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.

the ultimate list of middle names for baby boys

Megan Tkacy

Updated: March 20, 2024

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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 series, 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.