Names That Mean Son

  1. Roe
    • Origin:

      English, Scottish, Irish, Norwegian, or Korean surname
    • Meaning:

      "roe deer; wise protector; son of Ruadh; red; clearing; ability"
    • Description:

      In the US, the multicultural surname Roe is primarily associated with the landmark Supreme Court case Roe vs. Wade, which granted the federal right to abortion, though elsewhere it might be associated with fish eggs or a small breed of reddish deer.
  2. Haakon
    • Origin:

      Norse
    • Meaning:

      "chosen son"
    • Description:

      An ancient name that's been used by the Norwegian royal family; still popular there but not likely to appeal to many American parents.
  3. Ivey
    • Origin:

      Surname name, variation of Ivy
    • Meaning:

      "son of Ive; person from Ivoy; ivy plant"
    • Description:

      Ivey can be considered an alternate spelling of the botanical name Ivy, but it also has separate origins as a surname. For the Anglo-Saxon Ivey line, Ivey means "son of Ive," while for the English-Norman Iveys, it means "person from Ivoy," a commune in the Cher department of France.
  4. Hughes
    • Origin:

      English, Scottish, Irish surname
    • Meaning:

      "mind, intellect; son of Aodh"
    • Description:

      Part of the next generation of preppy H-beginning surnames. Once Harrison, Hudson, and Holden are no longer fresh, expect to hear more little boys being called Hughes, Hutch, and Henderson on the playground.
  5. Kolson
    • Origin:

      Variation of Colson, English
    • Meaning:

      "son of Nicholas"
    • Description:

      Colson was made familiar by author Colson Whitehead, who helped popularize the K variation as well. Both Colson and Kolson rapidly ascended the charts in 2017, the year following the release of Whitehead's celebrated book The Underground Railroad.
  6. Sisyphus
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "son of Aelous"
    • Description:

      One of the most severely punished characters in Greek mythology, and the first two syllables don't help.
  7. Coleson
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "Son of Nicholas"
    • Description:

      A mostly undiscovered alternative to the ultra-popular Colton; just 80 baby boys were named Coleson in 2016. It's also a surname name in its own right.
  8. Atreyus
    • Origin:

      Variation of Atreus or Atreyu
    • Meaning:

      "fearless; son of all"
    • Description:

      One part fantastical literary invention and one part Ancient Greek, Atreyus is a new and rising name for boys. It's could be viewed as a combination of Atreus, an Ancient Greek name, and Atreyu, created by German author Michael Ende for his novel The Neverending Story.
  9. Aristedes
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "son of the best"
    • Description:

      This name of an early Greek Christian philosopher comes with a wizened, ancient air about it. Still, perhaps the nickname Ari might help it work for a baby to grow into.
  10. Mckenzie
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Mackenzie, Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "son of Kenneth"
    • Description:

      Used quietly on boys in the US since the early 20th century, Mckenzie was abruptly overtaken by the Mackenzie spelling back in 1973 when actress Mackenzie Phillips introduced the name as a possibility for girls. While Mckenzie has never matched its sibling spelling in popularity, it nevertheless climbed the charts in its wake, peaking in 2000 at #133.
  11. Bevan
    • Origin:

      Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "son of Evan"
    • Description:

      This Welsh surname might be an interesting alternative to the popular Evan, though that Bev beginning conjures up a fifty-five-year-old woman named Beverly.
  12. Colsen
    • Origin:

      Variation of Colson, English
    • Meaning:

      "son of Nicholas"
    • Description:

      Author Colson Whitehead put his name on the map, and now variations such as Colsen and Colsyn are shooting up along with it.
  13. Atari
    • Origin:

      Israeli surname; Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "son of the chemist; I'm about to win"
    • Description:

      Atari the baby name is directly correlated with Atari the company. It joined the baby name charts in 1979 when the popular video game Space Invaders was released. It was given to small numbers of boys and girls for the next few years and reemerged in 2006 following Atari Bigby's NFL draft.
  14. Henson
    • Origin:

      English; "Son of Henry"
    • Meaning:

      "Son of Henry"
    • Description:

      This surname name fits in with current favorites like Hudson, but is much less common as a given name. It's widely familiar thanks to the late Jim Henson, creator of The Muppets.
  15. Jud
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Judson, English
    • Meaning:

      "son of Jordan"
    • Description:

      More commonly spelled JUDD, this is a strong but sensitive short form that can easily stand on its own.
  16. Macgyver
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "son of Ivor"
    • Description:

      The eponymous TV hero has inspired a handful of parents to use his name for their sons. Macgyver first appeared on the charts in 1989, four years after the original television series began.
  17. Graydon
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "son of the gray-haired one"
    • Description:

      Waspy, but preferable to Nanny Diaries satiric name Grayer. Grayton Greydon, Greyton.
  18. Mack
    • Origin:

      Scottish, Irish
    • Meaning:

      "son of"
    • Description:

      Mack, a no-nonsense nickname with roots in Mackenzie, is part of the growing trend of boyish names for girls. Its crisp, modern feel gives it standout appeal alongside similar picks like Max and Drew. Not often heard on girls, although Hillary Scott used it as the middle name for her daughter Betsy in 2018.
  19. Royce
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "son of the king"
    • Description:

      Royce is a grandpa name with an upscale link to Rolls Royce, and a surprising rise for girls since the early noughties. Rebel Wilson has a daughter named Royce Lillian.
  20. Dracula
    • Origin:

      Slavic
    • Meaning:

      "son of the devil"
    • Description:

      The infamous name Dracula technically means "son of Dracul" but since Dracul means devil in modern Romanian, we thought we'd cut right to the chase.