boy names starting with a and their meanings

When choosing a name for your baby boy, the first letter can carry special meaning. Popular boy names that start with A include Adam (“man” in Hebrew), Aaron (“high mountain” in Hebrew), Andrew (“manly” in Greek), and August (“great, magnificent” in Latin). Other top starts for boy names range from B like Benjamin to C like Charles to Z like Zachary. No matter the first letter you prefer, there are wonderful options for boy names starting with every letter. Whether you seek something classic like James or modern like Jaxon, a boy’s name should reflect his personality. The letter that begins your son’s name can represent your hopes for who he’ll become. Keep reading for 100 great boy names starting with A and what they mean.

Adrian: From the Roman name Hadrianus, which was derived from the Roman family name Hadrianus. This was the name of several early saints. The name was also borne by the Roman emperor Publius Aelius Hadrianus (known in English as Hadrian). He rebuilt the Pantheon in Rome and built the wall between England and Scotland known as Hadrian's Wall. As an English name, Adrian has been in use since the Middle Ages, when it was derived from the Latin name.

Aidan: Anglicized form of Gaelic Aodhán, diminutive of AODH. Saint Aidan of Iona (c. 600) was the founder of a famous monastery on the island of Lindisfarne he traveled from Ireland to preach to the pagan people of northern England. The name became popular in Britain and Ireland due to the fame of this early saint. Modern Scottish Gaelic also has a compare with Aidan meaning "little fire" from aodh "fire".

Alan: From the Breton given name Alain, which was derived from the compound name Al(l)anus meaning "little rock" or possibly (influenced by the medieval mystic Alain de Lille) Old Breton alan "fox". The name was imported to England by the Bretons following the Norman Conquest in the 11th century. The spelling Alan became common and replaced the earlier spelling Alain. A famous bearer was the Anglo-Scottish general Alan Brooke (1883-1963) who served as chief of the Imperial General Staff during World War II.

Alexander: Latinized form of the Greek name "Ἀλέξανδρος" (Alexandros), which meant "defending men" from Greek "ἀλέξω" (alexo) "to defend, help" and "ἀνήρ" (aner) "man" (genitive "ἀνδρός" (andros) "of a man"). In Greek mythology this was another name of the hero Paris, and it also belongs to several characters in the New Testament. However, the most famous bearer was Alexander the Great, king of Macedon. In the 4th century BC he built a huge empire out of Greece, Egypt, Persia, and parts of India. Due to his fame, and later medieval tales involving him, use of his name spread throughout Europe.

Ace: From the English word for someone very skilled or competent at something. Used as a nickname since the 1920s, it became a stand-alone name in the 1990s.

Aiden: Anglicized form of Gaelic Áedán, diminutive of Áed meaning "fire". Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne (died 651 AD) founded a monastery and converted the pagan people of northern England to Christianity in the 7th century.

Alec: Short form of Alexander, meaning "defending men". Alec became a common diminutive in Scotland, where Alexander was frequently shortened to the nickname Sandy.

Alfred: Derived from the Old English name Ælfræd, composed of elements meaning "elf" and "counsel". Alfred the Great was a 9th-century English king who fought the Danes and translated many Latin texts into Old English.

Alistair: Anglicized form of Scottish Alasdair, the Gaelic form of Alexander, thus meaning "defending men". Popularized in 20th century England due to Alistair Sim's portrayal of Scrooge in a 1951 film adaptation of A Christmas Carol.

Amos: From Hebrew עָמוֹס (‘amos) meaning "carried" or "loaded". In the Old Testament Amos is one of the twelve minor prophets. His book deals mostly with divine judgment and social justice. This name was first used among English speakers after the Protestant Reformation.

Andrew: From the Greek name Ανδρέας (Andreas), derived from ανδρεία (andreia) "manhood, valour". Biblical: the first apostle, brother of Simon Peter. The name has been hugely popular in the English-speaking world since the early 20th century.

Angus: From the Gaelic name Aonghas, which may mean "one strength" or "exceptional strength". Angus MacGyver is the resourceful secret agent in the television series bearing his first name. Various places in Scotland bear the name, including towns and a small island.

Anthony: From the Roman family name Antonius. Antony was a friend of Julius Caesar who made an eloquent speech that convinced a mob seeking revenge to instead praise Caesar's accomplishments after his assassination. Popular in the Middle Ages due to St. Anthony the Great, founder of Christian monasticism.

Apollo: In Greek mythology Apollo was the son of Zeus and the Titan Leto. He drove the sun-chariot across the sky and was the patron of medicine, agriculture, archery, music and poetry. His twin sister was Artemis. This was also an epithet of Greek gods Helios and Asclepius. It became popular as an English given name in the 19th century.

Archer: From a surname meaning "bowman" in Middle English, originally denoting a person who made bows and arrows. It has been used as a given name in Britain since the 19th century, and was popularized in the U.S. by a character on the American television series MAS*H which aired 1972-1983.

Arthur: The meaning of this name is unknown. It could be derived from the Celtic elements artos "bear" combined with viros "man" or rigos "king", or it could be related to an obscure Roman family name Artorius. Arthur is the name of the central character in Arthurian legend, a 6th-century king of the Britons who presided over the knights of the Round Table. He may have been based on a real person from Sub-Roman Britain.

Ash: From the English word for the tree or the substance, ultimately derived from Old English æsc. It has been used as a given name since the late 20th century, possibly based on the title character in the Pokémon media franchise that began with video games in 1996.

Ashley: Originally a place name and surname used for someone who came from a field of ash trees, derived from the Old English elements æsc and lēah. It has been used as a given name for both genders since the late 19th century, popularized by character Ashley Wilkes in the 1936 novel and 1939 film Gone with the Wind.

Atlas: In Greek mythology Atlas was one of the Titans who held up the celestial heavens, punished by Zeus to bear this burden forever. His figure was later used in sculpture and art to symbolize endurance. The name is now often used metaphorically for someone who supports a great cause or carries a heavy responsibility.

August: Derived from Latin augustus meaning "great, venerable". Augustus was the honorific title awarded to Octavian, the first Roman emperor. He was the grandnephew and heir of Julius Caesar who emerged from the struggles following Caesar's assassination to become sole ruler of the Roman world.

Austin: From the English surname, derived from the given name Augustine. Augustine was an early Christian theologian who lived in the late 4th-early 5th century. He became the first Archbishop of Canterbury in the year 597. The surname Austin referred to someone from the city of Augusta.

Axel: From a Germanic surname that was derived from the Old Norse Eykel, which was a derivative of an unattested name Akul. This became Axl or Axel in modern Scandinavian languages. It began being used as a given name in the 19th century. The name received a boost via the main character in The Guns of Navarone (1961).