Boy Names with Meaning
Every name means something, but some meanings are worth building a choice around. This page is sorted by meaning rather than by sound. If you want your son’s name to stand for courage, light, wisdom or peace, go to that section and choose from names that really carry it in their original language.
We’ve checked each etymology. Where scholars disagree, we say so. For names grouped by style instead, go to boy names. For bold choices, try strong boy names. Our name meanings section lists hundreds more by theme.
Boy names that mean strong or brave
Names built on strength, bravery and endurance. See also names that mean strength and names that mean brave.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Ethan | Strong, firm, enduring | Hebrew |
| Andrew | Manly, brave | Greek |
| Everett | Brave as a wild boar | Germanic |
| Bernard | Brave as a bear | Germanic |
| Leonardo | Brave as a lion | Germanic/Italian |
| Gabriel | God is my strength | Hebrew |
| Ezekiel | God strengthens | Hebrew |
| Valentin | Strong, healthy | Latin |
| Kenji | Strong, healthy second son (varies by kanji) | Japanese |
| Arnold | Eagle power | Germanic |
| Uziel | God is my strength | Hebrew |
| Jabari | Brave, fearless | Swahili |
| Conrad | Bold counsel | Germanic |
| Gunnar | Bold warrior | Norse |
| Brian | High, noble; strong (possibly) | Irish |
Names that mean king, ruler or leader
Royal meanings give a name a noble feel. There are more on names that mean king and royal boy names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Rex | King | Latin |
| Malik | King | Arabic |
| Ryan | Little king | Irish |
| Henry | Ruler of the home | Germanic |
| Derek | Ruler of the people | Germanic |
| Frederick | Peaceful ruler | Germanic |
| Eric | Eternal ruler | Norse |
| Richard | Strong ruler | Germanic |
| Basil | Kingly, royal | Greek |
| Roy | Red (Gaelic); king (via French roi) | Scottish/French |
| Donald | World ruler | Scottish |
| Alaric | Ruler of all | Gothic |
| Kingsley | King’s meadow | English |
| Darius | Holds firm the good | Persian |
| Vladimir | Rule with greatness | Slavic |
| Rajan | King | Sanskrit |
Names that mean light, sun or fire
Bright, warm meanings for a son you hope will light up a room. See names that mean light and names that mean fire.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Lucian | Light | Latin |
| Helios | Sun | Greek |
| Phoenix | Dark red; the mythical fire bird | Greek |
| Aurelio | Golden | Latin |
| Kiran | Ray of light | Sanskrit |
| Aidan | Little fire | Irish |
| Ignatius | Fiery | Latin |
| Cyrus | Sun (possibly); throne | Persian |
| Sol | Sun | Latin/Spanish |
| Easton | East town, where the sun rises | English |
| Elio | Sun | Italian |
| Anwar | Luminous, brighter | Arabic |
| Uriel | God is my light | Hebrew |
| Blaze | Stammering (Blaise); now used as “flame” | Latin/English |
| Nour | Light | Arabic |
Names that mean gift of God or blessed
Meanings about gratitude and faith, many of them biblical. More in names that mean gift.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew | Gift of God | Hebrew |
| Nathan | He gave | Hebrew |
| Theodore | Gift of God | Greek |
| Emmanuel | God is with us | Hebrew |
| Jonathan | God has given | Hebrew |
| Asher | Happy, blessed | Hebrew |
| Benedict | Blessed | Latin |
| Bennett | Blessed | English, from Latin |
| Mateo | Gift of God | Spanish |
| Isidore | Gift of Isis | Greek |
| Donato | Given (by God) | Italian |
| Samuel | God has heard | Hebrew |
| Elijah | My God is Yahweh | Hebrew |
| Jesse | Gift | Hebrew |
| Baraka | Blessing | Swahili |
| Zebadiah | Gift of the Lord | Hebrew |
Names that mean wise or intelligent
For parents who value a thoughtful mind. See also names that mean wisdom.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Hakeem | Wise | Arabic |
| Hikmat | Wisdom | Arabic |
| Hugo | Mind, intellect | Germanic |
| Alfred | Elf counsel, wise counselor | Old English |
| Raymond | Wise protector | Germanic |
| Aldo | Old, wise | Germanic |
| Akira | Bright, clear, intelligent (varies by kanji) | Japanese |
| Sage | Wise | Latin |
| Truman | Faithful man | English |
| Solon | Wise lawgiver of Athens | Greek |
| Cato | Wise, shrewd | Latin |
| Zeno | Of Zeus; the Stoic philosopher | Greek |
Names that mean peace, joy or hope
Gentle meanings that still sound strong. More on names that mean peace.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Solomon | Peace | Hebrew |
| Casimir | Proclaimer of peace (debated) | Polish |
| Oliver | Olive tree, symbol of peace | Latin/English |
| Jeffrey | Peaceful pledge | Germanic |
| Salim | Safe, peaceful | Arabic |
| Felix | Lucky, happy | Latin |
| Isaac | He will laugh | Hebrew |
| Hilary | Cheerful | Latin |
| Farhan | Happy, joyful | Arabic |
| Noah | Rest, comfort | Hebrew |
| Irenaeus | Peaceful | Greek |
| Amani | Peace | Swahili |
| Tobias | God is good | Hebrew |
| Manfred | Man of peace | Germanic |
Names that mean wolf, lion or other animals
Animal meanings have a long history in naming, and they suit boys well.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Leo | Lion | Latin |
| Ari | Lion | Hebrew |
| Conall | Strong wolf | Irish |
| Rudolph | Famous wolf | Germanic |
| Phelan | Little wolf | Irish |
| Bjorn | Bear | Norse |
| Arthur | Bear (possibly) | Celtic |
| Lowell | Little wolf | Anglo-Norman |
| Jonah | Dove | Hebrew |
| Callum | Dove | Scottish |
| Arvid | Eagle tree | Norse |
| Wolfgang | Wolf path | German |
| Ulf | Wolf | Norse |
How to choose a boy name for its meaning
- Choose a value first. Pick one or two qualities you hope for, like courage or kindness, then look only at names that carry them.
- Check the original language. Baby-name websites often repeat invented meanings. Look for the name’s root word (for example Latin lux, “light,” in Lucian).
- Split the meaning between two names. A first and middle name can build a full sentence: Ethan Gabriel means “strong, God is my strength.” Our boy middle names list helps.
- Say it anyway. A great meaning won’t make up for a name you don’t love the sound of. The meaning should be a bonus, not the only reason.
- Share the story. Kids love knowing why they got their name. Write the meaning in a baby book or birth announcement.
Frequently asked questions
What boy name means strong?
Ethan (Hebrew, “strong, firm”), Valentin (Latin, “strong, healthy”) and Ezekiel (“God strengthens”) all mean strong. Gabriel means “God is my strength.”
What boy name means gift from God?
Matthew, Theodore, Jonathan, Nathaniel and Mateo all mean “gift of God” or “God has given” in Hebrew or Greek.
What boy name means light?
Lucian (Latin), Kiran (Sanskrit, “ray of light”), Uriel (Hebrew, “God is my light”) and Nour (Arabic) all carry the meaning of light.
What name means king for a boy?
Rex (Latin), Malik (Arabic), Rajan (Sanskrit) and Basil (Greek, “kingly”) mean king. Ryan is Irish for “little king.”
Do meanings of names really matter?
Meaning is personal. Many parents like a name whose meaning reflects their hopes, but sound, family ties and how it fits your surname matter just as much.