Names for Boys Meaning Rock: Strong Stone, Cool Onyx

Rock names for boys include everything from classic Peter to straight-up, well, Rock.

Many of these feel like nature names. But some fit into the surname category. Others are straight-up saintly.

One thing rock names for boys all have in common? Undeniable strength.

Maybe it helps that Dwayne Johnson – one of the biggest stars of our day – is known as The Rock.

So if you’re into the great outdoors or geology or maybe even rock n’ roll, chances are that some of these names might appeal. 

(If you’re looking for musician-inspired names, this list is the one with references to John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, and more.)

While rock names for boys might sound novel, they offer plenty of history:

• Rocco is a saint, though his name comes from the Germanic element hrok – rest. He’s also known as Roch.
• Rocky is a boxer – Rocco Marciano was a heavyweight title holder, plus there’s fictional Robert Balboa, the underdog-turned-American icon from the Rocky franchise.
• There’s a flying squirrel, too – Rocket Squirrel, better known as Rocky, from The Rocky and BullwinkleShow.
• Rock Hudson was a leading man in the 1950s and 60s – though he was born Roy.
• About that professional wrestler-turned-actor? Dwayne Johnson is better known as The Rock, and his dad was a wrestler named Rocky. (Though his birth name was Wayde.)

Ready for the rock names?

NAMES THAT MEAN ROCK or STONE

CRAIG

The Celtic word crag refers to a rocky outcrop, rugged land. Craig is a name derived from crag, a 1960s favorite.

DUNSTAN

A medieval saint’s name, Dunstan comes from the Old English elements meaning dark and stone.

HARLOW

The Old English element haer means rock. Harlow is originally a place name derived from haer, and it has some history of use as a boys’ name, though it ranks in the Top 1000 girl names in the US today. The similar-sounding Arlo is more popular for boys, but it isn’t a rock name.

LANGSTON

Langston literally means long stone. Poet Langston Hughes makes this name feel more polished.

PETER

The ultimate rock name with Biblical roots, from the Greek petros – rock.

PIERCE

A dashing surname spin on Peter. Pierre, Per, and Pedro are three more.

PIERS

A medieval form of Peter, bridging the gap between Peter and Pierce.

STANLEY

Another name featuring the Old English word stan, meaning stone. That familiar -ley ending is clearing.

WINSTON

The –ston ending on lots of names can mean stone, like Winston. British prime minister Winston Churchill’s legendary resolve during World War II adds more substance to the name. It’s quietly trending for baby boys in the 2020s.

ROCKS THAT MAKE GOOD NAMES

COBALT

Strictly speaking, cobalt is a metal. But it got its name thanks to miners who recognized that cobalt-laced rocks were problematic. Because they made miners sick, they were called kobold – goblin. Today we often associate it with the color blue.

FLINT

If Flynn follows Finn, could Flint catch on, too? It’s a form of quartz that sparks when struck. In the 1960s James Coburn played a James Bond-parody character called Derek Flint.

GRANITE

Sure, it’s a popular material for kitchen remodels. But Granite is also very much part of the natural world, favored by climbers from Yosemite to Patagonia.

JASPER

Among the most stylish of the possibilities, Jasper is also a form of quartz.

JET, JETT

Jet is a type of rock. It also refers to the deep black color associated with jet, or lignite. The spelling Jett is far more popular. It brings to mind everything from rock star Joan Jett to, of course, aviation. But it also belongs with rock names for boys. 

MICA 

Micah is a Hebrew name meaning “who is like God?” Spell it Mica, and it’s a type of mineral.

OBSIDIAN

Too much? Maybe. But if Jet, Orion and Gideon are wearable, Obsidian isn’t impossible.

ONYX

A gemstone – technically a form of chalcedony – usually found in the color black. It’s a rising favorite for boys in the US in recent years.

ROCK

Go with just Rock, and there’s no doubt. American singer Gwen Stefani has a son named Zuma Nesta Rock.

SHALE

Like Shane, Shale has a softer sound. But it seems very wearable.

SLATE

There’s something dramatic about a boy named Slate. Blank slate, clean slate, the online magazine … There’s also Slater, an occupational surname for someone who covered roofs with slate tile.

STONE

Nearly as obvious as Rock, but slightly more familiar thanks to anchorman Stone Phillips.

NAMES THAT SOUND LIKE ROCKS

JAGGER

It sounds like jagged – rough, uneven – just like crag and Craig. Actually, Jagger is an occupational surname, another word for a peddler. And of course there’s Mick Jagger, legendary frontman of The Rolling Stones.

ROCCO

A saintly Italian heritage pick that doesn’t actually mean rock. It comes from the Germanic element hrok – rest. The saint was French, but the Feast of St. Rocco is associated with Italian immigrants in the US, thanks in part to traditional celebrations – and a famous scene from The Godfather II.

ROCKO

A variation of Rocco, made famous by an animated wallaby in a Nickelodeon series from the 1990s, Rocko’s Modern Life.

ROCKWELL

Another surname possibility, Rockwell comes from the Old English element hroc – rook. Twentieth century illustrator Norman Rockwell lends the name a certain Americana vibe.

ROCKY

Rocky is a boxer, of course. But Travis Barker and Kourtney Kardashian chose the name for their son in honor of another person: punk rock guitarist Rocky George, best known for his work in Suicidal Tendencies. It takes the name from the natural world to the silver screen to the stage – so many reasons Rocky stands on its own.

What do you think of rock names for boys? Are there any that you would use? Have I left any off this list?

First published on January 4, 2013, this post was substantially revised and re-published on March 2, 2022 and December 19, 2024.