Strong Boy Names: The Ultimate Guide

Strong Boy Names: The Ultimate Guide

Strong boy names are a powerful trend right now, as parents increasingly turn to names with positive meanings of strength and resilience in troubling times.

Strong boy names include those that literally mean strength, power or might – from popular classics like Ethan and Ezekiel, to rare and unique choices like Viggo and Valor.

They also include boy names that contain strong, striking sounds or carry an association with strength and power, like Atlas, Knox and Leo.

If you’re searching for a strong boy name for your little warrior, you’ll find the most up-to-date information and recommendations here.

Top Strong Boy Names

The top strong boy names in the US include current #1 name Liam (and its parent name William), which derive from Germanic elements meaning “resolute protection”. Uber-classic William has been worn by many strong figures throughout history – from William the Conqueror to Sir William Wallace to legendary hero William Tell.

Other strong boy names that rank in the current US Top 100 include Biblical stalwarts like Ethan, Gabriel and Ezekiel, as well as stylish surname-style choices like Wyatt, Nolan and Everett.

Here, the most popular boy names with strong meanings in the US today, listed together with their meaning and their ranking in the latest year on record.

Most Popular Strong Boy Names

Liam (#1), William (#6) – “resolute protection”

Alexander (#13) – “defender of men”

Ethan (#21) – “strong, firm”

Leo (#22) – “lion”

Gabriel (#26) – “God is my strength”

Wyatt (#38) – “brave in battle”

Maverick (#40) – “nonconformist”

Ezekiel (#49) – “God strengthens”

Miles (#55) – “soldier”

Andrew (#61) – “strong and manly”

Nolan (#65) – “champion”

Everett (#81) – “brave as a wild boar”

Nicholas (#98) – “people of victory”

August (#109) – “great, magnificent”

Cool Boy Names Meaning Strength

Cool boy names meaning strength feel quirky and individualistic, but also fit with current trends. Many boast a strong, energetic sound in addition to their powerful meaning – think Benno and Kenzo, with their dynamic O endings, or Aziz with those two spiky Zs.

Many of these cool strong boy names are already attracting the attention of adventurous baby namers in search of that perfect “fits in, stands out” choice. But none yet ranks in the Top 200 boy names in the US.

If you’re looking for a strong boy name that feels cool and uncommon, but not too wild, here are some of the boy names with strong meanings.

Boy Names With Powerful Meanings

Alaric – “all-powerful ruler”

Alvaro – “elf warrior”

Autry – “noble strength”

Aziz – “powerful and beloved”

Benno – “bear strength”

Conall – “strong wolf”

Evander – “bow warrior”

Garrison – “fortified stronghold”

Griffin – “strong prince”

Hamza – “strong, steadfast”

Harvey – “battle worthy”

Hezekiah – “God strengthens”

Kenzo – “strong and healthy”

Koa – “warrior”

Lev – “lion”

Maximus – “greatest”

Monte – “man power, mountain”

Odin – “god of war”

Oscar – “spear god”

Valentino – “strong, vigorous”

See more cool baby names that mean strong here.

Unique Boy Names Meaning Strength

Unique boy names meaning strength are highly uncommon – or even unheard of – in the US. Perfect if you’re looking for a strong baby boy name that really stands out from the crowd!

We’ve drawn our recommendations below from a wide range of languages and cultures of origin – Hebrew, Welsh, Finnish, Japanese and Punjabi, to name just a few. International popularity lists are always a great source of inspiration if you’re looking for a super rare baby name with history.

None of the unique strong boy names in the list below ranks in the current US Top 1000 most popular names, so you’re almost guaranteed not to share a school (or even a town) with another.

Unique Names with Strong Meanings

Amzi – “my strength”

Arno – “eagle power”

Aza – “brave hero”

Cadfael – “battle prince”

Campion – “champion”

Elim – “place of strong trees”

Emeric – “power and industry”

Fort – “strong”

Gauri – “God is my strength”

Hart – “stag”

Maoz – “fortress, strength”

Othniel – “strength of god”

Quillon – “crossing swords”

Ragnar – “warrior”

Rostam – “strong, tall, brave”

Sendoa – “strong”

Takeo – “fortification”

Valor – “bravery”

Viggo – “war”

Zoravar – “strong, forceful”

Browse more unique boy names here.

Boy Names That Sound Strong

Of course, not all strong boy names have to actually mean strong or powerful. There are many more excellent names out there that carry connotations of strength due to their sound or associations.

Names containing the strong consonants V, X and Z often sound powerful and vibrant, as do names ending in the energetic “er” sound. We’ve also included several powerful legendary namesakes, like Apollo, Jupiter, Samson and Zephyr.

Here are some of the coolest strong-sounding names for boys right now.

Names That Sound Strong

What about strong girl names? Find our full list of strong girl names here.

About the Author

Emma Waterhouse

Emma Waterhouse

Emma Waterhouse joined the team in 2017, writing about everything from the top baby name trends 2023 to how not to choose the next big baby name. As Nameberry's head moderator, she also helps to keep our active forums community ticking.

Emma's articles on names and naming trends have been featured in publications including the Huffington Post, People, Today's Parent, Fatherly, and Good Housekeeping.

A linguist by background, Emma speaks several languages and lives in England's smallest county with her husband and four young children. You can reach her at emma@nameberry.com.