110+ First Names for Boys That Mean "Strong"

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Naming expert Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson shares baby names that reflect strength, power, and courage

Co-authored by Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson and Dev Murphy, MA

Last Updated: January 26, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Popular
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• Rare
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• Classic
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• Gender-Neutral
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• Naming Your Baby
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• Tips

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Whether you're looking for names for your new baby boy, fictional character, or even yourself, you can't go wrong with a name that's associated with power, leadership, and dominance. To help you out, we've compiled a list of our favorite boy names that mean "strong" (and related terms), including popular names, more unique names, classic and timeless names, with insights and suggestions from naming expert Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson and licensed clinical psychologist Kateri Berasi, PsyD.

Boy Names Meaning "Strong"

Naming expert Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson says parents have been drawn to boy names that mean “strength” and “courage” for centuries. Some of her favorites include:

• Andrew – manly/strong (Greek)
• Ethan – firm, enduring, strong (Hebrew)
• Victor – conqueror (Latin)
• Charles – free or strong man (Germanic)
• Griffin – strong lord (Welsh)
• Liam – strong willed warrior (Irish)
• Fergus – man of strength (Celtic)

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Section 1 of 5:

Popular Boy Names that Mean "Strong"

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1. 
   These names are popular for a reason. You've probably come across a few Liams or Ethans before—why not bring another one into the world? These masculine names that are associated with strength and power are beloved by just about everyone:

   • Liam: (Irish) Strong-willed warrior, protector
   • William: (Spanish) Resolute protector
   • Aiden: (Old Irish) Little fire
   • Michael: (Hebrew) Like God
   • Kendrick: (Welsh) Bold and powerful
   • Maverick: (English) Independent
   • Ethan: (Hebrew) Firm, enduring, strong
   • Victor: (Latin) conqueror
   • Charles: (Germanic) free or strong man
   • Griffin: (Welsh) strong lord
   • Fergus: (Celtic) man of strength
   • Andrew: (Greek) manly/strong
   • Oscar: (Old English) spear of the gods
   • Bernard: (Germanic) brave bear
   • Brian: (Celtic/Old Irish) noble/strong
   • Connor: (Irish) lover of hounds or brave leader
   • Knox: (Scottish) round hill (solid, sturdy feel)
   • Maddox: (Welsh) son of the benefactor
   • Brock: (Old English/Celtic) badger (symbol of toughness)
   • Cole: (Old English) dark, bold

   Meet the wikiHow Experts

   Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson is a naming expert based in Liverpool, England. Dr. Wilson shares name meanings, naming tips, and other inspiration on social media @little_name_library to over 20k followers on Instagram.

   Kateri Berasi, PsyD is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and the Founder of The Centered Self, a therapy practice focused on women’s mental health. She has 20 years of experience in the mental health field.
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Section 2 of 5:

Rare Boy Names that Mean "Strong"

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1. 
   These names are less common in English-speaking countries. If you live in America, you may not have heard some of these rare names. If you have a connection to the culture one of these names stems from, consider using it on your new baby to help them stand out and imbue their name with meaning:

   • Emeric: (Hungarian) Strength
   • Azaiah: (Hebrew) "My strength is God"
   • Kwame: (Ghanian) Combat-ready
   • Qiang: (Chinese) Strong, better
   • Barrett: (Old German) Strength of a bear
   • Harvey: (English) Worthy of battle
   • Aasim: (Arabic) Protector, savior
   • Aleksi: (Persian) Protector of mankind
   • Malik: (Arabic) King, ruler
   • Balthazar: (German) "God protect the king"
   • Bronislaw: (Slavic) Protector of glory
   • Farbod: (Persian) Protector of glory
   • Sewell: (Old English) Ruler of the sea
   • Warrick: (German) Leader who defends
   • Burke: (Old English) Fortress
   • Ansaldo: (Italian) Power, leader, ruler
   • Valerio/Valerius: (Latin) strong and healthy
   • Kane: (Celtic/Irish) warrior
   • Oz: (Hebrew) strength, power
   • Magnus: (Latin) great and mighty
   • Rex: (Latin) king
   • Malik: (Arabic) king/ruler
   • Emir: (Arabic) leader/commander
   • Alaric: (Germanic) ruler of all
   • Evander: (Greek) good/brave man
   • Matthias: (Hebrew) gift of god
   • Keegan: (Irish/Gaelic) son of the fiery one
   • Thor: (Old Norse) god of thunder
   • Soren: (Old Norse) stern/strong
   • Leif: (Old Norse) heir or descendant (strength of legacy)
   • Ivar: (Old Norse) bow warrior
   • Sten: (Old Norse) stone
   • Angus: (Celtic) one strength
   • Ariel: (Hebrew) lion of god
   • Boaz: (Hebrew) strength
   • Zayd: (Arabic) growth/abundance
   • Hamza: (Arabic) strong, steadfast
   • Aziz: (Arabic) powerful, beloved
   • Jabir: (Arabic) comforter, strengthener
   • Faris: (Arabic) knight/horseman
   • Atlas: (Greek) carries the weight of the world in Greek myth
   • Ronan: (Irish/Gaelic) little seal (culturally tied to bravery)
   • Zane: (Hebrew) God is gracious (bold modern sound)
   • Beckett: (Old English) beehive (symbol of resilience)

Section 3 of 5:

Classic Boy Names that Mean "Strong"

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1. 
   Try a vintage and timeless boy's name. “For centuries, parents have been drawn to names that mean ‘strength,’ ‘courage,’ ‘leadership’ or ‘resilience’ for their baby with the hope of them growing into a strong, capable and resilient adult.” You can't go wrong with a name like Everett or Archibald. These names have stood the test of time and won't ever truly go out of style:

   • Archibald: (English, Scottish) Bold and brave
   • Andreas: (Greek) Valiant protector
   • Howard: (English) Protector of the home
   • Osmond: (English) Divine protector
   • Raymond: (Old English) Worthy protector
   • Sigmund: (German, Teutonic) Victory protector
   • Alexander: (Greek) Defending man
   • Wyatt: (Old English) Battle, brave, hardy
   • Henry: (Germanic) Ruler of home
   • Alexander: (Greek) defender of the people
   • William: (Germanic) resolute protector
   • Daniel: (Hebrew) God is my judge
   • Leonard: (Germanic) brave lion
   • Joseph: (Hebrew) he will add or God will give
   • Everett: (Germanic) brave boar
   • Dustin: (Old Norse) brave fighter
   • Cedric: (Anglo-Saxon) Bounty, leader
   • Frederick: (Germanic) peaceful ruler
   • Reginald: (Germanic) powerful ruler
   • Harold: (Old English) army ruler
   • Raymond: wise protector
   • Gideon: (Hebrew) mighty warrior
   • Marcus: (Latin) linked to Mars (Roman god of war)
   • Conrad: (Germanic) brave counsel
   • Hector: (Greek) steadfast
   • Duncan: (Scottish/Gaelic) dark warrior
   • Isaac: (Hebrew) laughter, endurance (legacy)
   • Samson: (Hebrew) sun (representation of physical strength)
   • Gabriel: (Hebrew) God is my strength
   • Elijah: (Hebrew) my god is Yahweh
   • Uriel: (Hebrew) god is my light
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Section 4 of 5:

Gender-Neutral Names that Mean "Strong"

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1. 
   Consider a unisex name for your baby boy. Just because you're having a boy doesn't mean he needs to have a traditional "masculine" name—and there are plenty of gender-neutral names that are associated with strength and independence that you don't want to miss! Keep some of these unisex names under consideration:

   • Kanoa: (Hawaiian) The free one
   • Drew: (Greek) Strong and manly
   • Phoenix: (Greek) Literally "crimson"; refers to the mythological bird that rises from its ashes after death
   • Aspen: (Old English) Refers to the aspen tree, a symbol of protection
   • Sasha: (Russian) Defender of humankind
   • Amell: (German) Power of an eagle
   • Enzi: (Swahili) Powerful
   • Kana: (Japanese) Powerful
   • Avery: (French) Ruler of the elves
   • Rohan: (Indian) Ascending, climbing
   • Callen: (Gaelic) Powerful in battle
   • Basil: (Greek) Royal/king
   • Wilder: (Old English) untamed, strong spirit
   • Jett: (English) sleek, powerful modern feel

Section 5 of 5:

Naming Your Baby

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1. Picking a name for a new baby isn't something you should do on a whim. You want to choose the perfect name—not just for who he is as a baby, but for who he'll become over the years. Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson says, “When people look for a name that means strong, they’re often really looking for something deeper, meaningful... a name that reflects resilience, courage, leadership, and the ability to succeed in life. Some of the strongest names aren't necessarily bold in sound; they simply carry quiet confidence in meaning.” Keep these tips in mind when choosing a name:

   • Pick a name that will grow with him. It might be tempting to give your baby a cute name that perfectly suits his chubby little cheeks and endless rolls of fat, but a name like "Bubba" is unlikely to suit him when he's graduating high school or interviewing for his first big-boy job. (Save the cutesy monikers for nicknames!)
   • Consider the name's origins and cultural significance. Think about your roots: Do you have German heritage? Ancestors from Ghana? Did you study abroad in Russia? Consider a name that holds cultural significance you identify with. (If you're not from or closely tied to a particular culture, it might not make that much sense to choose a name from it.)
   • Think about family names you'd like to pass on. While a name that means "strength" is a great way to honor your little dude and (hopefully) imbue him with traits like independence and courage, "you also may want the name to have a connection to family or your heritage," says licensed clinical psychologist Kateri Berasi, PsyD. If any of the names on this list are shared by someone in your family (or someone whose legacy you want to honor, regardless of their blood relation), consider it for your baby.
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• Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson says, “There are so many perspectives on what symbolizes strength… [what you choose] will also vary depending on individual interpretation, too.”
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