Virtue names for boys abound, and yet they’ve never claimed the spotlight quite like Grace, Hope, and Faith have for our daughters.
In some ways, that’s changing. Epic names for boys command the charts, with big, bold favorites like Legacy, Legend, and Reign gaining in use. Maverick ranks in the US Top 100, making this style of name downright mainstream.
Those aren’t quite virtue names, though – at least not in the most traditional sense.
A virtue is a good quality.
Maverick and Reign fit the broad definition of good, of course.
But virtue names for boys combine meaning with a degree of modesty. They sound like brothers for Grace and Felicity, timeless choices that convey unalterable ideals.
Still, it’s a fuzzy line. Some of these virtue names for boys might feel way too tough to live up to. And yet, aspiration is a key part of what makes virtuous meanings so great.
VIRTUE NAMES FOR BOYS
ABEL
Friendly and enduring, Abel isn’t exactly a virtue name. Abel the name comes from Hebrew and means breath. Able is the word, meaning capable. But able makes Abel feel like one of the virtue names for boys. Go even further and use Capable or Capability – as in Capability Brown, the eighteenth century English landscape architect. Fun fact: Capability’s given name was Lancelot.
ARROW
An arrow is a weapon, but it’s picked up a different sense thanks to the idea of an arrow flying straight and true. Plus, the CW rebooted comic book character the Green Arrow with new television show Arrow in 2012, bringing it to a new generation. It’s also one of the names that edges a little bit closer to Maverick.
AUGUST
Summery and serious, this name comes from augustus – venerable in Latin.
BRAVERY
We’ve been naming our children Avery for years, so why not Bravery? It’s a lot to live up to, but it’s undeniably a virtue. The name really shines in the middle spot – actors Benjamin Bratt and Talisa Soto named their son Mateo Bravery.
BRIO
Brio comes from the Italian word for life. In music, to play con brio is to play with vigor.
CHANCE
Chance implies risk or maybe luck, neither of which counts as a virtue. But daring
CLEMENT
An old school name that suggests both mercy and peace.
EVER
A name meaning always can take on a virtuous vibe.
EVEREST
Some train their entire lives to peak Everest. The world’s tallest mountain isn’t exactly a virtue, but it does suggest both rigorous effort and reaching the heights.
FREEDOM
Freedom appeared on the edges in the 1970s, and could appeal to parents today, too.
HALE
It’s a colonial surname, as in patriot Nathan Hale. But it is also a word meaning healthy or whole. While it’s archaic, that might be part of why it seems wearable.
HARBOR
A harbor shelters for ships, making Harbor one of the possible virtue names for boys that suggests protection.
HARDY
Like Hale, Hardy is a surname. Even as a surname Hardy has a virtuous meaning – courageous. While it’s possible to go too far and be foolhardy, overall the name suggests someone who is brave and bold – positive traits for a child.
HARVEST
An autumnal name, Harvest brings to mind abundance.
JUSTICE and JUSTUS
Some virtues have very specific appeal; others strike a chord with nearly everyone. Justice seems like the latter. The Latin Justus comes with the same meaning and a long history of use, including a seventh century Archbishop of Canterbury.
LOYAL
Like Justice, this is a quality that most parents would embrace. Unlike Justice, he’s pretty rare – just 42 boys received the name Loyal in 2012, compared to almost 500 baby Justices.
MERIDIAN
Meridian is a cartography term, ultimately from Latin, referring to noon – midday. We associate it with the idea of the highest point, just like the sun reaches the highest point in the sky at noon. It suggests achievement.
MERIT
We talk of succeeding on our merits – our abilities. Like loyalty and justice, there’s something universal about the idea of merit and worthiness.
NOBLE
It literally means distinguished, but depending your background, it might make you think of the nobility – those born into titled European families. Back in the 1910s and 20s, Noble emerged as a given name with a virtue vibe. Maybe it’s due for a comeback.
NORTH
Yes, Kim and Kanye gave the name to the firstborn daughter. The phrase “true north” has several meanings, including a poetic name for Canada. But when you find true north – which is different from magnetic north on a compass – it also means that you are navigating capably, headed in the right direction. And so North fits with virtue names for boys.
PAX and PEACE
Pax is the Latin word for peace, as the Roman goddess of the same. But the Jolie-Pitt family – as well as the name’s similarity to Max and Jax – make Pax a rare, but accessible, choice for a son. The English word Peace is more direct, and even less common.
PROSPER
There’s something gently old-fashioned about Prosper. It sounds like a brother for Mercy, found many generations back on a family tree. But it also brings to mind the Vulcan salute from Star Trek – “live long and prosper.” Either way, Prosper belongs with virtue names for boys.
RANSOM
In its modern sense, Ransom seems like an outlandish word to use for a child’s name, all small bills in unmarked bags. Ransom, however, originally meant redemption. In Christianity, Jesus died to ransom – redeem – humanity from sin. While it’s rare, Ransom – like Noble – saw some use early in the twentieth century.
REASON
It sounds like a boys’ name, doesn’t it?
REMEMBER
The Mayflower families used Remember for their daughters. But in our age of Remington and Remy, Remember is at least unisex, if not masculine.
REVERE
It’s a virtue verb name! Revere connotes respect. Thanks to Paul Revere, it also has a founding fathers undercurrent, all silversmiths and midnight rides.
SHELTER
A word that means protection, and could wear as a given name, too.
SINCERE
In use for boys and girls alike, Sincere is an undeniably appealing quality.
SAGE
It’s an herb and a shade of green, but it’s also another name for a man of great wisdom. Think of the phrase “sage advice.” A unisex favorite, it ranks in the US Top 1000 for boys and girls alike.
STERLING
Pound sterling is the official currency of the United Kingdom. Sterling silver is silver of a specific quality. Sterling itself now means excellence, putting it among the virtue names for boys.
SUMMIT
The very top of the top, a goal reached through significant effort.
TRU, TRUE and TRUTH
True has been on the rise since the 1990s. Tru ranks in the current US Top 1000 for boys. A unisex name and a universally acknowledged virtue, other Tru- names include Truly and Truely (used for girls), as well as surname Truett, and fellow word name Truth.
VALOR
Choices like Shelter and Prosper are gentle. Valor makes a more dramatic choice.
WISDOM
Wisdom seems like another quality we all seek, but this is even more obvious than Sage.
WORTH
Worth fees preppy and buttoned-up, a family name passed down across generations. But Worth also means merit or value, putting this brief surname-style choice with virtue names for boys.
WRESTLING
It’s a crazy name, akin to naming your baby Soccer. But Wrestling has a history of use among those outrageous Puritan parents, likely inspired by the story of Jacob wrestling with the angel.
ZEN
Strictly speaking, Zen is a school of Buddhism. But in everyday English, zen is a state of calm. It’s the second meaning – relaxed – that makes Zen a contender for a virtuous boys’ name.
ZENITH
It’s another borrowed term – this time from astronomy – that can mean the highest point or peak. If Summit appeals to you, Zenith might, too.
What do you think of virtue names for boys? Do any of these meaning-rich names appeal to you? Are there others that should be on the list?
What are your favorite virtue names for boys?
First published on June 21, 2013, this post was revised and updated on November 4, 2021.
Ransom IS a name. One of my ancestors was Reason Mallot.
Love Ransom, Valor, and Noble for boy middle names!
I love a lot of these names! Sage is my favorite because that’s my name!
(Side note: the picture at the top of this article does not show up/is giving me a ‘this picture is no longer available’ message.)
What about Reborn for a boy and Ascension for a girl? The message would be to never fear death. Can be used for spiritual purposes as well. Other virtue names I like include Freefall, Guardian (to protect those you love), Makepeace, Tao, Earthly (getting back in touch with mother nature)… There’s so many possibilities. I love this list!
We have 5 kids, with our 6th on the way: Justice, Mercy, Constance, Honor, and Hope. We’re looking for another boy’s name that fits as an attribute of God in the noun form.
What did you decide on?
Prospero is quite popular here in Italy, Saint Prosper was the patron saint of the town I live in, so to me it’s a lovely name! As are Sage, Valor, Wit, and Justus, but I like Reverie for a girl more than Revere for a boy.
That’s fabulous, Lumi – thank you for sharing!
I know a man named Truewill. I went to school with an August. Just thought I’d chime in with the alternative nickname to Gus—it’s Augie. I also knew a family of five kids named Pride, Challenge, Ravage, Blaze, and Chastity. Pride and Blaze were boys; the rest were girls.
Learned, like Learned Hand? Happy, like Happy Traum?
Here are a few similar names you might like to add, though some of them seem more feminine to me. Quest, Journey, Hero, Honor, Haven, Solace, Judge, August
Our little guy is Alexander Trust, named after someone whose first name was Trust.
Sterling Archer is the main character on the F/X show “Archer”. His virtue name is pretty much the opposite of his personality on the show, though. His overbearing and equally un-PC mother is named Mallory(voiced by the hilarious Jessica Walter), so of course Sterling’s full name is Sterling Mallory Archer. Two virtue names AND a girl’s name!
Mallory was originally a male byname, then a surname.
What about Boone? Would it be considered a virtue name?
Oh, I think it could – good addition!
I was just ruminating over what to name a sibling for Arrow. We have some interesting overlap: http://luckypluckyclucky.wordpress.com/2013/05/28/baby-for-brother-arrow/
Okay. I admit it. So many of these are favorites of mine. I secretly adore Ransom. It could work: Elijah, Felicity, and Ransom… DH would never go for it.
A friend of mine is having a boy this summer, and they are actually naming him Ransom! The name nerd in me is thrilled! They have 4 other children with interesting names. . . Not at all coordinated, but quite eclectic. One of the other children is named Samarai.
I love an eclectically named sibset! Samarai is daring! Is is from samurai, or something else?
There are two significant ancient Egyptian women called Merit…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merit-Ptah
Resolve should be on the list. I have a ancestor named Resolve White. He came over on the Mayflower.
Oh this post is perfect! So many amazing virtue names that I love or have on my list!
Sage, Everest, Valor, & Sincere being some of my favorites but honestly if I were to list them I’d basically be repeating every name haha.
Freedom nn Free is a huge guilty pleasure so cool and on the right boy it would be amazing. I’m definitely tempted to move it over to my usable (or even top favorites) list even if just as a middle. Wrestling though is interesting, I actually could see it being used…
If I had my way, meaning no vetoes from my OH, our 5 boys would be named:
Noble
Justus
Loyal
Prosper
Sage
I absolutely love those names! My OH said they would be great, if we lived in Colonial times! So, 5 vetoes!
I also like Remember, Revere, Stirling ( the original Scottish spelling), and Zen. Awesome names!
Oh, and if I had twin boys, I would love to name them Everest and Zenith, with the nicknames of Rhett and Zen!
I like Prosper and Remember, although I’d likely never use them. Prosper appeals to me because of the Star Trek connection more so than the virtue (which is lovely, no doubt). Hardy and Harvest are old family names. I’ve considered Hardy before, but Harvest creeps me out a little…
Love this list! I’ve always imagined Bright as a female name for some reason, but now I do see that it is wearable on a boy. There are many others I enjoy: Sage, Prosper, Valor, Loyal, Noble, North, Reason, Worth, Wrestling.
@Bella- I can’t believe you have Reason on your family tree. I’m jealous!
Love virtue names, especially some of the less common ones. Hale, Hardy, Pax, Revere, Sterling, Worth, and Zen are fairly handsome. I do prefer Truman to True, Freeman to Free, Prospero to Prosper, and Makepeace to Peace. Harvest leans slightly more feminine to me, though Harvey would make it very suitable for a boy.
And like Ashlie, I think Evergreen quite charming. Then there are Exuperius, Knightly, Benevolent, Wit, and Clement.
As I’ve mentioned before, for boys my husband and I both like Amity and Verity, and he likes Mercy and Merit [I lean ‘girl’ on Mercy because of my female ancestor with the name, and Merritt is the name of a school in our area so that’s all I think of when I hear it].
Oh, I also really like True, but I’ve a female cousin named Tru, so we can’t use it ourselves.
Merit is a family name for me, but it has always been a girls name (variant of Maren/Mary.) I like the idea of it on a boy, but my family would probably flip out.
Love this post! I’ve always been charmed by “Consider.” There’s a cheese farm in Vermont that produces a cheese called “Consider Bardwell,” named for the 19th century farmer who started the state’s first cheese co-op: Consider Stebbins Bardwell. I’m almost tempted to add it to my list of possible boys’ names…
Earnest!
*Smacks head with palm*
Of course! How could I forget Earnest?!
you forgot the importance of being Earnest?
Will North start to skew female now that Kimye has used it?
I love Worth & Merit for boys. I know a Sterling (He’s 21-ish). And Summit takes on extra-awesome meeting in Lady Vol (Knoxville, TN) country, thanks to former head coach Pat Summit.
We’ll have to wait and see if Nori/North inspires imitators or ends up in Suri/Apple territory.
Nice point about Pat Summit!
Love love love this post! I want to add my favorites, that I’m sure you seen me post several times before :p : Steadfast & Evergreen
I don’t know if I would use any of these in real life but I really like the concept and sound of some of these: Merit, Sterling, Noble, Ransom, Justice. Reason is my mother’s maiden name and I’ve been thinking it would make a good virtue name for a boy.