Christopher
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Bearing Christ
- Clarke
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Scribe, scholar
- Claude
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Lame, crippled
D
- Daniel
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Beautiful, or God is my judge
- Demetrius
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Devoted to Demeter (the goddess of fertility)
- Dorian
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Of Doris, a gift, or from the sea
- Douglas
- Origin: Scottish
- Meaning: Black river or dark stream
E
- Edgar
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: A wealthy spearman
- Elias
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: The Lord is my God
- Elijah
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: My God is Yahweh
- Elmer
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: Noble and famous
- Ernest
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Serious, or determined
- Ethan
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Strong, firm, long-lived
- Evan
- Origin: Welsh
- Meaning: Young warrior or God is gracious
- Ezekiel
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: The strength of God
- Ezra
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Helper
F
- Ferdinand
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Peace, or bold voyager
- Franklin
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Free man
- Frederick
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Peaceful ruler
G
- Gabriel
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: God is my strength
- George
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Farmer, or earth worker
- Gregory
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Watchful, vigilant
H
- Henry
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Ruler of the household
- Herbert
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Illustrious warrior
- Hugh
- Origin: British
- Meaning: Heart, mind, intellect
- Hugo
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Bright in mind and spirit
- Humphrey
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Peaceful warrior
I
- Isaiah
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Salvation of the Lord
- Ivan
- Origin: Russian and Slavic
- Meaning: God is gracious
J
- Jack
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Healthy, strong, and full of energy
- Jackson
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Son of Jack
- James
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Supplanter, replacer
- Jasper
- Origin: Persian
- Meaning: Treasurer
- Jeremiah
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: God will uplift
- John
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: God is gracious
- Jonah
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Dove
- Joseph
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: He will add
- Joshua
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: God is salvation
- Josiah
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: God supports and heals
- Jude
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Praised
L
- Laurence
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: From the city of Laurentum
- Leo
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Lion
- Leopold
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Brave people
- Levi
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Joined, united
- Liam
- Origin: Irish
- Meaning: Protector or strong-willed warrior
- Lloyd
- Origin: Welsh
- Meaning: Gray-haired, or sacred
M
- Mark
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Mars, God of war, or to be warlike
- Matthew
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Gift of God
- Maximilian
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: The greatest
- Maxwell
- Origin: Scottish
- Meaning: Great stream
- Micah
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Who is like God
- Michael
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Who is like God or a gift from God
N
- Nathaniel
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Gift of God
- Neville
- Origin: Old French
- Meaning: New village
- Noah
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Rest, comfort
O
- Oliver
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Olive tree
- Orson
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Bear cub
- Owen
- Origin: Welsh
- Meaning: Young warrior or noble born
Q
- Quincy
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: The fifth son
R
- Reginald
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Counsel, or power
- Robin
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Bright, or famous
- Roland
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Famous throughout the land
- Rufus
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Red-haired
S
- Samuel
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Heard by God
- Saul
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Asked for, prayed for
- Sebastian
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Revered, vulnerable
- Silas
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Forest dweller
- Silvester
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Of the woods or overgrown with trees
- Socrates
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Safe, whole, or unwounded
- Solomon
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Peaceful
T
- Theodore
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Gift of God
- Thomas
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Twin
- Timothy
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: God’s honor
- Titus
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Title of honor
- Tobias
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: God is good
- Tristan
- Origin: Celtic
- Meaning: Sadness or fierce
W
- Wilfred
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: Desiring peace
- William
- Origin: Germanic
- Meaning: Strong-willed warrior
- Wyatt
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Brave in war
X
- Xavier
- Origin: Arabic
- Meaning: New house, or bright
Z
- Zachariah
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Yahweh remembers
- Zebedee
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Gift of God
There are so many more names than the ones that are listed here. With so many names out there, picking the right one for your little bundle of joy can be so hard! My best advice is to make a list of 10 you like, and 10 your partner likes. Switch lists and cross out which ones you both don’t prefer. Hand the lists back and compare! Narrowing down the names you like can be made easier this way and then you’ll be that much closer to choosing the forever name for your sweet baby boy!
Happy name hunting!
XOXO,
Katie
