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180 cute boy names

These days, there are loads of cute boy names just ripe for the taking. That's a good thing, but it can also make naming your little one challenging. We've compiled a list of 180 cute baby boy names to get your wheels turning.

A toddler eating a lollipop outside
Photo credit: Katie Rain for BabyCenter

83 cute boy names

Bay is a short and sweet name that means "to speak" in Slavic languages. It was also used to refer to someone with reddish-brown hair in Middle English.

In Celtic languages, Brian means "hill." This name is often translated as "high" or "noble."

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Brook means "small stream." The name has English origins.

Callum can be traced back to Columba, a Latin name meaning "dove," the bird that symbolizes peace.

Scottish Carson means "son of the marsh dwellers." It fits right in with the trend of surnames becoming first names.

Colin has two origins: As a French name, it derives from a nickname for Nicolas, a Greek name meaning "victory of the people." As a Gaelic name, it derives from an Old Irish word meaning "cub."

Cooper is an occupational Old English name that means "barrel maker." Like many trade-inspired names, it has a subtle masculinity.

Cory (also spelled Corey) comes from a Celtic word meaning "cauldron."

Declan is an Old English name that means "full of goodness."

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Devin has a number of meanings. It's derived from "divine" in Old French and means "poet" or "fawn" in French and Irish tradition.

Desmond just sounds masculine and regal – it's no surprise this name used to be a favorite among aristocrats. It's an Irish name meaning "from south Munster," a region in the Emerald Isle.

From Irish and Scottish regions, Douglas was used to refer to a person who lived near a river or "dark water."

Drake means "dragon" or "male duck." But the former is cooler, so let's go with that.

Dylan is a Welsh name. It means "son of the sea" or "born from the ocean."

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Echo has roots in Greek mythology; it's the name of a nymph who pined for Narcissus until she was only left with her voice.

Elias, with its Hebrew origins, means "the Lord is my God."

Fabian is a Latin name that means "bean seller." It may not be the most inspiring meaning, but Fabian is still adorable.

Ferdinand is a German name with components that mean "bold journey." It's also popular in Spanish tradition.

Flanagan is traditionally an Irish surname meaning "ruddy" or "red."

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Francisco is a Latin personal name commonly used among Spanish and Portuguese speakers.

Gage means "pledge" or "oath" in French and "fixed measure" in Middle English.

A popular Welsh and Irish name, Griffin comes from an Old French word meaning "bird of prey." It (not coincidentally) is the name of a magical creature with wings.

Holden means "from the hollow in the valley." It's also a literary name thanks to the protagonist of J. D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye.

Hugo has a Germanic root that collectively means "heart, mind, and spirit."

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Ian is a Scottish name that means "God is gracious."

Ivan is the Russian and Slavic version of John. In Hebrew, it translates to "God is gracious."

Isaac is a popular Jewish name meaning "he who rejoices" or "he who laughs."

Kevin is an Irish name that means "handsome."

Kingston is an English name meaning "king's town" or "royal stone."

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Kyrie has Greek origins and means "lord."

Levi is a Hebrew name meaning "joined."

An English name meaning "lake settlement," Lincoln has strong American heritage thanks to President Abraham Lincoln.

Logan is a Scottish and Gaelic name meaning "hollow."

Luca comes from the Latin name Lucas, which means "bringer of light" in Italian.

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Mark is potentially related to the Roman god of war, Mars, and is short for Marcus.

Milo is a European name meaning "good" or "gentle."

Nasir is an Arabic name meaning "helper" or "protector." The name can also mean "granter of victory."

Niall is an Irish name meaning "champion."

Nishant is an Indian name that comes from Sanskrit words meaning "the end of night."

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Nolan is an English and Irish surname meaning "noble" or "famous."

Olander is a habitational Swedish name that means "one from the island of Öland."

Onyx is a mineral that's not only beautiful but also said to have healing powers. In Greek tradition, Onyx means "fingernail" because the Greeks believed the pink version of the stone resembled a fingernail.

Osias comes from a Hebrew word meaning "salvation" or "my strength is God."

Pablo is the Spanish equivalent of Paul, which derives from a Roman family name that means "little" or "humble."

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Pedro, a Spanish and Portuguese form of Peter, means "strong" or "rock."

Preston is a British name meaning "priest's town."

Porter has French and English origins. In both traditions, this name means "gatekeeper."

Qadir is an Arabic name that means "capable."

Quentin is a French name that means "fifth."

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Quincy is a Latin name, also meaning "fifth."

Radomir is a Slavic name that means "able warrior."

The name of a famous painter, Rembrandt incorporates German words that mean "counsel" and "sword."

A Latin name meaning "man of Rome," Roman has an Italian feel.

Ryan is a Gaelic name meaning "little king" – perfect for your tiny prince.

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Ryder is a variant spelling of Rider, an English name that means "knight" or "horseman."

Santiago is a Spanish name that means "Saint James." That refers to James, one of Jesus' 12 disciples in Christian tradition.

An English name meaning "wood cutter," Sawyer also has a very American feel thanks to the classic character in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

Sebastian originated as a Greek word for people from a certain region of modern-day Turkey. Today, it also brings to mind the well-loved crab in The Little Mermaid.

Shepherd comes from an English word meaning "sheep herder." We love the nickname potential of Shep.

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Spencer means "dispenser of goods" or "household butler." It was the surname of Princess Diana, and has English roots.

Thiago is the Portuguese version of Jacob and James, both biblical names that translate to "supplanter."

Everyone knows the name Thomas, but not everyone knows that it means "twin" in Aramaic.

Tristan means "sad" or "melancholy" in Old English tradition.

Ulric is an English name that means "of a rich home."

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Ulysses is the Latin version of Odysseus, the legendary king of Ithaca and subject of Homer's epic poem. The name translates to "adventurer" and "wrathful."

Upton is a British name meaning "upper settlement" or "farmstead estate." 

With Italian roots, Valentino means "strong" and "healthy."

A shorter take on Giovanni, Vanni is a variant of John, which means "God is gracious."

Vasil is an Eastern European variant of Basil, which comes from the Greek word for "royal."

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Vincent is a Latin name meaning "to conquer." It feels timeless through the generations.

Wade means "to ford," or cross water, in English.

Wael is an Aramaic name meaning "clan" or "shelter."

Walker doesn't mean what you might think; it's an old English name for people who "walked" cloth, part of the process of creating the material.

Wendel is a Germanic name meaning "to migrate." It also means "wanderer." 

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Winslow means "mound hill" in Old English.

Xun is a Chinese name that refers to a specific type of grass or herb.

Xylon is a Greek name that means "timber."

Another Greek name, Xystos is a word for a "long portico."

Yahir took off as a name after a Mexican singer made it famous. Its precise meaning isn't clear – some say it means "he will enlighten" – but it's a fit for musical families.

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Yale isn't just the moniker for one of the most well-respected universities in the world. It also means "fertile land" in Welsh.

Yosef is Hebrew and means "he will add (another son)."

Zachariah is a Hebrew name that means "God remembers." It's an unexpected twist on the more familiar Zachary.

In Hebrew tradition, Zion refers to heaven. It's also one of the most well-known national parks.

12 cute, unique boy names

Not only are these names adorable – they're also one-of-a-kind. None of them appeared in the top 500 baby names in 2022.

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Azriel is a Hebrew name that means "God is my help." It's unique and modern with a poignant definition.

Fenix, a variation of Phoenix, has Greek origins. The original word means "dark red," and because of its association with the mythical bird, it can also mean "rebirth."

Killian is a Celtic name that can either mean "bright headed" or "little church."

Koa means "warrior," and is shared by a tree native to the Hawaiian island. It recalls both the calm of an island and a readiness for battle.

If you want to make a statement with your son's name, Legend is a great choice. It means stories passed from one generation to the next.

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Solomon derives from shalom, the Hebrew word for "peace."

A Gaelic surname meaning "dark eyes," Sullivan is becoming a popular first name, too. And how cute is Sully as a nickname?

Usko is a Finnish name meaning "faith." It's simple, but unexpected.

Meaning "from the spring," Wells is regal, yet nature-inspired.

Wynn is an Old English name that means "friend." It can also mean "pure," and can be used for either boys or girls.

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Zaid is an Arabic name meaning "to increase growth."

Zeal means "great energy or enthusiasm."

12 cute, short boy names

Supposedly invented by a 16th century poet, Arlo is an Old English name that means "from the hill fort."

Bo is a Swedish and Danish name that derives from an Old Norse word meaning "to reside." It can also be a nickname for names like Beaufort and Beauregard.

Meaning "strength," Cade is an Old English name. These days, it's a less common version of Caden.

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Cash derives from the Middle English surname Case, which was an occupational name for someone who made boxes or chests.

Cole started out as a Middle English surname and means "coal-black" or "charcoal."

A Gaelic word meaning "narrow strait," Kyle is a short name that could be unisex.

Mac is a prefix in Scottish surnames meaning "son of."

Raul is The Portuguese and Italian version of the Germanic name Ralph, which means "wolf counsel."

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Rudy is short for Rudolph, which derives from the same Germanic root as Ralph and means "famous wolf."

Seth derives from a Hebrew name meaning "placed" or "appointed."

As a shortened form of Vance, Van means "marsh" in Old English. It's a name that conjures visions of adventure and time in nature.

Zeke is short for Ezekiel, a Hebrew name meaning "God will strengthen."

10 cute, modern boy names

These names are new – they first appeared in the top 1,000 baby names in the United States less than 20 years ago.

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Chosen is an English word meaning "elected" or "selected."

Crew – also spelled Crue – derives from an Old French word meaning "an increase" or "military reinforcement." It evolved to mean "a group of people" in the 1500s.

Dash may be short for Dashiell, a name of uncertain origin – or it could be inspired by the English word "dash," meaning "to run in a great hurry."

Named for the bird of prey, Hawk is a high-flying modern name.

Jax derives from Jack, which itself started as a nickname for John, the English version of a Hebrew name that means "God is gracious." (Don't you just love the way names evolve?)

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Lux is the Latin word for "light."

Maxton is a modern name made up of ancient parts: Max derives from a Latin word meaning "greatest," and "ton" derives from an Old English word meaning "town."

Neo is another new name from an ancient source: It's the Latin word for "new."

Storm means exactly what you think it does. It's become popular in Scandinavian countries, but will be at home anywhere.

Zen is the term for a Japanese school of Buddhism that emphasizes meditation, though it's also synonymous for "peace" or "calm" in English.

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10 cute, vintage boy names

A biblical name meaning "son of the south" or "son of the right hand," Benjamin is ripe for revival. It also has lots of nickname potential.

Caleb means "dog" in Hebrew, but also has a deeper meaning: "devotion."

Coming from an Irish surname, Carter was traditionally used for tradespeople who pulled carts. Today, it's a familiar but fresh baby boy's name.

Emmett is an old English name that means "truth" or "universal."

Ethan means "strong" or "enduring" in Hebrew. It feels timeless and ready for the next generation.

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Obvious as it may seem in retrospect, Harrison translates to "son of Harry."

Otto is a German name that means "wealth." It's also the rare vintage name that hasn't seen a comeback – yet!

Parker is an old English name given to people who were gamekeepers in the ages of kings and queens. It's perfect for a little boy with a love of animals.

Theodore means "divine gift" and has Greek origins. It's absolutely bursting with nickname potential.

Walter is a German name meaning "powerful warrior." It's strong but adorable.

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10 cute, unusual boy names

Atlas, which literally means "a collection of maps," is perfect for the little man who is strong enough to hold the world on his shoulder. This Greek name was used for the Titan who did just that.

Bellamy is an Old English name that means "fair friend."

An old Italian name that means "enduring," Dante (derived from Durante) is also the moniker of one of the most famous poets in Western history.

A popular Turkish name meaning "saint" or "holy person," Eren feels familiar and fresh. It's never ranked among the most popular names in the U.S.

Kenji is a Japanese name that means "strong" or "vigorous." It can also mean "strong second son," so it's perfect if you're expecting little boy number two.

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Meaning "little warrior" in Latin, Marcellus has ties to Mars, the Roman god of war.

Orson comes from a word that means "little bear" in Latin.

Treyton is an old English name meaning "settlement near trees." We love the nickname potential of Trey, or the full name on its own.

Wren is an English word meaning "small bird." Although it's becoming popular for girls, it's truly gender-neutral and will fit a little boy just fine.

An African name meaning "the river that swallowed all rivers," Zyair is powerful and nature-inspired.

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10 cute anime boy names

For all the weebs out there, these names are inspired by characters in Japanese anime.

A Japanese name meaning "deep red," Akane is vibrant. If you want to give your son a strong name, this is a great choice.

Meaning "bright man" in Japanese, Akio is downright adorable. It's also unique for the United States, never ranking in the top 1,000 names.

Ash has Hebrew origins meaning "ash tree," but it's also been made popular by the Pokemon franchise. It's anime-inspired, but feels familiar to an American audience.

Hidan is a Japanese name that could mean "avenger." True, it's the name of a bad guy in Naruto, but we don't think your son will mind.

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Hiro, the lead character in a popular anime series, literally translates to "broad" in Japanese.

Makoto means "truth" or "sincerity" in Japanese naming tradition. 

Natsu, which means "born in summer," is a gender-neutral Japanese name. In anime, the meaning is much fiercer: This character is a dragon slayer.

Raiden either means "god spirit" or "thunder and lightning." Either way, it's a powerful name.

Shin means "real" or "true." In Japan, it's considered a gender-neutral name.

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Toru means "enjoy" and "freely" in Japanese. Although it's used for a popular female anime character, it's a gender-neutral name in Japan. 

10 cute country boy names

Able means "capable" and is perfect for a boy who is up to the challenges life might throw his way.

Atticus means "Athenian," since it refers to the region of Greece where Athens is. It's also the name of the heroic lawyer in To Kill A Mockingbird.

Austin isn't just one of the fastest-growing cities in Texas – it's also derived from Augustine, a Latin name that means "venerable."

Dixon is an English name meaning "son of Dick." For a Southern family, it may call to mind the Mason-Dixon line.

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Forrest, unsurprisingly, means "of the woods." This Nordic name fits a boy who will be at home in nature.

Meaning exactly what you probably think, Hunter is a wonderful name for a boy who will be able to provide for himself and his loved ones.

Mason is an English name meaning "stone worker."

Rhett derives from a Dutch surname and means "advice." Notably, it's the name of Scarlett O'Hara's love in the classic Gone With the Wind.

Meaning "he who tans hide," Tanner is a classic trades-orientated name.

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The origins of Waylon are a bit mysterious, but may refer to a word meaning "land beside the road" in Old English.

11 cute boy names that start with A

Adam is a biblical name that dates all the way back to the first man and means "son" or "red earth." It's classic, yet it feels vintage after dropping steadily in the U.S. since the 1980s.

Adrian is a Roman name that means "from Adria" (or Hadria), a city in northern Italy.

A fresh take on Albert, Albie means "noble" or "bright." The name has German roots.

An Eastern European spin on Alexander, Alexei is undeniably cute. The original name means "man's defender."

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Amir has both Hebrew and Arabic origins. It can mean either "treetop" or "prince," both of which are perfect for a boy who will ascend to great heights.

Amos is a lesser-known Biblical name meaning "to carry" or "borne by God."

Anand means "joy" or "happiness." It comes from the Sanskrit tradition.

Angel has Greek origins and means "messenger of God."

Anthony comes from the Roman family name Antonia, who claimed they descended from the Greek hero Heracles.

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Archie is short for Archibald, which translates to "servant of the bishop."

Axel is a Scandinavian name that could translate to either "father of peace" or "god's helmet."

12 cute boy names that start with J

Jabari comes from a Swahili word meaning "brave" and the Arabic word for "ruler."

Cute and optimistic, Jake is short for Jacob, a Hebrew name meaning "supplanter."

Jalen comes from unknown origins but a similar Greek name, Galen, means "calm" and "healer."

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James is a Biblical name derived from the Hebrew name Jacob.

Meaning "treasurer," Jasper is the perfect name for a new addition. It also has a nature-inspired feel because there's a mineral called jasper.

Jeremiah is a Hebrew name that means "appointed by God."

Meaning "to flow down," Jordan is a Hebrew name that comes from the River Jordan.

In the Bible, Joshua is Moses' successor. This name, in Hebrew tradition, means "Jehovah is salvation."

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Jose is the Spanish form of Joseph, which is rooted in a Hebrew name that means "God will add."

Jovan is a Serbian variation of the English name John, which comes from a Hebrew name meaning "God is gracious."

Dating back to the 4th century Roman emperor, Julian means "youthful."

If you're looking for a moral name for your son, Justice is it. Meaning "fairness," it derives from a Latin word meaning "righteousness" or "equity."

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Kelly Burch

Kelly Burch is a freelance journalist covering health, entrepreneurship, family, and more. She's passionate about bringing complex topics to life through stories that are easy to read and informative. Burch lives in New Hampshire with her husband and two young daughters. When she's not at her desk, you'll find her kayaking or hiking in the wilderness around her home. Burch is currently writing a book about traveling around the United States in an RV with her family for seven months.

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Baby Names A-Z

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