Middle Names for Boys
Short middle names for boys with a documented meaning, in current U.S. use. 528 names.
Most common origin labels on this list: English (200), Muslim (162), Hebrew (47).
Most used for boys in 2024: Asher, 8,123 births.
Names 101–200 of 528 (page 2 of 6)
How names qualify
A name is listed when a boy record in our data has a documented meaning, the name has 50 or more births for boys in the SSA 2024 national file, so families can find it in use, and it is short: 2 syllables or fewer, or 5 letters or fewer, in a single word. A short middle name leaves room for a long first or last name. 117 more boys' names meet the other tests but are longer, and 1,778 have no documented meaning of their own in our data yet.
SSA counts spellings, not origins: the meaning shown is the one recorded in our data for the same spelling and sex.
Syllables are estimated from spelling with an English-style rule, so they can be off for names pronounced differently from how they are spelled. The row shows the estimate and the letter count that the rule used.
How well a middle name flows depends on the first and last name next to it, so this list does not rate flow. The middle name generator scores a whole name.
169 of the 528 names come from the Muslim-names dataset (Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Turkish, Kurdish and related origins). Names from other traditions appear only where their recorded meaning fits the rule.
Births and ranks are SSA national data: see the source note under the table.
Each row shows the meaning recorded for that name in our data. A name can have other meanings and other origins.
Middle Names for Boys
| Name | Meaning | Origin | Gender | Length and U.S. births |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aidan | Aidan is an indirect Quranic name for boys and girls that means tall palm tree. It is derived from the Ain-D-N root (perpetuity) which is used in many places in the Quran. Help, intelligent | Quranic | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 1,092 births |
| Bowen | son of owen | English | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 1,074 births |
| Ali | High, lofty, sublime, eminent, excellence, noble, honourable, one of the names of Allah, fourth Caliph of Islam. | Muslim | Boy | 3 letters, about 2 syllables; 1,061 births |
| Orion | heaven's light | Ancient Greek | Boy | 5 letters, about 3 syllables; 1,061 births |
| Preston | priest, settlement | English | Boy | 7 letters, about 2 syllables; 1,045 births |
| Erick | Variant of Eric, which means “king” | Germanic | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 1,038 births |
| Wade | a ford | English | Boy | 4 letters, about 1 syllable; 1,009 births |
| Manuel | God with us | Spanish | Boy | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 954 births |
| Travis | to cross over, | English | Boy | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 914 births |
| Bradley | broad, woodland | English | Boy | 7 letters, about 2 syllables; 906 births |
| Desmond | a man from south munster | English | Boy | 7 letters, about 2 syllables; 888 births |
| Wells | spring | English | Boy | 5 letters, about 1 syllable; 865 births |
| Stephen | crown, wreath, to put round, to surround, to enlace | Ancient Greek | Boy | 7 letters, about 2 syllables; 864 births |
| Hector | holding fast, to have, hold, to hold; to overpower | Ancient Greek | Boy | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 858 births |
| Titus | honorable | Latin | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 843 births |
| Franklin | freeholder | English | Boy | 8 letters, about 2 syllables; 840 births |
| Spencer | spence | English | Boy | 7 letters, about 2 syllables; 840 births |
| Khalil | Beautiful, good friend | Muslim | Boy | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 830 births |
| Karson | Variant of Carson, which means “rock” | English | Boy | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 813 births |
| Ari | lion | Hebrew | Boy | 3 letters, about 2 syllables; 805 births |
| Pedro | stone, rock | Spanish | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 799 births |
| Hugo | thought, mind, spirit | Germanic | Boy | 4 letters, about 2 syllables; 797 births |
| Winston | farm, village | English | Boy | 7 letters, about 2 syllables; 797 births |
| Sage | sedge | English | Boy | 4 letters, about 1 syllable; 779 births |
| Chance | good fortune | English | Boy | 6 letters, about 1 syllable; 757 births |
| Royal | rye, hill, roe | English | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 738 births |
| Dalton | valley, settlement | English | Boy | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 729 births |
| Noel | christmas | French | Boy | 4 letters, about 2 syllables; 728 births |
| Sean | God is gracious | Irish | Boy | 4 letters, about 1 syllable; 726 births |
| Clark | clergyman; learned man | English | Boy | 5 letters, about 1 syllable; 725 births |
| Tanner | leather maker | English | Boy | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 711 births |
| Rowen | rowan tree | English | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 706 births |
| Nasir | Protector, helper, supporter | Muslim | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 702 births |
| Francis | france | Latin | Boy | 7 letters, about 2 syllables; 693 births |
| Damon | to tame, subdue | Ancient Greek | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 686 births |
| Edgar | rich, spear | Old English | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 679 births |
| Tyson | firebrand | English | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 679 births |
| Uriel | god is my light | Hebrew | Boy | 5 letters, about 3 syllables; 670 births |
| Frank | a frank, javelin | Germanic | Boy | 5 letters, about 1 syllable; 656 births |
| Corbin | crow, crow, raven | English | Boy | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 646 births |
| Asa | Asa is a Persian name for boys and girls that means similarity, likeness. It also means beautification, adornment. Asa also means might, power, capability. | Persian | Boy | 3 letters, about 2 syllables; 645 births |
| Yusuf | A Prophets name (Joseph) | Muslim | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 645 births |
| Erik | Variant of Eric, which means “king” | English | Boy | 4 letters, about 2 syllables; 644 births |
| Moshe | to give birth to | Hebrew | Boy | 5 letters, about 1 syllable; 626 births |
| Adan | (Garden of) Eden | Muslim | Boy | 4 letters, about 2 syllables; 620 births |
| Quinn | descendant of Chief | English | Boy | 5 letters, about 1 syllable; 615 births |
| Rocco | crow, rest, to roar | Italian | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 609 births |
| Ruben | Variant of Reuben, which means “son” | Hebrew | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 607 births |
| Ariel | lion of God | Hebrew | Boy | 5 letters, about 3 syllables; 595 births |
| Kaison | Variant of Cason, which means “house” | English | Boy | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 594 births |
| Ayaan | Gift of God | Muslim | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 589 births |
| Philip | fond of horses | Ancient Greek | Boy | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 586 births |
| Musa | A Prophet, the biblical Moses. | Muslim | Boy | 4 letters, about 2 syllables; 566 births |
| Hamza | Gentle, kind, pleasant, friendly | Muslim | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 565 births |
| Amiri | Leader | Muslim | Boy | 5 letters, about 3 syllables; 556 births |
| Roy | ruler, king | Scottish Gaelic | Boy | 3 letters, about 1 syllable; 552 births |
| Kasen | Variant of Cason, which means “house” | English | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 537 births |
| Zain | Beautiful, pretty, beauty, grace, ornament, honour. | Muslim | Boy | 4 letters, about 1 syllable; 532 births |
| Jonas | dove | Hebrew | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 531 births |
| Emir | To command, Another spelling for Amir. | Muslim | Boy | 4 letters, about 2 syllables; 530 births |
| Seth | chosen one, appointed, placed | Hebrew | Boy | 4 letters, about 1 syllable; 530 births |
| Fletcher | arrow-maker | English | Boy | 8 letters, about 2 syllables; 523 births |
| Kason | Variant of Cason, which means “house” | English | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 514 births |
| Ronald | advice, power | Germanic | Boy | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 495 births |
| Rayan | The gate of heaven which allows fasting people in Ramadan to enter | Muslim | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 491 births |
| Colby | charcoal, settlement | English | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 489 births |
| Eliel | El is my lord | Hebrew | Boy | 5 letters, about 3 syllables; 488 births |
| Samir | Entertaining companion | Muslim | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 484 births |
| Kaysen | Variant of Cason, which means “house” | English | Boy | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 479 births |
| Shane | God is gracious | Irish | Boy | 5 letters, about 1 syllable; 473 births |
| Albert | noble, bright, famous | Germanic | Boy | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 467 births |
| Rhodes | rose | English | Boy | 6 letters, about 1 syllable; 465 births |
| Salem | Safe | Muslim | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 440 births |
| Hassan | Very handsome, beautifier, Very handsome, beautifier.. | Muslim | Boy | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 425 births |
| Sam | Sam is a Persian name for boys that means precious coin, coins made of silver or gold. | Persian | Boy | 3 letters, about 1 syllable; 423 births |
| Brixton | the stone of brixi (a saxon lord) | English | Boy | 7 letters, about 2 syllables; 422 births |
| Uriah | God is my light | Hebrew | Boy | 5 letters, about 3 syllables; 421 births |
| Peyton | Variant of Payton, which means “enclosure; settlement, town” | English | Boy | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 417 births |
| Drake | male duck, dragon | English | Boy | 5 letters, about 1 syllable; 414 births |
| Zaid | Abundance, increase, increment, superabundance, addition, excess, surplus. | Muslim | Boy | 4 letters, about 1 syllable; 414 births |
| Roland | fame-land | Germanic | Boy | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 413 births |
| Harlan | grey, hare, land | English | Boy | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 411 births |
| Ahmad | praiseworthy | Arabic | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 409 births |
| Marvin | marrow, eminent | Welsh | Boy | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 406 births |
| Donald | prince / chief of the world | Scottish Gaelic | Boy | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 405 births |
| Kareem | Generous, noble, friendly, precious and distinguished | Muslim | Boy | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 403 births |
| Zayd | Superabundance, plentiful, Increase, growth | Muslim | Boy | 4 letters, about 1 syllable; 395 births |
| Dustin | thor's stone | Germanic | Boy | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 394 births |
| Wayne | wagon | English | Boy | 5 letters, about 1 syllable; 394 births |
| Ahmed | The most praised, one of the names of the Prophet Muhammad, I praise (First person present imperfect verb). | Muslim | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 392 births |
| Lachlan | land of the lochs, loch or fjord land, i.e. Scandinavia | Scottish Gaelic | Boy | 7 letters, about 2 syllables; 389 births |
| Chaim | life | Hebrew | Boy | 5 letters, about 1 syllable; 388 births |
| Amos | to carry; a burden | Hebrew | Boy | 4 letters, about 2 syllables; 386 births |
| Bruno | brown | Germanic | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 381 births |
| Yahya | A Prophets name (John) | Muslim | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 378 births |
| Conor | lover of hounds | Irish | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 376 births |
| Dennis | follower of (the wine god) dionysus | Ancient Greek | Boy | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 376 births |
| Abram | Need, strong grip. | Muslim | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 374 births |
| Dexter | right (handed) | English | Boy | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 364 births |
| Ryland | rye, land | English | Boy | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 359 births |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Popular Baby Names (national data, 1880-2024). Counts are Social Security card applications for births in the United States; names with fewer than 5 births in a year are not listed, and spelling variants are counted separately. Baby Name Wizard is not affiliated with or endorsed by the SSA.