Have you ever heard of the Goldilocks baby naming dilemma before? It really is a thing, and it's probably going to come up when you're choosing a baby name for your little dude. You're looking for the perfect baby name for your new guy — one that's not too out there, and not too over-used, but just right.
Oh yeah, and it should sound good with your last name and have a special meaning, too.
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Not too much to ask, right?
To help you narrow down your search, check out our list of names with great meanings, from strong to blessing, warrior to leader.
Popular boy names and what they mean
Many of today's parents are choosing a baby name not only for the sound of it, but also for the meaning. Let's start our list with the meanings of some of the most popular boy names of the year.
- Ethan: Strong
- Daniel: Attractive
- Noah: Comfort
- Alexander: Defender of man
- Aiden: Fiery
- Max: Greatest
- Liam: Resolute defender
- Sebastian: Revered
- Jack: Rebel
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Baby boy names meaning "Strong"
Many parents want their son to have a masculine name -- and these boy names that mean "strong" certainly fit the bill.
- Aaron: Mountain of strength
- Maximus: Greatest
- Ekon: Strong
- Hagan: Strong defense
- Jedrek: Strong, manly
- Jerry: Brave spearman
- Kalmin: Manly and strong
- Kwan: Strong
- Magnar: Strong warrior
- Mann: Strong man
- Neron: Strong
- Remo: The strong one
- Takeo: Strong as bamboo
- Takeshi: Strong
- Tiger: Powerful and energetic
- Zeke: God strengthens
Baby boy names that mean "Warrior"
Are you looking for the perfect name for your tough guy? These boy names that mean "warrior" or "fighter" have that masculine edge to them.
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- Cayden: Great fighter
- Barin: Noble Fighter
- Donovan: Strong fighter
- Dustin: Fighter
- Cadman: Warrior; Fighter
- Cadmar: Brave Warrior
- Chad: Defense
- Kelly: Warrior
- Wyatt: Little warrior
- Guy: Warrior
- Helmer: The wrath of a warrior
- Morgan: Sea warrior
- Rider: Knight
Next Up: Baby boy names that mean miracle or blessing
Baby boy names that mean miracle or blessing
Is your baby boy a blessing or a miracle? These blessed names are the perfect choice for your little angel.
- Boone: Good, A blessing.
- Jedidiah: Blessed name from the Bible
- Karamat: Miracle
- Berwin: Welsh name for Blessing
- Baraka: Arabic name for Blessing
- Indivar: Sanskrit name meaning Blessing
- Pele: Hebrew name for Miracle
Baby boy names that mean leader
If you have aspirations of raising a future President or leader, these names will give them a head start.
- Donnel: Great chief
- Duke: Leader
- Melville: Celtic name meaning leader
- Barnett: English name meaning leader
- Dietrich: German name meaning, "leader of the people"
- Cedric: Welsh name meaning, "war leader"
- Derreck: English name meaning leader
- Frederik: German name meaning, "merciful leader"
- Emory: German name meaning leader and "head of the household"
- Caleb: Famous leader in the Bible
- Joshua: Leader of the Israelites in the Bible
- Kaiser: Emperor
Boy names with fantastic meanings
For more ideas, check out these boy names with great meanings.
- Milo: Merciful
- Finn: Blonde soldier
- Garrett: Defender
- Andrew: Manly; strong
- Beau: Handsome
- Harding: Brave, resilient
- Kane: Fighter
- Leo: Lion
- Leonard: Brave as a lion
- Lorcan: Little; fierce
- Lowell: Young wolf
- Neal: Champion
- Nika: Ferocious
- Phoenix: Reborn from the ashes
- Rocco: Rock
- Valdus: Powerful
Before you go, check out our slideshow below:
Originally published Feb. 2011. Updated Sept. 2016.