30 Bountiful Boy Names That End In Er

Thanks to the popularity of the name Christopher, boy names that end in er have become exceedingly popular. The only issue with this energetic class of names is that there are not a ton of established options. This can be a blessing for those who want to significantly narrow down their baby name shortlist or a curse for others who really want a lot to work with. However, we have chosen dozens of these boy names to share with you and we sincerely hope they will be worthy of your consideration.

Boy names that end in er include nature names, occupational surnames, seasonal baby names, and many others. These inspired picks include more obscure, unique options as well as timeless classics that have never gone out of style. Take a look and add some of these attractive appellations to your list of potential baby names!

Acer

Acer is a boy name of Latin origin that means “maple.” This subtle, botanical name sure has a winning sound, a perfect choice for your little ace. Despite this name having a lot going for it, it has never been a popular choice in the US. Let’s change that, new parents!

Alder

Alder is yet another boy name with a tree connection. This botanical name refers to the tree but it actually contains a root that means “old.” Alder wood has long been prized for many purposes but today it is used to make many electric guitars.

Dexter

Dexter is such a fun boy name and it has been around for a very long time. The name is of Latin origin and is an occupational name for a “dyer” or it means “right-handed.” The name has always been a favored option in the US but it peaked in the 1960s. We think many folks are attracted to the Dex nickname and we could not fault anyone for that.

Ender

Ender is a name that is heating up today. Musician, Halsey, chose the name for her baby born in 2021. We expect other parents to follow that lead. Ender is a name of Turkish origin, meaning “very rare.”

Evander

Evander is somewhat of a throwback as it has only appeared in the US top 1000 most popular baby names way back in 1895. We love this charming Scottish and Norse name that can mean “strong man” to the Scots and “bow warrior” to the Vikings. We love the idea of imparting a little boy with a name that connotes strength. Evander would be an excellent moniker with the nickname, Evan or Van.

Homer

Homer is a stunning boy name that has traveled from the ancient Greek writer of the great classical epics to a long-running animated comedy in the US. Homer fell from favor in the 1980s and it is rarely used today by new parents. That’s beginning to change! Homer has Greek origins and means “security.”

Jasper

Thankfully, Jasper has grown in popularity in recent years. This awesome Persian boy name means “bringer of treasure.” But, you will also find a variant of it in Hebrew, meaning “speckled stone.”

Jupiter

Would you believe us if we told you that Jupiter is given to more baby girls than baby boys today? Of all the babies named Jupiter in recent years, 64% were girls. This is curious due to the mythological history of the name which belonged to the supreme deity and “father of the gods.” We believe we have Ed Sheeran and Ashley Tisdal to thank for this as they both chose the name for their daughters born in 2022 and 2021. We love this name for any baby, however, and we’re quite fond of the nickname Jupe.

Leander

Leander is a stylish boy name of Greek origin that means “lion-man.” The name was once popular in the US from the 1880s until the late 1960s. In Norway, the name is firmly in the top 50. Could this mean a Leander renaissance is coming to America? Only time will tell but we think this name is really going to heat up in the next couple of years.

Luther

Once restricted to evangelical Protestants honoring the reformer and theologian Martin Luther, the leader of the Protestant revolution. In more recent times it has been favored by parents wishing to honor civil rights hero Martin Luther King Jr. Luther was a top 100 name at the turn of the last century but fell off the list in the early 1990s. This German boy name is coming back! It means “army people.”

Peter

Timeless, classic Peter is a boy name of Greek origin that means “rock.” Peter is one of the world’s most popular names and this form is most favored in the US. Peter was a top 100 name in the US from the 1880s until 1997 when it finally fell from the top. It’s still a solid, established choice that you just can’t go wrong with.

River

The unisex nature name, River, has become one of the US’s most cherished names in a very short amount of time. It gained traction in the early 1990s before truly taking hold as a top pick in the last few years. Gentle, tranquil, and handsome, River is a winning option.

Sawyer

Sawyer is yet another unisex option and it means “woodcutter.” It originated as an English occupational name which is true for so many of these boy names that end in er. Sawyer is a popular option today but, like River, that has only been the case over the last 20 years.

Spencer

Once more, another unisex baby name, Spencer proves to be a name that has it all. It is more popular as a boy name but there are plenty of girls with it as well. Spencer is a name of English origin meaning “house steward” or “dispenser of provisions.” It feels distinguished yet not stuffy which is a nice balance to strike for a name.

Sylvester

Sylvester was at its height in the 1920s, when it was in the top 200, and hung on in the lower rungs until 1994. Today, very few new parents are choosing this classic name. But, that’s likely to change. Model, Emily Ratajkowski chose the name for her son recently. Sylvester is a name with Latin origins and it means “wood” or “forest.”

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Topher

A diminutive form of Christopher (stick a pin in that name), Topher is emerging as a possibility as a standalone choice. The name shares its meaning with its father appellation, meaning “bearer of Christ.” It has a carefree, 90s boy band feel to it. This may or may not appeal to you!

More Unique Boy Names That End in Er

Baxter

The name Baxter used to be an Anglo-Saxon occupational surname that meant “baker.” In fact, the word “baker” comes from the feminized form of Baxter, “bakster.” Today, the name is a common given name for both boys and girls and it’s been trending for baby girls. That’s fine and well but we prefer this one as a name for boys. How do we feel about the nickname Bax?

Calder

Calder might conjure visions of sculpture and mobiles, but this English boy name has plenty of versatility. The name also carries a wonderful meaning, “rocky water.” Calder feels like a hip choice that we expect more and more parents will begin to turn to. So far, the name has yet to land on many birth certificates but that won’t last long.

Decker

Decker is a German occupational boy name that means “roofer.” Decker showed signs of an upward climb in 2017 and 2018 but it has since fizzled out. Decker has a brawny sort of feel to it which could be the reason why Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue chose the name for his son.

Fisher

The boy name Fisher has been holding rather steady in favorability over the last 20 years. It was absent from the US top 1000 for almost 100 years! Now, the name is a cute choice, a nod to nature and a love of the sea. Fisher is another boy name that was once an occupational surname. It, of course, means “fisherman.”

Foster

Foster is an English surname meaning “forester.” A bit more subtle than Forest or Gardener, Foster proves a nice, balanced name that connotes growth and learning. Foster was once a wildly popular name in the US before the 1930s. It has made a comeback but is nowhere near its previous peak.

Gulliver

Gulliver is an obscure Gaelic surname known almost solely through its literary connection to those Travels. However, we don’t see modern parents tripping over themselves to use this name. This name means “glutton.” But that did not stop actors Gary Oldman and Damian Lewis from choosing the name for their sons. It would be an offbeat choice…

Laker

Not just a name for basketball fans. Laker is an English habitational surname that means “one who dwells near a lake.” Not many parents have chosen this boy name that ends in er but it could be perfect for those who love nature.

Mercer

Johnny Mercer was a talented and charming songwriter-singer who wrote the lyrics for more than 1,500 songs, including “Moon River.” He could be an inspiration for this boy name or you might just be attracted to its handsome sound. Mercer is a French occupational surname for “a merchant.” This name has not been popular as a given option since 1881.

Sayer

Sayer is an Old English occupational name that refers to a “woodcutter” or a “reciter.” Sayer is related to the name Sawyer and we think it’s the more unique of the two. You won’t find this name at the top of the charts, or on them at all, in the US. That makes this name one of the most unique boy names that end in er.

Tanner

Tanner is an English occupational name that refers to a “leather tanner.” The name emerged as a popular choice for boys in the US in the 1970s and it is still a widely given choice today. It peaked in 1998 but we think this name has legs. How does the nickname Tan sound to you?

Thayer

Thayer is the French answer to the English name Taylor and both means “tailor.” This name has mostly been given as a family name but we think it has plenty of potential as a given name even if it has never been a popular one.

Tucker

Tucker is a name on the rise and it has been a favored option since the late 1970s. No doubt, fans of Fox News are helping drive the popularity of this name (for better or worse). Tucker is yet another of the many occupational surnames-turned-given-names out there. It means “fabric pleater.”

Walker

Walker was once a very popular boy name in the US. It has made a comeback today that began in the 1980s. Now, it’s more popular than ever before. You love to see a name success story like that. This is an occupational name for a “fabric walker.” We love it for its gentle, accessible sound.

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Christopher

Finally, the most popular boy name that ends in er ever in the US, Christopher, might be the right one for you. Christopher is a name of Greek and Latin origin that means “bearer of Christ.” It has been in the top 100 here since 1949. The name is also popular in countries where English is spoken as well as Germany. It’s a classic for a reason and it will likely never go out of style!

There you go! We hope you found these boy names ending in er to be as exciting as we do. There are just so many options available to you that we hope you can narrow them down. If you would like even more baby name inspiration, keep reading. We have some subtle nature names to share with you!

Hollis

Hollis is a name of English origin that originated as a surname. As with many other surnames, it has always been considered among other gender-neutral names in its class. However, we prefer Hollis as a boy name. Hollis is a habitational name that means “from the Holly trees.” The name is considered a vintage pick today as it has been off the popularity charts since the 1970s. That means there are plenty of grandparents out there with this name. What’s old is new!

Adler

Adler made the US top 1000 list for the first time in 2020. So, it’s one of the emerging last names that can be used as a boy name that parents should go ahead and choose to get ahead of the trend. Adler comes from German and means “eagle.”

Silvanus

In Roman mythology, Silvanus is the god of forests, crops, farmers, and fields. Silvanus shares the same root with the female version of the name, Sylvia. Silvanus is the Latin form of the Hebrew name Silas. Silvanus has never been widely chosen as a baby name in the US but we think that could change with the way names in this genre are trending. Silvanus means “forest.”

Arthur

Arthur was a most distinguished baby name as the name was borne by the leader of the Knights of the Round Table. After slowly falling out of the top 100, Arthur reached its lowest point ever in the US in 2009 before new parents began using it once more. It’s now trending up! Arthur has Celtic origins that mean “bear.”

Zahur

The name Zahur is Egyptian and Arabic. It means “flower.” Zahur offers the coolness of other z-names but with a wonderful, soft meaning.

Sorrel

An edible herb with reddish-purple flowers, sorrels have a delicious name. Sorrel is a popular choice for girls in France, but we think it has the potential to crossover for boys. The name means “reddish.” It’s one of the flower names for boys we expect to take off in the next few years in America.

Ren

Japanese baby names are so fresh and make for excellent options for parents who want to think outside the box. Ren means “water lily” and it is currently trending. It is the perfect alternative to the bird name, Wren. We think this name is wonderful!

Garance

Garance is the vivid, deep burgundy color that comes from the madder flower and that has become a fashionable name for baby girls in France in recent years. While it’s virtually unknown in the US and other English-speaking countries, Garance makes an original choice in among the fashionable flower names for boys. Garance is technically a gender-neutral option and we hope American parents understand that!

Pietro

Pietro has gone virtually unused. But, it’s one of the most cherished boy names in Italy. The name is simply a form of Peter that means “rock.”

Conor

The meaning of the name Conor is contested. Many translate the name to mean “lover of hounds” but some argue it’s derived from the Irish word “coachuhhar” which means “high desire.” The Irish King, Conchobhar had a form of the name and according to legend was born the same day as Christ.

Nash

Nash is an English habitational boy name that means “from the ash tree.” Parents began to seriously use this name for their boys in the late 1990s and today, it’s more popular than ever before.

Beckett

Beckett only became one of the popular boy names in the US in 2006 and it has only increased its popularity since then. Beckett can be traced to two origins: Irish and English. The Irish form of the name means “little brook” and “bee cottage.” And, the English form means “bee hive.” How sweet are these meanings!?

Alan

Alan comes from an Old Breton word that means “deer.” The name was introduced into England, and thence to Scotland, from Brittany via the Normans. Alan was the name of a 9th-century king of Brittany and a 15th-century French saint.

Bjorn

The name of several early legendary kings of Sweden in the 9th and 10th centuries, Bjorn somehow sounds very modern while being extremely old. The name predates the German language as we know it and was found across the Nordic. There’s no one, clear meaning but most scholars settle on “bear.”

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Ronan

Ronan is an extremely old name that means “little seal.” The name is of Irish origin. In total, there are twelve saints named Ronan and an ancient king of Leinster (Ireland) who also had the name. Journalist Ronan Farrow famously has this vintage name.

Hayes

Hayes is a remarkable boy name in that it’s one of America’s favored surnames to use a first. It was a huge hit at the end of the 19th century and it returned to acclaim about a decade ago only to see a meteoric rise. Hayes is an English habitational name that means “hedged area.”

Hideki

Thanks to Hideki Irabu and Hideki Matsui, two baseball players from the NY Yankees, many western ears have heard this attractive name. It means “excellence” or “bright tree.”

Delano

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt inspired a brief fashion for this as a first name in the 1940s, but it is rarely heard in the US today. Although it looks Italian, Delano is a French boy name meaning “from the forest of nut trees.”

Dylan

In Welsh mythology, Dylan was a legendary sea god who made all the waters of Britain and Ireland weep when he died. Dylan Thomas, a famous Welsh poet, was adopted by Bob Dylan in tribute. Dylan is a Welsh boy name and girl name that means “son of the sea.” The name has been in the US top 500 since 1972 and is now more popular than ever before.

Fabian

One of the boy names with the funniest meaning on this list is Fabian. The boy name comes from Latin and means “bean” or “bean grower.” It’s been a mildly popular choice in the US in recent years but it’s nowhere near as prevalent here as it is in France. There, it’s a hugely popular surname and given name.

Channing

A very common surname, Channing means “people of Cana” or “wolf cub.” The name comes from Irish Mac Cana. The Mac Cana clan originated as chiefs of Cenél Aengusa, the name of a kindred and its territory in Tír Eoghain.

Oscar

The boy name Oscar means “deer lover” or “friend of deer” which is just darling. It comes from the Gaelic words “os” which means deer and “cara” which means friend. Irish mythology characterizes Oscar as the son of Oisin, the poet.

Ephron

Ephron was the Old Testament son of Zohar who sold his field and dwelling to Abraham to use as a family burial ground. Ephron is also a Biblical place name, a mountain range that formed the northern border of the land of Judah. Ephron has such a beautiful ring to it and means “fawn-like.”

Armel

Armel is a Welsh baby name that means “bear prince.” Armel is also used in France, as it was the name of a 6th-century saint who went to Brittany and established abbeys. Armel has a gentle and familiar sound, making it easily used outside of Wales and France. However, very few American parents have discovered it.

Kir

Kir is a modern variation of the Persian name Cyrus which simply means “the sun.” You will also find this name in Russian, Albanian, and French traditions. In France, it is the name for a popular cocktail.

Cicero

A bold baby boy name that parents should definitely consider bringing back to life, Cicero was last popular in the US in 1910. It’s been 100 years so we think it is more than safe to revisit this one. Marcus Tullius Cicero was a Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, and Academic Skeptic who played an important role in the politics of the late Roman Republic. This Latin name means “chickpea.” Chickpea!

Ivo

Ivo is a boy’s name of German, Irish, Dutch origin meaning “yew wood, archer.” While this boy name has never been popular in the US, it is currently a favorite in England and the Netherlands. The name has belonged to a few Medieval saints and noblemen. We would love for this handsome option to come to America.

Aeron

Pronounced EYE-ron, Aeron will most likely be confused with the more recognized Aaron. Aeron was possibly a minor Celtic god of war. As a Welsh baby name, this one means “berry.” Because of Aaron’s massive popularity in the US, you almost never encounter Aeron here.

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Haran

Abraham’s older brother in the Old Testament, Haran enjoyed this elegant name. Haran has Hebrew origins and means “mountain.” This boy name would be a welcome alternative to Aaron or Ryan.

There you go! We hope you found these secret, nature boy names to be as excellent as we feel they are.