85 Powerful and Tough Names for Boys AND Girls

Picking out a baby’s name can be so challenging! It is interesting how you can sometimes tell your baby’s personality even before they are born and sometimes, your baby just needs a tough name!

I have scoured the internet to find 85 powerful and tough names for boys and girls!

What makes a tough name for baby boys or girls?

Tough names usually have a strong meaning or are inspired by a strong historical figure. If you are considering using a tough name for your baby, you definitely want to look at the meaning!

Why should you choose a tough name for your baby?

You should use choose a tough name for your baby because it sets the tone for their life. If you think about it, children can be mean especially with names.

If you choose a tough name for your child, it can boost their confidence in childhood and beyond in their professional lives.

Tips for Choosing a Tough Baby Name

If you are in the midst of naming your baby or have named a baby in the past, you know what a challenge it can be! Here are some tips on choosing a tough baby name!

  • Look at the meaning of the names you are considering
  • Make a list of no’s and maybe’s
  • Consider all of the potential nicknames
  • Can you imagine the name in all stages of life?
  • If it is a popular name, are you okay with that?

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.

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.

via Hickory Hollow Designs

Just Simply Mom’s Top Choices for Tough Baby Names

These are some of my favorite “tough” names for your little one. While some of these names might not strike you as being a tough name by hearing it, the true meaning behind the word actually does mean tough.

Hope this list inspires you during your pregnancy journey!

Related Post: 74 Emo Names for Baby Girls & Boys

Top 5 Tough Boy Names

1. Aaron- means mountain of strength

2. Dustin- means brave fighter

3. Liam- means strong-willed warrior and protector

4. Wyatt- means brave

5. Ryan- means king

via House of Rounds

Top 5 Tough Girl Names

6. Emersyn- means brave and powerful

7. Lenna- means lion’s strength

8. Kendra- means enthusiastic power or wise ruler

9. Carla- means one who possesses strength

10. Casey- means brave

Tough Girl Names Meaning “Strong”

11. Audrey- means noble or strength

12. Imara- means strong or strong-willed

13. Valeria- originates from Spanish meaning strong

14. Everette- originated from Old English meaning strong

15. Ailia- meaning from a strong place

Tough Boy Names Meaning “Strong”

16. Ethan- has Hebrew roots meaning strong

17. Jedrek– means strong and manly (Jed would be a cute nickname!)

18. Everett- means strong-willed warrior

19. Oscar- means divine strength

20. Garrett- strong ruler with a spear

via Mod Wood Co

Tough Girl Names Inspired by Women In (or making) History

21. Amelia- means work. Inspired by Amelia Earhart, the first female aviator who flew solo across the Atlantic Ocean. The other is Amelia Boynton Robinson, the Civil Rights Leader.

22. Emily- means rival. Inspired by Emily Dickenson, the renowned poet of the 19th century.

23. Sandra- means man’s defender. Inspired by the Former Associate Justice of the US, Sandra Day O’Connor.

24. Victoria- means victory. Inspired by multiple Queens of England as well as a leader of the Women’s Suffrage Movement, Victoria Woodhull.

25. Alice- means noble. Inspired by Alice Paul, an iconic figure who led the Women’s Suffrage Movement.

Tough Boy Names Inspired By History

26. Alexander- means defender of men. Inspired by Alexander the Great, an ancient Macedonian ruler and one of history’s greatest military minds.

27. Albert- means noble. Inspired by Albert Einstein, the theoretical physicist.

28. William- means strong-willed warrior. Inspired by William Shakespeare, an English playwright, poet, and actor from the late 16th century.

29. Vincent- means to conquer. Inspired by Vincent van Gogh, a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter from the late 19th century.

30. Arthur- means strong man. Inspired by King Arthur of 6th century England

Tough Girl Names from Mythology

31. Bridget- means strength or exalted one. Bridget is the simpler Irish version of the name of the goddess of fire

32. Hera- means protectress. Hera was the queen of the Greek pantheon.

33. Freya- means a noble woman. Freya is the name of the Norse goddess of love, beauty, and fertility.

34. Athena- means goddess of wisdom. Athena was the greek goddess of wisdom, warfare, handicrafts, mathematics, and courage.

35. Artemis- means butcher. Artemis was the greek goddess of the moon, hunting, and chastity.

Tough Boy Names from Mythology

36. Perseus- means destroyer. Perseus was the son of Zeus and defeated the Medusa.

37. Conall- means strong wolf. Conall Cearnach was the Irish legendary hero who fought to avenge the death of his foster brother Cuchalainn.

38. Cadmus- means one who excels. Cadmus is the name of the serpent-slaying hero of Greek mythology who also founded the city of Thebes and is credited with inventing the alphabet.

39. Ara- means king. Ara was a king in Armenian mythology so handsome that a rival queen went to war in order to make him her own.

40. Taranis- means thunder. Taranis was the Celtic god of thunder.

Tough Baby Girl Names that are Beautifully Unique

41. Arwen- means noble maiden

42. Nora- means honor

43. Cassandra- means defender

44. Finley- means fair warrior

45. Sasha- means defender

Tough, Strong, and Unique Baby Boy Names

46. Donner- means a dark warrior whose strength is like thunder

47. Aiden- means little fire

48. Hudson- means brave ruler

49. Maverick- means independent

50. Ewan- means warrior who is young

Tough Baby Girl Names Inspired by Literary/Movie Characters

51. Eloise- means warrior maiden. Eloise is the title character of the children’s book series Eloise by Kay Thompson.

52. Harriet- means ruler of the household. Harriet is the title character in Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh.

53. Ada- means noble woman. Ada is a character in Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier.

54. Arya- means noble or truth. Arya is a character in Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin.

55. Matilda- means mighty warrior. Matilda is the title character in Matilda by Roald Dahl.

Tough Baby Boy Names Inspired by Literary/Movie Characters

56. Harry- means commander. Harry is the title character from the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling

57. Lennie- means lion-hearted. Lennie is a character from Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck.

58. Max- means greatest. Max is the main character in Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak.

59. Conrad- means bold. Conrad is a character from Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare.

60. Aragorn- means noble valor. Aragorn is a character from the Lord of the Rings series by J. R. R. Tolkien

Baby Girl Names that mean “strong-willed”

61. Imari- Swahili in origin

62. Isana- German in origin

63 Minka- Polish in origin

64. Wilma- German in origin

65. Cornelia- Irish in origin

Baby Boy names that mean “strong-willed”

66. Connor- Irish in origin

67. Tiergan- Irish in origin

68. Warrick- English in origin

69. Andres- Scandinavian in origin

70. Harvey- French in origin

Tough Names that can be Unisex

71. Landry- meaning ruler

72. Harlow- means army

73. Kyler- means a protector of people and good

74. Emery- means brave

75. Caden- means fighter

Tough Warrior Names for Baby Boys

76. Cadel- means warrior

77. Duncan- means battle

78. Clovis- means glorious in battle

79. Gunnar- means war warrior

80. Raymond- means protector

Tough Baby Girl Names You Won’t Want to Miss

81. Adira- means mighty

82. Amira- means commander

83. Keren- means strength

84. Maia- means brave warrior

85. Nikita- means unconquered

Frequently Asked Questions About Tough Baby Names

You may have some questions regarding tough baby names. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions:

When should you use a Tough Baby Name?

As parents, we have this unique sense of being able to tell a bit about our baby’s personality from inside the womb. There is no right or wrong instance to use a tough baby name, but rather go with a name that you feel will represent your baby well!

Can baby girls have tough names?

Absolutely! There are so many strong political and historical female figures with tough baby names! Girls are strong and resilient!

Can you use names on this list for either gender?

Yes, there are some gender-neutral names on the list for you to consider! I love it when people take a more “boy” type name and use it for little girls!

The naming phase can be hard, and sometimes you may not even make the final decision until your sweet babe has made it to earth side! What are your favorite tough baby names? Did I miss any?

Let me know in the comments below!


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