Baby names evolve with the times, and today’s modern boy names reflect everything from pop culture and celebrities to new spins on classic traditions. Names like Arlo, Atlas, and Knox feel current and cool compared to older staples like John or Robert. Whether you’re drawn to short names, unique options, or last names as first names, modern baby names offer a fresh way to start your son’s story.
Modern Boy Names by Style
We’ve grouped these modern baby boy names into styles like short, classic, surname-inspired, and more to help you find the perfect fit for your little one.
48 Classic Modern Baby Boy Names
Some names just never go out of style. These modern baby boy names are rooted in tradition but still feel current for today’s families. From popular picks like Benjamin, Liam, and Lucas to timeless choices like Roman, Hugo, and Milo, these names strike a great balance between classic and fresh. If you love classic boy names but want something that still feels right for a modern baby, this list has plenty of great options.
1. Aaron
2. Aidan
3. Alexander
4. August
5. Benjamin
6. Bradley
7. Caleb
8. Charles
9. Christopher
10. Conrad
11. Daniel
12. David
13. Dominic
14. Elijah
15. Emmett
16. Evan
17. Gabriel
18. Garrett
19. George
20. Griffin
21. Hugo
22. Isaac
23. Jacob
24. Jeremiah
25. Liam
26. Louis
27. Lucas
28. Mason
29. Matthew
30. Micah
31. Milo
32. Nathaniel
33. Nolan
34. Oliver
35. Oscar
36. Owen
37. Roman
38. Rubin
39. Ryan
40. Samuel
41. Sebastian
42. Solomon
43. Theo
44. Tristan
45. Tyler
46. Vincent
47. Xavier
48. Zachary
43 Trending Modern Baby Boy Names
If you’re seeking modern baby boy names that are on the rise, this list offers a blend of contemporary and stylish options. Names like Mateo, Ezra, and Asher are climbing the charts, reflecting a growing preference for names that are both modern and meaningful. Many of these overlap with today’s most popular trendy boy names, offering timeless appeal with a fresh, up-to-date vibe.
1. Alfie
2. Arlo
3. Asher
4. Axel
5. Callum
6. Cameron
7. Cayden
8. Dallas
9. Ellis
10. Ezra
11. Finley
12. Gideon
13. Greyson
14. Gunner
15. Harley
16. Ira
17. Jonas
18. Julian
19. Justice
20. Keegan
21. Landon
22. Leo
23. Levi
24. Luca
25. Mateo
26. Maverick
27. Orlando
28. Otis
29. Otto
30. Paxton
31. Preston
32. Quentin
33. Remy
34. Rowan
35. Spencer
36. Sterling
37. Thatcher
38. Tobias
39. Tyson
40. Weston
41. Xander
42. Zayden
43. Zion
45 Short Modern Baby Boy Names
If you love names that are punchy, cool, and easy to say, these modern baby boy names are short on letters but big on style. Picks like Jett, Knox, and Fox feel bold and current, while timeless options like Max, Grant, and Reid add a grounded vibe. Whether you’re looking for something edgy or classic, this list includes plenty of great short boy names that work just as well for first or middle names.
1. Ace
2. Ash
3. Bear
4. Beau
5. Beck
6. Blaze
7. Cade
8. Chance
9. Colt
10. Crew
11. Cruz
12. Dax
13. Drake
14. Fox
15. Fritz
16. Grant
17. Gray
18. Hawk
19. Hugh
20. Ike
21. Jace
22. Jett
23. Kai
24. Kent
25. Knox
26. Kyle
27. Max
28. Nash
29. Pax
30. Pierce
31. Quinn
32. Redd
33. Reid
34. Rhett
35. Rhys
36. Saint
37. Saul
38. Spike
39. Taj
40. Tate
41. Van
42. Wade
43. Wolf
44. Wynn
45. Zeke
36 Modern Baby Boy Names Using Last Names as First Names
Using surnames as first names has become a major trend in recent years, and for good reason. These modern names for boys feel strong, stylish, and just a little unexpected. Whether you love the polished vibe of Bennett or Jameson, the cool simplicity of Hayes or Ford, or the preppy feel of Parker and Wells, these picks are perfect if you’re after something that stands out without being too bold.
1. Anderson
2. Baker
3. Barrett
4. Bennett
5. Carter
6. Cooper
7. Donovan
8. Emerson
9. Fallon
10. Ford
11. Foster
12. Gibson
13. Harrison
14. Hayes
15. Hudson
16. Jackson
17. Jameson
18. Jefferson
19. Lincoln
20. Kingston
21. Miller
22. Morrison
23. Murphy
24. Nelson
25. Nixon
26. Parker
27. Porter
28. Princeton
29. Remington
30. Samson
31. Sawyer
32. Smith
33. Truman
34. Walker
35. Wells
36. Wilson
38 Unique Modern Baby Boy Names
If you’re looking for something that feels fresh, rare, and full of character, these modern baby boy names are truly one-of-a-kind. From adventurous picks like Atlas, Zephyr, and Onyx to bold choices like Legend, Bodhi, and Maddox, every name on this list offers a distinctive twist on today’s naming trends. These unique boy names are perfect for parents who want something memorable, stylish, and unmistakably modern.
1. Adler
2. Archer
3. Atlas
4. Azriel
5. Bentley
6. Bodhi
7. Brooks
8. Cairo
9. Caspian
10. Cedar
11. Easton
12. Emir
13. Fenix
14. Gael
15. Harlow
16. Hendrix
17. Holden
18. Jagger
19. Killian
20. Koa
21. Legend
22. Maddox
23. Major
24. Oakley
25. Onyx
26. Orion
27. Osiris
28. Ranger
29. Rhodes
30. River
31. Royal
32. Ryder
33. Shepherd
34. Talon
35. Tatum
36. Titan
37. Wilder
38. Zephyr
We hope this list of modern baby names helped you find the perfect fit—or at least sparked some ideas for your little one. From trending picks like Ezra and Mateo to bold choices like Atlas and Jagger, these names reflect today’s freshest styles in baby naming. Whether you’re leaning toward short, classic, unique, or surname-inspired options, there’s a modern name here to match your family’s vibe.
Looking for more ideas? Check out our other name lists, such as cool boy names, preppy boy names, nicknames for boys, one-syllable boy names, celebrity baby names, boy nature names, and rare boy names, or visit our full baby names hub for even more inspiration.