One of the toughest part of pregnancy is coming up with a name for your baby. After all, it’s an important part of who they are and will be attached to them for the rest of their life.
There are so many things to consider when choosing a first or middle name for boys and
This post was updated in 2025 with some of the most popular and trending names, plus some traditional boy names that will never go out of style.
Once you decide on your baby boy’s name, how adorable are these nursery wall signs from Hickory Hollow Designs? An absolutely gorgeous way to display your little one’s name above their crib or any space you can find in their nursery.
Tips for choosing a name
Here are some questions I asked myself when picking boy first and middle names for my children. You can rank them in order of priority for your family because not all of them will be as important as others.
- Do you want to use a family name or initial?
- Does it have a nice meaning to it?
- Does it have meaning to us or our family?
- Are there nicknames for this name that we want to use or avoid?
- Is it too popular?
- Is it too unique?
- Does the name sound well with your last name?
- Are there any negative associations you have with it?
- What will his initials be?
- What will that name sound like when they’re an adult or professional?
The biggest advice is to ignore what others think or have to say about names you are considering or choose. It’s such a personal decision for you and your family so don’t let any other outside influencers change your mind.
Once you have it narrowed down to 2-4 first and middle names, I suggest picking one name per week during your pregnancy, and referring to your baby as that name.
Every time you talk about “the baby,” call him by that name. When you refer to his nursery or his movements in your belly, call him by that name.
At the end of that week, change it to another name. Do this for several weeks with your top choices to see which name sticks and feels the most genuine to you. Once you start actually referring to your baby as this name, you will feel even more of a connection to him.
Strong and Masculine Popular Boy Names
Here are some masculine and strong boy first and middle name examples.
A
Aiden Luke
Alexander William
Anthony David
Austin Ryan
Adrian Michael
Asher Benjamin
Adam Jonathan
Archer Daniel
Aaron Thomas
Axel Gabriel
Abraham Cole
Atticus James
Augustus Samuel
Atlas Joseph
Anderson Blake
Alessandro Noah
Amias Dominic
Alaric Maxwell
Apollo Xavier
Abram Vincent
Arlo Theodore
Alden Harrison
Atlas Nathaniel
Ambrose Elliott
B
Barrett Daniel
Bennett Gregory
Benjamin Clay
Brady Jonathan
Brayden James
Brendan Ray
Brett Robert
Brody Gregory
Brooks Michael
Bryan Anthony
Bryce Leo
Beckett Alexander
Baxter Gabriel
Blake Christopher
Bradley Nicholas
Brendan Lucas
Brogan Matthew
Bronx Harrison
Bruno Sebastian
Bryson Oliver
Burton Elijah
Byron Theodore
Beckham Samuel
Briggs Donovan
Baylor Maxwell
Blaise Vincent
Benson Cole
Bishop Harrison
Bowie Thomas
Bowen Jonathan
Baylor Nathaniel
C
Caleb Anthony
Carter Everett
Carson James
Channing Robert
Chase Oliver
Cody Daniel
Cole Anthony
Colton Shay
Connor Preston
Cooper Dean
Crew Alexander
Camden Elijah
Caden Benjamin
Callum Gabriel
Cedric Matthew
Cyrus Alexander
Calvin Joseph
Chance Michael
Clark Harrison
Clayton Theodore
Corbin Samuel
Cesar Donovan
Cash Vincent
Colt Sebastian
Chandler Maxwell
Cyril Oliver
Cruz Nathaniel
Camden Cole
Conner Xavier
Cassius James
Cooper William
D
Dallas Warren
Declan Anthony
Damien Clark
Darcy Remington
Davis Carter
Dean Edward
Desmond Ryan
Derek Preston
Dylan Thomas
Dalton Michael
Donovan Alexander
Dominic Benjamin
Dorian Gabriel
Dexter Harrison
Drake Samuel
Dashiell Cole
Declan Nathaniel
Douglas Sebastian
Damian Joseph
Dawson Theodore
Desmond Elijah
Demetrius Vincent
Diego Maxwell
Dean Christopher
Dennis Oliver
Daxton William
Dustin Harrison
E
Easton George
Emmett James
Ethan Luke
Elias Benjamin
Elijah Christopher
Eli Theodore
Evan Michael
Eric Donovan
Edison Joseph
Ezra Harrison
Elliot Sebastian
Enzo William
Edward Cole
Ezekiel Gabriel
Emilio Maxwell
Easton Thomas
Emory Vincent
Evander Samuel
Elton Harrison
Ellis Oliver
Everett James
F
Fisher William
Fletcher Robert
Ford Tanner
Finnegan Alexander
Frederick Benjamin
Franklin Gabriel
Felix Harrison
Fernando James
Flynn Donovan
Forrest Theodore
Fletcher Nathaniel
Fabian Joseph
Finn Cole
Fox Sebastian
Fabio Maxwell
Foster Oliver
Franco Samuel
Fielding Vincent
Florian Elijah
Farley William
Finley Harrison
Foxton Michael
Fairfax Christopher
Finn Taylor
G
Garrett Ray
Gerald William
Grady Tanner
Graham Edward
Grant Robert
Grayson William
Griffin James
Gavin Alexander
Gabriel Benjamin
Gregory Michael
George Harrison
Gideon Joseph
Greyson Samuel
Gael Nathaniel
Gunnar Donovan
Gage Theodore
Gibson Sebastian
Grant Cole
Granger Elijah
Galen Vincent
Gannon William
Gideon Christopher
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H
Harrison James
Hawthorne Michael
Hayden Tanner
Henry Everett
Hudson Dean
Hugh Michael
Holden Alexander
Harvey Benjamin
Hector Samuel
Heath Donovan
Hugo Nathaniel
Hayes Theodore
Hunter Sebastian
Hendrix Joseph
Hank Oliver
Hamilton Cole
Harris Gabriel
Huxley Maxwell
Houston Thomas
Henrik Christopher
Hadrian Vincent
Harlan Elijah
Hiram William
Hendrick Harrison
Harley James
Hartley William
J
Jayden Christopher
Jordan Fisher
Joshua Ray
Julian Robert
Justin Robert
Jasper Alexander
Jaxon Benjamin
Jameson Michael
Jared Harrison
Jonah Donovan
Judah Nathaniel
Jesse Theodore
Jensen Cole
Jeremiah Samuel
Jeffrey Maxwell
Jeremy Thomas
Josiah Gabriel
Jett Oliver
Julius Sebastian
Joaquin Joseph
Justice Vincent
Jaxton Elijah
Jagger William
Jefferson Harrison
Jensen Christopher
K
Kellen Robert
Keller John
Kendrick Ryan
Kennedy William
Kieran Luke
Kevin Gregory
Kyle William
Knox Alexander
Kingston Benjamin
Killian Michael
Kade Harrison
Karter Donovan
Keegan Nathaniel
Kolton Theodore
Kellan Sebastian
Kyler Joseph
Konrad Oliver
Kasen Gabriel
Kameron Maxwell
Kyson Thomas
Kyrie Cole
Kane Samuel
Kingsley Vincent
Kairo Elijah
Kohen William
Kellan Christopher
Kashton Harrison
L
Lance Robert
Landon William
Lawson Michael
Lachlan Harrison
Landry Tanner
Lawrence Theodore
Langston Sebastian
Lazarus Elijah
Leland Cole
Ledger Ryan
Ledger William
Lennox Gabriel
Leon Joseph
Liam James
Luca James
Logan Daniel
Lucas Wyatt
Levi Alexander
Lincoln Benjamin
Lionel Donovan
Lorenzo Nathaniel
Lochlan Oliver
Louis Thomas
Lucian Samuel
Lyndon Vincent
Linden Harrison
M
Malcolm Tanner
Marc Winston
Marshall Ryan
Maxwell James
Miles Robert
Mason Alexander
Matthew Aaron
Michael David
Maverick Alexander
Mitchell Benjamin
Magnus Harrison
Maddox Theodore
Matthias Joseph
Maximus Sebastian
Micah Nathaniel
Marco Harrison
Matteo Donovan
Montgomery Oliver
Monroe Gabriel
Mordecai Maxwell
Malik Thomas
Marshall Cole
Matthias Vincent
Morgan Elijah
Maximilian William
Merrick Christopher
Milan Harrison
Milo James
N
Nathan Christopher
Nicholas Dominick
Nolan Reed
Nathaniel Alexander
Noah Benjamin
Nico Michael
Nixon Harrison
Neil Joseph
Nelson Sebastian
Nolan Theodore
Noel Donovan
Nash Gabriel
Nelson Maxwell
Nico Thomas
Nathanael Cole
Neil Vincent
Nolan Elijah
Nixon William
Nico Christopher
Nash Harrison
Nehemiah Oliver
Nico James
Noam Harrison
O
Owen Vincent
Oliver Thomas
Oscar Alexander
Orion Benjamin
Omar Michael
Odin Harrison
Octavian Joseph
Orlando Sebastian
Otis Nathaniel
Ozias Donovan
Oakley Gabriel
Odell Maxwell
Osiris Cole
Omarion Vincent
Orson Theodore
Oren William
Otto Christopher
Oakley Harrison
Orville Oliver
Olin James
Olen Harrison
Othello Elijah
P
Parker John
Perry Carter
Peyton Ryan
Phillip Edward
Pierce Talon
Porter Reed
Prescott Clark
Preston Ray
Patrick Alexander
Paul Benjamin
Paxton Michael
Phoenix Harrison
Peter Joseph
Preston Nathaniel
Porter Theodore
Princeton Donovan
Phillip Gabriel
Presley Maxwell
Pace Cole
Pablo Sebastian
Parker Vincent
Piers William
Princeton Christopher
Presley James
Phineas Harrison
Prescott Oliver
Porter Jameson
Pike Elijah
Q
Quentin Alexander
Quincy Benjamin
Quinton Michael
Quest Harrison
Quaid Joseph
Quinlan Sebastian
Quinby Benjamin
R
Reece Peter
Reed Edward
Rhett Thomas
Royce William
Ryan David
Ryder Louis
Ronan Alexander
Roman Benjamin
Rafael Michael
River Harrison
Remy Joseph
Rocco Sebastian
Remington Nathaniel
Roland Theodore
Ramsey Donovan
Rowan Gabriel
Raylan Maxwell
Ryder Cole
Rylan Vincent
Roderick Christopher
Roscoe James
Reign William
Ronin Harrison
Russell Oliver
Reeve Elijah
Rutherford Harrison
S
Sean Anthony
Scott William
Sebastian James
Seth Edward
Spencer William
Stanford Ryan
Sterling Winston
Sawyer Alexander
Samuel Benjamin
Silas Michael
Solomon Harrison
Sullivan Joseph
Sebastian Nathaniel
Simon Theodore
Sterling Donovan
Sullivan Gabriel
Samson Maxwell
Shiloh Cole
Stefan Vincent
Soren Christopher
Sutton Harrison
Saxon Oliver
Stone William
Sage Elijah
Spencer Jameson
Sullivan Ryan
Simeon Harrison
Stetson James
T
Tanner Ryan
Tate Edward
Thomas Clark
Timothy James
Thompson Grant
Trenton Elliott
Tristan Leo
Tyler James
Theodore Alexander
Tobias Benjamin
Travis Michael
Tucker Harrison
Troy Nathaniel
Tyson Joseph
Theo Sebastian
Titus Donovan
Trevor Gabriel
Tripp Maxwell
Thaddeus Cole
Terrance Vincent
Theron Christopher
Trent Harrison
Thackeray Oliver
Tatum William
Talon Elijah
Thane Christopher
Trace Harrison
Truett James
U
Uriah Alexander
Ulric Benjamin
Ulysses Michael
Urban Harrison
Uriel Joseph
Urban William
V
Victor Alexander
Vincent Benjamin
Vaughn Michael
Vance Harrison
Valentin Joseph
W
Walker Reed
Warner Nicholas
Warren James
Wells Thomas
Wesley Brent
William Gene
Winston Charles
Wyatt Luke
X
Xavier Alexander
Xander Benjamin
Xander Michael
Xavier Harrison
Xavi Joseph
Y
Yuri Alexander
Yale Benjamin
Yves Michael
Yohan Harrison
York Joseph
Z
Zachary Preston
Zane Benjamin
Zeke Michael
Zion Harrison
Zander Joseph
How we chose our son’s first and middle name
We found out that our second baby would be a boy when I was around 10 weeks pregnant. As soon as we found out, we started talking about names.
Working as an elementary school therapist, I was always around young children with new and unique, as well as traditional, names. It was actually helpful when I was pregnant because I was exposed to so many more names than most people.
Sometimes I would just walk down the hallway and look at all the student’s names on the classroom doors to get ideas!
Deciding on our daughter’s name was actually much easier than our son’s. My husband and I just didn’t like as many boy first and middle names and the ones we did like, we couldn’t agree on.
I liked the idea of using the same first letter for my kids. With my daughter’s name being Brielle, I was hoping to pick a B name for our son.
Family names
I actually always liked the name Brendan for a boy, but my husband already had 3 Brendan’s in his family! So that name was quickly nixed. A derivative of that name was Brayden which has been gaining popularity in the past few years and that was my top choice.
We also had a conversation about whether my husband wanted to pass down his name for his first born son. He has a family name, passed down from his grandfather.
However, he didn’t feel that strongly about having his son named after him. Instead, we decided to use his name as our son’s middle name which was a nice way to still honor his family.
Agreeing with my husband
Since it was tough to agree on a name through our everyday conversation, we decided to make a list. We individually made our own lists of about 10 names. Then as we talked about them, we gradually eliminated.
We eventually were able to combine our lists with the top 3 names standing. We both had our favorites, but neither of us were budging.
I didn’t know how we were going to decide because I really couldn’t imagine my son having any of the names he chose and he felt the same way about mine.
Brayden was always my top choice for boy first names and I was just trying to figure out how I could convince him to let me have my way! Then one night, we were up late talking about our family, toddler, and future baby and he just referred to our son as Brayden.
I was confused why he made that mistake, but then realized he did it on purpose. He was ready to agree on my favorite name and that’s when we decided on it.
PS. Start your registry!!
Before you even get started with names, make sure you start a baby registry. You’ll find and hear about many newborn essentials while you’re pregnant and you want to be able to quickly add or save them to your
The Amazon Baby Registry is clearly the best option. You get some free items in a welcome box, free shipping, 10-15% off all the remaining items in your registry, and it’s Amazon- so you’re literally going to buy everything from there anyway!
Plus, it’s free, so there’s really no point NOT to do it. Start it up here now!
I hope you liked some of these strong and masculine first and middle names for boys. Just know that the name you pick will be just right for him. It may feel weird at first to call your baby by their name, but soon it will feel so natural and fit in your family perfectly!
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Marissa is a Pediatric Occupational Therapist turned stay-at-home mom who loves sharing her tips, tricks, and ideas for navigating motherhood. Her days are filled starting tickle wars and dance parties with three energetic toddlers and wondering how long she can leave the house a mess until her husband notices. When she doesn’t have her hands full of children, she enjoys a glass (or 3) of wine, reality tv, and country music. In addition to blogging about all things motherhood, she sells printables on Etsy and has another website, teachinglittles.com, for kid’s activity ideas.
