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Searching for tough, badass boy names for your little one that are tough and edgy, but still cute?
Then pull up a seat, mama, because you’re in the right place.
Today, I’m sharing my list of tough boy names that are hand-picked for 2023.
Let’s dive in –
The Best Tough, Badass Boy Names (with Meanings)
Here are my favorite tough boy names with meanings for your baby boy:
Van
- Origin: Welsh, Russian
- Meaning: God is gracious
- Rank: #873
- About: One of my favorite unique badass boy names, Van channels some serious free-spirited vibes, reminding me of both the super trendy sneaker brand, Van’s, as well as the cool, carefree van life lifestyle.
Lennox
- Origin: Scottish
- Meaning: elm grove
- Rank: #254
- About: Isn’t there just something so edgy and unique about a boy’s name with an x?
Grey
- Origin: English
- Meaning: a neutral color
- Rank: #716
- About: This Americana boy’s name has only recently made its way on to the baby names charts in the US, first cracking the top 1000 in 2013, and gaining steam ever since. For middle names, you could either lean towards a more traditional, classic boy’s name like Grey Alexander, go Biblical with Grey Elijah or Grey Malachi, or turn up the tough by pairing it with another name from this list, like Ledger.
Asher
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: happy, blessed
- Rank: #25
Jethro
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: overflow
- Rank: > 1000
- About: The ultimate tough boy name, the name Jethro could be thought of as an ode to the British rock mega-band, Jethro Tull, famous for songs like Locomotive and Aqualung.
Bjorn
- Origin: Scandinavian
- Meaning: bear
- Rank: #766
Ford
- Origin: American
- Meaning: an iconic auto brand
- Rank: #439
Hayes
- Origin: English
- Meaning: hedged area
- Rank: #229
Camden
- Origin: Scottish
- Meaning: winding valley
- Rank: #175
Zephyr
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: west wind
- Rank: > 1000
Jasper
- Origin: Persian
- Meaning: treasurer, also a mountainous national park in Canada
- Rank: #128
Bear
- Origin: French/German
- Meaning: strong and brave animal
- Rank: #826
Carter
- Origin: Irish, Scottish, English
- Meaning: one who transports goods by cart
- Rank: #39
North
- Origin: English
- Meaning: a family who lived in the North; also, a baby name used by Kim Kardashian and Kanye West
- Rank: > 1000
Kane
- Origin: Celtic
- Meaning: warrior
- Rank: #329
Wilder
- Origin: English
- Meaning: untamed
- Rank: #368
Zayn
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: God’s gracious gift
- Rank: #281
Wolfe
- Origin: English
- Meaning: wolf-like
- Rank: > 1000
Chip
- Origin: English
- Meaning: diminutive form of Christopher
- Rank: > 1000
Rune
- Origin: Old Norse
- Meaning: secret
- Rank: > 1000
Arlo
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: rock hill
- Rank: #190
Rhodes
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: where roses grow, also, a Greek island
- Rank: > 1000
Enzo
- Origin: Italian
- Meaning: ruler of the estate
- Rank: #139
Beau
- Origin: French
- Meaning: beautiful, or romantic partner
- Rank: #94
Zealand
- Origin: Dutch
- Meaning: sea land
- Rank: > 1000
Ledger
- Origin: Germanic
- Meaning: spear tribe
- Rank: #574
Cyrus
- Origin: Persian
- Meaning: sun
- Rank: #350
Reign
- Origin: American
- Meaning: to rule
- Rank: #608
Sonny
- Origin: English
- Meaning: son
- Rank: #497
Kendrix
- Origin: Welsh
- Meaning: bold ruler
- Rank: > 1000
Lincoln
- Origin: English
- Meaning: the lake settlement
- Rank: #45
Max
- Origin: Germanic/English
- Meaning: greatest
- Rank: #159
Bowie
- Origin: Gaelic
- Meaning: fair-haired
- Rank: #950
Beck
- Origin: Germanic/Hebrew
- Meaning: stream
- Rank: > 1000
Linus
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: flax colored
- Rank: > 1000
Zeke
- Origin: Germanic/Hebrew
- Meaning: God strengthens, short for Ezekiel
- Rank: #619
Koa
- Origin: Hawaiin
- Meaning: warrior
- Rank: #546
Archie
- Origin: English
- Meaning: genuine, bold, short for Archibald
- Rank: #399
Axel
- Origin: Danish
- Meaning: father of peace
- Rank: #76
Phoenix
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: dark red
- Rank: #248
Mason
- Origin: Germanic/Hebrew
- Meaning: a tradesman who works with stone
- Rank: #18
Rockwell
- Origin: English
- Meaning: rock spring
- Rank: > 1000
Chase
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: to hunt
- Rank: #125
Easton
- Origin: Scottish/English
- Meaning: from the east settlement
- Rank: #70
Maverick
- Origin: American
- Meaning: independent
- Rank: #47
Caden
- Origin: Welsh
- Meaning: spirit of battle
- Rank: #230
Knox
- Origin: Scottish
- Meaning: from the small hill
- Rank: #221
Milo
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: dear, beloved
- Rank: #127
Leo
- Origin: German
- Meaning: lion
- Rank: #31
Jax
- Origin: English
- Meaning: God is gracious
- Rank: #243
Bodhi
- Origin: Sanskrit
- Meaning: awakening or enlightenment
- Rank: #284
Nash
- Origin: English
- Meaning: by the ash tree
- Rank: #233
Beckett
- Origin: English
- Meaning: dweller by the brook
- Rank: #198
Tanner
- Origin: English
- Meaning: leather maker
- Rank: #358
Holt
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: small wood or grove of trees
- Rank: > 1000
Brixton
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: Brock’s town
- Rank: #548
Crew
- Origin: English
- Meaning: a group of people
- Rank: #267
Chicago
- Origin: Native American
- Meaning: onion or skunk
- Rank: > 1000
Zayden
- Origin: Arabic
- Meaning: to increase
- Rank: #204
Arrow
- Origin: English
- Meaning: a projectile fired from a bow
- Rank: > 1000
Hendrick
- Origin: Danish/Old German
- Meaning: home leader
- Rank: > 1000
Wyatt
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: brave in the world
- Rank: #29
Otto
- Origin: German
- Meaning: wealth, prosperity
- Rank: #336
Lane
- Origin: Finnish/Estonian or English
- Meaning: wave or path or roadway
- Rank: #261
Ever
- Origin: American
- Meaning: always
- Rank: > 1000
Cruz
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: brave or fierce person
- Rank: #297
Wolfgang
- Origin: German
- Meaning: wolf’s path
- Rank: > 1000
Tatum
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: bringer of joy
- Rank: #385
Kit
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: carrier of Christ
- Rank: > 1000
Mack
- Origin: Scottish/Irish
- Meaning: son of or greatest
- Rank: #470
Fox
- Origin: English
- Meaning: wild animal
- Rank: #939
Arlo
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: rock hill
- Rank: #190
Cash
- Origin: English
- Meaning: maker of chests
- Rank: #253
Beckham
- Origin: English
- Meaning: homestead by the stream
- Rank: #222
Ace
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: one, unity
- Rank: #156
Ziggy
- Origin: Old German
- Meaning: victorious protector
- Rank: > 1000
Jagger
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: one who manages a pack of horses
- Rank: #771
Wilde
- Origin: old German
- Meaning: hunter
- Rank: > 1000
Hugo
- Origin: Old German
- Meaning: heart or mind
- Rank: #434
Marlo
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: driftwood
- Rank: > 1000
Lennon
- Origin: Gaelic
- Meaning: lover
- Rank: #670
Tobias
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: God is good
- Rank: #277
Dune
- Origin: French, Dutch
- Meaning: a mound or ridge of sand formed by the wind, especially on a coast or in the desert
- Rank: > 1000
Oscar
- Origin: Scandinavian, Irish
- Meaning: God’s spear, or deer lover
- Rank: #226
Magnus
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: great
- Rank: #728
Roman
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: citizen of Rome; from Rome
- Rank: #75
Zeus
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: sky, shine
- Rank: > 1000
Felix
- Origin: Spanish
- Meaning: happyjett
- Rank: #193
Jett
- Origin: British, English
- Meaning: a type of black gemstone similar to onyx, or referring to an airplane, also known as a jet
- Rank: #244
Bronson
- Origin: English
- Meaning: son of the dark man, or son of the brown one
- Rank: #863
Roscoe
- Origin: Scandinavian
- Meaning: deer wood
- Rank: > 1000
Kyrie
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: the Lord, from the word Kyrios
- Rank: #224
Elio
- Origin: Italian, Spanish, Latin
- Meaning: the sun
- Rank: #842
Brantley
- Origin: Old Norse
- Meaning: fiery torch; field
- Rank: #268
Kingston
- Origin: British
- Meaning: king’s town
- Rank: #112
Maddox
- Origin: Welsh
- Meaning: son of Madoc; fortunate
- Rank: #174
Dash
- Origin: American
- Meaning: to run quickly
- Rank: #792
Journey
- Origin: English
- Meaning: a trip or expedition
- Rank: > 1000 (but #267 for girls)
Rune
- Origin: Old Norse
- Meaning: secret
- Rank: > 1000
Even more baby name inspo:
☁️ 105+ Whimsical Boy Names That Will *Definitely* Inspire You
☁️ 159+ Handsome One Syllable Boy Names That Are Short & Strong
