130 Best Middle Names for Boys from A to Z

Unlike a first name, a middle name can be pretty much whatever you want it to be. Because for most little boys, they’re not going to be called by their middle name, parents can feel free to go a little wild with it. If you have an old family name you’d like to find a place for, that middle spot might just be the perfect fit for it. Don’t worry if you don’t have an antique name to dust off, because we’ve found some very exciting middle name options for parents who want something with tons of character.

While there might be a certain amount of pressure to find the perfect first name, that pressure is mostly off when it comes to the middle. So feel free to experiment with good middle names that express ideas or excite the imagination. You can choose a name inspired by nature to impart a respect for the natural world. Or you can go ahead and compromise with that weird first name your partner didn’t feel was appropriate and use it as a middle (that way when your son gets older he can decide if he’d prefer to go by the more unique name instead). We’ve searched the baby name database and taken a look at what celebrities are doing to bring you the 130 best middle names for boys.

26. Atlas

The name Atlas has grown in popularity in the US and as a first name. It reached the top 300 most favored names in the US in 2018. However attractive Atlas is, it’s unfortunately not going to be for every parent. Fortunately, the name works extremely well in the middle. Atlas has Greek origins and means and refers to the mythological Greek Titan. Anne Heche chose the name for her son in 2009. And, Shay Mitchell boldly gave the name to her daughter.

Other unique baby names that start with A:

• Ace
• Almond
• Alistair
• Axel

25. Bear

While Alicia Silverstone and Kate Winslet are two actors who chose the name, Bear as the first name for their sons. You might not be into the animal name for your child upfront, but it’s so darn cute you probably find it magnetic. Bear, of course, is an English name and refers to the big furry animal. It’s a name that carries the strength of a grizzly and the cuteness of a Teddy.

Other unique baby names that start with B:

• Bean
• Bingo
• Bowie
• Bridge

24. Cloud

Hippie-inclined parents eat your heart out! Cloud is the perfect nature-inspired name that sounds enough like Claude or Count to still fit in. Cloud reminds us of the floating shapes that captured our imaginations as children. It’s a beautiful name that sounds right with just about any first name.

Other unique baby names that start with C:

• Cash
• Cairo
• Chance
• Cosmo

23. Danger

You could literally give your child the middle name danger so that he, for the rest of his life, can say “my middle name is Danger” and truly mean it. This would be a bold choice that’s even more dramatic than similar names like Ranger, Maverick, or Ace. Of all the unique boy names on this list, this is the most fun!

Other unique baby names that start with D:

• Dart
• Dash
• Drake
• Drew

22. East

Sure, you could go with the more traditional name, Easton which means “east-facing town.” Why not just cut to the chase and choose East instead? This directional name imparts a sense of adventure and even has traditional naming roots of its own. In Old English, the name, Est was given to someone who was from that side of town and eventually became Easton. If you want a name that means “toward the sunrise,” go ahead and pick East.

Other unique baby names that start with E:

• Everest
• Epic
• Eleven
• Ezra

21. Future

For fans of the rapper Future or just forward-thinking people, the name Future has tons of appeal. If you’re looking for a very unique name that connotes possibility and chance, go ahead and pick this bold name for your son’s middle.

Other unique baby names that start with F:

• Forest
• Fort
• Free
• Fox

20. Grant

Grant is a traditional Scottish name with origins in French that means “large.” The no-nonsense baby name is currently trending as a first name in the US. However, we find that Grant makes an excellent and congenial middle name that works with most first names.

Other unique baby names that start with G:

• Grey
• Gage
• Gold
• Genesis

19. Hero

Hero is a name with Greek origins that means “demi-god.” Hero would be a heavy burden as a first name, but as a middle name, it’s just perfect. The rising actor Hero Fiennes-Tiffin wears the name well, but we really do think it’s best as a middle for most.

Other unique baby names that start with H:

• Houston
• Hunter
• Hawk
• Harper

18. Iago

Don’t think about Shakespeare’s Othello before choosing the name Iago. Iago is a beautiful name with Spanish origins that means “supplanter.” It is the Spanish form of the Hebrew name Jacob. Iago is a three-syllable baby name so keep that in mind. It pairs best with shorter first names and even better with a short first and last name.

Other unique baby names that start with I:

• Ian
• Indiana
• Iggy
• Idi

17. Jaden

Jaden is now a popular first name for boys but think of the possibilities for it as a middle name as well. This handsome name has Hebrew origins and means “God has heard.” There a few different ways to go about spelling this name as well. You can go with Jayden, Jaden, Jaydyn, or Jaydin.

Other unique baby names that start with J:

• Justice
• Jude
• Jazz
• Jet

16. Kit

Kit is an English name with origins in both Greek and Latin. The name is a form of Christopher and means “bearer of Christ.” Kit is short, sweet, and stylish. Jodie Foster chose the name for her son in 2001. We love the name as a first, but it’s so versatile it really does work well in the middle.

Other unique baby names that start with K:

• Knox
• King
• Knight
• Kai

15. Lyric

Lyric is currently a rising first name for girls in the US. However, we believe it works extremely well as a middle name for boys. The name has Greek origins and means “lyre.” The name is related to poetry, music, and emotions. If you’re looking for a name with tons of drama, Lyric would be a perfect choice.

Other unique baby names that start with L:

• Link
• Luck
• London
• Lou

14. Mars

You might not be keen on naming your child for the Roman god of war, but Mars is such a darn good-sounding name and one of our favorite baby boy middle names. Mars makes a wonderful alternative to Mark or Marcus and has a classical feel. If you’re an expecting parent who is really into astronomy, there’s a remarkable planet your child could share a name with.

Other unique baby names that start with M:

• Moss
• Magic
• Max
• Mark

13. Nacho

Nachos are not just delicious Mexican snacks. Nacho is a brilliant Spanish name that’s a shortened form of Ignacio. In fact, Nachos were invented by Sr. Ignacio “Nacho” Anaya in 1943. Nacho had such a good name the name stuck to the food as well. Nacho would make for such a memorable and fun middle name.

Other unique baby names that start with N:

• Nash
• Nico
• Noble
• North

12. Oz

For fans of The Wizard of Oz, is there any other choice? Oz is a Hebrew name that is a shortened form of Ozni. The name means “strength” or “powerful” or “courageous.” All of those words are excellent qualities! Oz is a no-fuss middle name that’s going to work well with just about everything.

Other unique baby names that start with O:

• Orion
• Oscar
• Ode
• Onyx

11. Primo

Primo is an Italian name with Latin origins that means “first.” It would both sound just so cute as a middle name and humorous as well because it would be the name that comes second. In Spanish, it’s common to call a close friend primo as an endearment that means “cousin.”

Other unique baby names that start with P:

• Pine
• Poet
• Puck
• Prince

10. Quaid

Quaid is a name with origins that are somewhat hard to pin down. For the Irish, the name is a form of the name Walter. In Scottish and Latin, it’s spelled Quade and means “born fourth.” The Scottish form comes from the clan name McQuade. However you decide to define or spell it, Quaid is one of the most handsome boy middle names that plays nicely with others.

Other unique baby names that start with Q:

• Quinn
• Quillan
• Quill
• Qadim

9. Reed

Reed is a fairly popular first name in the US ranking at #375 on the charts. Reed is an English name that means “red-headed.” The name also applies to nature in the form of grass and to music in the form of woodwind instruments. There’s a lot to love about this name but something that’s most appealing is that it sounds great with pretty much everything.

Other unique baby names that start with R:

• Rogue
• Rule
• Revel
• Rhys

8. Slade

Slade is a distinctive English name that means “from the valley.” The name become one of the biggest surnames in the southwest of England in Devon specifically. Slade has a slick cool sound and won’t clash with many other names.

Other unique baby names that start with S:

• Saint
• Silver
• Stone
• Saber

7. Titus

Titus is a grand-sounding name because it means “title of honor.” Titus was the name of a Roman military commander who became Emperor. Currently, the name is enjoying a renaissance in the US. We love Titus as a first name but think it works just as well in the middle.

Other unique baby names that start with T:

• Trent
• Truth
• Turner
• Tahj

6. Ugo

Ugo is the Italian form of Hugh and it means “mind” or “intellect.” The name is very popular in both Italy and Spain and we’d love to hear more of it in the US. The name is pronounced like Hugo without the H, so think OO-go. If you have a one-syllable last name for this to land on, you’re in the money.

Other unique baby names that start with U:

• Uli
• Upton
• Uzi
• Ulysses

5. Vance

Vance has English and Irish origins and means “someone who lives near marshland.” Short and sophisticated this name didn’t receive a lot of love in the US until recently when it cracked the top 1000 for the first time in decades. We love the name as a first, but it offers flexibility as a middle option as well.

Other unique baby names that start with V:

• Van
• Verse
• Valor
• Vaughn

4. Win

If you’re looking for a winning name, you can always get straight to the point with the name Win. It’s an English name that’s short for longer names like Winslow, Winston, or Winthrop. All of those names are fine, but the effortlessness of Win is most appealing. If you’d like to get more creative with the spelling, consider the Welsh name, Wyn.

Other unique baby names that start with W:

• Winston
• Winter
• Witt
• Wolf

3. Xeno

Xeno is a very unique name of Greek origin that can mean “foreign voice” or “hospitality” or “guest.” While Xeno is the more modern form of the name, Xenos is also an attractive choice. Unlike Xavier or Xerxes, Xeno is a much more hospitable name that works well with others.

Other unique baby names that start with X:

• Xander
• Xerxes
• Xavier
• Xu

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2. Yael

Yael is a gender-neutral name that’s very popular in Isreal. The Hebrew name means “to ascend” or “mountain goat.” Yael is a great name that works well with a simple, one-syallble first name. You’ll also commonly see the name spelled Ya’el. So, take your pick!

Other unique baby names that start with Y:

• Yannis
• York
• Yves
• Yoshi

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1. Zeke

Another fun name with Hebrew origins, Zeke is the shortened form of Ezekiel and means “God strengthens.” The name is most popular in the US among English-speaking countries and ranks at #642. Zeke has a cute and casual appeal with a touch of an edge due to it beginning with the letter “Z.”

Other unique baby names that start with Z:

• Zane
• Zen
• Zio
• Zero

There you have it. 130 unique middle names for boys that are some of the best of the best. We absolutely love these cute boy names! Don’t sweat a middle name. Pick something that sounds great to you with the first and last. Make sure you love just as much!