The Ultimate List of 202 Boy Middle Names

Looking for a middle name for your baby boy? Browse our list of unique middle names for boys and see which middle names pair well.

By Megan Tkacy

Updated August 1, 2023

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As if picking your son’s first name wasn’t enough of a challenge, new parents also have to choose the perfect middle name too!

Choosing middle names for boys is easy for some; perhaps they have a name they didn’t use for their first baby or maybe have a family member they plan to honor. Some women even use their maiden name as a baby boy's middle name, regardless of whether their child is a boy or a girl!

However, choosing unique middle names for boys can be a lengthy process, especially because so many baby name lists focus on first names. To help you select the perfect middle name, we’ve compiled a list of 202 trendy, unique, and popular middle names for boys to consider.

Common Middle Names for Boys

Aaron – Hebrew/Arabic. Shining light.
Andrew - Greek. Strong and manly.
Anthony - Roman/English. Highly praiseworthy.
Benjamin - Hebrew. Son of the South.
Charles - German. Free man.
Christopher - Greek. Bearer of Christ.
Daniel - Greek. God is my judge.
David - Hebrew. Beloved.
Dawson – Hebrew. Also meaning beloved, this name was popularized by “Dawson’s Creek.”
Edward - English. Wealthy guardian.
Elijah - Hebrew. God is my Yahweh.
Ethan - Hebrew. Solid or firm.
Henry - German. Home ruler.
Jack - English. God is gracious.
Jacob - Latin/Greek. Supplanter.
James - Hebrew. Also supplanter.
John - Hebrew. God is gracious.
Joseph - Latin/Greek. He will add.
Jude - Hebrew. The praised one.
Lee - English. A clearing in the woods or meadow.
Matthew - English. Gift of God.
Max - German. The greatest.
Michael - Hebrew. He who is like God.
Noah - Hebrew. Rest.
Oliver - Latin. From the olive tree.
Paul - Latin. Small.
Richard - English. Brave ruler.
Theodore - Greek. Divine gift.
Thomas - Aramaic. Twin.
William - German. Determined protector.
Xavier - Arabic. New house. The Spanish man. Saint Francis Xavier founded the Catholic Jesuit order.

Rare Middle Names for Boys

Adrian – Latin. Dark one.
Ajax – Greek. Eagle.
Andres – Greek. Valiant, courageous.
Angelo – Greek. Heavenly messenger.
Ansel – German. Deity.
Atticus - Roman. Atticus is a Roman nickname for a man from Attica.
Beck - English. One who lives beside a small stream.
Benito – Latin. Blessed.
Brooks - English. A small stream.
Callahan – Irish. Bright-headed, kingly.
Cillian – Irish. Bright-headed.
Clark - English. A secretary or scholar.
Darius – Persian/Greek. King, wealthy.
Ebon – Hebrew. Stone.
Ewan - Scottish From the yew tree. Star Wars fans are familiar with Ewan McGregor, the talented actor who plays Obi-wan Kenobi.
Gatlin – Old German. Companion, friend or cousin.
Grant - Scottish. Large. The name of the 18th U.S. president.
Hartley – Old English. Stag.
Imani - Swahili. Faith.
Jayce - Greek. A shortened form of Jason. Healer.
Jorah – Hebrew. Autumn rain.
Krish - Sanskrit. Associated with the Hindu god Krishna. Hero.
Nikhil - Sanskrit. The whole entire world.
Quinn - Irish/Gaelic. To give counsel. Wise one.
Raiden – Japanese. Thunder.
Ramsay - Scottish. The Island of Garlic.
Reeve - English. Reeve is a medieval name for a bailiff.
Rhodes - Greek. Where roses grow.
Ross - Scottish. A surname from a place in Northern Scotland.
Smith - English. Traditionally used as a family name for black or other types of smiths.
Tariq - Arabic. One who knocks at the door.
Thatcher - English. Roof maker.
Tripp - Old English. Usually used for the third son or the third boy in the family with the same name. It is commonly used as a nickname for a third son.

Strong Middle Names for Boys

Adler – German. Eagle.
Alessio – Italian. Defender of man.
Alexander - Greek. Defender of man.
Alfred – Old English. Wise counsel.
Amar - Sanskrit. Immortal. Forever.
Anakin – American. Warrior or Jedi in the “Star Wars” universe.
Apollo – Greek. Manly, Destroyer.
Archer – English. Bowman.
Atlas - Greek To support or prop. Atlas was a Greek titan who held the heavens and the sky on his shoulders.
Cairo – Arabic/Italian. Victorious, Egypt’s sprawling capital.
Cale - Hebrew. Brave. Dog.
Chase – Old French. Hunter.
Derek – German. Ruler.
Dustin – German. Valliant fighter, Brave warrior.
Emery - Old German. Brave and powerful.
Everett – German. Strong boar.
Guenther - Old Norse. A good leader.
Hunter – Old English. Search, one who hunts.
Jarvis – Spanish/Old German. Warrior, spear.
Leonardo – German. Brave lion.
Maverick - American. A maverick is an independent person who doesn’t give in to conformity.
Miles - English. A soldier. Merciful.
Milo – Latin/German. Soldier, merciful.
Murphy – Irish. Sea warrior.
Owen – Irish. Noble, warrior.
Sebastian - Greek. Venerable.
Stark - English. Firm and unyielding.
Tai - Chinese. Great or extreme.
Trace - Anglo-Saxon. Brave.
Vin - Latin. Conquering.
Zeke - Hebrew. A shortened version of Ezekial. God will strengthen.
Zeus - Greek. Zeus is the Greek god of the heavens.

Cute Middle Names for Boys

Aiden – Irish. Warm.
Allen – Gaelic. Handsome
Bear - Old French/German. Strong and brave.
Beau - French. Handsome.
Beckett - English. Bee cottage. It could be considered artsy because of the Irish playwright Samuel Beckett.
Brady – Old English. Broad meadow.
Bram - Hebrew. A shortened version of Abraham, which means father of a multitude.
Bronx – American. A New York City borough.
Bryce – English. Speckled, son of a nobleman.
Calix – Greek. Handsome, lovely.
Callum - Latin. Dove.
Dakota – Native American. Friend, ally.
Felix – Latin. Lucky, happy.
Fox - Irish. White or fair. A fox is known as a cunning, intelligent animal.
Jesse – Hebrew. God’s gift.
Julian – Latin/English. Youthful, Love’s child.
Kirby – Anglo-Saxon. From the church town. Also a popular, puffy Nintendo character.
Marlow – Old English. From the hillside lake, driftwood.
Moss - English. Descendant of Moses. Moss is also a soft green plant that grows around the base of trees.
Shay - Gaelic. Admirable.
Silas - Latin. Forest.
Slate - English. Gray-green rock.
Tag - Irish. Handsome.
Taj - Sanskrit. Crown.
Uri - Hebrew. My light.
Van - Vietnamese. Cloud.
Vidal - Spanish. Life.
West - English/German. A geographic name that refers to someone from the West.

Short Middle Names for Boys

Ace - English. Unity.
Ali – German/Greek. Noble or truth.
Blake - Old English. Pale or blonde.
Blaze – Latin. One who stammers.
Brent – Old English. Steep, fiery hill.
Cash - English/Latin. Hollow. It also has a modern-day association with money.
Clive – Old English. Hill.
Cody – Welsh. Pure.
Cole - English. Swarthy, black.
Cruz - Spanish. Cross.
Dax - English. This trendy name made famous by the actor Dax Sheppard means water.
Duke - English. A royal title. A nobleman ranked just below a prince.
Finn - Irish. White-haired.
Flynn - Irish. Son of the red-haired one.
Frey – Scandinavian. God of weather.
Guy – French/German. Guide, wood.
Hawk - Old Norse. A falcon or bird of prey.
Huck - American. Mischief.
Ivan – Hebrew. God’s grace.
Jace – American/Greek. Moon, healer.
Jax - English. A shortened version of Jackson or a variation of John.
Jett – English. Black mineral.
Kade – American/Old English: Happiness, rhythmic flow of sounds.
Kai - Hawaiian. From the sea.
Knox - Scottish. A round hill. Knox has a cool vibe and sound, even if the meaning is simple.
Leif - Old Norse. A person intended to inherit.
Link - German/Jewish. Link stands for a left-handed person. The name picked up steam in the 1990s due to the popular Nintendo game Zelda.
Mars - Latin. The god of war.
Nash - Middle English. From the ash tree.
Noel - French. Christmas. Depending on how you pronounce this name, it can work for a baby boy or a baby girl.
Oak - English. From the oak trees. A mighty middle name for a strong boy.
Otto – German. Wealthy.
Pike - English. Spear.
Poe - English. Peacock. Poe could be considered trendy and artsy because of the gothic poet Edgar Allan Poe.
Rain - English/American. This unique unisex name means abundant blessings from above.
Reese - English. An anglicized version of the Welsh Rhys. The name means enthusiasm.
Ren - Japanese. A water lily, lotus.
Rhett - Dutch/English. Advice.
Rhys - Welsh. Enthusiasm.
Saint - English. A holy person.
Scout - Old French. To listen.
Sky - English. The air or heavens.
Sven – Scandinavian. Youth.
Tad - Greek/Aramaic. Heart.
Tom – Greek/Old English. Twin, little.
Twain - Old English, Divided into two.
Wes - Old English. Someone from the West or the western meadow.
Wolf - German. A strong name representing an intelligent and powerful animal.
Zane - Hebrew. God is gracious
Adam – Hebrew. Earth.
Alcott – Old English. Old Cottage.
Asher - Hebrew. Happy and blessed.
Barlow – English. Bare hillside.
Baxter – English. Baker.
Bodhi - Sanskrit. Awakened or knowing.
Caleb – Hebrew. Whole heart, faithful.
Carmen – Hebrew. Garden.
Carson – American. Anointed one.
Cato – Latin/American. All-knowing, good judgment.
Clifford – Old English. Hill.
Connor – Irish. Desire.
Cyrus - Persian/Greek. Far-sighted. A name commonly used by the Puritans.
Damon - Greek. To tame or subdue.
Dexter – Latin. Right-handed, fortunate.
Easton - Old English. From the east. Levi - Hebrew. This stylish Hebrew name means joined in harmony. Perfect for the little boy of music lovers!
Galen – English/Greek. Festive, calm.
Grady – Latin/Irish. Rank, noble.
Hudson – Old English. Son of Hud, this is also a river in New York.
Jasper – Persian/French. Treasure bearer, red-yellow stone.
Jeong - Korean. Quiet or still.
Kylo – Latin. Heavenly, sky.
Landon – Old English. Long hill.
Liam - Irish. A shortened version of William.
Logan – Scottish. Little hollow.
Mason - German. Stone worker.
Tyson – French. Explosive.
Yuki - Japanese. Excellence or superiority.
Xander - American. A shortened version of the name Alexander.