We love boy names ending in o.
Once rare – at least for native English speakers – they’ve gone mainstream. From king of the jungle Leo to romance language staple Diego to modern possibilities like Cairo, plenty of o-enders dot the US Top 1000, in a style to suit every namer.
Of course, rarities exist beyond the Top 1000. Our openness to boy names ending in o means that some of these could wear very well, indeed.
It feels like part of a bigger trend, a sea change in how we name our sons. Vowel endings once were rare, but now our most popular names include Noah and Elijah, Levi and Eli.
Whether you prefer to stick to mainstream favorites or are looking for something really daring, some of the boy names ending in o will almost certainly appeal to you.
FAMILIAR FAVORITES
ALEJANDRO, ALESSANDRO
Alex names have had a good run in the last few decades, so no surprise that Alejandro is popular, too. It’s the Spanish form. Meanwhile, Italian Alessandro ranks much lower on the list, but also benefits from the o-ending sound.
ANGELO
It’s never reached the heights that feminine form Angela has enjoyed, but Angelo is a familiar O-ending option.
ANTONIO
Actors and athletes have made this romance language form of classic Anthony broadly familiar, and very wearable.
ARLO
Arlo is an up-and-comer, likely to join Milo and Leo near the top of the charts soon. It carries a certain indie spirit thanks to folk singer Arlo Guthrie. And there’s a Disney-Pixar connection, too.
BEAU, BO
Beau means handsome in French, and you might hear it used to refer to a boyfriend. Bo might have Swedish roots – or Chinese! And longer forms of both spellings abound, from modern Bowen to gentlemanly Beauregard.
DIEGO, TIAGO, THIAGO
Speaking of James, Diego is another Spanish form. (Drop the San from Santiago, and you can almost hear it.) We all recognize it, thanks to San Diego, artist Diego Rivera, and Dora’s cousin. Thiago and Tiago belong to the same family, with Thiago ranking in the US Top 200, not for behind Diego.
EMILIO, EMILIANO
Em- names have long topped the charts for girls. Emilio and Emiliano offer the same sound for our sons, but with a romance language spin.
ENZO, LORENZO
Jersey Shore alum Nicole Polizzi named her firstborn Lorenzo Dominic in 2012. The reality star’s choice helped this romance language form of Lawrence climb the charts. Nickname Enzo feels every bit as stylish, and works well as a stand-alone name.
HUGO
Hugo has been big in the UK, as well as Sweden, France, and Spain in recent years. It’s a true culture-spanning choice.
KELSO
A Scottish surname borrowed from a place, Kelso screams That ’70s Show to a certain generation. But in 2023, YouTubers Taylor – aka “Dude Dad” and Heidi Calmus gave the name to their son, inspired by a Colorado mountain. At least a dozen other states also boast places called Kelso, most of them named for people with the surname.
JOE
Does good ol’ Joe belong on this list? We consider Joseph among the most classic of boy names. And while just Joe (and Joey) regularly appear in the US Top 1000, we don’t necessarily think of them as separate names. And yet, Joe feels friendly and approachable. It’s an upbeat name, one that I trust to fix my car, do my taxes, or care for my children.
LEO, LEONARDO
The lion rules the jungle, and Leo comes up near the top of the boy names ending in o list. So do lots of longer Leo names, including Leonardo. Hollywood A-Lister Leonardo DiCaprio put his long, romantic first name on our radar. Long before he boarded The Titanic, the name belonged to the legendary Leonardo da Vinci … and his Ninja Turtle namesake.
MATEO, MATTEO
New Testament Matthew is considered a classic. Romance language versions Mateo and Matteo feel extra energetic.
MILO
Back in the 1980s, Milo felt edgy and obscure. Want proof? Punk band the Descendants were fronted by Milo Aukerman, and their album Milo Goes to College is a classic of the genre. Then we all fell in love with Miles, plus lots of boy names ending in o. Now Milo sounds like the (little) boy next door again.
NICO, NIKO
Unisex Nico belongs to the Nick name family, one of the most vibrant and modern of the group.
OTTO
A Germanic name that feels antique and quirky-cool.
SANTIAGO
Santiago means Saint James in Spanish. Confusing, right? Remember that James and Jacob share the same roots. In Biblical Latin, the name was Iacobus … which became Iago in Spanish. It’s wildly popular across the Spanish-speaking world right now, including in the US.
THEO
More parents prefer Theodore in full, but Theo isn’t too far behind. There are plenty of good reasons to skip the formal name, so no surprise o-ending Theo is trending.
RARE & SURPRISING BOY NAMES ENDING IN O
AERO, EERO
Aero refers to flight – think aeronautics and aerospace. Eero is the Finnish form of Eric. Neither is often heard as a given name in the US, but they could work.
ALBERTO
A Romance language spin on Albert.
ALDO
Brad Pitt made Aldo a tough guy name in the 2009’s Inglorious Basterds. Despite the ‘o’ ending, this name is actually falling in use.
ALONSO, ALONZO
Any Doctor Who fans out there? The Tenth doctor, David Tennant, famously cried “Allons-y, Alonzo” in an episode. That translates to “Let’s go, Alonzo!” But most parents are probably thinking of figures like basketball great Alonzo Mourning. Both spellings are from Alfonso; removing the ‘f’ modernizes the name nicely.
ALVARO
Take the Old Norse Alvar, add an ‘o’ and you’ll arrive at the Italian and Spanish Alvaro Verdi used it in an opera, based on a Spanish drama. It’s a globe-trotting name benefiting from the ‘o’ and the ‘v’ sounds.
APOLLO
A name borrowed from a Greek god, Apollo was boosted by singer Gwen Stefani when she gave the name a son in 2014.
ARMANDO
Take Herman, send it through the romance language-izer, and sophisticated Armando emerges. Fun fact: it’s the given name of Miami-born megastar Pitbull.
ARNO
A river in Tuscany, or possibly a short form of Arnold. The French Arnaud looks like it ends with a consonant, but it’s also pronounced like Arno.
BENICIO
Parents love Ben names, from Benjamin to Bennett to Benedict. Benicio shares roots with that last one, both derived from the Latin benedictus – blessed.
BRANDO
A Hollywood surname that feels like an update to 90s favorites like Brandon.
BRAULIO
A seventh century saint’s name, Braulio might mean sword. Or possibly it means bright. Either way, it’s a rarity that fits in with tough guy o-enders like Rocco and Bruno.
BRIO
To play con brio indicates that musicians should play in a lively fashion. After generations of boys named Brian and Bryce, Brio isn’t a stretch.
BRUNO
Once reserved for the heavy in gangster movies, Bruno now carries all the charm and sophistication of Bruno Mars.
CAIRO, KAIRO
Place names are fair game, from Hudson to Savannah. The Egyptian capital is spelled with a C, but parents preferred the K spelling for their sons in 2018.
CAMILO
A little bit Cameron, a little bit Milo, Camilo combines a modern sound with ancient roots. It’s the Spanish form of the Latin Camillus.
CARMELO
Basketball star Carmelo Anthony put this unusual name on the map when he was a first-round draft pick in 2003. His long and successful career continues, as does his influence on boy names ending with o.
CATO
The name of an ancient Roman statesman, Cato means wise. It took on a different sheen when the OJ Simpson trial propelled Kato Kaelin to reality star-status. But the next generation might see it as more of an ancient name, thanks to its use in The Hunger Games.
CIELO
The Spanish word for sky as well as heaven, Cielo feels a little bit nature-name, and a little bit spiritual, too.
CORRADO
Change a few letters, and the entire vibe of a name is transformed. Corrado is the Italian form of Conrad. The latter feels buttoned-up and traditional; on the other hand, Corrado sounds more like a romantic hero.
CIRO
The Spanish and Italian form of Cyrus, Ciro could fit right in with Mateo and Luca.
CRISTIANO
Another name from the world of sports, Cristiano Ronaldo is a Portuguse footballer widely regarded as one of the best players of all time.
CRUSOE
A literary surname name just right for an adventurous family.
DARIO
Italian Dario comes from a Persian name meaning “possessing goodness.”
DARROW
A surname name that brings to mind legendary attorney Clarence Darrow.
DEANGELO
Angelo’s surname cousin.
DENIRO
Another Hollywood-inspired surname, DeNiro is all Robert.
DRACO
A constellation, Draco means “dragon” in Greek. It’s also the name of Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter’s long-time adversary.
ELISEO
We love Elijah and Elias. Eliseo belongs to the same family, a name that feels modern, but claims Old Testament roots.
EZIO
One of Zoe Saldana’s sons is Bowie Ezio. The middle name means eagle. If you’re worried that Enzo feels too common, Ezio could substitute nicely.
FERNANDO
It’s tough to see this name and not break into the ABBA song. It’s cousin to the classic Ferdinand, and shortens to nickname Nando.
FRANCISCO
If Diego fits, wtih ties to a California city and a popular saint, then Fransicso must, too. Lin-Manuel Miranda gave the name to their second son in 2018.
GALILEO
Stargazers, look no further for your son’s name! Worried that being named for world-changing astronomer Galileo Galilei is too much? It shortens to Leo.
GEO, GIO
It could be short for any of the Italian Gio names, from Giovanni to Giorgio. And Geo might even serve as an unexpected George nickname.
GIANCARLO
Romance language smoosh names could inspired their own list. Gianfranco, Joseantonio, and more occur sometimes in English – and far more regularly in languages like Spanish and Italian.
GINO
Italian names are often lengthened … and then shortened again. So Luigi becomes Luigino, and then shortens to Gino.
GUILLERMO
The Italian, Spanish, and Portugeuese form of William, made famous by Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro.
HORATIO
Hornblower. Alger. There’s something jaunty about Horatio, a name that feels big and bold.
IGNACIO
The Spanish form of saintly, fiery Ignatius. In Italian, it’s Iganzio.
INDIGO
A blue baby name with unisex potential.
INDIO
Robert Downey Jr.’s eldest son was named for the California city that hosts the annual Coachella Festival.
IVO
One of many names related to the Germanic element meaning “yew tree.” The spelling Yvo is sometimes seen, too.
JAIRO
Jairo is the Spanish form of the Old Testament name Jair. It’s got a great meaning – he shines.
JERICHO
Perhaps the oldest continuously occupied city in the world, Jericho falls somewhere between traditional picks like Jerome and modern boy names ending in o.
JETHRO
An Old Testament name, Jethro has a great meaning – abundance. To some, it’s probably stuck on the Beverly Hillbillies, but it could also read as a bold, homespun choice, an alternative to rising choices like Arlo.
KENZO
Take the Italian Enzo, add a K, and suddenly you’ll have the Japanese Kenzo. Designer Kenzo Takada used the name for his luxury brand.
KYLO
It sounds like Kylo-with-an-o, which could be an appealing sound. Star Wars fans know that Kylo Ren is the villain for much of the latest installment in the series.
LASZLO
Laszlo is the Hungarian form of Vladislav, via the Latinized form, Ladislas. The spelling is confusing; doubtless that’s why we’ve seen Lazslo and Lazlo in the US, too. Though they’re all quite rare.
LAZARO
The Spanish form of New Testament name Lazarus might make an intriguing choice.
LEANDRO
Leander comes from Greek myth, a name formed from “lion” and “man.” It’s Leandro in romance languages – possibly even fiercer than the original.
LUCIANO, LUCO
Long and elaborate Luciano turns Luke, Lucas, Luca, and even Lucian up to eleven. As for Luco, it feels like a twist on Luca, inspired by Nico.
MACEO
Most likely a cousin to Mateo, Maceo offers a long and impressive history. But despite Halle Berry choosing the name for a son in 2013, Maceo has yet to catch on.
MARCELO, MARCELLO, MARCO
Marcel is seldom heard, but add an ‘o’ and the name changes. It’s derived from Roman name Marcus, the same source for Marco. Marco appears in not one, but two, Dr. Seuss stories.
MARIO
An iconic Italian choice.
MASSIMO
An italian Max name, hold the X.
MAXIMILIANO, MAXIMO
Mini name Max feels complete with just three letters. Maximo adds plenty of drama to the name. The elaborate – six syllables! – Maximiliano takes it farther still.
MICHELANGELO
Another Renaissance Artist/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle name, and another romance language smoosh, Michelangelo comes in at a dramatic five syllables.
MIKO, MIKKO
The Finnish form of Michael.
MIRO
The Slavic element miru means peace. Think of Russian space station Mir. There’s also Spanish sculptor Joan Miro, and the Latin mirus, root of our word miracle.
NEO
Neo means new, but it also means Keanu Reeves’ character in 1999’s The Matrix, plus all the sequels that followed.
NICOLO, NICCOLO
Machiavelli and Paganini answered to this first name, a romance language spin on traditional Nicholas.
ORLANDO
A romantic hero name boosted by Hollywood star Orlando Bloom.
OSVALDO
Oswald feels antique, possibly too much. But Osvaldo’s v and o combination might put it on the same track as Alvaro.
PABLO
Picasso’s first name is the Spanish form of Biblical standard Paul.
PEDRO
The Spanish form of Peter, Pedro still reminds many of 2004 indie hit Napoleon Dynamite.
PHARAOH
Royal names have been big, from Kingston to Reign. Why not Pharaoh?
PIERO, PIETRO
Pedro is the Spanish, while Piero and Pietro are Italian forms of classic Peter. If you know your Avengers, Pietro is the given name of Quicksilver.
RICARDO
When it comes to boy names ending with O, so many come to use from Romance languages. Ricardo is Spanish and Portuguese.
ROCCO
Rocco made headlines when Madonna and Guy Ritchie gave this saintly, Italian heritage choice to their son way back in 2000.
ROMEO
It’s not just the Beckhams naming their son Romeo. This Shakespearean name takes a little something from Roman, and a lot from boy names ending in o.
RODRIGO
The Germanic Roderick, by way of Spain.
ROGELIO
Probably a cousin to Roger. There’s a ninth century Saint Rogellus, a martyr from Cordoba, Spain.
ROSCOE
Once relatively common, Roscoe has become rare, but might qualify as a neglected gem.
SERGIO
Sergius is the Latin, Sergei the Russian, and Serge the English – though we’re never embraced the latter. Sergio fits right in with so many romance language boy names.
SHILOH
The Jolie-Pitts gave this name to a daughter, but they weren’t the first to use it. A Biblical place name, as well as the site of a Civil War battle, Shiloh has seen sparing use for years. It offers a great meaning: tranquil.
TADEO
New Testament Thaddeus has never felt mainstream. Maybe Tadeo, the Spanish version, will.
TEO, TEODORO
A romance language twist on o-ender Theo.
TYCHO
The name of a famous Danish astronomer, stands-out Tycho shortens to fits-in Ty.
VALENTINO
It brings to mind 1920s screen legend, Rudolph Valentino – born Rodolfo Alfonso Raffaello Pierre Filibert Guglielmi di Valentina d’Antonguolla. Valentina is big for girls, too.
VINCENZO
The Italian form of Vincent.
WINSLOW
A surname name that brings to mind American landscape painter Winslow Homer, this name feels a little less serious than Winston.
What are your favorite boy names ending in o?
First published on October 16, 2015, this post was revised substantially and re-posted on May 7, 2020; July 25, 2022; and April 11, 2023.
My name is Diomira, which is Italian for admirer of God. I was named after my grandmother, and her cousin’s name is Diomiro, which is the male version. They called him Miro. It’s definitely different and I thought it might be a fun name to add to your list.
My two boys have names that end with
O. Crescencio and Lorenzo and if i had another boy i was thinking Armando but wanted something less common. Didn’t see Crescencio on the list. That name is also in my husbands family. He named after is grandfather and he after his.
Also there’s names like Aléto/Alito and Carlito. I actually really like those names, there are both Spanish
I love the name Miro. And Horatio. And Mateo. And really just about every other name on this list for that matter! I’d add Aurelio, which could shorten to Ari or Lio
Benedetto — an Italian form of Benedict that can shorten to Ben, Bene, or Bennett. Tony Bennett’s last name is Benedetto.
Viggo might be a good choice for parents who are fans of Viggo Mortensen or have Scandinavian heritage.
Nino — A friend’s ex was named Nino, but that might have been a nickname rather than his actual name.
Our youngest son is named Marcello, in honor of his father, Marc, but also because of his Italian heritage. I love it! And we often call him “Cello.”
I love the name Matteo and Gianfranco. I’d add Giorgio. 🙂 (“Gio”)
Not deliberately, we found we have had all our boy cats with names ending in O, and none of them on your list!
Figaro, Fido, Zhivago, and Maestro.
Now looking for a unique 5th.
Whoa! Those are great!