280 Modern Baby Boy Names and Meanings

Choosing a baby name is much more personal when it means something special. Here are 280 modern boy names and meanings to help you name your little guy.

When I was little, I loved looking at the plaques my mom had on her wall with our names and their meanings.

“Jessica: God’s Grace”
“Matthew: Gift of God”

Those names were popular in the ’90s, so I wondered if more modern baby boy names still have meaning?

It turns out they do!

RELATED: Everything You Need To Know About Being A First Time Mama

Baby Boy Names and Meanings

I used the handy search feature at Babynames.com to get the meanings for these 280 modern baby boy names.

This list came from the very first name post I did titled: 500 Modern Baby Names Any Mom to Be Will Love.

I had never thought to find the meanings behind all of those boy names, so I’m excited this post gave me the chance.

A

1. Abel – Hebrew origin, A breath
2. Absalom – Hebrew origin, Father is peace
3. Ace – Latin origin, One or expert
4. Adrian – Latin origin, Person From Hadria (Northern Italy)
5. Aiden/Ayden – Irish origin, Little Fire
6. Alexander – Greek origin, Defender of the people
7. Alistair – Scottish origin, Defender of the people
8. Ames – French origin, Friend
9. Anders – English origin, Son of Andrew
10. Archer – English origin, Bowman, One who excels in archery
11. Arlan/Arlen – German origin, Person From Erlen, Germany
12. Arlo/Arlow/Arlowe – German origin, Hill
13. Arrow – English origin, A projectile fired from a bow
14. Ash – English origin, From the ash tree
15. Asher – Hebrew origin, Blessed, Happy
16. Ashton – English origin, Ash tree town
17. Atlas – Greek origin, Support, Prop
18. Atticus – Latin origin, Of Attica
19. August – English origin, Great, To increase
20. Axton/Axxton – English origin, From the town of Ash trees
21. Azriel – Hebrew origin, God is my help

B

1. Baker – English origin, Occupation of baker
2. Banks – English origin, Edge of the river
3. Barrett – English origin, Trader
4. Beau – French origin, Beautiful, Handsome
5. Beckam/Beckham – English origin, From the Beck homestead
6. Beckett – English origin, Dweller by the brook
7. Beck – English origin, From the brook/stream
8. Benji – Hebrew origin, Son of my right hand
9. Bennett – Latin origin, Little blessed one
10. Bensen/Benson – English origin, Son of Benedict/Benjamin
11. Bentlee/Bentley – English origin, From the bent-grass field
12. Birch/Berke – English origin, Birch tree
13. Blaze – English origin, Flame
14. Boden – Scandinavian origin, Sheltered
15. Bohdi/Bodie – German origin, Messenger
16. Boone – English origin, Good person, Person from Bohon, France
17. Boston – English origin, From St. Botolf’s Stone
18. Bowen – Welsh origin, Son Of Owain/Owen
19. Branson – English origin, Son of Brand
20. Brantley – English origin, Fire brand, Field
21. Braxton – English origin, Brock’s Town
22. Brayden – American origin, Son of Bradan
23. Briar – English, Shrub, Small tree
24. Bridger/Brigg/Briggs – English origin, Dweller by the bridge
25. Brody – Scottish origin, Name of a Scottish castle
26. Bronson – English origin, From Branson
27. Brooks – English origin, From the brook
28. Burke – English origin, From the fortress

C

1. Cal – English origin, Short form of names beginning with Cal
2. Callum – Scottish origin, Dove
3. Camden – English origin, From the valley of the camps
4. Cannon – English origin, Clergyman
5. Case – English origin, Case-maker
6. Cash – English origin, Maker of chests
7. Cayden – American origin, Fighter
8. Chance – English origin, Fortune, Luck
9. Chet – English origin, Shortned form of Chester
10. Clay – English origin, Clay worker
11. Clive – English origin, Cliff dweller
12. Clyde – Scottish origin, Scottish river name
13. Cohen – Hebrew origin, Priest
14. Cole – English origin, Victory of the people
15. Coleman – English origin, Dove, Charcoal burner
16. Colt – American origin, Young horse
17. Colton – English origin, Cole’s town
18. Conrad – English origin, Bold counsel
19. Cooper – English origin, Barrel maker
20. Corbin – English origin, Raven
21. Cord – German origin, Bold counsel
22. Coy – English origin, Quiet, Still
23. Crew/Crue – English origin, A group of people
24. Cruz/Cruiz – Spanish origin, The cross of Christ
25. Cutler – English origin, Knife maker

D

1. Dallas – Scottish origin, From the meadow dwelling
2. Dalton – English origin, From the valley town
3. Dane – Scandinavian origin, God is my judge, From Denmark
4. Dash – English origin, From the ash
5. Dason – American origin, Combination of David and Jason
6. Davis – English origin, Son of David
7. Dawson – English origin, Son of David
8. Dax – French origin, Leader
9. Daxton – English origin, From the town of Dax in France
10. Dayton – English origin, Bright and sunny town
11. Deacon – English origin, Pastor
12. Decker/Dekker– English origin, Ditch digger
13. Declan – Irish origin, Full of goodness
14. Denver – American origin, From the passage of the Danes
15. Desmond – Irish origin, Place name in Ireland
16. Dixon – English origin, Son of Richard
17. Drakon – Greek origin, Dragon, To see clearly

E

1. Easton – English origin, From the East town
2. Eli – Hebrew origin, Height
3. Emmett -English origin, Entire
4. Ender -Turkish origin, Extremely rare
5. Enzo – Italian origin, Short form of Lorenzo
6. Everett/Everhett – English origin, Wild boar herd
7. Ezra – Hebrew origin, Help

F

1. Fallon – Irish origin, Of a ruling family
2. Finn – Irish origin, Fair
3. Finnian – Irish origin, White
4. Fisher – English origin, Fisherman
5. Flynn – Irish origin, Descendant of the red-haired man
6. Ford – English origin, River crossing
7. Forrest – English origin, Of the woods, forest
8. Foster – English origin, Forest worker
9. Fox – English origin, Wild animal in dog family

G

1. Gage – English origin, Measurer
2. Garrett – English origin, Spear rule
3. Gavin – English origin, White hawk
4. Gibson – English origin, Son of Gilbert
5. Grady – Irish origin, Descendant of the noble one
6. Graham – English origin, From the gravelly homestead
7. Granger – English origin, Farmer
8. Grant – English origin, Large, Great
9. Gray/Grey – English origin, Black mixed with white
10. Grayson/Greyson – English origin, Son of the grey-haired one
11. Grayer/Greyer – American origin, The color gray
12. Griffin – Welsh origin, From Gryphon – a fabled monster
13. Gunner – Scandinavian origin, Warrior

H

1. Haines – English origin, Dweller by the enclosure
2. Halen – English origin, From the hay land
3. Harris/Harrison – English origin, Son of Harry
4. Harvey – French origin, Battle warrior
5. Hayes – English origin, Lives by the forest, brush
6. Hemi – Maori origin, God is gracious
7. Hendricks/Hendrix – English origin, Family of Hendrick/Heinrich
8. Henley – English origin, High field
9. Hiro – Japanese origin, Wide, Broad, Help
10. Holden – English origin, From the hollow in the valley
11. Houston – English origin, From Hugh’s Town
12. Hudsen/Hudson – English origin, Son of Hudd
13. Hughes – English origin, Family of Hugh
14. Huntlee/Huntley – English origin, From the hunt field

I

1. Indie/Indy – American origin, Independent

J

1. Jace – American origin, Nickname for Jason
2. Jack/Jak – English origin, God is gracious
3. Jackson/Jaxson – English origin, Son of Jack/John
4. Jameson – English origin, Son of James
5. Jax/Jaxon – American origin, Son of Jack
6. Jayden – American origin, Form of Jaden
7. Jensen – Scandinavian origin, Son of Jens
8. Jet/Jett – English origin, Jet black
9. Jonah/Jonas – Hebrew origin, Dove
10. Jones – Welsh origin, Son of John
11. Judd – English origin, To flow down
12. Jude – English origin, From Judea
13. Judson/Juddson – English origin, Son of Judd
14. Julian – Latin origin, Youthful, Downy

K

1. Kade – American origin, Stout, Sturdy
2. Kaden/Kaiden – American origin, Fighter
3. Kai – Hawaiian origin, Ocean
4. Kalani – Hawaiian origin, The heavens
5. Kannon – English origin, Clergyman
6. Kasen – English origin, Pure
7. Kashton – American origin, Money, Cash
8. Keaton – English origin, Hawk’s town
9. Keegan – Irish origin, Descendant of the fiery one
10. Kellen/Kellin – Irish origin, Descendant of the brightheaded one
11. Kendrick – English origin, Bold ruler
12. Kincaid – Scottish origin, From Kincaith
13. Kenyon – English origin, From the Mound Of Einion
14. Kimball – English origin, Royal bold
15. Kingston/Kingstyn – English origin, From the King’s Town
16. Knox/Knoxx – English origin, From the Small Hill
17. Koen – Dutch origin, Bold, Daring
18. Kole – Slavic origin, Victory of the people
19. Korbin/Korbyn – Latin origin, Raven
20. Krew/Kru – English origin, A group of people

L

1. Landon – English origin, From the long hill
2. Lane – English origin, From the lane
3. Larson – Sandinavian origin, Son of Lars
4. Lawson – English origin, Son of Lawrence
5. Ledger – English origin, Spear tribe
6. Leland – English origin, Meadowland
7. Lennon – Irish origin, Dear one
8. Lennox – Scottish origin, From Levenach, Scotland
9. Leo – Italian origin, Lion
10. Leonidas – Greek origin, Lion-like
11. Lewis – English origin, Famed warrior
12. Liam – Irish origin, With guilded helmet
13. Lincoln – English origin, From the lake settlement
14. Luca – Italian origin, Person from Lucania, Italy

M

1. Madden – Irish origin, Little dog
2. Maddox – English origin, Son of Madoc
3. Malachi/Malakai – Hebrew origin, Messenger of God
4. Mason – English origin, Stone Worker, Brick Layer
5. Mateo – Spanish origin, Gift of God
6. Maverick – American origin, Wildly independent
7. Maxim – Russian origin, Greatest
8. Maximus – Latin origin, Greatest
9. Maxton – English origin, From Maccus’ Town
10. McCoy – Scottish origin, From the Celtic “Mac Aodh” 
11. Memphis – Greek origin, Established and beautiful
12. Micah/Mykah – Hebrew origin, Who is like God?
13. Miles/Myles – Latin origin, Solider
14. Miller – English origin, Mill worker
15. Milo/Miloh/Mylo – English origin, Soldier
16. Mitchell – American origin, Who is like God?
17. Morrison – English origin, Son of Morris

N

1. Nash – English origin, Dweller by the ash tree
2. Nixon – English origin, Son of Nicholas
3. Noah – Hebrew origin, Rest, Peace
4. Nolan – Irish origin, Descendant of the famous one

O

1. Oaklee/Oakley – English origin, From the oak tree field
2. Oliver – English origin, Descendant of the ancestor
3. Orson – English origin, Bear cub
4. Otto – German origin, Wealth
5. Owen – Irish origin, The Yew Tree, Youth

P

1. Parker – English origin, Park keeper
2. Phoenix – Greek origin, Blood red
3. Porter – English origin, Door keeper
4. Preston – English origin, From the priest’s town

Q

1. Quade/Quaid – Irish origin, Descendent of Uad
2. Quinn – Irish origin, Descendent of Conn

R

1. Ranger – English origin, Forest protector
2. Ree – American origin, Short for names ending in REE Or RIE
3. Reed/Reid – English origin, A Reed, Red Haired
4. Reese – Welsh origin, Passion, Enthusiasm
5. Rex – Latin origin, King
6. Rhett – English origin, Counsel, Advice
7. Rhys – Welsh origin, Passion, Enthusiasm
8. Ridge – English origin, Ridge
9. River – English origin, Stream of water that flows to the sea
10. Rockwell – English origin, From the rock well
11. Rollins – English origin, Son of Rolf/Rollo
12. Roman – English origin, From Rome, Italy
13. Ronan/Ronin – Irish origin, Little seal
14. Roper – English origin, Rope maker
15. Ross – Scottish origin, Headland
16. Rowdy – American origin, Loud, Spirited
17. Ruger – English origin, Renowned spear
18. Ryde/Ryder – English origin, Knight, Mounted warrior
19. Ryker – American origin, Becoming rich

S

1. Sawyer – English origin, Wood cutter
2. Slade – English origin, Dweller in the valley
3. Smith – English origin, Blacksmith or other skilled worker
4. Soren – Scandinavian origin, Severe
5. Sterling – English origin, Starling, Little star
6. Stockton – English origin, From the monastery town

T

1. Tad – American origin, Praise
2. Tag/Taggart – Scottish origin, Son of the priest
3. Taj – Arabic origin, Crown
4. Talon – English origin, Bird claw
5. Tate – English origin, Cheerful
6. Tatum – English origin, Cheeful, Full of spirit
7. Teague – Irish origin, Poet
8. Tennessee – Native American origin, Gathering place
9. Tennyson – English origin, Son of Dennis
10. Thatch/Thatcher – English origin, Roof maker
11. Theo – Greek origin, Divine gift
12. Timber – American origin, Wood strong
13. Titan/Titon – English origin, Extremely important person
14. Trace – English origin, From Tracy, France
15. Tripp – American origin, The third
16. Truman – English origin, Faithful man
17. Tucker – English origin, Softner of cloth
18. Turner – English origin, Lathe worker

U

1. Urban – Latin origin, From the city

V

1. Vaan/Vahn – English origin, God is gracious
2. Vaughn – English origin, Small
3. Vinn – English origin, Shortened form of the name Vincent

W

1. Walker – English origin, Fuller of cloth
2. Wallis – English origin, Foreigner, Stranger
3. Ward – English origin, Guardian
4. Watts – English origin, Family of Walter/Watt
5. Waylon – English origin, Land by the road
6. Wells/Welles – English origin, From the well or spring
7. Wesley – English origin, From the West field
8. West – English origin, From the West
9. Weston – English origin, From the West town
10. Wheeler – English origin, Wheel maker
11. Wilder – English origin, Wild animal
12. Winston/Wynston – English origin, From Wina’s town
13. Woodrow – English origin, From the lane in the woods
14. Wyatt – English origin, Son of guy

X

1. Xander – Greek origin, Defender of the people

Y

1. Yates – English origin, Dweller by a gate
2. York – English origin, From the town of Eburos

Z

1. Zaiden/Zayden – American origin, Increasing, surplus
2. Zain/Zane/Zayne – American origin, God is Gracious
3. Zeke – Hebrew origin, God will strengthen

Baby Name Bunting

Once you have your baby name picked out, you’ll need a fun way to announce it.

I created a baby name bunting bundle for that very reason!

You can grab the download to get three different bunting designs perfect for the modern mom.

Here are a few ideas on how to use the bunting:

• Pregnancy announcement
• Name announcement at birth
• Monthly baby photos
• Bedroom decor
• Happy birthday sign

The options are endless!

And since you’ll have access to the files, you can print them out whenever you want to make whatever banner you want!

Want More?

If you liked this post, be sure to check out 18 Modern Biblical Boy Baby Names.

Your Turn

Does knowing these boy names and meanings change your mind about which baby name you want to use? Which boy names have become your favorite?

Let me know in the comments!