American baby boy names are a popular choice for parents, ranging from classic and traditional to modern and strong.
The most popular American boy name in the United States of America is Jayden, while Hudson, Nolan, Easton, Colton, Maverick, Bryson, Jase, Jace, Kayden, and Sawyer also appear in the US Top 400.
JUMP TO: List of American Baby Boy Names
While traditional names in America are often rooted in various other cultures (such as English, Irish, or Native American origins), many names have evolved in the US over time, becoming popular in American culture.
Other popular American baby names such as Hendrix, Maverick, Dakota, Drake, Holden, Dallas, Austin, Cash, Justice, Lincoln, and Shane are not nearly as popular elsewhere globally as they are in the US.
History of American Names
During the colonial era, most names were brought over by European settlers. English classic names like John, William, and Mary dominated, as did Biblical names, including Joshua, Rebecca, and Ruth.
As America grew, the frontier spirit fostered new names. Names like Colt, Walker, and Hunter, associated with rugged landscapes and pioneering values, became popular.
Interactions with Indigenous tribes introduced Native American names to non-Native communities, such as Dakota.
The arrival of millions of European immigrants brought a wave of names from Irish, Italian, German, Polish, and other backgrounds, leading to popular names like Liam, Antonio, and Ludwig.
Many immigrants adapted their names to sound more “American,” creating unique boy names like Al for Alfonso or Dan for Daniel.
RELATED: Top Baby Boy Names That Start With the Letter A
The rise of American cinema, music, and sports also popularized many names we hear today. Names like Elvis, Marilyn, and Brando entered the American name lexicon, as parents began naming children after admired figures in popular culture.
The rise of surnames as first names such as Parker, Taylor, and Jackson began to emerge as popular names, adding a distinctively American twist.
In recent decades, American parents have become increasingly adventurous, drawing from various cultures and for more meaningful names. For instance, names like Kai (Hawaiian), Aiden (Irish), and Leo (Latin) are all now popular choices.
Modern American naming has also seen a rise in newly invented names or unique spellings, like Jayden and Kaiden. Nature-inspired names (River, Sky and Forrest) and place names (Austin, Brooklyn, and Phoenix) are also popular.
Today, creative and unique names like Xander, Kylo and Maverick are gaining traction in the Top 1,000 lists.
Here’s a list of 100 baby boy names with strong American ties or that are popular within the US, some with purely American origins. We hope you find the perfect name for your little boy!
Check out the list of popular american boy names below.
American Baby Boy Names
Aiden – Aiden is an anglicized version of the Irish name Aodhán, which comes from the Gaelic word aodh meaning “fire”.
Austin – Austin is a popular name in English-speaking countries, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. It was especially popular in the United States in the 1990s.
Blake – The name Blake comes from the Old English word blæc, which means “black” or “dark”, or blac, which means “white” or “pale”.
Brady – he name Brady is Irish and comes from the Gaelic name Bradaigh, which means “descendant of Bradach”. Bradach is an old Irish name that means “spirited” or “active”.
Braxton – Braxton was originally used as a last name, and variants include Brackstone, Brockston, and Brownstone. It didn’t appear on the Social Security Administration’s list of the 1,000 most popular baby names until 1985
Brent – The name Brent comes from the Old English word brynet, which means “hill” or “summit”. It has been one of the thousand most common names for boys born in the United States since 1933. However, its popularity has been declining since the 1980s.
Bryce – The name Bryce is a gender-neutral name of Scottish origin that means “speckled” or “freckled”.
Brooks – The name Brooks means “dweller at the brook”. The surname arrived in North America from England in the mid-seventeenth century.
Carson – The name Carson is a gender-neutral name of Scottish and Irish origin that means “son of Carr”. The name Carson has been used in various contexts, including personal names, company names, and geographical locations. It’s also associated with American frontiersman Kit Carson, which gives it a touch of old-western charm.
Carter – The name Carter is of English, Irish, and Scottish origin, and it means “transporter of goods by cart. Carter is the 46th most popular surname in the United States. It’s also very common among African Americans.
Chase – The name Chase is a gender-neutral name of English origin that means “hunter” or “huntsman”. The name is especially popular in the United States, and is becoming more popular for girls.
Clayton – The name Clayton is a British name that means “clay settlement”. Clayton was a traditional Southern name for boys that was popular in the 1980s and 1990s, as well as in the early 20th century. It remains a popular name for American parents.
Cody – The name Cody is an Anglicized version of the Irish surname Ó’Cuidighthigh, which means “descendant of Cuidightheach”. Cody is also associated with cowboys and other icons of Western culture. Buffalo Bill Cody is a notable figure associated with the name.
Colt – The name Colt is of English origin and means “young horse”. It’s a name that’s associated with the American Frontier and the Wild West,
Colton – The name Colton is of English origin and means “coal town” or “settlement”. Colton is a relatively uncommon first name, but it has become more popular in the United States in recent years.
Cooper – The name Cooper is of English origin and means “barrel maker”. Cooper was originally a surname, but has become more popular as a given name in recent years.
Dallas – The name Dallas is of Scottish origin and means “from the meadow dwelling”. The name Dallas is also associated with the US city of Dallas, Texas, which was named after a Scottish place name.
Dawson – The name Dawson is an English name that means “son of David”. Dawson was traditionally used as a surname, but became popular as a first name after the success of the late 1990s teen drama Dawson’s Creek.
Denver – Means “valley” and is a habitational name from Denver in Norfolk. Denver is also the name of a city in Colorado.
Easton – The name Easton is of English origin and means “from the east town”. It was originally given as a surname to people from settlements in the east.
Emerson – The name Emerson is an English name that means “son of Emery”.
Everett – The name Everett is a masculine name of Germanic origin that means “wild boar,” “strong as a boar,” or “brave”.
Finn – The name Finn comes from the Irish word fionn, which means “fair” or “blessed”.
Fisher – This name comes from the Middle English word fis(sc)her(e), which means “fisherman”.
Gage – The name Gage is a boy’s name of English, Old French, and German origin that means “pledge” or “measure”.
Grayson – The name Grayson is of Old English origin and means “son of the grey-haired one”.
Hank – The name Hank is an Americanized version of the name Henry, and it means “ruler of the home”. It originated as a nickname for Henry and became popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Hayden – In Old English, Hayden means “hedged valley” or “hay valley”. In the United States, Hayden is a popular name for both boys and girls. It was most popular in 2007 as the 72nd most popular male name.
Hunter – The name Hunter is a gender-neutral name of English origin that means “one who hunts” or “pursuer”. Hunter is also a popular boy’s name, and has been hovering around the 50th most popular boys’ name in recent years.
Jace – The name Jayce may have originated in the United States in the late 20th century as a nickname for the initials J.C. It eventually became a standalone name.
Jackson – The name Jackson is a patronymic surname that means “son of Jack” and is of British origin. Jackson is a common surname in English-speaking countries, and is also popular as a given name. In 2021, Jackson was the 14th most popular name in the US.
Jaxon – The name Jaxon is an American name that means “son of Jack”, and is a shortened, Anglo-American form of Jackson. It’s become more popular in recent decades and entered the top 1,000 baby names in 1997.
Jayden – The name Jayden is a gender-neutral name with Hebrew origins that means “thankful” and “God will judge” and “gift of God.”It’s likely a blend of the names Jay and Hayden, and first appeared in the 1990s. It was in the top 1,000 most popular names for boys in the United States in 1994, and has been in the top 100 ever since.
Jett – Jett is a strong name of English origin and means “jet black”. It gained popularity as a given name in the late 20th century.
Jory – A gender-neutral Cornish name that means “farmer” or “earth-worker”.
Kane – Inspired by the Irish surname Ó Catháin, Kane means “little battler” or “warrior”.
Karter – The name Karter, alternative spelling of Carter, is of German and English origin and means “one who uses a cart. The alternate spelling Karter has also become more popular in recent years, first appearing on the Social Security Administration’s list of the 1,000 most popular boy names in 2005.
Kingston – The name Kingston is a British name that means “king’s town” or “royal stone”. The name Kingston is also a surname that originated in England. Most Kingston families in the United States were found in New York in 1840.
Knox – The name Knox is a Scottish surname and given name that means “round-top hill”. In 2009, the name became more popular after Angelina and Brad Pitt named their son Knox.
Landon – The name Landon is of English origin and means “long hill”. Landon became popular in the United States in the 1990s and has remained a steady name since. It’s been in the top 1,000 baby names since the early 1900s. In 2010, it was the 32nd most popular name for boys.
Lawson – The name Lawson is a boy’s name of British and Scottish origin that means “son of Lawrence”. It is also an Americanized version of the Swedish name Larsson and the Danish, Norwegian, or North German name Larsen.
Lincoln – The name Lincoln is a masculine given name and surname of Old English origin that means “lake/pool colony” or “town by the pool”. In the United States, the name Lincoln is more commonly associated with Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States.
Logan – The name Logan is a Scottish name that means “little hollow”.
Maddox – The name Maddox is a Welsh name that means “son of Madoc”. The name became more widely known after actress Angelina Jolie chose it for her adopted son in 2002.
Mason – The name Mason is a gender-neutral name of British origin that means “stone worker”. The name Mason became popular after Kourtney Kardashian chose it for her firstborn child.
Maverick – The name Maverick is an American name that means “an independent man who avoids conformity”. The name was popularized by Tom Cruise’s portrayal of Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in the 1986 blockbuster Top Gun. It’s been among the 1,000 most-used names for boys in the United States since 1994 and among the 50 most popular names for American boys since 2020.
Memphis – The city of Memphis, Tennessee was named after the ancient city of Memphis in Egypt, which was also located on a great river
Nash – The name Nash is of English origin and means “at the ash tree” or “by the ash tree”. Some say that Nash may be an Americanized version of a similar-sounding Jewish surname.
Nolan – The name Nolan is of Irish origin with the deep meaning of “noble,” “famous,” or “descendant of a chariot fighter or champion”. Nolan has been growing in popularity since the 1970s and is popular with athletes.
Parker – The name Parker is of English origin and means “keeper of the park”. In the United States, it was the 47th most common surname in 1990.
Paxton – The name Paxton is a gender-neutral name of British origin that means “peaceful town”. The name was originally a surname, but became popular as a first name in the late 20th century.
Phoenix – The name Phoenix is a gender-neutral name of Latin and Greek origin that means “dark red” or “crimson”, after the mythical bird. Phoenix is also a city in Arizona.
Porter – From the Old French word portier, which means “gatekeeper”. The Porter family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. In 1880, the USA had the most Porter families.
Preston – The name Preston is a boy’s name of English origin that means “priest’s town” or “priest’s estate”. Preston may have originated from a town in Lancashire, England. It was originally used as a surname, and the Preston family name was found in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920.
Quinn – The name Quinn is a gender-neutral name with Irish origins that means “wise,” “sense,” or “reason”. In the U.S., Quinn is more popular for baby girls.
Reid – The name Reid is a Scottish surname that means “red” or “ruddy”. Reid is a popular name for babies in the United States, and is often chosen over the similar name Reed.
Rhett – The name Rhett is an Anglicized version of the Dutch surname de Raedt, which means “advice”. Rhett became popular after appearing in Margaret Mitchell’s 1936 novel Gone with the Wind and its 1939 film adaptation.
Ridge – The name Ridge is a boy’s name of British origin that means “continuous elevated mountain crest” or “the back of a person or animal”.
River – The name River is a gender-neutral name of English origin that means “a flowing body of water”. The name is commonly used in English-speaking countries like the United States for both boys and girls. It’s become especially popular in Hollywood. Singer Kelly Clarkson named her daughter River Rose.
Ryder – The name Ryder is an Americanized and Flemish form of the Dutch name Rijder, which means “mounted warrior” or “messenger”. In 2024, it was the 1339th most popular name.
Sawyer – The name Sawyer is an English name that means “wood cutter” and is used as both a first and last name in the United States. In the United States, it’s one of the top 200 names for boys and became well known after appearing in Mark Twain’s Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
Scout – The name Scout is of American origin and means “first explorer” or “one sent out to gain and bring information”. The name Scout’s popularity has been declining in 2023, and in 2024 it was ranked #1061.
Shane – An anglicized version of the Irish name Séaghan or Séan, which means “God is gracious”. It’s derived from the Hebrew name John. Shane became popular in the United States after the publication of Jack Schaefer’s 1949 novel Shane and its 1953 film adaptation.
Slade – The name Slade is a masculine name of British origin that means “valley”.
Steele – An Americanized version of the German name Stahl or Stahle, and the Swedish names Ståhl, Stål, or Ståhle, all of which mean “steel”.
Tanner – The name Tanner is a masculine name of English origin that means “leather maker”. Tanner started appearing as a last name in the 12th century. It’s still very popular in western US states like Wyoming and Montana.
Tate – The name Tate is a gender-neutral name of English origin that means “cheerful”. Tate has been a popular name throughout history and remains well-loved today.
Taylor – The name Taylor is of Old English origin and means “tailor”. In the 2000 US Census, Taylor was the tenth most common surname. Taylor is a gender-neutral name that is commonly used in English-speaking countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
Thayer – The name comes from the Old French word taillere, which means “to cut”.
Travis – The name Travis is a masculine name of French origin that means “toll collector” or “to cross”. Travis is a popular name in the music and sport industry, with many famous people in rap, rock, country, and American football having the name.
Trent – The name Trent is a British name that means “strongly flooding” or “the flooder”.
Tucker – The name Tucker comes from the Middle English word tucker(e) or toker(e), which means “tucker fuller”. The name Tucker has a long history as a surname in England and the United States, and presumably has Saxon roots.
Tyson – The name Tyson has multiple meanings, including “firebrand” and “high-spirited”. Tyson is a popular name for babies, and is often seen in birth registries and on social media
Walker – The name Walker is a popular name in the United States, ranking 91st in popularity for 2024, which is a 10% increase from 2023. The name is of English origin and means “one who thickens cloth”
Warner – The name Warner is a masculine name of German origin that means “protective warrior” or “army guard”.
Waylon – Waylon is a masculine name with English and Norse origins. It is a variant of Wayland and translates to “wayside land” or “road land”. The name Waylon is a popular name for boys and girls in the United States.
Wesley – The name comes from the Old English words west, meaning “west”, and leah, meaning “wood, clearing, meadow”. It ranked 75th in popularity in the United States in 2024, which is the same as 2023.
Weston – The name Weston is a masculine name of British origin that means “from the western town”.
Wilder – Wilder is a German name for boys that means “untamed” or “wild”. It has been used as a surname since at least the 10th century, and has recently become more popular as a given name.
Wyatt – Wyatt is derived from the Old English name Wyot, which means “strong in war”. Wyatt was most popular between 2019 and 2021, ranking 29th in popularity for all three years. In 2023, it ranked 47th.
Axel – The name Axel is a popular Scandinavian name that means “father of peace”.
Crew – The name Crew has multiple meanings, including a group of people, a fort near a slope, and a weir or ford dam-like structure. It first ranked on the top 1000 in 2010.
Jettison – The word jettison comes from the Anglo-French word geteson, which means “action of throwing”.
Dash – The name Dash is an American boy’s name that means “to run quickly” in English. It is also an anglicized form of the Scottish surname de Chiel, which is Scottish slang for “young lad” or “bloke”. Dash is currently ranked 1875 in popularity in the US.
Briggs – The name Briggs is a masculine name of British, Scottish, and Old Norse origin that means “bridge”. In the United States, Briggs is a rising name for boys, and is part of a trend of names ending in -s becoming more popular.
Levi – The name Levi is a popular name for boys in the United States, and has been in the top 500 names since 1900. The name’s popularity may have been boosted by celebrities like Matthew McConaughey, Sheryl Crow, and David “the Edge” Howell Evans naming their sons Levi.
Brody – The name Brody is a masculine name of Irish and Scottish origin that means “ditch” or “muddy place”. It was traditionally a surname in Ireland and Scotland. In the United States, Brody is ranked 381 in popularity.
Colt – The name Colt is of English origin and means “young horse”. It’s a name that’s associated with the American Frontier and the Wild West.
East – The name “East” can be found in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Scotland.
Ranger – The name Ranger is an English name that means “forest protector”. The Ranger family name was found in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920.
Ace – The name comes from the Latin word as, which means “one” or “expert”. The name may also come from the Old English word ase, which means “unity” or “unity of purpose”.
Justice – The name Justice is a gender-neutral name of English origin that means “to deliver what is just”.
Cade – The name Cade is a gender-neutral name of English origin that means “round” or “barrel”. The name Cade became more well-known after being associated with Jack Cade, a leader of the peasant revolt in the English rebellion of 1450.
Holden – The name Holden is a British surname that means “deep valley” or “from the hollow in the valley”. Holden Caulfield is the main character in J.D. Salinger’s 1951 novel The Catcher in the Rye.
Conrad – The name Conrad is a masculine name of German origin that means “bold” and “counsel”. The name was popular in post-medieval English and French, and regained popularity in the English-speaking world in the 19th century.
Bode – The name Bode is a masculine name of German origin that means “order” or “command”. Bode has become increasingly popular in the United States since re-entering the Top 1,000 Baby Names list in 2014.
Jericho – Jericho is a masculine biblical name that originates from the biblical city of Jericho in Canaan.
Jax – The name Jax is an American name that means “son of Jack”. It’s a modern take on a classic name and is sometimes a shortened version of Jackson or Jaxon. Jax is a diminutive form of the name Jack, and it’s emerged as an independent given name in its own right.
Ryker – The name Ryker is of American origin and means “rich” or “powerful ruler”. It comes from the Dutch name Riker. Ryker is a gender-neutral name that has become more popular in the United States in recent years.
Kayden – The name Kayden is believed to have originated in the United States and is thought to be a combination of other names or a variation of the Irish name Caden. It became more widely recognized in the United States in the 1990s.
Bo – The name Bo means “to live” or “dwell” and is associated with the Scandinavian word “bo”. Bo is also short for names such as Beaufort, Beauregard, Bonita, or Bonnie. It can also be a shortening of the name Robert or James.
Cash – The name may have originated as an occupational name for people who made chests, boxes, or other wooden containers. The name Cash has been used as both a first and last name in English-speaking regions for a long time.
Dax – The name Dax has multiple meanings and origins, including French, German, and Latin.
Hendrix – The name “Hendrix” is a modern variation of the name “Henry” and has Dutch and English origins. It is derived from the Germanic name “Heinrich”, which means “ruler of the home” or “estate ruler”. The name “Hendrix” is often associated with the legendary musician Jimi Hendrix.
Rocky – The name Rocky is derived from the English word “rock” and means “with many rocks”. It became a popular name in the United States in the mid-20th century.
Gunner – The name Gunner has multiple meanings and origins, including a Viking-inspired name of Old Norse and German origin, interpreted as “brave and bold warrior”.
Huck – The name Huck has multiple origins and meanings, including American, British, and German. Huck is a short form of the name Huckleberry, which comes from the American word for a small wild berry. Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn character was likely named after the berry bush.
Stone – The surname Stone has multiple origins, including English, Irish, and Americanized. The surname Stone may be an Americanized version of other surnames in other languages that mean “stone”, such as Jewish Stein and Norwegian Steine.
Dakota – The name Dakota is a unisex name that means “friend”, “friendly”, or “allies” in the Dakota language. It comes from the name of the Native American Dakota people, or from the names of the US states North and South Dakota, which are also named after the Dakota people.
Booker – The name Booker is of English origin and means “someone concerned with books” or “binder” or “scribe”. Booker may also be an Americanized version of the German name Bucher.
Duke – The surname Duke means “leader” or “son of Marmaduke”. It may have originated in England or Ireland, and is the 856th most common surname in the United States.
Drake – The name Drake has multiple origins and meanings, including the Middle English word for a male duck, and the Old English word draca or the Old Norse word draki which means dragon or snake.
Saint – The name Saint is a masculine name of Latin origin that means “holy” or “saintly”.
Kylo – The name Kylo is an American name that has multiple meanings, including “sky” and “created name”. It’s a relatively modern name that’s become popular in recent decades. The name’s popularity is likely due to its association with the Star Wars character Kylo Ren.
Landry – The name Landry is a gender-neutral name that means “ruler,” “land,” “the strength of the earth,” and “one who dominates the lands”. Landry is a common Cajun last name in Louisiana, where it is the second most common Cajun last name after Hebert.
Lebron – The name Lebron is a masculine name of French origin that means “brown-haired one”. The name Lebron has become more popular in modern times, in part due to the influence of famous people like LeBron James, the American professional basketball player.
Denzel – The name Denzel is a boy’s name of English origin that means “from the high stronghold” or “fertile ground”. It comes from the Cornish language and the Cornish place name Denzell. Denzel has become a popular thanks to American actor Denzel Washington.
Bryson – The name Bryson comes from the word brych and means “son of Brice” or “speckled” and “colorful”.
Rowdy – The name Rowdy is primarily of American origin that means “loud” or “spirited”.
Brooklyn – Brooklyn is a gender-neutral name that has become popular in the United States and internationally. It’s sometimes used as a name to honor the New York City borough.
Kaiden – The name Kaiden has American origins and means “fighter”. It’s become popular in recent years as a name for boys.
This article showed you a list of American baby boy names.
Leave a Reply