You know that moment when you’re sitting there, hand on your growing belly, trying to find the perfect name for your little guy? Been there, done that! After spending countless nights scrolling through baby name websites while eating ice cream (no judgment here!), I’ve put together this comprehensive list of cute boy names that’ll make both you and your future kiddo happy.

Why Finding the Perfect Cute Boy Name Matters

Let’s pull a funny story here – when I was pregnant with my first, I had a dream in which I named him “Refrigerator.” Pregnancy hormones are truly something, right? That’s when I knew I needed to get serious about finding actual cute boy names ideas! Whether you’re looking for unique boy names with meaning or adorable boy names with nicknames, I’ve got you covered.

Cute baby boy sitting on a bed and wearing a white onesie.

1. Cute Boy Names with Adorable Nicknames

As a mom who has approximately 15 nicknames for my son (and counting!), I know the joy of having name options that grow with your little one – from sweet baby coos to toddler giggles and beyond.

  1. Alexander (Defender of the people) – Alex, Xander
  2. Theodore (Gift of God) – Theo, Teddy
  3. Benjamin (Son of the right hand) – Ben, Benny
  4. William (Resolute protector) – Will, Liam
  5. Nathaniel (Gift of God) – Nate, Nat
  6. Samuel (God has heard) – Sam, Sammy
  7. Oliver (Olive tree, peace) – Ollie
  8. Jameson (Son of James) – Jamie, Jace
  9. Sebastian (Venerable, revered) – Seb, Bastian
  10. Christopher (Bearer of Christ) – Chris, Kit
  11. Nicholas (Victory of the people) – Nick, Nico
  12. Jonathan (God has given) – Jon, Johnny
  13. Everett (Brave as a wild boar) – Rhett, Ev
  14. Daniel (God is my judge) – Dan, Danny
  15. Harrison (Son of Harry) – Harry, Sonny
  16. Zachary (The Lord has remembered) – Zach, Zac
  17. Dominic (Belonging to the Lord) – Dom, Nico
  18. August (Great, majestic) – Augie, Gus
  19. Elliott (Jehovah is God) – Eli, Lio
  20. Maxwell (Great spring) – Max, Wells
  21. Leonard (Brave lion) – Leo, Lenny
  22. Griffin (Strong lord) – Griff, Finn
  23. Finnegan (Fair) – Finn
  24. Jeremiah (God will uplift) – Jerry, Remy
  25. Sullivan (Dark-eyed) – Sully, Van
  26. Frederick (Peaceful ruler) – Freddy, Rick
  27. Matthew (Gift of God) – Matt, Matty
  28. Jackson (Son of Jack) – Jack, Jax
  29. Lorenzo (From Laurentum) – Enzo, Renzo
  30. Raphael (God has healed) – Rafi, Rafa
  31. Joseph (God will increase) – Joe, Joey
  32. Beckett (Beehive) – Beck, Kit
  33. Quentin (Fifth) – Quinn
  34. Patrick (Noble) – Pat, Paddy
  35. Ezekiel (God strengthens) – Zeke
  36. Cassius (Hollow) – Cash, Cass
  37. Thaddeus (Courageous heart) – Tad, Theo
  38. Harrison (Son of Harry) – Harry, Hank
  39. Anthony (Priceless one) – Tony, Ant
  40. Francis (Free man) – Frankie, Fran
  41. Leonardo (Brave lion) – Leo, Lenny
  42. Bartholomew (Son of the furrow) – Bart, Tolly
  43. Montgomery (Mountain of strength) – Monty, Gomery
  44. Cornelius (Horn) – Neil, Cory
  45. Ellington (Ellis’s town) – Eli, Tony
  46. Sylvester (Wooded, wild) – Sly, Sylvie
  47. Maximilian (Greatest) – Max, Milo
  48. Solomon (Peaceful) – Sol, Solo
  49. Ferdinand (Brave traveler) – Fern, Ferdy
  50. Phineas (Oracle) – Finn, Phinny

2. Unique Boy Names with Beautiful Meanings

Ever catch yourself explaining your child’s name meaning to curious strangers? These gorgeous names come with built-in conversation starters and meanings that’ll make your heart melt every single time you say them!

  1. Asher – Happy, blessed
  2. Felix – Lucky, fortunate
  3. Leo – Lion, brave
  4. Elias – The Lord is my God
  5. Luca – Light
  6. Noah – Rest, comfort
  7. Ezra – Helper
  8. Kai – Sea, ocean
  9. Zane – Gift from God
  10. Bodhi – Awakening, enlightenment
  11. Milo – Soldier, merciful
  12. Theo – Divine gift
  13. Arlo – Fortified hill
  14. Callum – Dove, peace
  15. Jesse – Gift, wealth
  16. Nathaniel – Gift of God
  17. Oliver – Olive tree, peace
  18. Roman – Strong, powerful
  19. Samuel – God has heard
  20. Tobias – God is good
  21. Xavier – Bright, new house
  22. Rowan – Little red one, tree
  23. Orion – Hunter, stars
  24. Gabriel – God is my strength
  25. Silas – Man of the forest
  26. Emery – Industrious, brave
  27. Levi – Joined in harmony
  28. Gideon – Mighty warrior
  29. Atlas – Enduring, strong
  30. Casper – Treasurer, bringer of treasure
  31. Eden – Delight, paradise
  32. Soren – Thunder
  33. Evander – Good man
  34. Ronan – Little seal
  35. Cyrus – Sun, throne
  36. Kieran – Little dark one
  37. Reuben – Behold, a son
  38. Otto – Wealth, fortune
  39. Damian – To tame, subdue
  40. Dante – Enduring, steadfast
  41. Jasper – Bringer of treasure
  42. Magnus – Great
  43. Rhys – Enthusiasm, passion
  44. Dorian – Gift
  45. Lachlan – From the land of lakes
  46. Eamon – Wealthy protector
  47. Malachai – Messenger of God
  48. Caius – Rejoice
  49. Galen – Tranquil, calm
  50. Zephyr – West wind
Cute baby boy learning to crawl.

3. Short and Sweet Boy Names That Pack a Punch

Here is another one: an interesting fact: after three hours of embroidering my son’s name on his backpack, I have developed a newfound appreciation for short names! The cute-but-mighty little options prove that sometimes the best things really are small.

  1. Ace – Unity, one
  2. Ash – Happy, blessed
  3. Beau – Handsome
  4. Ben – Son of the right hand
  5. Bo – To live
  6. Cal – Devotion, bald
  7. Cade – Round, barrel
  8. Dash – Quick, lively
  9. Dax – Leader, water
  10. Eli – Ascended, uplifted
  11. Finn – Fair
  12. Fox – Wild animal, clever
  13. Gus – Majestic, great
  14. Hale – Healthy, robust
  15. Hank – Ruler of the home
  16. Ian – God is gracious
  17. Jace – Healer
  18. Jett – Black gemstone
  19. Jude – Praised
  20. Kai – Sea, ocean
  21. Knox – Round hill
  22. Liam – Strong-willed warrior
  23. Leo – Lion
  24. Mac – Son of
  25. Max – Greatest
  26. Nash – By the ash tree
  27. Noe – Rest, comfort
  28. Otis – Wealthy
  29. Owen – Noble warrior
  30. Pax – Peaceful
  31. Quinn – Wise
  32. Reid – Red-haired
  33. Rex – King
  34. Rhys – Enthusiasm
  35. Sam – God has heard
  36. Scout – Explorer
  37. Tate – Cheerful
  38. Toby – God is good
  39. Trey – Three
  40. Vince – Conquering
  41. Wade – At the river crossing
  42. West – Western
  43. Zane – Gift from God
  44. Zeke – God strengthens
  45. Brooks – Small stream
  46. Cruz – Cross
  47. Drew – Strong, manly
  48. Easton – East-facing place
  49. Grey – Gray-haired, wise
  50. Ray – Beam of light

4. Boy Names That Are Vintage Yet Back in Style

Do you recall those sepia-toned photographs of your granddad, all dapper as a young man? Well, it seems those darling names are coming back in style, and they are cuter than ever!

  1. Albert – Noble, bright
  2. Archie – Bold, genuine
  3. Arthur – Bear, noble
  4. August – Majestic, great
  5. Bernard – Brave as a bear
  6. Calvin – Bald, little one
  7. Cedric – Kind, loved
  8. Chester – Fortress, camp
  9. Clarence – Bright, clear
  10. Clyde – Warm, friendly
  11. Cyril – Lordly, masterful
  12. Desmond – Gracious defender
  13. Edgar – Wealthy spear
  14. Edmund – Prosperous protector
  15. Edward – Wealthy guardian
  16. Elbert – Noble, bright
  17. Eugene – Well-born, noble
  18. Felix – Lucky, fortunate
  19. Floyd – Gray-haired warrior
  20. Francis – Free man
  21. Frederick – Peaceful ruler
  22. Gilbert – Bright pledge
  23. Harold – Army ruler
  24. Harvey – Battle worthy
  25. Hugh – Mind, intellect
  26. Irving – Green water
  27. Jasper – Bringer of treasure
  28. Kenneth – Born of fire
  29. Leonard – Brave lion
  30. Leroy – The king
  31. Lester – Fortified place
  32. Lloyd – Grey-haired
  33. Louis – Famous warrior
  34. Martin – Warlike
  35. Maurice – Dark-skinned
  36. Melvin – Council protector
  37. Morris – Dark-skinned
  38. Norman – Northman
  39. Oscar – God’s spear
  40. Otto – Wealth, fortune
  41. Percy – Piercing valley
  42. Raymond – Wise protector
  43. Reginald – Powerful ruler
  44. Rufus – Red-haired
  45. Silas – Man of the forest
  46. Theodore – Gift of God
  47. Victor – Conqueror
  48. Wallace – Foreigner, stranger
  49. Warren – Guard, defender
  50. Wilfred – Will for peace
Cute Asian baby boy.

5. Nature-Inspired Cute Boy Names

The other day, I was watching my nephew chase butterflies in the backyard, and it struck me – there’s something magical about naming your little one after the wonders of the natural world that he’ll soon be exploring with those tiny, curious hands.

  1. Alder – Tree name
  2. Aspen – Quaking tree
  3. Basil – Kingly, herb name
  4. Bay – Coastal inlet
  5. Birch – Birch tree
  6. Blaze – Fire
  7. Briar – Thorny bush
  8. Brook – Small stream
  9. Canyon – Deep valley
  10. Cedar – Strong tree
  11. Clay – Earthy
  12. Cliff – Cliffside
  13. Cove – Small bay
  14. Cypress – Evergreen tree
  15. Ember – Glowing coal
  16. Everest – Tall mountain
  17. Flint – Hard rock
  18. Forest – Woods
  19. Fox – Wild animal
  20. Glenn – Valley
  21. Hawk – Bird of prey
  22. Heath – Wasteland
  23. Indigo – Deep blue
  24. Jasper – Speckled stone
  25. Kai – Sea
  26. Lake – Body of water
  27. Linden – Tree name
  28. Marsh – Wetland
  29. North – Directional name
  30. Oak – Mighty tree
  31. Orion – Constellation
  32. Pine – Evergreen tree
  33. Quill – Feather
  34. Rain – Refreshing
  35. Raven – Dark bird
  36. Reed – Tall grass
  37. River – Flowing water
  38. Rocky – Stony
  39. Rowan – Tree name
  40. Sage – Wise, herb name
  41. Sequoia – Tall tree
  42. Sky – Vast expanse
  43. Stone – Strong rock
  44. Storm – Powerful weather
  45. Summit – Mountain peak
  46. Vale – Valley
  47. West – Directional name
  48. Wilder – Untamed
  49. Zephyr – Gentle wind
  50. Zion – Holy land

6. International Cute Boy Names from Around the World

From Paris to Tokyo, and everywhere in between, these global treasures will give your little citizen of the world a name that carries beautiful meanings across cultures (and trust me, the story behind each one will make for great bedtime conversations when he’s older!).

  1. Alain (French) – Handsome
  2. Arjun (Sanskrit) – Bright, shining
  3. Bjorn (Scandinavian) – Bear
  4. Caius (Latin) – Rejoice
  5. Dimitri (Russian) – Follower of Demeter
  6. Elio (Italian/Spanish) – Sun
  7. Emir (Turkish) – Prince, commander
  8. Felix (Latin) – Happy, fortunate
  9. Finnian (Irish) – Fair, white
  10. Gaspard (French) – Treasure bearer
  11. Hugo (Germanic) – Mind, intellect
  12. Iker (Basque) – Visitation
  13. Joaquin (Spanish) – God will establish
  14. Kian (Persian/Irish) – Ancient, kingly
  15. Lars (Scandinavian) – Crowned with laurel
  16. Leandro (Portuguese/Spanish) – Lion-man
  17. Lior (Hebrew) – Light for me
  18. Lucian (Latin) – Light
  19. Milo (Germanic) – Merciful, soldier
  20. Nico (Greek) – Victory of the people
  21. Olivier (French) – Olive tree
  22. Pietro (Italian) – Rock
  23. Quentin (French/Latin) – Fifth
  24. Rafa (Arabic/Spanish) – Happiness, prosperity
  25. Renzo (Japanese/Italian) – Connected, third son
  26. Rohan (Sanskrit) – Ascending
  27. Santiago (Spanish) – Saint James
  28. Soren (Danish) – Stern, severe
  29. Tadeo (Spanish) – Praise
  30. Thiago (Portuguese) – Supplanter
  31. Tobias (Hebrew) – God is good
  32. Ugo (Italian) – Mind, spirit
  33. Viktor (Scandinavian/Slavic) – Conqueror
  34. Willem (Dutch) – Strong-willed warrior
  35. Xander (Greek) – Defender of the people
  36. Yannick (Breton) – God is gracious
  37. Zane (Hebrew) – Gift from God
  38. Zenon (Greek) – Gift of Zeus
  39. Andrés (Spanish) – Manly, brave
  40. Bastien (French) – Revered, honored
  41. Casper (Dutch/Scandinavian) – Treasurer
  42. Dario (Italian) – Upholder of good
  43. Eamon (Irish) – Wealthy protector
  44. Fabrizio (Italian) – Craftsman
  45. Gael (Breton) – Generous
  46. Haruto (Japanese) – Sun, flying
  47. Ilias (Greek) – The Lord is my God
  48. Jovan (Slavic) – God is gracious
  49. Kenji (Japanese) – Strong, intelligent second son
  50. Lazaro (Spanish) – God has helped
A cute baby boy wearing a blue onesie and blue hat.

Tips for Choosing the Perfect Name

  1. Test out the full name by yelling it across the house (trust me, you’ll be doing this a lot!)
  2. Consider nicknames – both the cute ones and the potentially problematic playground versions
  3. Check the initials to avoid any unfortunate combinations
  4. Say it with your last name to make sure it flows
  5. Run it by your partner (and maybe keep a secret backup favorite, just in case 😉

Final Thoughts

Remember, mama, whatever cute boy name you choose will become perfect because it belongs to your little one. I still remember the moment my son first responded to his name – suddenly, all those late-night naming debates seemed worth it!

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