Boy Names Dads Like More Than Moms
- Saint
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"saint"Description:
Saint as a descriptive word name was first chosen by rocker Pete Wentz for his younger son (baby brother is Bronx), and now Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have catapulted the name into the celebrity stratosphere by choosing it for their baby boy. The couple called their baby "Saint" throughout the pregnancy because his conception had been so difficult. Saint was named in our predictions for the top baby name trends of 2015, on descriptive word names which also include Royal and Noble, King and Rogue. Saint is moving beyond the group of names that are only celebrity baby names and into the general lexicon.
- Kylo
Origin:
Variation of Kyle, ScottishMeaning:
"narrow spit of land"Description:
The original Kyle has sparked many variations, including Kylie, Kyler, and Kylo, after Kylo Ren, the villain played by Adam Driver in the seventh Star Wars movie, released in December 2015.
- Mccoy
Origin:
Irish variation of McKayMeaning:
"fire"Description:
One of numerous usable Irish and Scottish surnames starting with Mac and Mc, this is the real McCoy. McCoy Tyner, the well-known jazz pianist, is one of the few to use this very cool name. Bonus: Nickname Mac.
- King
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"monarch"Description:
King is a name that sends a mixed message. While some might think of it as more fitting for a canine, others see it as a strong name with offbeat style and a full court of rich associations, from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Elvis.
King Vidor was an important early Hollywood director; King Camp Gillette invented the safety razor.
If it's king names you're after that aren't King itself, see our list of Names with Royal Meanings or other lists and blogs on royal names.
- Landry
Origin:
French and EnglishMeaning:
"ruler"Description:
St. Landry was a seventh century bishop of Paris, founder of the city's first hospital. The name is more familiar in recent years thanks to legendary Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry, an association that makes this a sports hero name, as well as a thoroughly masculine one. Landry is also in use for girls in the US. Landry is one of the oldest surnames in France, dating back to the medieval period, and is particularly popular among Cajun-Americans. It has been on the Social Security list since 2010.
- Buck
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"male deer or rabbit"Description:
Comedian Roseanne Barr chose this macho nature name for her son. In the 18th century it was used to describe a dashing, fashionable dressed man. Buck fits in well alongside names like Beck, Jack and Huck.
- Legend
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"hero or fable"Description:
Legend joins cousins Story, Saga and Fable in the baby name pantheon of narrative words. Unlike Story and Fable, however, Legend comes with additional weight, being used for fame ("living legend") and to denote a person who is fantastic "what a legend"). Who can live up to that?
- Andre
Origin:
French and Portuguese variation of AndrewMeaning:
"strong and manly"Description:
Andre is one of the international forms of Andrew that has been familiar in the English-speaking world for decades without any need to be overly Anglicized - though round the world, it is more likely to be written as André.
- Slade
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"from the valley"Description:
Evoking the image of a shady glen, Slade could make a distinctive middle name. It entered the Top 1000 in 2007, and has been seen as a character name on the TV show "Smallville." It's also a name that pops up in comic books and video games.
- Smith
Origin:
English occupational nameMeaning:
"blacksmith"Description:
Even if it is the Number one surname in the U.S.--with more than 2.5 million bearers--we still think that Smith would make a cool first or middle name, whether or not it has family history.
- Titan
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"defender"Description:
This name comes from Greek mythology, where the Titans were a band of immortal, powerful giants.
- Link
Origin:
Word name or diminutive of LincolnDescription:
Groovy Mod Squad name that still sounds retro cool.
- Aston
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"eastern settlement"Description:
Has an upscale aura, perhaps due to the luxury James Bond Aston Martin car.
- Iker
Origin:
BasqueMeaning:
"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.
- Decker
Origin:
German occupational nameMeaning:
"roofer"Description:
Brawny name chosen for his son by rocker Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue.
- Zack
Origin:
Short form of Zachary or ZachariahDescription:
As the common short form of Zachary or, more unusually, Zachariah, Zack is less intuitive than Zach or Zac in terms of spelling but clearer in terms of pronunciations. Maybe because it rhymes with Jack and Mack, it also feels more complete as a name. Some people also use Zack and brothers as a short form of Isaac.
- Nick
Origin:
English, diminutive of Nicholas and DominickDescription:
The classic strong-yet-friendly nickname name, much used for charming movie characters.
- Kobe
Origin:
SwahiliMeaning:
"tortoise"Description:
Basketball legend Kobe Bryant, whose name was inspired by a Japanese steak house, brought this energetic and appealing name into -- and out of -- the mix. Bryant's tragic death in a helicopter crash in 2020 increased the popularity of his name, as fans and admirers named their children Kobe in honor of the star.
- Steel
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
Hard and shiny, Steel projects an image that's smooth, macho...and cold to the touch.
- Messiah
Origin:
Aramaic word nameMeaning:
"expected savior or deliverer"Description:
A handful of years ago, a judge in Tennessee ruled that parents could not name their son Messiah, "because there's only one." That decision has since been overturned and the name no longer looks out of place besides the growing number of Saints and Chosens.