25 Liberating Baby Names for Boys That Mean Freedom

Are you looking for a baby name that encourages your child to reach for the stars? Choosing a baby name can be a chore, but we hope to make that journey a little easier on new parents by offering baby names with meaningful ideas behind them. Baby names for boys that mean “free” or “freedom” are aplenty! There is a pretty large supply of appellations in this category that you might want to consider.

We decided to sift through all the liberating baby names for boys to discover which names will work best for new parents today. We will offer you a mix of classics to more unique options, all of which merit consideration. Whether you are expecting a baby around the fourth of July or simply just love the idea of a moniker that’s free from constraints, we have found the best 25 baby names for boys that mean “freedom.”

25. Charles

Charles derives from the German name Karl, meaning “man” or “free man”, and is a royal name in various European countries. A famous bearer is Charlemagne, King of the Franks and Lombards and then Roman Emperor in the 8th-9th centuries. Charles is the most popular baby name that means “free” in the US today.

24. Lysander

Lysander is a notable Greek name that could be thought of as a more artistic cousin of Alexander. In ancient history, Lysander was the name of an esteemed Spartan naval commander. Lysander has never been particularly popular in the US, and we think that should totally change! Lysander means “liberator.”

23. Francis

Francis was a massively popular name in the US until the middle of the last century when its favor began to fade. The name is still inside the US top 500 today, but it’s the least popular it’s ever been. Francis comes from Latin origins and means “free man” or “Frenchman.”

22. Carlos

Distinguished namesakes include musician Santana, writers Fuentes and Castaneda, and numerous athletes. Carlos is simply the Spanish form of Charles which we think has a lot more freshness today. Thus, Carlos also means “free man.” Carlos has always been a popular name in the US (or at least it has been since records begin in 1880). It ranked just outside of the top 100 last year.

21. Franklin

A two-time Presidential name, thanks to Pierce and Roosevelt, Franklin was given an initial boost by the celebrity of Benjamin Franklin. Franklin emerged as a ridiculously popular baby name for boys during the FDR era. Today, it pales in comparison to its popularity in decades past, but it still remains in the top 500. Franklin is an English name meaning “free landholder.”

20. Palti

Palti is a Biblical baby name with Hebrew origins that has never appealed to American parents. Perhaps they see it being too close to “paltry.” Palti sounds very fun to us, a sort of combination between Paul and Marty. This baby name for boys means “God liberates.”

19. Lefteris

Pronounced lef-TEH-ris, Lefteris has Greek origins and you do not often outside of its country of origin today. A nickname for Eleftherios, sometimes bestowed in its own right. Remarkable bearers include Greek singer Lefteris Pantazis and writer Lefteris Papadopoulos. Lefteris means “free.”

18. Ferenc

Francis and all of its many variants are wildly popular throughout Europe and beyond. In Hungary, you will find the delightful Ferenc. The baby name is well used in Hungary, where it has the intriguing nickname Ferko, it has been associated with the playwright Molnar. As with Francis, Ferenc means “free man” or “Frenchman.”

17. Jephthah

The name of an influential figure in the Book of Judges, a judge from Gilead who helped the Israelites defeat the despised Ammonites. Jephthah and its various derivative spellings have seldom been used as principal names since Biblical times, but that may change going forward! Jephthah has Hebrew origins and means “whom God sets free.” Jep and Jeptha are other forms of this name worth considering as well!

16. Ozgur

Properly spelled Özgür, this is a familiar unisex name and surname in Turkey, though virtually unknown in the rest of the world. The pronunciation is not far removed from Oscar, which could be a helpful reference point or confusing. We love Ozgur because it also brings you the nickname Oz. Ozgur means “free” or “independent.”

15. Carlsen

A cousin to Charles and Carlos, Carlsen is the Scandinavian form of the name. Carlsen literally means “Carl’s son,” however it still retains the “free man” meaning as well. This name has never been popular in the US, but we think it’s time for that to change!

14. Amadi

Amadi comes from the Igbo language of Africa, it’s related to the very popular Arabic name Ahmad. Amadi offers a more playful, rhythmic option. Amadi means “free man.”

13. Azad

An undiscovered Persian treasure that’s zesty, short, and amicable. It is used in Iran and neighboring countries as a first name and a family name. Azad’s Persian origins give it the meaning “free” or “noble.”

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12. Hernando

Hernando is a boy’s name of Spanish origin meaning “adventurer” or “explorer.” Two early New World explorers were Hernandos: de Soto and Cortés. We think enough time has passed that these names won’t seem like such a burden to shoulder.

11. Deror

Deror is a practically unknown name outside of the Jewish community today. Deror has Hebrew origins and means “freedom” or “sparrow.” One word of caution, a little boy named Deror could potentially teased for the name as it rhymes with “error.”

10. Isandro

Are you looking for an alternative to Alejandro? Look no further than Isandro, a Spanish baby name with Greek origins that means “liberator.” Isandro has yet to take off in the US, but we imagine it will as more new parents discover its lively sound and fabulous meaning.

9. Erkin

Erkin is an Uzbek word from Old Turkic and is widely used as a unisex name in Turkey. In English-speaking countries, it is virtually unknown but approachable and with a great meaning. Pronounced air-kin, Erkin means “free” or “independent.”

8. Darby

Darby is best said with a thick Irish accent. The name comes from Irish tradition and means “free man.” You will also find used in Norse tradition as a name meaning “from the deer estate.” The name made the US top 1000 list in the late sixties and early seventies but it has yet to return.

7. Kymani

One of the most popular African names for boys, Kymani has been in the US top 1000 list since 2008. Spelled Ky-mani, it’s the name of Bob Marley’s son. Kymani means “adventurous traveler.” It’s a perfect name for well-traveled parents to consider.

6. Chang

The name Chang is a boy’s name of Chinese origin meaning “smooth, free, unhindered.” In China, this name is often found as a surname.

5. Diarmaid

You might be more familiar with Dermot, Dermit, or Kermit but each of these variants come from papa Diarmaid. This authentic form of the name of an Irish mythological hero with the power to make women fall instantly in love with him. Diarmaid is pronounced DEER-muht.

4. Armani

Armani is a boy’s name of Italian, Persian origin meaning “freeman.” Luxury brands are currently having a baby name moment, and this could potentially be a motivating factor for some parents. Armani is bright and beautiful and it now counts itself among the top 500 most popular baby names for boys in the US.

3. Carl

Carl is a straight-to-the-point German baby name, a form of Charles, meaning “free man.” Carl is popular around the world. In the US, it enjoyed primo status for decades before falling to its lowest favor ever in recent years. This blunt name is perfect for no-nonsense parents.

2. Hippolyte

For boys, the name Hippolyte is pronounced ee-po-LET. Hippolyte comes from French by way of Greek as a name meaning “freer of horses.” An offbeat choice for sure, but it would make for a great conversation starter.

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1. Francisco

Francisco is one of the more popular Spanish names for boys in the US (275th most popular last year), which is unsurprising given its popularity back in Spain and Portugal as well as Latin America. The name also gives a cool vibe thanks to the city of San Francisco. Francisco is the Spanish and Portuguese form of Francis, still meaning “Frenchman” or “free man.”

There you go! We hope you enjoyed these freeing baby names for boys that mean “free.” There are a variety of reasons to choose a name for its meaning, and whatever your motivations, we think each one of these options will serve you well. Happy baby name hunting!