Congratulations! You’re having a boy! You must be so excited…and have a million and one ideas about how he will look, the kind of man he will grow to become and, of course, what you will name him!
A name is said to be the first gift we give to a child. One of these 30 powerful boy names is sure to satisfy any proud parent, but finding the perfect name for your new baby boy can take some time and careful consideration – it can also be a lot of fun, especially when you come across some adorable names that make your heart warm!
It’s one of the first and biggest decisions you have to make as a new parent.
The name you choose to give can reflect your heritage, your passions, a name that speaks to a family tradition or honors a cultural tradition. You may want a unique name, or even to just reflect the characteristics you hope our child will display.
One such characteristic could be that your son becomes a powerful leader, impacting the lives of others in some way.
Some people choose a meaning then look for a name with that definition. If you’ve been on the search for masculine boys’ names, you’re in the right place.
We’ve taken names for boys with strong meanings from every corner of the world some will be familiar to you; others will not.
Whatever your approach, you’ll find plenty of great options in the following list we’ve compiled for you. Take a look through to help you narrow down your list of favorites (or inspire new ones) and enjoy the experience of finding a powerful and manly name you love for your new son.
One Big List of Powerful Boy Names, With Meanings
Amell
Amell is a German name, meaning “power of an eagle.” We don’t think gets more powerful than this.
Maynard
Maynard is a German name, meaning “brave, hardy, and strong.” But do not pronounce the name as May-nerd. You will be killing a charming name.
Griffin
Griffin is the name of a mythological creature with the half body of a lion and half of an eagle. The meaning of Griffin is “strong lord.”
Azai
Azai is a Hebrew name, meaning “strength.”
Ethan
Meaning “firm and strong,” but sounds cheerful. With ties to Wales and England, it has a royal ring to it as well. The name got a boost through Tom Cruise’s character in the Mission Impossible series.
Kawan
This Korean name means “strong” and is well-known in other parts of the world as well.
Bernard
Yes, we all know that Bernard is the first name of the saint who lived in the Alps. But do you know what it means? It means “bear strength.” Over the years, this name has taken an intellectual image, losing most of the Alpine energy.
Denzell
Denzel is a variation of Denzell. This Old Cornish name got an entirely new identity via Denzel Washington, the actor named after the doctor who delivered him. It quite literally means “powerful.”
Edric
Edric is an English name, meaning “power and good fortune.”
Barrett
Barrett is a German name, meaning “bear strength.” We loved the pleasing sound of this name. It also has literary associations with Elizabeth Barrett Browning, so you can consider this name for your baby girl too!
Valerio
This name comes from the English word “valor,” meaning “strength.” The final ‘o’ in this name is just to add a macho touch!
Malin
Even though this name is not used much, it has loads of personality to it. It’s an English name, meaning “strong, little warrior.”
Ezekiel
Rising steadily in popularity along with other Biblical names Ezra and Asher Ezekiel, the name of this Old Testament prophet, means “God strengthens.” You can shorten Ezekiel to Zeke, but it sounds more powerful in its full form.
Azeil
Azeil is a Hebrew name, meaning “God is my power.” It was a common name in Israel throughout the Middle Ages.
Quillon
Quillon is a Latin name, meaning “strong” or “crossing swords.” The name looks beautiful when written, and its pronunciation is very appealing – [kwil-an]. You can also go with Killian, but that has an entirely different meaning.
Arsenio
Arsenio is a Spanish name, meaning “virile and strong.” It was considered, for long, the exclusive property of Mr. Hall, but is now being adopted by others as well.
Zale
Zale has a catchy sound and an appealing meaning. This Greek name means “sea strength.”
Oswald
The meaning of Oswald is “divine power.” Apart from its association with the adorable cartoon character, Oswald also has literary connections, being mentioned in Shakespeare’s King Lear and Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.
Angus
The name Angus is moving rapidly from an old Scottish name to a hip American name. It’s a plausible pick for parents with roots going back to Glasgow. The meaning of Angus is “one strength” or “one choice.”
Phoenix
The phoenix may be a mythological bird, but its story makes it worth keeping it as your child’s name. Born from its ashes, the Phoenix symbolizes the renewal of self, growing from hardships, and never giving up.
Andrew
Andrew, meaning “manly and strong,” is a perfect name for your little one. The name has more character than most of the classic baby names. Andy or Drew would make the best nicknames for this one.
Leonardo
Here’s a perfect name for your little cub, meaning “brave lion.” The name Leonardo is strong and ferocious with a sweet vibe.
Gabriel
Gabriel was the archangel who heralded the news of Jesus Christ’s birth. It’s one of the favorite Biblical names and has been sitting in the top 25 name list for seven years. The meaning of Gabriel is “God is my strength.”
Garrett
Garrett is an Irish name, which was once in the top 100 list but slipped in popularity. It’s an Irish variation of Gerard and means “spear strength.” A character was named Garrett was in the Twilight series, one of the vampires in Breaking Dawn.
Maoz
The meaning of Maoz in Hebrew is “strength.” It is a symbolic name given to boys born during the Jewish rededication of the Holy Temple, called Hanukah, with the song Maoz Tzur sung at that time.
Imre
Imre is quite a familiar name in Germany and Hungary but perhaps unfamiliar in other regions. The meaning of Imre is ‘strength’.
Kenzo
Kenzo is a popular Japanese name with several creative bearers, like Kenzo Takada, the prize-winning architect, Kenzo Okada, the painter, and Kenzo, the fashion designer. Even Kimora Lee Simmons and Djimon Hounsou chose this name for their son. The meaning of Kenzo is “strong and healthy.”
Kano
Kano is a Japanese name, meaning “masculine power” or “capability.” It’s one of the most pleasing crossover names.
Uzziah
Uzziah is a Hebrew name, meaning “Jehovah is my friend.” This is one of the most unusual and unique Biblical names. It was the name of the long-reigning queen of Judea. It’s sure to appeal to parents looking for a unique Old Testament name.
10 Top Tips for Choosing Powerful Boy Names
Once you’ve found a small selection of names that truly resonates, the next step is committing to one particular name.
Spoilt for choice? You could decide to give him many names, with up to two middle names being socially acceptable.
It’s understandable that you probably have many “what-if’s” racing through your mind that aren’t helping to bring you closer to the final decision; you may have heard unfortunate tales of parents who have baby-name regret and the shame it causes them.
It’s true many have fallen prey to trendy options and realized shortly after inking it on their child’s birth certificate that it was a mistake.
Others feel pressured to uphold a family naming tradition and end up with a name they hate. And then there are the parents who just can’t agree, so one parent ends up begrudgingly giving in to the other.
Don’t be one of those parents with bizarre baby naming stories and we want to support you through this process so you pick the right one and can peacefully sleep at night.
So, allow us to share the best advice on choosing a good name and avoiding mistakes or regrets. Here are our Top 10 Tips for Choosing a Powerful Boy’s Name:
- It Lasts a Lifetime
Remember that your child has to carry his name for his entire life so it should suit all ages and stages he will live through. What may sound ideal for a gurgly baby boy may not be as cute on a grown man.
- Future-Proof or Trending Now
It’s also worth considering baby names trends. Names that are popular today may mean your child will share a class with lots of others of the same name. While copying celebrity strong unusual boy names may seem like a cool thing to do now, they may look dated in a few years.
- Are You Keeping the Family Tradition?
Another great place to seek inspiration is within your family tree. Perhaps your parents have old records of family names or one of your family members has created a family tree online. Have a look to see if anything catches your eye.
There’s something really special about choosing a name that you not only love, but that also has a strong significance for your family.
If you want to keep with tradition for instance every first male in the family is named George, but you don’t want it to be their first name you could always try using it as a middle name instead.
Sometimes a family surname can make for an unusual first name – take Taylor or Cooper as prime examples.
Another thing to consider is if the family/generational name has an unusual spelling this may also need to be taken into account.
As powerful and meaningful as it may be, you have to be in a position to prepare yourself, your child, and their siblings for the attention they will gain, positive or negative, merely because of their name. This neatly leads on to the next point about newly invented spellings of common names.
- Traditional Spelling for a Manly Name is Ideal
While you may fall in love with an unusual or unique spelling of a traditional name – Jaxon for Jackson or Naphanyel instead of Nathaniel, remember that it can cause confusion – and make life more difficult for your child when they are young.
Ask yourself:
- Will this name or spelling, sound completely ridiculous in 10 years?
- Will other children be tempted to chant it in a taunting tone at school?
- Will my child have to spell or explain their name every single day of their lives?
If the answer to any of these questions is “yes” then you may want to just stick to the traditional spelling or choose another masculine boy name. Then again, you or your child can always change the spelling at a later date.
A large body of research has shown that unusual names are associated with less positive outcomes in life.
A Marquette University study found that people with common names were more likely to be hired and researchers at the University of New York discovered that people whose names were easier to pronounce occupied higher positions.
A third study found that unique names were linked with juvenile delinquency.
- Will This Masculine Name Match Siblings Names?
If you have more than one child, you may want to link their names to your new arrival in some way.
You could choose names with a shared heritage, such as Biblical or Gaelic names, using the same or similar middle names, or picking names that begin with the same letter or same theme, like seasons of the year or shades of a certain color.
For instance, if you choose the color green as the theme their names could be Forrest, Hunter, Jade, Olive, Erin, and Fern.
- Say the Full Name Out Loud
A great test is to say the full name out loud and write it down in caps and cursive:
- Is it easy to say?
- Does it sound right?
- Does it spell out something unintentionally amusing – like C. Shells?
- Will it overpower your surname or does it balance out? A long surname, for instance, can happily take a short forename and vice versa (eg John Christopher, Christopher John).
- Do the first, middle, and last names have a rhythmic flow when you say them out loud? Hunter David Jackson sounds nice, but Jackson Grayson McMasterson… not so much.
While you’re at it, do a Google search to make sure there aren’t any tragically famous characters that carry the same name as your unborn child. The last thing you want is for people to say, “Isn’t there an adult movie star with the same name?!”
- Consider All Possible Nicknames and Middle Names
Always think about possible nicknames and shortened versions that could arise from your baby’s name.
The name Richard is bound to be shortened to Ricky, Rich, Rico, or Dick – do you like all the versions? Or does the name shorten to an unfortunate nickname that your child will find hard to live with?
It’s a good idea to brainstorm possible nicknames with your partner or another trusted family member or friend to ensure there isn’t some shocking possibility you’re overlooking.
- What Do the Initials Spell?
If you’re planning to give a child one or more middle names, always consider what the initials spell out. David Oliver Patrick Evans may sound like an impressive name for your baby boy, but he’ll be very lucky if he avoids being called DOPE at school!
- SHHH! KEEP YOUR STRONG BOY NAME A SECRET!
By all means, ask family and friends for their opinions – but it’s often best not to tell them your chosen or favorite names until after the baby is born.
This way you’ll avoid hearing any negative stories (like Aunt June who hates it because it reminds her of a horrible boy at school etc) that could put you off.
No one will quibble with your choice of the name once the baby arrives. Hopefully.
- Don’t Stress Too Much
If you do make a mistake and regret the name you chose, don’t panic – you have options.
You could use a nickname for your child forevermore and almost forget that their real name exists – for example, your clever invention ‘Nicoxavieriah’ could simply become ‘Nick’. Or you could use their middle name as their first name – outlining the importance of choosing the middle name wisely!
And, if worse comes to worst, you can always change your child’s name legally.
The Takeaway
Whether you already have a few names in mind or you’re waiting until after the birth, we hope that you’re now more confident and at peace about making the right decision.
If you did settle on a cool name for your kiddo, you can let us know what you’re going with in the comments. Don’t worry, we won’t leave any negative impression!
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