When I got pregnant with my first baby, I was confident I was having a girl. The day I learned the gender, as I lay with cold goop on my baby bump, listening to my baby’s heartbeat on the machine next to me, the nurse asked, “Do you want to know the gender?” Of course, I said yes! And then she announced, “I see a penis!”
I cried.
My tears weren’t sad tears, of course. I just didn’t expect to be having a boy, which I know is silly. Among the swirl of emotions, I realized none of my carefully chosen girl names would do me any good. I suddenly needed to come up with a list of cool boy names that felt just as meaningful and exciting. I wanted something strong, stylish, and maybe even a little different. If you’re on the same search, you’re going to love this list of cool names for boys!
Celebrities often pave the way for cool boy names that are stylish, unique, and sometimes totally out there. Some are instantly lovable — others, not so much. Take Elon Musk, for example. We all know he named his son X Æ A-Xii (pronounced “X Ash A-12”). It’s a futuristic choice, and while it fits the man who builds rocketships, it’s not exactly a top pick for most parents looking for cool names for boys.
That said, many celebs have chosen names that strike the perfect balance of edgy, trendy, and meaningful. Here are some of our favorite celebrity-inspired cool boy name ideas…
- Ace: Jessica Simpson
- Axl: Fergie and Josh Duhamel
- Gideon: Neil Patrick Harris
- Bear: Alicia Silverstone
- Reign: Kourtney Kardashian
- Cash: Joshua and Tobe Morrow
- Wyatt: Sheryl Crow
- Silas, Phineas: Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel
- Ocean: Forest Whitaker
- KAL-EL: Nicolas Cage (Yes, as in Superman! This reminds me of one of my favorite shows my husband and sister got me into: “Smallville.”)
- August (Gus): Mandy Moore and Taylor Goldsmith
- Beau: Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott
- Crew: Chip and Joanna Gaines
- Francisco: Lin-Manuel Miranda and Vanessa Nadal
- Maverick: Michael and Nicole Phelps
- Miles: Chrissy Teigen and John Legend
- Moroccan: Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon
- Moses: Tamron Hall and Steven Greener
- Psalm: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West
- Romeo: Alec and Hilaria Baldwin
- Sebastian: America Ferrera and Ryan Piers Williams
- Leo (Leodis): Keke Palmer
- Riley: Meghan Trainor
- Gus (August), Ozzie (Oscar): Mandy Moore
- Isaac, Malachi, Roman: Ashley Graham
- Egypt, Genesis: Alicia Keys
- Maceo: Halle Berry
- Manolo: Sofia Vergara
- Gene: Amy Schumer
- Alexander: George and Amal Clooney
- Future, Win: Ciara and Russell Wilson
- Archie: Megan Markle and Prince Harry
- See more celebrity baby names
Most non-celebrity parents may not get away with naming their son after Superman and instead opt for a name that’s a bit more grounded — but still fun and bold. Don’t worry — you can absolutely give your son a name that stands out. Keep reading for our ultimate list of cool boy names that are stylish, strong, and full of personality.
We asked over 200 moms to share their favorite cool boy names, and they delivered. This ultimate list of cool, modern, and unique names features meanings and origins to help you find the best cool names for boys — whether you want something trendy, timeless, or totally unexpected.
Looking for something trendy, stylish, and totally now? These modern boy names are perfect for today’s parents who want something fresh and current without going too far off the beaten path. Whether you’re drawn to short and sleek picks or bold and playful ones, this list of cool names for boys has something for every modern vibe.
1. Aiden — An Irish name meaning “little and fiery.”
2. Amir — Arabic for “prince” and Hebrew for “treetop.”
3. Angus — This Gaelic name means “one strength.”
4. Arlo — An Irish and English name meaning “between two hills.”
5. Asa — Hebrew for “healer” and Japanese for “born in the morning.”
6. Asher — Hebrew for “fortunate” or “blessed.”
7. Aston — English for “eastern settlement.”
8. Atlas — Greek for “bearer of the heavens.” It’s one of the coolest boy names on this list!
9. Atticus — In Latin, this name means “from Africa.”
10. Ayden — This Irish name means “little and fiery.”
11. Beckett — If you want a cool yet cute name, you’ll love this one! Beckett is English for “beehive” and Irish for “little brook.”
12. Bennett — This cool name is also super sweet! It’s English for “blessed.”
13. Bodhi — This name means “awakening” or “enlightenment” in Sanskrit.
14. Braydon — In English, this name means “wide valley.”
15. Brody — This Irish name means “broad eye.”
16. Brooks — An English name meaning “of the brook.”
17. Bryce — A Scottish name meaning “speckled” or “freckled.”
18. Bryson — This name means “son of Brice” in English.
19. Caden — English for “battle” and Celtic for “barrel.”
20. Callen — Gaelic for “rock.”
21. Callum — A Scottish name meaning “dove.”
22. Cameron — A Scottish name meaning “crooked nose.”
23. Carson — This English and Scottish name means “son of the marsh dwellers.”
24. Carter — This is an English occupational name for someone who transports goods by cart.
25. Cason — English for “calf” or “settlement.”
26. Chase — This name means “to hunt” in French.
27. Cole — An English name meaning “swarthy” or “coal black.”
28. Collin — This name means “people of victory” in English.
29. Colt — This is an English word name for a young horse.
30. Colten — English for “from the dark or coal town.”
31. Cooper — This is an English occupational name for a barrel maker.
32. Dallas — This Irish name means “skilled.”
33. Damian — In Greek, this name means “tame” or “subdue.”
34. Deacon — Greek for “messenger” or “servant.”
35. Dillon — An Irish name meaning “loyal.”
36. Easton — This name means “eastern town” in English.
37. Eli — This name is short and sweet yet still badass! It’s Hebrew for “ascended.”
38. Emmett — In English, this name means “universal.”
39. Evan — This Welsh name means “God is gracious.”
40. Everett — English for “brave as a wild boar.”
41. Ezra — This name means “help” in Hebrew.
42. Finn — An Irish name meaning “fair” or “white.”
43. Ford — English for “dweller at the crossing.”
44. Gavin — A Celtic name meaning “white hawk.”
45. Grayson — In English, this name means “son of the bailiff.”
46. Harley — In English, this name means “hare clearing.”
47. Hayes — This name means “hedged area” in English.
48. Hudson — This name means “Hugh’s son” in English.
49. Jace — Hebrew for “the Lord is salvation.”
50. Jackson — This name means “son of Jack” in English.
51. Jai — This name means “victory” in Sanskrit.
52. Jameson — This name means “son of James” in English.
53. Jax — In English, this name means “God is gracious.”
54. Jaxon — English for “son of Jack.”
55. Jayce — This name means “healer” in Greek and “the Lord is salvation” in Hebrew.
56. Jayden — A Hebrew name meaning “thankful.”
57. Jeremiah — In Hebrew, this name means “appointed by God.”
58. Jett — This is an English name for a deep black gemstone.
59. Jordyn — Hebrew for “flowing down.”
60. Josiah — Hebrew for “God supports and heals.”
61. Kai — A Hawaiian name meaning “sea.”
62. Kian — Irish for “ancient” and Persian for “king.”
63. Kobe — In Swahili, this name means “tortoise.”
64. Lake — An English word name for a body of water.
65. Landon — English for “long hill.”
66. Lawson — English for “son of Lawrence.”
67. Lennon — An Irish name meaning “lover.”
68. Lennox — This Scottish name means “elm grove.”
69. Liam — An Irish name meaning “resolute protection.”
70. Lincoln — In English, this name means “town by the pool.”
71. Logan — This Scottish name means “small hollow.”
72. Luca — This name means “man from Lucania” in Italian.
73. Lucas — Latin for “man from Lucania.”
74. Magnus — This name means “greatest” in Latin.
75. Malcolm — A Scottish name meaning “devotee of St. Columba.”
76. Mason — This is an English occupational name for a stoneworker.
77. Matias — Spanish for “gift of God.”
78. Matteo — This name means “gift of God” in Italian and French.
79. Maverick — This is an American name for someone who’s independent or a nonconformist.
80. Max — This name means “greatest” in English and German.
81. Maxton — English for “greatest town.”
82. Nash — In English, this name means “by the ash tree.”
83. Niko — This Finnish name means “victory of the people.”
84. Nolan — An Irish name meaning “champion.”
85. Parks — This is an English occupational name for a park keeper or for “stone.”
86. Pheonix — In Greek, this name means “dark red.”
87. Reed — In English, this name means “red-haired.”
88. Remy — French for “oarsman.” —88. Remy French for “oarsman.”
89. River — This is an English word name for a flowing body of water.
90. Rowan — Scottish for “rowan tree” and Irish for “little redhead.”
91. Royce — English for “son of the king.”
92. Ryder — This cool and unique name is English for “cavalryman” or “messenger.”
93. Santiago — Latin for “Saint James.”
94. Stefan — This name means “garland” or “crown” in German.
95. Taj — This is another one of my favorites; it’s so awesome! Taj is Arabic for “crown.”
96. Tanner — This is an English occupational name for a leather tanner.
97. Taylor — An English occupational name for a tailor. —97. Taylor An English occupational name for a tailor.
98. Teo — This one proves that even simple names can be super cool. It’s Spanish for “gift of God.”
99. Theo — Always classic and cool, this name is Greek for “gift from God.”
100. Vance — An English and Irish name for someone who lives near a marshland.
101. Vander — A Dutch name meaning “of.”
102. Walker — This is an English occupational name for a cloth-walker.
103. West — This name means “from the west” or “toward the west” in Old English.
104. Zane — A simple and cool name that’s Hebrew for “God is gracious.”
105. Zion — This name means “highest point” in Hebrew.
Want a name that stands out from the crowd? These unique boy names are uncommon, creative, and full of personality — perfect for parents who aren’t afraid to try something different. From rare gems to modern surprises, this list of cool names for boys offers something truly original.
1. Boden — German for “hill shaped like a bow” and English for “floor.”
2. Brighton — English for “bright town.” This is the perfect bright and cool name for a baby boy!
3. Hart — This typical surname is a cool and unique option for a boy’s first name. It’s English for “stag.”
4. Huck — Derived from “Huckleberry,” this is an English slang name for “humble” created by author Mark Twain.
5. Koufax — Inspired by baseball player Sandy Koufax, this uncommon boy name means “deaf” in Greek.
6. Ledger — This is another uncommon name for your little boy. It’s Old German for “spear tribe.”
7. Merrick — An Anglo-Welsh name meaning “fame” or “power.”
8. Orion — Greek for “boundary” or “limit.”
9. Oslind — This name is very different but so eye-catching! It’s Old Norse for “piece of land farmstead.”
10. Riftyn — A literary name created by author Suji Kim that’s said to have Korean roots.
11. Sparrow — English for “small” or “chirpy.”
12. Stellan — I can see this cool name ride through the ranks soon! It’s Swedish for “calm.”
13. Sutton — This English name means “from the southern homestead.”
14. Tripp — English for “dance” or “stumble.”
15. Tryp — This Middle English name for “trustworthy” is perfect if you’re looking for uncommon boy names.
16. Watson — English and Scottish for “son of Wat.”
Looking for a name with grit, confidence, and lasting impact? These strong and masculine boy names are bold, timeless, and full of power. Whether you’re drawn to classic warriors, sharp one-syllable names, or bold modern picks, this list of cool names for boys delivers serious strength and style.
1. Axel — A Scandinavian name meaning “father of peace.”
2. Barrett — German for “bear strength.”
3. Benson — In English, this name means “son of Ben.”
4. Cade — This is an English-derived name that means “barrel” or “round.” It can also mean “battle.”
5. Calvin — This name means “bald” in Latin.
6. Cash — This is an English word name for money, but it can also mean “hollow” in Latin.
7. Cyrus — A Persian name meaning “sun.”
8. Dax — French for “leader” or German for “badger.”
9. Dominic — This name means “belonging to the Lord” in Latin.
10. Duke — This is an English word name for a British nobleman.
11. Gabriel — Hebrew for “God is my strength.”
12. Gage — In French, this name means “oath” or “pledge.”
13. Griffin — A Welsh name meaning “strong lord.”
14. Gunnar — A Scandinavian name meaning “bold warrior.”
15. Hank — Even old-time classics still make cool names for boys. This one is German for “estate ruler.”
16. Hunter — This is an English name for someone who hunts.
17. Justice — An English word name meaning “the quality of being just, impartial, or fair.”
18. Kane — A Celtic name meaning “warrior.”
19. Kendrick — English and Welsh for “royal ruler” or “champion.”
20. Leo — Not only is this Latin name cool, but it’s also powerful! It means “lion.”
21. Maddox — This Welsh name means “son of Madoc.”
22. Malachi — In Hebrew, this name means “my messenger.”
23. Rex — This name is Latin for “king,” making it fit for a prince.
24. Roman — This is a name for a citizen of Rome in Latin.
25. Samson — This name means “sun” in Hebrew.
26. Thane — A Scottish name meaning “clan chieftain.”
27. Thor — This Norse name means “thunder.”
28. Wyatt — English for “brave in war.”
29. Xavier — Basque for “new house.”
30. Zander — In Greek, this name means “defending men.”
Timeless. Strong. Always in style. These classic boy names have stood the test of time while still feeling fresh for today’s generation. If you’re looking for traditional roots with cool, modern appeal, this list of cool names for boys brings you the best of both worlds.
1. Alexander — A traditional boy’s name like this is always cool! It’s Greek for “defending men.”
2. Anderson — An English name meaning “son of Anders.”
3. Anthony — This name means “from Antium” in Latin.
4. August — In German, this name means “great” or “magnificent.”
5. Austin — English for “great” or “magnificent.”
6. Beau — This name means “handsome” in French.
7. Benjamin — This name means “son of the right hand” in Hebrew.
8. Caleb — Hebrew for “dog” or “whole heart.”
9. Christian — Greek for “follower of Christ.”
10. Clark — English for “scribe” or “cleric.”
11. Connor — An Irish name meaning “lover of hounds.”
12. Dean — This cool and classic name is English for “church official.”
13. Elijah — This popular boy’s name is Hebrew for “Yahweh is God.”
14. Elliott — A Hebrew name meaning “Jehovah is God.”
15. Elvis — A Scandinavian name meaning “all wise.”
16. Ethan — This super cool boy’s name is Hebrew for “strong” and “firm.”
17. Ezekiel — Hebrew for “God strengthens.”
18. Felix — This Latin name means “happy” or “fortunate.”
19. Grady — This Irish name means “noble.”
20. Houston — This Scottish name means “Hugh’s town.”
21. Ian — A Scottish name meaning “God is gracious.”
22. Isaac — Hebrew for “laughter.”
23. Isaiah — In Hebrew, this name means “salvation of the Lord.”
24. Jack — English for “God is gracious.”
25. Jacob — Hebrew for “supplanter.”
26. Jake — We love this awesome name for a boy! It’s Hebrew for “supplanter.”
27. Jesse — Hebrew for “God exists.”
28. Joseph — Hebrew for “Jehovah increases.”
29. Julian — This name means “youthful” in English.
30. Keenan — An Irish name meaning “ancient.”
31. Levi — Hebrew for “joined” or “attached.”
32. Lucien — I love this boy’s name (which is French for “light”) because of its originality!
33. Luke — Greek for “man from Lucania.”
34. Marco — Italian and Spanish for “warlike.”
35. Muhammad — This is another popular boy name that will never go out of style. It’s Arabic for “praiseworthy.”
36. Nathan — Hebrew for “given.”
37. Noah — In Hebrew, this popular boy name means “rest” or “repose.”
38. Oliver — This name means “olive tree” or “elf army.”
39. Oscar — English for “God spear” and Irish for “champion warrior.”
40. Owen — A Welsh name meaning “young warrior.”
41. Philip — Greek for “lover of horses.”
42. Russell — This name means “redheaded” or “fox-colored” in French.
43. Samuel — This is a super cool biblical name that’s Hebrew for “told by God.”
44. Sawyer — This is an English name for a woodcutter.
45. Scott — This is an English name for someone who’s from Scotland.
46. Sebastian — A Greek and Latin name meaning “person from the ancient city of Sebastia.”
47. Stirling — This name means “of the highest quality” in English.
48. Theodore — Like “Theo,” this name also means “gift from God” in Greek.
49. Winston — English for “wine’s town.”
We hope this list helped you add some cool boy names to your shortlist that sound just right for your little one!
If you’d like even more ideas, check out these other name lists we think you’ll love: badass boy names, powerful boy names, country boy names, old-fashioned names, and nature names — or explore all baby names for even more inspiration! Have fun choosing a name you love for your baby boy!