Naming your baby can be one of the toughest decisions you make as you don’t just want to pick something arbitrary, but something that you feel will really suit them and, in some way, define the person they will become. When it comes to naming male children, countries in the anglosphere (UK, Australia, Canada, United States) tend towards names with a strong ending syllable (like ‘m’ or ‘n’) and have meanings that imply traits like leadership, strength, piety and compassion.
As you may already know, many classical male names are inspired by religious figures (such as Saint Peter, Saint Andrew, Saint Mary etc.) and were originally chosen as a means of imparting said religious figures’ traits onto the child. Since Saint Peter is known for generosity and kindness, a parent might intend to encourage these traits in their son by naming them Peter.
Of course, as society becomes less religious, names that began with a religious origin are no longer chosen for those reasons. Names like Peter and Andrew have transcended their origins and are used widely by non-religious families.
In essence, a name should be more than the sum of its parts and become synonymous with the identity of a unique individual. Even if a name has no inherent cultural, spiritual or philosophical meaning, it will develop meaning through the actions of its bearer.
With that said, let’s take a look at the current most popular baby boy names and their meanings.
Baby boy names and meanings:
| Boy Name | Name Origin | Boy Name Meaning | Variations ; Derivative Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack | English | diminutive form of John | John, Jackson |
| Oliver | English | Elf Army | originally from Germanic: Alfhere |
| James | English | Supplanter | originally from Hebrew: Jacob |
| Joshua | Hebrew | God is Salvation | – |
| William | English | Strong-willed Warrior | Will, Bill, Willie, Liam |
| Samuel | Hebrew | His Name is God | Sam, Samual, Sameul |
| Liam | Irish | Strong-willed Warrior | form of William |
| Benjamin | English | Son of My Right Hand | Ben; (Hebrew) Benjamen, Benjamim |
| Daniel | Hebrew | God is My Judge | Dan |
| Thomas | Greek | A Twin | Tom |
| Lucas | Greek | from Lucania | Lukas |
| Riley | Irish | Descendant of Roghallach | Rylee, Ryleigh, Ryley, Rileigh |
| Ryan | Irish | King | – |
| Ethan | Hebrew | Firm, Strong | Ethen |
| Jacob | Hebrew | Supplanter | Jakob |
| Noah | Hebrew | Rest, Peace | – |
| Hunter | English | One Who Hunts | – |
| Max | Latin | Greatest | Maxx, deriv.of Maximillian or Maxwell |
| Alexander | Greek | Defender of the People | Alessandro, Alexzander |
| Jayden | American | form of Jaden | Jaden |
| Connor | Irish | Wolf Lover | Conner, Conor, Konnor, Konner |
| Matthew | English | Gift of God | Mathew, Mattew; Greek form: Matthias |
| Cooper | English | Barrel Maker | – |
| Tyler | English | Tile Maker | Tylor |
| Blake | English | Pale Blond One or Dark | – |
| Isaac | Hebrew | He will Laugh | Isaak, Issac |
| Dylan | Welsh | Son of the Sea | Dillan, Dillon, Dylin |
| Lachlan | Scottish | from the Land of Lakes | Locklan |
| Luke | Greek | from Lucania | Luc |
| Logan | Irish | From the Hollow | – |
| Caleb | Hebrew | Rage like a Dog | Kaleb, Kalib |
| Joseph | Hebrew | God will Increase | Joesph, Joeseph |
| Charlie | English | Free Man | Charlee, Charley, Charli, Charles |
| Xavier | Latin | The New House | Xzavier |
| George | Greek | Farmer | Georgie, Gorge |
| Levi | Hebrew | Joined in Harmony | – |
| Jackson | English | Son of Jack | Jaxson |
| Nathan | Hebrew | He Gave | Nathen |
| Michael | Hebrew | Who is like God? | Mike |
| Oscar | Irish | Deer Lover | – |
| Harry | English | Army Ruler | deriv. of Henry or Harold |
| Harrison | English | Son of Harry | – |
| Toby | English | God is Good | Tobiah, Tobias |
| Alex | English | Defender of the People | short form of Alexander |
| Jake | Hebrew | Supplanter | short form of Jacob |
| Jesse | Hebrew | Gift | Jessy |
| Cameron | Scottish | Bent Nose | Camaron, Cameryn, Camron |
| Leo | Italian | Lion | – |
| Ashton | English | Ash Tree Town | – |
| Finn | Irish | Fair | Fynn |
| Jordan | Hebrew | to Flow Down | Jordyn, Jordin, Jorden, Jordon |
| Luca | Italian | person from Lucania | Lucca |
| Jamie | English | Supplanter | Jaimie, Jamiee, Jaymee, Jaymi |
| Mason | French | Stone Worker | Masen |
| Cody | English | Descendant of Oda | Codey, Codie |
| Sam | Hebrew | His Name is God | deriv. of Samuel |
| John | Hebrew | God is Gracious | Jhon |
| Elijah | Hebrew | The Lord is My God | – |
| Seth | Hebrew | Appointed | – |
| David | Hebrew | Beloved | Dave |
| Henry | German | Ruler of the Home | Henri, Hank |
| Aiden | Irish | Little Fire | Ayden, Aydan, Aydin, Aedan, Aidyn |
| Zachary | Hebrew | God has Remembered | Zachery, Zackary, Zackery |
| Kingston | English | from the King’s Town | – |
| Joel | Hebrew | God will be Willing | – |
| Angus | Scottish | One Strength | – |
| Flynn | Irish | Descendant of the Red-haired Man | – |
| Carter | English | Driver of a Cart | Karter |
| Charles | German | Free Man | – |
| Lincoln | English | from the Lake Settlement | – |
| Sebastian | Greek | Venerable | Sabastian, Sebastien |
| Hamish | Scottish | Supplanter | form of James |
| Aidan | Irish | Little Fire | Ayden, Aden, Aydin, Aedan, Aidyn |
| Nicholas | Greek | Victory of the People | Nicolas, Nickolas, Nikolas |
| Reuben | Hebrew | Behold, a Son | – |
| Phoenix | Greek | Blood Red | – |
| Adam | Hebrew | Of the Earth | biblical: the first created man |
| Callum | Scottish | Dove | – |
| Quinn | Irish | Descendent of Conn | – |
| Ben | English | Son of My Right Hand | Benjamin |
| Gabriel | Hebrew | God is My Strength | – |
| Hayden | English | from the Hay Downs | Haden, Haiden, Haydan |
| Felix | Latin | Happy and Prosperous | – |
| Tyson | English | Firebrand; Son of Denis | Tycen |
| Mitchell | American | Who is like God? | form of Michael |
| Ryder | English | Knight, Mounted Warrior | Rider |
| Cole | English | Victory of the People | Khole |
| Christian | English | Follower of Christ | Cristian |
| Zion | Hebrew | Israel | Zyien, Zyon |
| Chase | English | Hunter | Chace, Chauncey |
| Edward | English | Wealthy Guardian | Ted, Eddie, Ed |
| Andrew | Greek | Manly | – |
| Roman | English | from Rome, Italy | – |
| Troy | Greek | Water ; Foot Soldier | – |
| Austin | English | Great | Austen, Austyn; short for Augustine |
| Tristan | Welsh | Tumult | Tristen, Tristin, Trystan, Triston |
| Christopher | Greek | Christ-bearer | Christoph, Cristopher |
| Louis | German | Famed Warrior | – |
| Brooklyn | American | Borough of New York | – |
| Hugo | German | Bright in Mind and Spirit | Hugh |