150+ Edgy Modern Names for Boys

When it come to modern names for boys there are so many different trends you can look to when searching for a name that feels right.

Modern names aren’t just brand new monikers that have popped up in recent years. They also include timeless names that tap into modern trends, so can include vintage classics.

But if you do want an unusual name that is rarely used then modern names are a good place to look! Growing trends include place names, nature names and word or virtue names.

Your baby’s name is one of the biggest decision you will ever make, so let me make it easier for you with this list featuring well over 100 modern name ideas.

You may also like: Modern names for boys and girls

Modern names for girls

Rarely used modern names for boys

Alden – Old friend or wise friend.
Bowen – Welsh origin, meaning son of Owen.
Briggs – Meaning bridge.
Daxton – A modern invented name, possibly derived from the place name Dax in France.
Ford – English origin, meaning river crossing.
Idris – Welsh origin, possibly meaning ardent lord or fiery leader.
Jaylen – Modern invented name, possibly a combination of Jay and Len.
Jalen – Modern invented name, possibly a variant of Jaylen.
Jensen – Scandinavian origin, meaning son of Jens or son of Johannes.
Judson – English origin, meaning son of Jordan or son of Judd.
Kenzo – Japanese origin, meaning wise or strong.
Koa – Hawaiian origin, meaning warrior or brave.
Koda – Native American Sioux origin, meaning friend.
Kylan – Variant of Kyle, possibly meaning narrow land or channel.
Kyson – Modern invented name, possibly a combination of Kyle and Jason.
Lennox – meaning elm grove.
Neo – Greek origin, meaning new or young.
Odin – Scandinavian origin, the name of the supreme god in Norse mythology.
Patton – English origin, meaning warrior’s town or fighter’s settlement.
Rio – Spanish and Portuguese origin, meaning river.
Stetson – English origin, meaning Stephen’s son or son of Steve.
Titus – Latin origin, meaning title of honor or defender.
Tyson – English origin, meaning son of Tye or son of Denis.
Wiley – English origin, meaning from the willow grove.
Zaid – Arabic origin, meaning abundance or growth.
Zayden – Meaning growth or increase.

Edgy modern boy names

Anderson – Son of Andrew, derived from the Greek name Andreas, meaning man or manly.
Apollo – Greek mythology: the god of the sun, light, music, poetry, and healing.
Ashton – English origin, meaning ash tree town.
Atticus – Latin origin, meaning from Attica, or from Athens, the region in Greece.
Banks – English origin, meaning riverbank or financial institution.
Beckham – English origin, meaning homestead by the stream.
Bennett – Latin origin, meaning blessed.
Benson – English origin, meaning son of Ben.
Branson – English origin, meaning son of Brand.
Braxton – English origin, meaning from Brock’s town.
Brayden – Modern invented name, possibly a combination of Bray and Aiden.
Braden – Irish origin, meaning broad or salmon.
Braylen – Modern invented name, possibly a combination of Bray and Jaylen.
Braylon – Modern invented name, possibly a combination of Bray and Dylon.
Brent – English origin, meaning hill or high place.
Bryson – English origin, meaning son of Brice.
Brycen – Modern invented name, possibly a variant of Bryson.
Callum or Calum – Scottish Gaelic origin, meaning dove.
Carter – English origin, meaning cart driver or transporter of goods.
Cason or Casen – English origin, meaning son of the marsh-dwellers.
Cayson – Variant of Cason or Casen.
Chance – English origin, meaning good fortune or luck.
Chase – English origin, meaning to hunt.
Clayton – English origin, meaning clay settlement.
Colter – English origin, meaning coal miner or charcoal burner.
Cooper – English origin, meaning barrel maker or cooper.
Crosby – English origin, meaning village with crosses.
Easton – English origin, meaning east-facing place.
Edison – English origin, meaning son of Edward.
Foster – English origin, meaning forester or one who looks after the woods.
Franklin – English origin, meaning free landholder.
Grayson – English origin, meaning son of the steward or son of the grey-haired one.
Griffin – Welsh origin, meaning strong lord or chief.
Harrison – English origin, meaning son of Harry.
Hayes – English origin, meaning hedged area.
Holden – English origin, meaning hollow valley.
Jameson – English origin, meaning son of James.
Jaxton – Modern invented name, possibly a combination of Jax and Jackson.
Kayson – Variant spelling of Cason or Casen.
Kelton – English origin, meaning town of the keels or ship town.
Lawson – English origin, meaning son of Lawrence.
Lyle – Scottish origin, meaning island.
Mason – English origin, meaning stone worker or bricklayer.
Miller – English origin, an occupational surname for a miller.
Nikolai – Russian form of Nicholas, meaning victory of the people.
Paxton – English origin, meaning peace town.
Porter – English origin, an occupational surname for a gatekeeper or a carrier of loads.
Preston – English origin, meaning priest’s town.
Quentin – Latin origin, meaning fifth.
Quinn or Quincy – Irish origin, meaning counsel or wisdom.
Riggs – English origin, meaning ridge.
Roman – Latin origin, meaning citizen of Rome.
Soren – Danish and Norwegian origin, meaning stern or severe.
Spencer – English origin, meaning steward or dispenser of provisions.
Sutherland – Scottish origin, meaning southern land.
Talon – English origin, meaning claw or nail.
Tanner – English origin, an occupational surname for a leather maker.
Tristan – Celtic origin, meaning sorrowful or sad.
Tyler – English origin, meaning tile maker or roof tiler.
Watson – English origin, meaning son of Walter.
Weston – English origin, meaning west town.
Xavier or Zavier – Arabic origin, meaning bright or splendid.
Wyatt – English origin, meaning brave in war or hardy warrior.

Modern Nature Boy Names

Alder – Old English origin, meaning from the alder tree.
Ash – English origin, referring to the ash tree.
Barkley – English origin, meaning birch tree meadow or bright wood.
Bear – English origin, referring to the large mammal.
Beckett – English origin, meaning stream.
Blaze – English word name, referring to a flame or fire.
Brooks – English origin, meaning stream or small river.
Calyx – Greek origin, meaning covering or husk. Also refers to the outer part of a flower.
Cyrus – Persian origin, meaning sun or throne.
Everest – English origin, referring to the highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest.
Forest – English word name, referring to a large wooded area.
Holt – Old English origin, meaning wood or forest.
Jonah – Hebrew origin, meaning dove or peace.
Lynx – Greek origin, referring to a wild cat known for its keen eyesight.
Oakes – English origin, meaning near the oak trees.
Oliver – Latin origin, meaning olive tree.
Orion – Greek mythology: a constellation representing a hunter.
Raiden – Japanese origin, meaning thunder and lightning.
Ridge – English origin, referring to a long, narrow elevation of land.
River – English word name, referring to a natural flowing watercourse.
Ronan – Irish origin, meaning little seal or little poet.
Rowan – Irish and Scottish origin, meaning little redhead or red-haired one.
Silas – Greek and Latin origin, meaning man of the forest or wood.
Slate – English origin, referring to a fine-grained rock used for writing tablets and roofing.

Boy names with attitude

Alpha – Greek origin, meaning first or beginning, often used to signify leadership or dominance.
Archer – English origin, referring to a person who uses a bow and arrow.
Cade – English origin, meaning round or barrel.
Cannon – English word name, referring to a large gun or artillery piece.
Chosen – English word name, meaning selected or picked out.
Crimson – English word name, referring to a deep red color.
Cyrano – French origin, derived from the name of a character in French literature, known for his wit and panache.
Dash – English word name, meaning sudden movement or a small amount.
Diego – Spanish origin, derived from the name Santiago, meaning Saint James.
Diesel – German origin, meaning diesel engine, also associated with strength and power.
Harlan – English origin, meaning hare land or meadow of hares.
Hendrix – English origin, meaning son of Henry or ruler of the home.
Hutton – English origin, meaning from the estate on the ridge.
Huxley – English origin, meaning Hugh’s meadow.
Jagger – English origin, possibly derived from the name of a profession, like carter or peddler.
Jaxon – English origin, variant of Jackson, meaning son of Jack.
Ledger – English word name, referring to a book used for keeping financial records.
Madden – Irish origin, meaning little dog or puppy.
Maddox – Welsh origin, meaning fortunate or son of Madoc.
Maverick – American origin, referring to an independent or unorthodox person.
Noble – English word name, meaning having high moral qualities or belonging to the aristocracy.
Onyx – English word name, referring to a type of black gemstone.
Pierce – English origin, meaning rock or stone.
Rex – Latin origin, meaning king or ruler.
Ryker – Danish origin, meaning rich or mighty.
Slade – English origin, meaning valley or forest glade.
Smith – English occupational surname, referring to a worker in metal.
Storm – English word name, referring to a violent atmospheric disturbance.
Thiago – Portuguese and Spanish variant of Diego, meaning Saint James.
Wilder – English origin, meaning untamed or wild.
Xander – Greek origin, short form of Alexander, meaning defender of the people.

Modern place names for boys

Want more place name ideas? Check out these city names for boys.

Austin – Latin origin, meaning majestic or venerable.
Brighton – English origin, meaning bright town or town of bright stones.
Brixton – English origin, possibly derived from a place name meaning stone of Brihtwulf.
Bronx – American origin, referring to the Bronx borough in New York City.
Camden – English origin, meaning winding valley.
Dallas – Scottish origin, meaning meadow dwelling.
Dayton – English origin, meaning valley town.
Denver – English origin, meaning from the passage of the Danes.
Jackson – English origin, meaning son of Jack.
Kingston – English origin, meaning king’s town.
London – English origin, referring to the capital city of England.
Miles – English origin, meaning soldier or merciful.
Rome – Latin origin, referring to the capital city of Italy.
Salem – Hebrew origin, meaning peace.
Trenton – English origin, meaning Trent’s town or town on the Trent River.

Names that never go out of style

Alec – Diminutive of Alexander, meaning defender of the people.
Alexander – Greek origin, meaning defender of the people.
Benjamin – Hebrew origin, meaning son of the right hand or son of the south.
Damian – Greek origin, meaning to tame or subdue.
Elias – Greek form of Elijah, meaning Yahweh is God.
Elijah – Hebrew origin, meaning Yahweh is God.
Jacob – Hebrew origin, meaning supplanter or holder of the heel.
James – Meaning supplanter.
Lucas – Latin form of Luke, meaning from Lucania, a region in Italy.
Oliver – Latin origin, possibly derived from the Old Norse name Áleifr, meaning ancestor’s descendant or elf army.
Sebastian – Greek origin, meaning venerable or revered.
Theodore – Greek origin, meaning gift of God.
Theo – Short form of Theodore, meaning gift of God.
Zachary – Variant of Zechariah, Hebrew origin, meaning Yahweh remembers.
Walter – Germanic origin, meaning ruler of the army.

Word or virtue names

Maverick – A free-spirited individual or someone who is independent-minded.
Roman – Latin origin, meaning citizen of Rome or of Rome.
Hunter – English occupational name, referring to someone who hunts.
King – English origin, meaning monarch or ruler.
Sterling – English origin, meaning high quality or excellent.
Creed – English origin, meaning belief or principle.
Geo – Short form of George or Georgeo, possibly derived from Greek meaning earth-worker or farmer.
Reign – English word name, meaning rule or sovereignty.
Eden – Hebrew origin, meaning delight or place of pleasure, referring to the biblical Garden of Eden.
True – English word name, meaning real or genuine.
Haven – English word name, meaning a place of safety or refuge.
Ranger – English occupational name, referring to someone who ranges over a particular area or territory.
Hawk – English word name, referring to a bird of prey.
Cloud – English word name, referring to a visible mass of condensed water vapor in the atmosphere.
Alpha – Greek origin, meaning first or beginning, often used to denote leadership or dominance.
Eleven – English number name, denoting the number eleven.
Indie – Short for independent, often used to denote someone who is not associated with a major company or organisation.
Nirvana – Sanskrit origin, meaning blow out or extinction, often associated with enlightenment in Buddhism.
Pace – English word name, meaning speed or rate of movement.
Poet – English occupational name, referring to someone who writes poetry.
Dart – English word name, referring to a small pointed missile thrown or shot as a weapon or for throwing at a target.

Short modern names

Ace – English word name, denoting someone who excels or is a master at something.
Axel – Scandinavian origin, meaning father of peace or peaceful.
Beau – French origin, meaning handsome or beautiful.
Cash – English word name, referring to money or wealth.
Clay – English origin, meaning sticky fine-grained earth.
Cole – English origin, meaning charcoal.
Colt – English word name, referring to a young male horse.
Crew – English word name, referring to a group or team.
Cruz – Spanish origin, meaning cross.
Dane – English origin, meaning from Denmark.
Eli – Hebrew origin, meaning uplifted or my God.
Enzo – Italian origin, short for Lorenzo, meaning ruler of the estate.
Evan – Welsh origin, meaning God is gracious.
Ever – Meaning always.
Ezra – Hebrew origin, meaning help or helper.
Fox – English word name, referring to a wild animal.
Gage – English origin, meaning pledge or money lender.
Hayes – English origin, meaning hedged area or forest.
Jace – English origin, meaning a healer or one who brings salvation.
Jett – English word name, referring to the color black or a black mineral.
Jude – Hebrew origin, meaning praised or thanks.
Kai – Hawaiian origin, meaning sea or ocean.
Knox – Scottish origin, meaning round hill or hillock.
Kobe – Variation of the name Jacob, meaning supplanter or holder of the heel.
Kylo – Variation of the name Kyle, meaning narrow land or strait.
Leon – Greek origin, meaning lion.
Levi – Hebrew origin, meaning joined or attached.
Liam – Irish origin, meaning strong-willed warrior or protector.
Luca – Italian form of Luke, meaning man from Lucania.
Luke – Greek origin, meaning man from Lucania.
Max – Latin origin, meaning the greatest.
Nash – English origin, meaning by the ash tree.
Nico – Greek origin, short for Nicholas, meaning victory of the people.
Noah – Hebrew origin, meaning rest or comfort.
Noble – English word name, denoting someone of high moral character or social status.
Owen – Welsh origin, meaning young warrior or well-born.
Reid – English origin, meaning red-haired or ruddy complexion.
Remy – French origin, meaning oarsman or rowing.
Reese – Welsh origin, meaning ardor or enthusiasm.
Saint – English word name, referring to a holy person or a person of exceptional virtue.
Trey – English origin, meaning three, often used for the third child.
Ty – Short form of Tyler or Tyrone, meaning tile-maker or land of Eoghan.
Vaughn – Welsh origin, meaning little or junior.
Zane – Hebrew origin, meaning gift from God.
Zeke – Short form of Ezekiel, meaning God strengthens.
Zion – Hebrew origin, meaning highest point or sunny place.

Final thoughts

Still stuck on a baby name? Check out these baby name themes, my baby name trends for 2024 and these tips for choosing a baby names.