The name you give your child is one of the first and most enduring gifts you can offer. It’s a personal expression of love, identity, and aspiration, and it sets the stage for how your child will be perceived by others. For parents who want their baby boys to embody strength and resilience, selecting a strong name is an essential part of that journey.

Why Choose one of the strong boy names?

There are several reasons why parents might choose a strong name for their baby boy. Some may want to pay homage to family or cultural traditions, while others may seek a name that reflects the characteristics they hope their child will possess. A strong name can instill confidence, project authority, and inspire admiration.

Here’s our lift of strong boy names to help you find the one for your bundle of joy:

Aiden

Also spelled as Aidan, Aiden originates from the ancient Irish name Aodhán, which comes from Aodh, meaning “little fire.” In Irish mythology, Aodh is the Celtic god of sun and fire who falls in love with Ila, the goddess of the earth.

Alexander

Alexander, meaning defender of man, is often linked to Scotland despite its Greek origins. Being a defender of man is a powerful trait, and the name has many popular nicknames, such as Zander, Xander, Zan, Lex, and Alex.

Anders

Common in Scandinavian countries, Anders symbolizes strength and masculinity. It is a great choice for families with ties to Denmark, Sweden, or other Scandinavian countries, as it is unique yet easy to pronounce.

Andreas

An ancient Greek name still widely used today, Andreas signifies strong and manly. The Feast Day of the Holy Apostle Andreas is celebrated on November 30th each year in various Christian churches. Andreas is also the patron saint of marriage and female fertility.

Andrew

An English name meaning manly, strong, and warrior, Andrew was consistently among the top ten boys’ names in the U.S. during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The name gained popularity in the Medieval period after the Christian Bible was translated into English and Andreas was anglicized.

Apollo

Apollo, meaning “destroyer,” is the son of Zeus in Greek mythology and the god of sun, prophecy, and more. He demonstrated courage at a young age by slaying the giant serpent Python.

Armstrong

Originating from England, Armstrong means strong arms. This name exemplifies the recent trend of transforming common surnames into first names.

Arthur

Of Welsh origin, Arthur means bear. The legendary King Arthur, the sixth-century king of the Britons, is an iconic figure associated with this name.

Aziz

Derived from the Arabic عزّ (‘Azza), Aziz means powerful. In Islamic tradition, al-‘Aziz is one of the 99 names of Allah. The name is used in various regions, including Iran, Central Asia, Turkey, Pakistan, and India.

Barrett

A Germanic surname, Barrett signifies bear strength. Barrett has been among the top 1,000 boys’ names in the United States since 1954 and has grown in popularity since 2008.

Beren

Originating from Turkey, Beren means strong and intelligent. In J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, Beren is a human who falls in love with the elf Lúthien. Their names are inscribed on the gravestone of Tolkien and his wife. No wonder it makes it onto our list of strong boy names.

Brian

The precise meaning of Brian is disputed, but some believe it stems from the Irish Celtic root bri, meaning force or strength. Interestingly, Albus Dumbledore, the founder and leader of The Order Of The Phoenix in the Harry Potter series, has Brian as one of his middle names.

Chasin

An ancient Hebrew name, Chasin signifies strong and mighty. Pronounced CHAH-sohn, only 11 boys in the U.S. were given this name in 2018, making it a unique choice.

Deandre

An American name meaning numerous and strong, Deandre first appeared in the U.S. in the 1970s. It was during this time that adding “De” before an older name, like Andre, became popular in the U.S. It can also be spelled as DeAndre.

Denzel

A contemporary spelling of Denzill, Denzel signifies “from the stronghold” in Cornish. Although it first appeared as a surname in 16th century Cornwall, England, it gained popularity as a first name in the U.S. in 1937. The name is widely recognized due to actor Denzel Washington.

Drew

A shortened version of Andrew, an English name meaning manly, strong, and warrior, Drew has become increasingly popular for girls, primarily due to Drew Barrymore, who was named after her father.

Enzi

A Swahili name meaning powerful, Enzi is an excellent example of a strong boy’s name, even though little else is known about it.

Eric

Originating from ancient Norse cultures, Eric means “ever mighty.” A suitable choice for those seeking a more common name, there are numerous famous Erics in history, such as musician Eric Clapton, actor Eric McCormack, and actor Eric Bana.

Ethan

Derived from an ancient Hebrew name meaning solid, enduring, and strong, Ethan is typically pronounced EE-thən in English-speaking countries and EH-TAN in French-speaking countries.

Evander

Evander has dual meanings: “the good of man” and “strong bow warrior.” Interestingly, the name evolved separately in two places: as the Latin form of the Greek name Εὔανδρος, who founded the city where Rome now stands, and the English form of the Scottish name Iomhar, the Scottish version of the Norse name Ivor, meaning strong bow warrior.

Ezekiel

Of Hebrew origin, Ezekiel means “God strengthens.” The name is featured in the movie Pulp Fiction when Samuel L. Jackson’s character, Jules Winnfield, recites Ezekiel 25:17, although most of the verse in the film was written by Quentin Tarantino.

Farrell

Derived from the Irish surname Ó Fearghail, Farrell signifies “man of valor” and “descendant of Fearghail.” The Ó Fearghails were a noble family in County Longford and the historic Princes of Annaly. Despite being invaded by the English during the 12th and 13th centuries, this powerful clan regained rulership by the 15th century.

Gabriel

A Hebrew name meaning “God is my strength,” Gabriel appears in the sacred texts of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism as an archangel who visits Earth to reveal or interpret the meaning behind various visions.

Garrett

An English adaptation of the German name Gerard, Garrett means “hard” or “strong spear.” For those who appreciate the concept but not the specific name, variations exist worldwide. For example, the Frisian diminutive form, used in present-day northern Netherlands and northwestern Germany, is Kai.

Griffin

An anglicized version of a Welsh name, Griffin means “strong prince” or “lord.” The original Welsh name, Gruffud, was prevalent among medieval Welsh royalty, making it an appealing choice for those wishing to honor their Welsh heritage.

Hamza

Derived from the Arabic word hamuza, Hamza signifies “strong” and “steadfast.” Hamza was the name of one of the Prophet Mohammed’s uncles, who was celebrated as an archer and wrestler. His story is recorded in the epic poem, Hamzanama.

Hudson

Originally a surname, Hudson is an English name meaning “son of Hudd.” It gained popularity as a first name in the U.S. over the past 30 to 40 years. Hudd or Hudde was a name given to someone who crafted hoods and was also a common nickname for Hugh, an Old German name meaning “mind” or “spirit.”

Imre

Imre, a Hungarian name meaning “strength,” is primarily found in Hungary but is also used in Estonia, where April 10th is celebrated as Imre’s name day. Name days often correspond to the celebration of a saint with the same name.

Jarek

A Slavic name meaning “fierce” and “strong,” Jarek is used sparingly as a given name. More frequently, it serves as a nickname for individuals with names that begin with Jaro, such as Jaroslaw or Jaroslav.

Jason

Derived from the Greek name Iason, Jason signifies “healer” or originates from the Greek word “iaomai,” meaning “to heal.” In Greek mythology, Jason was a hero who embarked on a legendary quest to obtain the Golden Fleece from King Aeetes, a seemingly impossible mission necessary for him to reclaim the throne from his uncle.

Julius

Of Latin origin, Julius means “youthful” and “downy-bearded” and is related to the Roman god Jupiter’s name. A prominent patrician family in Rome, who claimed descent from the mythological Julus, son of Aeneas, bore this name. The most famous member of this family was Gaius Julius Caesar, a renowned military leader known for his ingenious conquest of Gaul.

Kendrick

Kendrick, meaning “greatest champion,” gained popularity in 2013 due to Grammy-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar. However, the name has a rich history, with Welsh origins from the name Cynwig and Anglo-Saxon roots in Cyneric, meaning “bold ruler.”

Kenji

In Japan, Kenji denotes “strong” and “healthy.” Similar to Kenzo, Kenji can have multiple meanings; while Kenzo’s second syllable means three or third, Kenji’s “ji” means two or second.

Kenzo

A Japanese name meaning “strong” and “healthy,” Kenzo can start with any of the kanji characters 謙, 健, or 賢, which represent humble, strong, and wise, respectively.

Leo

For a strong boy’s name that means “lion,” Leo is an excellent choice. It evokes the Russian author Leo Tolstoy, who wrote classics such as War and Peace and Anna Karenina, as well as the strength of the stars as a constellation and zodiac sign. In German, Leo often serves as a short form of Leon or Leopold, meaning “brave people” or “lion-hearted”. Definitely the shortest name on our strong boy names list.

Malthe

A Danish name meaning “power” and “rule,” Malthe was first documented in the 13th century. It became incredibly popular in Denmark from the 1980s onwards but is seldom used outside of the country.

Maverick

The English word “maverick” means “independent,” so the name implies “independent one.” Interestingly, this strong American boys’ name belonged to a 19th-century Texas rancher who refrained from branding his cattle.

Max

A shortened version of the name Maximillian, Max originates from the Latin word “maximus,” meaning “greatest.”

Montgomery

An English name meaning “mighty man,” Montgomery directly translates to the Norman French phrase “Gumarich’s mountain.” Gumarich is an ancient German name signifying a mighty ruler or man.

Nero

A Latin name meaning “strong,” “vigorous,” or “powerful,” Nero is an ancient name given to one of the most famous Roman emperors, yet it retains a contemporary, modern feel.

Onan

An ancient Hebrew name meaning “strength” and “power,” Onan is a minor character in the Book of Genesis who was killed by God.

Oswald

An Old English name meaning “divine power,” Oswald largely vanished by the Middle Ages, only to reemerge in the late 19th century. Comic book enthusiasts may recognize Oswald Cobblepot as the real name of the Penguin in Batman comics.

Oz

Oz, a Hebrew name, signifies “strength” and can also mean “courage.” Pronounced “Ozh,” Itur Ha’Oz, or “The Medal of Courage,” is an Israeli military combat decoration.

Richard

Derived from Old German words meaning “brave ruler,” Richard is a classic name that can be adapted to different languages if you wish to honor a family tradition. Some options include Ricard, Risteárd, Ricardo, and Riku.

Roderick

A British boy’s name meaning “famous, strong ruler,” Roderick was the moniker of the last king of the Visigoths, a people who initially settled in Gaul—an area of Europe encompassing present-day France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Germany, most of Switzerland, and parts of northern Italy.

Valentine

An Anglicized version of the ancient Roman surname Valentinus, Valentine means “strong.” The connection between St. Valentine and love arose from the coincidence of his feast day, February 14th, and the Roman fertility festival of Lupercalia.

Wayan

A Sanskrit name meaning “energy,” “strength,” and “age,” Wayan can be traced back to the Sanskrit word “vayas.” In Bali and Indonesia, this gender-neutral name is traditionally given to the firstborn child.

William

While Liam has gained popularity in the United States, the classic name William is making a comeback. You could name your little boy William and use the nickname Liam, both of which carry the powerful meaning of “protection.”

Zale

A Greek name meaning “sea-strength,” Zale could be an excellent choice for families with a maritime heritage, as long as the association with the discount jewelry company doesn’t deter you. One of our favorites on the list of strong boy names.