Basque Names for Boys

Basque boy names have received greater prominence with ascendance of stars such as Iker Casillas, who's inspired an unlikely craze for his name. Spain's baby name popularity list includes many Basque names for boys.

Here is a selection of Basque boys' names for your consideration. The top names below rank among the current US Top 1000 Baby Names and are ordered by popularity. Unique names rank below the Top 1000 and are listed alphabetically.
  1. Xavier
    • Origin:

      Basque
    • Meaning:

      "new house"
    • Description:

      Xavier originated is use as a given name after Saint Francis Xavier, cofounder of the Jesuit order, who got his name from the Spanish-Basque village where he was born. His birthplace was Javier, the name of which was derived from the Basque place name Etxeberria, meaning "castle" or "new house."
  2. Inigo
    • Origin:

      Basque, medieval Spanish variation of Ignatius
    • Meaning:

      "fiery"
    • Description:

      Inigo, almost unknown in the U.S., is an intriguing choice, with its strong beat, creative and evocative sound, and associations with the great early British architect and stage designer Inigo Jones. The sixteenth-seventeenth century Jones shared his name with his father, a London clockmaker, who received it when Spanish names for boys were fashionable in England, especially among devout Roman Catholics.
  3. Izar
    • Origin:

      Basque
    • Meaning:

      "star"
    • Description:

      Used more for girls in Europe, but definitely sounds masculine enough for a boy here.
  4. Iker
    • Origin:

      Basque
    • Meaning:

      "visitation"
    • Description:

      Long an extremely popular name in Spain, Iker (usually pronounced EE-kuhr in the English speaking world) is the rare Basque name that's starting to make it big in the States also, thanks to soccer player Iker Casillas. Indeed, it's been one of the fastest growing boys' names of the decade.
  5. Zeru
    • Origin:

      Basque
    • Meaning:

      "sky"
    • Description:

      English speakers will think you invented this one, but it's a hidden nature name from the Basque country in present-day Spain. Some may find it too close to "zero" for comfort.
  6. Mikel
    • Origin:

      Basque and Scandinavian variation of Michael
    • Meaning:

      "who is like God"
    • Description:

      A Basque and Scandinavian form of Michael, pronounced MEE-kel. In the US, it is sometimes chosen as a modern alternative spelling of Michael.
  7. Zorion
    • Origin:

      Basque
    • Meaning:

      "happiness"
    • Description:

      Zorion may seem like a funky variation of Orion or Zorro to most English-speakers, but it is a genuine Basque name meaning happiness. The feminine version of this lovely name is Zorione.
  8. Itzal
    • Origin:

      Basque
    • Meaning:

      "Shadow"
    • Description:

      The Basque name, meaning shadow, has the virtue of having both an interesting meaning and an obvious pronunciation.
  9. Eneko
    • Origin:

      Basque
    • Meaning:

      "my little one"
    • Description:

      Despite Eneko's very sweet meaning, it packs a lot of historical punch. Eneko Aritza was the first Basque king of Pamplona. It is somewhat related to the more well known Inigo.
  10. Ilario
    • Origin:

      Latin from Greek
    • Meaning:

      "cheerful, happy"
    • Description:

      Ilario's merry, jovial sound reflects a shared root with the word hilarious.
  11. Ilari
    • Origin:

      Basque
    • Meaning:

      "cheerful"
    • Description:

      Sounds just like its meaning.
  12. Xanti
    • Origin:

      Basque
    • Meaning:

      "St James"
    • Description:

      Basque form of Santiago
  13. Unai
    • Origin:

      Basque
    • Meaning:

      "cowherd"
    • Description:

      Popular name in Spain's Basque country, thanks to cowboyish meaning, virtually unknown elsewhere.
  14. Elazar
    • Aureline
      • Argider
        • Origin:

          Basque
        • Meaning:

          "beautiful light"
        • Description:

          Argider is a somewhat used boys' name in Basque-speaking parts of Spain.
      • Andoni
        • Origin:

          Basque variation of Anthony, Latin
        • Meaning:

          "from Antium"
        • Description:

          Andoni is the Basque version of Anthony, no longer a common choice in Spain.
      • Dabid
        • Imanol
          • Zorian