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110 Popular Classic Baby Boy Names

Classic boy names

Expecting a baby boy and looking for a timeless and charming moniker name that will wear well from childhood into adulthood? From chart-topper Noah to literary Oliver to biblical James, here are 110 popular classic names for boys:

  1. Noah. A 21st-century favorite with deep biblical roots.
  2. Oliver. It's easy to see why today's parents are head over heels for Oliver: the name's got deep roots, saintly associations, a nature-related meaning ("olive tree") and literary overtones.
  3. Elijah. A biblical classic with a modern sound, Elijah offers both depth and freshness.
  4. James. A true classic with history galore.
  5. William. This name packs royal flair, saintly credentials, a presidential edge, and literary underpinnings into one trend-resistant package.
  6. Benjamin. Parents never seem to grow tired of Benjamin!
  7. Lucas. The Latin version of Luke, Lucas feels both modern and rooted in tradition.
  8. Henry. A hugely popular name with royal heritage, religious resonance (via St. Henry), and literary cred.
  9. Theodore. Theodore's got deep roots, saintly significance, a charming built-in nickname (Theo), and a presidential pedigree—no wonder parents are flocking to Theodore once again.
  10. Jack. A short, zappy moniker with timeless appeal.
  11. Levi. Short on letters, big on style.
  12. Alexander. An impeccable classic that feels at home on almost any list.
  13. Daniel. A long-time favorite with a heroic biblical bearer.
  14. Michael. A go-to choice for generations.
  15. Sebastian. A traditional yet fresh baby name possibility with saintly credentials.
  16. Ethan. Fresher than Nathan, but with an equally strong biblical backbone.
  17. Owen. Of Welsh origin, this surname and given name boasts some serious literary cachet, having appeared as a character name in works by everyone from Stephen King to John Irving.
  18. Samuel. A deep-rooted classic, worn across the ages.
  19. Jacob. A biblical superstar with incredible staying power.
  20. John. A classic biblical name that's also popular among non-believers.
  21. Joseph. A biblical powerhouse that parents never seem to get tired of.
  22. Wyatt. Originally a British surname, Wyatt today stands out as one of the coolest -tt ending first names for boys.
  23. David. David traces its roots to the Bible but appeals to a range of parents in the modern world.
  24. Leo. The short but substantial Leo packs saintly credentials, literary connotations, and a strong animal meaning ("lion") into three little letters.
  25. Luke. An old biblical name with a modern sensibility.
  26. Julian. A stylish classic with saintly cred.
  27. Matthew. A rock-solid classic of a name loved by every generation.
  28. Ezra. A unisex name that blends biblical gravitas with a modern sound.
  29. Gabriel. This name offers biblical heritage coupled up with a cool, current sound.
  30. Isaac. A biblical choice built to last.
  31. Anthony. A solid but not solemn classic that never seems to lose its luster.
  32. Thomas. A classic, can't-go-wrong choice for a son.
  33. Elias. A variation of Elijah.
  34. Josiah. A long-lost biblical classic that has seen a huge surge in popularity this century.
  35. Charles. A regal name, literary appellation, and saintly choice all rolled into one.
  36. Caleb. A biblical name that feels current and classic at once.
  37. Christopher. Consonant-heavy but resonant.
  38. Ezekiel. A winning combination of deep roots and a modern sound.
  39. Miles. Quietly present throughout the 20th century, Miles broke onto the baby naming scene in a big way in the late 2010s, appearing in the US Top 100 for the first time in 2018.
  40. Isaiah. A biblical classic brought back to the stage by millennial parents.
  41. Andrew. A great classic name is all about deep roots and proven staying power, and passes muster on both counts.
  42. Joshua. A popular boy name borrowed from an Old Testament prophet.
  43. Nathan. Originally a biblical name, Nathan has been embraced by non-religious folks as well.
  44. Adrian. The name of a 16th-century pope and several saints, this name seems to appeal to religious and non-religious folks alike.
  45. Eli. A faith-filled biblical classic to some; a pretty secular name for others.
  46. Aaron. Aaron may be a classic biblical name, but you sure don't have to be a churchgoer to use this attractive classic in the modern world.
  47. Christian. Peaking at the turn of the century—and still a good choice.
  48. Jonathan. A biblical classic without a time stamp.
  49. Robert. A buttoned-down classic for the staunch traditionalist.
  50. Everett. Not sure whether this one belongs with the classics or on the list of dashing vintage names, but either way, Everett seems to be having a moment.
  51. Wesley. If you like names with the "ley" suffix, here's one that never seems to lose its appeal.
  52. Jeremiah. A long, frilly name of biblical origin.
  53. Jordan. A gender-neutral name that evokes different things for different people.
  54. Bennett. There's something about classic boy names that end in a double T, don't you think?
  55. Silas. A classic revival name with biblical and literary associations.
  56. Nicholas. A handsome, can't-go-wrong, classic choice.
  57. Austin. The state capital of Texas lends itself to a classic boy's name.
  58. Dominic. This saint's name marries deep roots with modern verve.
  59. Emmett. There's just something about classic boy names that end in a double T!
  60. Adam. This biblical heavyweight never seems to go out of style.
  61. Vincent. An always-current name with some serious art cred via Vincent van Gogh and Catholic clout from St. Vincent de Paul.
  62. Harrison. A surname-name that occasionally takes a dip in popularity but always finds its way back to the charts.
  63. Jasper. Jasper may be a gemstone and the modern English variation of Gaspar, one of the Three Wise Men in Christian tradition, but it's also a beloved baby name, with literary credentials to boot.
  64. Jason. As a biblical name, Jason will always retain a certain classic feel.
  65. Nathaniel. Always a solid, sensible choice.
  66. George. Literary, saintly, presidential and royal, George commands attention!
  67. Luis. A version of Louis popular among Spanish speakers.
  68. Jonah. More streamlined than Jonathan, but with equally strong biblical credentials.
  69. Calvin. An old, traditional name that holds different associations for different people.
  70. Arthur. A dignified, regal classic that works for any generation.
  71. Max. Max may have started out as a nickname, but it's also an exceptional name in its own right.
  72. Elliot. Elliot, Eliot or Elliott? The choice is yours!
  73. Graham. An old Irish/Scottish name that's finding renewed favor with today's young parents.
  74. Dean. A surname-name that continues to appeal to new parents, generation after generation.
  75. Leon. This popular boys' name means "lion" in Spanish.
  76. Justin. This old saint's name has fallen a long way from the heights of the 1980s, but make no mistake, it still has plenty of fans.
  77. Charlie. A charming, sweet classic for a boy; cute on girls, too.
  78. Felix. This name has a fetching sound, literary connotations, and a wonderful meaning ("happy" or "lucky"). What's not to love!?
  79. Alex. Always a good choice for a boy, whether used independently or as a nickname.
  80. Alan. Short but not short for anything, Alan continues to hold strong.
  81. Timothy. Part biblical name, part nature name (think timothy grass).
  82. Abraham. A biblical stalwart with a presidential edge.
  83. Jesse. A time-honored name with biblical provenance, Jesse also appeals to non-religious baby namers.
  84. Victor. Worn by everyone from historical popes to ancient European royals and literary greats, this name has history to spare—and a big, bold meaning ("winner"), too.
  85. Avery. An old boy name and a contemporary unisex name.
  86. Joel. Never completely in nor completely out, this Old Testament prophet name has shown remarkable resilience.
  87. Grant. Its most visible bearers have been surnamed Grant (think Ulysses S. Grant and Cary Grant), but Grant also has a long history of steady—but not chart-topping—use as a given name.
  88. Eric. A simple, straightforward classic name with timeless charm.
  89. Patrick. The name of the patron saint of Ireland doubles as a sophisticated and debonair boys' name with lasting appeal.
  90. Peter. An originally biblical name with longstanding appeal.
  91. Richard. There have been countless notable Richards in history, science, sport and fiction, so your little Richard will be in good company!
  92. Edward. A regal and saintly name with a couple of user-friendly nicknames.
  93. Oscar. Short but sophisticated, Oscar has stood the test of time.
  94. Marcus. A trend-transcending choice with European flair.
  95. Steven. Steven has fallen dramatically from its glory days, but it still has broad appeal.
  96. Rafael. This name takes its inspiration from the archangel Raphael and boasts several possible spellings.
  97. Preston. A place name, surname and a well-established but not overplayed given name that's impossible to pin to a particular decade.
  98. Riley. As a girl name, Riley leaped from obscurity to prominence in the 1990s; as a boy name, Riley has been present on the charts for generations.
  99. Simon. In the UK, Simon was a Top 100 choice throughout the second half of the 20th century, but in the U.S., it only began to gain steam this century.
  100. Louis. The royal and saintly Louis never seems to fall too far out of favor.
  101. Mark. A short, unadorned moniker with biblical credentials and a down-to-earth feel.
  102. Paul. A biblical classic that has plenty of secular appeal as well.
  103. Kenneth. An old, Scottish charmer that still has widespread appeal.
  104. Dallas. An enduring classic with place name credentials.
  105. Walter. This name was at the top of its game in the 1920s, but has never completely lost its panache...
  106. Clayton. This one does triple duty as a surname, place name and baby name.
  107. Malcolm. A fine-looking classic that fits in nearly every era.
  108. Martin. A culture-spanning option with cross-generational appeal and a saintly connection via St. Martin of Tours.
  109. Spencer. The famous maiden name of Princess Diana makes a great, classic boy name, too.
  110. Manuel. The Spanish version of the English Emmanuel always seems like a good, current choice.

More Classic Boy Names

If you still haven't found your perfect baby name, you might want to expand your search to all classic boy names in our database. You can view them through the following links: