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These are the best boy middle names for your baby

These middle names for your baby boy will balance out any first name you decide on

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Picking out your child’s name is one of the most exciting, fun, and nerve-wracking things you get to do as a parent. It lasts their whole life, so you might feel pressure to set them up with a name that suits this little human you haven’t met yet. If that’s too much pressure for a first name, that’s what middle names are for. If you need help picking out the second part of your child’s name, here are the best baby boy middle names to choose from.

More traditional boy middle names

Cute baby crawling across a rug.
Oksana Kuzmina / Shutterstock

Ancestral middle names

There’s nothing wrong with traditional family names. Generations down the line will stay connected through a family middle name, and you could strengthen family ties by using an ancestral name for your child.

  • William
  • Henry
  • Alexander
  • Michael 
  • James
  • Robert
  • Anthony
  • Francis
  • Paul
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Single-syllable middle names

If you go with a longer first name, a short middle name might be the finishing touch you need. A one-syllable middle name for your son would be a good balance.

  • Mark
  • Sam
  • Drew
  • Seth
  • Grant
  • Jay
  • Clark
  • Max
  • Luke

More unique boy middle names

Cute baby boy babbling with their mom.
aslysun / Shutterstock

Middle names that are a little unusual

These days, any word can be turned into a name. If you opt for a simple first name to honor a family member, the middle name is where you get to jazz it up a bit. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box with a middle name that isn’t so usual.

  • Callum
  • Atticus
  • Jude
  • Emmet
  • River
  • Hunter
  • August
  • Forrest

Middle names from history

Take it all the way back to ancient times for a middle name unique enough to be original but isn’t totally made up. If you’re ever stuck looking for a middle name, history will give you endless names to look through.

  • Lance
  • Percival
  • Apollo
  • Cesar
  • Osirus
  • Ansel
  • Gabriel
  • Caius

Turn to the written word or movies for a boy middle name

A newborn baby in their bassinet.
Brian Erickson / Unspalsh

Bookish middle names

There is an unlimited source for names in books. Grab your favorite book from when you were a kid, or pay attention to your next read and see if anything stands out.

  • Edmund
  • Harry
  • Finn
  • Darcy
  • Holden
  • Artemis
  • Magnus
  • Dorian
  • Calvin
  • Sawyer

Middle names after a favorite character

There’s nothing like a nostalgic rewatch of your favorite movie, so the next time you get ready to binge something, see if any of the main characters have a name you could use for your little one.

  • Bastian
  • Gareth
  • Tristan
  • Westley
  • Barney
  • Noah
  • Ferris

You will probably call your child by their middle name at some point. Maybe someone at school will use it, and it will stick. Maybe your child will grow up to like his middle name better. Just because it’s the middle name doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be an amazing name. Make it stand on its own. Go bold, classic, or a little weird, but make sure the middle name is given as much thought as the first.

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