Robin Hood statue in NottinghamAt first, names from weaponry seem like an unthinkable source of inspiration.  It’s a joke that one of The Royal Tennenbaums grandsons is named Uzi, a sign of the family’s tremendous dysfunction.  And when Levi Johnston, former prospective son-in-law to Sarah Palin, welcomed a daughter named Breeze Beretta with his new girlfriend, the reaction was generally negative  – at least to the origins of the middle name, even if the sound is pleasing.

Look a little deeper, though, and words associated with weaponry aren’t always destructive.  They can refer to precision, to aim.  To truth and honor, even.

Some, like Blade, feel too aggressive.  Others, like Gunnar, have deep roots that offset their sound.  And not all of them are obviously tied to bows and arrows, guns, or heavy artillery.

With Hunter ranking as a Top 100 name for boys since 1993, no wonder that some of these are starting to sound very wearable for a boy – and a few for a girl, too.

Ready, Aim, Names from Archery

First there was Robin Hood.  Now there’s Katniss Everdeen.  Throw in The Avengers’ Hawk, and archery is cooler than cool.  And while it can be deadly – see The Hunger Games for ample proof – it is also seen as a gentler pursuit, more sport than assault.  Unless, of course, you’re a dedicated bow hunter, in which case, well … these names will probably feel very appealing.

Archer – He’s a stylish up-and-comer, midway between Hunter and Archibald.

Arrow – As a word name, Arrow should feel aggressive.  But arrows fly straight and true, conjuring up ideas about accuracy and goals.  It makes Arrow feel more modern virtue than killer instinct.

Artemas, Artemis – She’s the Greek goddess of the hunt, traditionally shown with a bow and arrow.  The spelling Artemas is more common for boys – there’s a Saint Artemas mentioned in the New Testament and a Revolutionary War general – but fictional figure Artemis Fowl blurs the boundary.  For a girl, Artemis is as fierce as Katniss, but less tied to pop culture.

Beau, Bo, and Bow – Plus the more subtle Bowen, Bowman and Bowie, though Bowie feels more like Lennon or Presley than a name related to archery.  I found an archery forum that veered into baby name territory, with several of the (mostly male, I think) posters suggesting Beau Hunter as the perfect name for a son.  Beau and Bo have lots of possible origins, and Bow has multiple meanings – from bending to gift wrap to music to archery.  But “bow and arrow” is a familiar enough phrase that these names all have a hint of archery about them.  Longer names, like Beauregard and Isabeau, are even more subtle possibilities.

Easton – The sports manufacturer makes equipment for baseball and ice hockey, too, but makes this list thanks to their archery equipment.  For a real enthusiast, Easton is a great compromise choice.  It’s common enough that it doesn’t scream “my parents named me after their hobby” quite the way that Beau Hunter might.

Fletcher – He feels preppy and buttoned-up, but Fletcher is an occupational surname for one who makes arrows – from the Old French fleche – arrow.

Hoyt – Hoyt makes the list for the same reasons as Easton, except that Hoyt only makes products for archery – in fact, they make the bow used by Katniss in The Hunger Games movies.

Ready, Aim Names from Guns

These names always take me by surprise.  A gun seems like a mismatch when it comes to baby naming inspiration, as potentially inappropriate in a nursery as alcohol or death metal.  At a minimum, they’re very intense names.  And you really, really shouldn’t name your child Glock.

But then again, shooting is a sport with a long history, and a hobby enjoyed by many.  If musicians can choose names like Chord, why shouldn’t some of these names appeal?

Beretta – If not for the Italian gun manufacturer, betcha I’d think Beretta was a swell name for a girl.  After all, it comes from an Italian word meaning bonnet, or hooded cloak, and was an occupational surname for one who made such garments.  But the best-known Beretta started making guns back in 1526, and has never stopped.  That makes Beretta an aggressive choice, even though she’s a sound-cousin to Brett, Britta, and Birgitta.

Caliber – With firearms, caliber expresses the measurement of the barrel – like a .22.  But caliber can also refer to a level of skill – the high caliber of her work, for example.  It can feel like a synonym for excellence, and so fits with modern virtue names for boys.

Citori – It sounds like it should have meaning, doesn’t it?  But Citori was invented for a Browning double-barreled shotgun that’s been around for forty years.  I almost dropped Citori from the list when I realized she was an invention – but then I found her mentioned on a baby name forum and decided to let her stay.

Colt – Despite his potentially negative associations – malt liquor, guns – Colt has fared well in recent years.  Colton has been in the Top 100 since 2008, and Colt currently ranks in the 300s.  It’s also a term to describe a young horse, a subcompact car, and Indianapolis’ football team.

Gage, Gauge – To gauge means to measure.  It’s a noun, too, one that refers to diameter of a gun barrel.  As connections go, this one is pretty ignorable – more like naming your kiddo Bo than Arrow.  Gage ranked #172 in 2012, while Gauge came in at #741, with Gaige also charting in the Top 1000.

Gunner – Spell it Gunnar and I’ll have no doubt that you’re honoring your Northern European roots.  And Gunther is a great, clunky Germanic name, worn by a fifth century king who met his death at the hands of Attila the Hun.  They derive from words meaning war and warrior, so he’s a tough guy even without his similarity to the English word gunner – one who operates canons on a ship, or the machine gun on a fighter plane.

Flint – Flint is a nature name, but he makes this list thanks to the flintlock, a seventeenth-century innovation in firearms.  Striking flint – a kind of quartz – against steel creates a spark that can ignite gunpowder.  The flintlock mechanism was popular for over two centuries, though today it is an antique.  Modern parents probably think of Flint more as a nature name for boys, a brother to Jasper and Onyx, but I thought he deserved a mention here, too.

Remington – Until Pierce Brosnan became the fictional detective in a 1980s television show, it was hard to imagine Remington as a given name.  Even in the series, it was chosen for its over-the-top masculinity.  But this English place name-turned-surname has been in steady use for years, currently ranking #421 in the US.  Eliphalet Remington designed and built his first gun in 1816 – a flintlock rifle – and Remington Arms has been in business ever since.

Winchester – Another place name-turned-surname, Winchester is associated with many things.  One of them is the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, and the Winchester rifle.  The company no longer exists, but their designs are still produced by another company.

Ready, Aim Names from Artillery

Cannon – Ranked #527 in the US, Cannon is a relatively familiar name for a boy born in recent years.  Besides its associations with weaponry, Cannon and Canon are surnames with multiple origins.  But they’re definitely weapons, too – invented by the Chinese, and in use in much of the world between the 900s and 1200s, give or take a few decades.

Cason, Caisson – I know that Cason owes his use to our affection for Jason, Mason, and Grayson.  After all, he’s sometimes spelled Cayson and Kason and Kaesen and so on.  But it always makes me think of that lyric from the Marine song – caissons go rolling along.  Strictly speaking, a caisson isn’t a weapon – it is the cart that carries ammunition – but it is definitely a battle-tested piece of equipment.  At #465, Cason is fairly popular.  And Kason ranked even higher in 2012, at #385.

What do you think of names with ties to weaponry?  Are there any on this list that you might use?  Are there any that I’ve forgotten?

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About Abby Sandel

Whether you're naming a baby, or just all about names, you've come to the right place! Appellation Mountain is a haven for lovers of obscure gems and enduring classics alike.

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22 Comments

  1. Off your list, I liked Archer and Flint for boys, Artemis for girls, and Remington for either.

    Others:

    Boys:
    1) I’ve pondered Peacemaker as a middle name. That sound you heard was my hubby screaming. No, “blessed be the Peacemakers” didn’t get him back on-side, nor did any attempt to suggest it’s actually a peaceful virtue name. I liked the doubled nature of it.
    2) I actually would point out Uzi/Uziel is a real Hebrew name, and a likable one, but I admit Uri is more usable today. I never watched the movie, maybe it canonically was a joke, but is Uzi really THAT out-there for a brother to Ari?

    Girls
    1) Kimber – The brand of choice for the Olympics, some Marines, and people who like higher-end American-made pistols.
    2) Izarra – means ‘star’ in Basque. It’s also the name of a Browning clone. Not a very fancy gun at all really. I just liked the name. Also called Ruby, or sometimes just Star. I prefer Izarra. I don’t recommend naming a daughter Browning.

  2. Well, there’s Ruger (ROO-gur). I actually like the sound of it for a boy.
    Mace is a medieval weapon.
    If you asked any Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle fan, they could tell you that Donatello uses a ‘Bo’ staff.
    Browning comes with the understated nickname of Brown, and Benelli has the nickname of Ben.
    Gatling and Larue could easily be a girl names. Sig Sauer is a well-know gun manufacturer that oftentimes is called simply ‘Sig’… this could be a nickname for a more traditional name like Sigfreid. Hmm, just like Ax is short for Axel or Axiom.
    A Dirk and a Rondel are types of long knives/short swords. So is an Anelace… but perhaps this is best for a girl.
    What else? Oh, Revolutionary War households typically had a ‘Brown Bess’ that was used by early rebels.
    A Pike is a fish, but it was also a long pointed stick used in battle. I supposed if one was stretching, Spear could be used as a name, too… after all, it is a surname. A Bec de Corbin was a pole weapon used by the French. Corbin might be a subtle compromise between one war-interested parent and one not.
    Can’t think of any more right now, but great topic!!

  3. I love the name Eero, but since it is not widely known in the US as a Finnish name, I think most people would just think his name was Arrow.

    From your list I also like Archer, Beau, Bo, and Winchester. Winchester also makes me think of the Winchester Mystery House, a mansion in San Jose, Ca. https://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com/

  4. I really don’t have any issue with it. It might not be my personal FIRST-choice, but I’m not going to frown on it. With that said, Barrett was on our list of consideration. I think that if for over a thousand years, parents have named their kids after the wars fought with weapons, weapons seem relatively minor. The same can be with nature names or animal names. So, I’m not going to get fussy over it. I almost became a colton cody, if I were born a boy as the doctors predicted. I also, went to school with a coleman who occasionally went by cole and colt.

  5. My first bow was made by a company called Genesis. They make great kid’s compound bows that alot of 4-Hers in my area shot. While the company is not very well known, Genesis would be a great name for someone who wanted a very subtle connection to archery.

  6. I’m conflicted about weapon names – I personally love quite a few of them, but am not keen on the idea that people would view it negatively. I wouldn’t want those negative associations to transfer to my child.

    That said though, I’d still consider using one. Winchester, Colt and Remington are on my list, and I also love the sound of Arrow, Archer, Fletcher and Beau 🙂

    1. I once worked with a man named Bow and Arrow. He signed his paperwork with a drawing and it was legal for him to do so. He drew a bulls-eye target with an arrow going through it. I asked him if he was questioned a lot about it name, he said “yes, but not for the reasons you think. “I said Oh, and he said “yes, many people are shocked by how cool it is and mostly to make sure my signature is legit.”

      So maybe they are all that bad. I read on 4 real names, Barrett has become a name multiple times, bestowed on boy sexes. And if wolf, fox, and bear can be dealt with admiration, I suppose weapons can be too. 🙂

  7. A friend of mine grew up in a small town called Winchester. She mentioned once how it would make a great middle name if it weren’t for the gun.

    These names are not really my style but I know many people who would love them. Every boy named Hunter that I know comes from an outdoorsy family. For those who are into it, naming your child after your love for hunting is not that out there. To each their own, I guess.

  8. What about the name Lance, referring to the medieval weapon? It’s not really within my naming style but it was one of the first names that came to mind when I thought of weapons.