Middle Names for Boys
Short middle names for boys with a documented meaning, in current U.S. use. 528 names.
Most common origin labels on this list: English (200), Muslim (162), Hebrew (47).
Most used for boys in 2024: Asher, 8,123 births.
Names 501–528 of 528 (page 6 of 6)
How names qualify
A name is listed when a boy record in our data has a documented meaning, the name has 50 or more births for boys in the SSA 2024 national file, so families can find it in use, and it is short: 2 syllables or fewer, or 5 letters or fewer, in a single word. A short middle name leaves room for a long first or last name. 117 more boys' names meet the other tests but are longer, and 1,778 have no documented meaning of their own in our data yet.
SSA counts spellings, not origins: the meaning shown is the one recorded in our data for the same spelling and sex.
Syllables are estimated from spelling with an English-style rule, so they can be off for names pronounced differently from how they are spelled. The row shows the estimate and the letter count that the rule used.
How well a middle name flows depends on the first and last name next to it, so this list does not rate flow. The middle name generator scores a whole name.
169 of the 528 names come from the Muslim-names dataset (Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Turkish, Kurdish and related origins). Names from other traditions appear only where their recorded meaning fits the rule.
Births and ranks are SSA national data: see the source note under the table.
Each row shows the meaning recorded for that name in our data. A name can have other meanings and other origins.
Middle Names for Boys
| Name | Meaning | Origin | Gender | Length and U.S. births |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jibreel | Form of gabriel (the angel) | Muslim | Boy | 7 letters, about 2 syllables; 60 births |
| Shakur | Thankful, most grateful, one who gives due appreciation. Al-Shakur, the All-thankful, one of the names of Allah. | Muslim | Boy | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 59 births |
| Arya | Arya is a word that in Sanskrit, Avestan and Old Persian means noble and excellent. | Muslim | Boy | 4 letters, about 2 syllables; 58 births |
| Hakim | Judge, ruler, governor, leader, chief, Wise, one of Gods ninety nine qualities | Muslim | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 58 births |
| Jamil | Beautiful, lovely, Handsome, attractive, impressive. | Muslim | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 58 births |
| Mervin | great lord | Welsh | Boy | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 58 births |
| Jibril | Archangel of Allah (Gabriel) | Muslim | Boy | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 57 births |
| Lior | my light | Hebrew | Boy | 4 letters, about 2 syllables; 57 births |
| Qasim | Divider, distributor | Muslim | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 56 births |
| Robbie | Diminutive of Robert, which means “shining glory” | English | Boy | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 56 births |
| Safwan | Rock, solid, Pure, clear, smooth stone, cloudless day. | Muslim | Boy | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 56 births |
| Sahil | River bank, coast, Guide | Muslim | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 56 births |
| Zaki | Intelligent, Pious, clean, chaste | Muslim | Boy | 4 letters, about 2 syllables; 56 births |
| Ahsan | The best of all, Better, superior. | Muslim | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 54 births |
| Brenden | Variant of Brendan, which means “high, exalted” | Irish | Boy | 7 letters, about 2 syllables; 54 births |
| Tegan | pet, darling | English | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 54 births |
| Fritz | frederick | English | Boy | 5 letters, about 1 syllable; 53 births |
| Kasir | Another name for god, one who breaks | Muslim | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 53 births |
| Miran | Princes, pl. of Mir. | Muslim | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 53 births |
| Akram | More generous, nobler, bountiful. | Muslim | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 52 births |
| Paris | cauldron | English | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 52 births |
| Kamal | Perfection, completion, integrity. | Muslim | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 51 births |
| Khaleel | Beautiful, good friend | Muslim | Boy | 7 letters, about 2 syllables; 51 births |
| Elan | Variant of Elon, which means “oak tree” | Hebrew | Boy | 4 letters, about 2 syllables; 50 births |
| Herman | army, man | Germanic | Boy | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 50 births |
| Luqman | Clear way, convincing, A Prophets name, The sage Luqman is the type of perfect wisdom | Muslim | Boy | 6 letters, about 2 syllables; 50 births |
| Rakan | Noble | Muslim | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 50 births |
| Salim | Secure, free, Safe, sound, perfect, complete. | Muslim | Boy | 5 letters, about 2 syllables; 50 births |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Popular Baby Names (national data, 1880-2024). Counts are Social Security card applications for births in the United States; names with fewer than 5 births in a year are not listed, and spelling variants are counted separately. Baby Name Wizard is not affiliated with or endorsed by the SSA.