25 Fairy Tale Baby Names for Boys Fit for Your Little Prince Charming

Are you an expecting parent who truly sees the magic in this world? If so, a baby name inspired by a fairy tale might be the perfect fit for your baby boy. Fairy-tale names are a type of literary name that can be found in stories that children love to hear and parents love to tell. These names are as diverse as the cultures the fairy stories are taken from. Whether it be from French, Irish, German, or English origins, each name has its own charms.

We will look to currently enjoyed “prince charming names” that have been popularized by Disney films as well as storied knights, sprites, and plenty of other characters featured in folklore and fable. You will find popular options that you’ve definitely heard before but also a few obscure options if you are looking for more subtlety. Let’s get whimsical! Here are 25 baby names for boys inspired by fairy tales.

25. Aladdin

The name you know and love, Aladdin comes from Arabic and means “height of religion.” The 1992 Disney animated classic of the same name is based on a Middle Eastern folk tale that’s commonly associated with The Book of a Thousand and One Nights (The Arabian Nights), however, it’s not contained in the original collection!

24. Puck

Puck is a character from English folklore that was immortalized by Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In the play, Puck is a mischievous fairy and a favorite of fans. The word “pixie” shares its roots with puck. However, the origin of the word and its definitive meaning is debated.

23. Avery

Avery is a name that’s evolved a lot in the last couple hundred years when it evolved from a given name to a surname, then back to a given name for men. Now, it’s mostly popular as a given name for girls! However, we love it for boys. Avery has English origins and means “ruler of the elves.” It doesn’t get much more fairy tale than that!

22. Pan

No, naming your child Pan is not akin to naming him Pot. Pan is the Greek god with the legs of a goat and the body of a pipes-playing man known for his playfulness and cunning. Pan is also the god of shepherds, pastures, and fertility. We look to the fantastic story of Peter Pan for inspiration for this name. Pan means “all” or “shepherd.”

21. Lysander

Lysander is a distinctive Greek name that’s similar to Alexander. This name means “liberator” as it is associated with an esteemed Spartan naval commander. One of the two star-struck young men in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Lysander fell in love with Hermia.

20. Hansel

The name Hansel is a boy’s name of German origin meaning “God is gracious.” It’s a diminutive form of Hans which is another option, especially if you’re concerned with your son being picked on about Gretel. The name is borne by a brother in one of the Brothers Grimm’s most popular fairy tales in which he and his sister succumb to a witch who lives in a house made from gingerbread.

RELATED: 25 Distinguished German Baby Names for Boys

19. Evander

Evander was prominent in Greek and Roman mythology. In classical folklore Evander was a wise Arcadian hero who founded the city in Italy that preceded Rome, appearing in Virgil’s Aeneid. The name has Greek origins and means “strong man.” You’ll also find Evander in Norse and Scottish tradition where it comes from a name meaning “bow warrior.”

18. Oison

The original Oisin was the mythological son of Finn McCool and Sadb, the goddess who was changed into a deer. A legendary war hero and poet, Oisin had a name that is also reminiscent of the sound of the ocean. Oisin is an Irish name that means “little dear.”

17. Caspian

One of the most romantic of monikers, as well as being a geographical name of the large salty sea between Asia and Europe, probably inspired C.S. Lewis to use it for the name of the hero of his children’s novel, Prince Caspian. It’s part of the Chronicles of Narnia series. The name first landed in the top baby name 1000 list in 2017 and we only expect it to get even more popular.

16. Tristan

Tristan sounds wonderfully medieval and somehow hip at the same time. Tristan was a Knight of the Roundtable in Arthurian legend famously known for his doomed love of Queen Isolde. Wagner turned the legend into his cherished opera Tristan und Isolde. The name has Celtic origins and means “sorrowful.”

15. Jack

You know of “Jack the Giant Killer” and “Jack and the Beanstalk.” The two jacks are loosely related and often conflated. That should come as no surprise as the name Jack is synonymous with John and worked in medieval times to signify “a man,” much like “John Doe” today. Jack is an English invention and shares its meaning with John, “God is gracious.”

14. Finn

Finn is a name with enormous energy and charm, that of the greatest hero of Irish mythology, Finn MacCool (aka Fionn mac Cuumhaill), a determined warrior with mystical supernatural powers, noted as well for his wisdom and generosity. Finn has Irish origins and means “fair.”

13. Egon

Egon is a German name that’s foreign to many American parents. However, we love this name and chose it for its meaning “strong with a sword” which seems like it’s been ripped right from a fairy tale.

12. Aleric

Alaric is an ancient regal name that sounds modern enough to be contemplated. Alaric was a traditional name for the kings of the Ostrogoths the most famous, Aleric I, sacked Rome in 410. The name remains noble in contemporary literature as it’s borne by a nobleman in PG Wodehouse’s Blandings Castle. Aleric is a German name that means “all-powerful ruler.”

11. Merlin

Merlin is the name of the famous fifth-century sorcerer and mentor of King Arthur. It may or may not be a bit too wizardly for a real-life modern child. However, we know people with the name and we find it fun and inviting. This Welsh classic has a storied past and means “sea fortress.”

10. Taliesin

Let’s explore another Welsh name that’s overlooked in the the US, while Merlin is probably familiar, Taliesin might look exotic to you. The name is pronounced tah-lee-ESS-in. It means “shining brow.” The name was borne by Taliesin who was a renowned bard who is believed to have sung at the courts of at least three Brythonic kings. In Celtic cultures, a bard was a professional storyteller!

9. Robin

Christopher Robin or Robin Hood are both excellent inspirations for the name Robin. Robin, used as a name, is an English invention and diminutive of Robert which means “bright fame.” Although, we prefer to think of the wonderful bird!

8. Oberon

Oberon is the English form of the French name Auberon and means “elf ruler” or “noble” or “bearlike.” In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Oberon was the king of fairies. Oberon was also seen as a fairy king in old German legend!

7. Triton

Are you feeling bold? The Greek god Triton was the messenger of the sea and the son of sea god Neptune. He is usually represented as a merman, the the head and upper body of a human and the lower body of a fish. In The Little Mermaid, he is the father of Ariel. This might not be at front of mind, but we think it’s an alternative to Trenton or Tristan.

6. Magnus

Magnus is a name that’s made a surprising debut on the US top 1000 baby names beginning in 2013. This Latin name means “greatest.” It is particularly loved in Norway where it remains most popular in the world. Magnus was the name of six early kings of Norway and four of Sweden. 

5. Alvin

This name is not just for chipmunks! Alvin is an English name that’s related to Avery and means “friend of the elves.” The name has been in the top 1000 in the US since the 1880s. Alvin is a no-fuss, no-frills name that sounds handsome and elegant.

4. Bayard

The renowned French knight who came to be known as Chevalier de Bayard certainly had an excellent name. He was known as the “good knight” and was considered gracious and friendly by his contemporaries. According to legend, Bayard had a magical horse. Bayard has French origins but is considered an English name for someone with “auburn hair.”

3. Phillip

Philip or Phillip are two alternative spellings of the same name and both are equally popular. The name of the prince in Sleeping Beauty, Phillip can also be found as the moniker for real-life royalty. The name has belonged to hundreds of European kings, princes, and nobles. Philip has Greek origins and means “lover of horses.”

2. Casimir

Casimir was a popular name in the US in the early part of the twentieth century, but unfortunately, two World Wars caused parent to shy from the name. Casimir is the traditional name for Polish kings. The Polish name means “destroyer of peace.” Today, we think the name feels like it should belong to a Bohemian prince.

RELATED: 25 Fairy Tale Baby Names for Girls with Plenty of Whimsy and Charm

1. Claude

Claude might be the villain in Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, but we think the name is romantic enough that it evokes fairy tale fantasy. Claude was a popular name for both girls and boys until the 1950s. It was a top 1000 name in the US until the 1990s! We love this charmer that unfortunately means “lame.”

There you go! 25 fairy tale baby names for boys that are full of magic and mystery. We hope you feel inspired by these names from beloved fairy tales. Choosing a name can be tough, but if you go with your heart, you’ll never fail. You child will live happily ever after with their prince charming name!