Before they were major brand names, they were merely appellations freely given by parents. Baby names and brand names are caught in an influence loop. Meaning that a cool baby name sounded good to a founder of a business so they chose it for the company’s name. Then, after that brand name becomes established, new parents decide to use the name for their child. When a brand becomes so big that its name immediately causes folks to associate with the business, many parents get turned off by it. At that point, it becomes a matter of personal preference.
We wanted to find the best brand names that actually sound great and don’t feel too tied to major brands. These names often sound stylish and trendy, making them unique options for new parents today. Take a look to see if you would use any of these brand names for your baby boy. No judgment, either way!
Names for Baby Boys Inspired by Transportation Brands
Aston
Not just a car driven by James Bond, Aston is an English name that means “dweller from the eastern settlement.” As a given name, Aston is a popular choice in England and Sweden today but it has never ranked in the US top 1000 most popular names for boys. As long as you don’t choose Martin as a middle name, we feel that Aston has tons of potential.
Bentley
Bentley resurfaced as a popular name for boys in the early 2000s and it became more favored than ever before at that time. It’s been slipping slightly in recent years but it’s still a widely chosen appellation. Bentley names a very expensive luxury car brand. The name is of English origin and means “coarse grass meadow.”
Ford
Ford is a strong, single-syllable winner that is closely associated with the American car brand. Ford is an English habitational name that means “dweller from the ford.” As a given name, Ford is more popular than ever in the US. It’s here, in the US, where you will only find this appellation as a given name.
Lincoln
Yes, another automotive brand, Lincoln is a brilliant name and it is enjoying its most popular years today. Lincoln is another English habitational name, meaning “city near the pool.” In addition to enjoying a renaissance here in the US, the name is also popular in England, Australia, and New Zealand.
A Prescription Medication Brand Name for Boys
Calan
Calan is a brand of blood pressure medication. Now, forget that you know that! Calan is a beautiful option of Irish origin and means “pup” or “cub.” The name is also spelled Cailean. Despite Irish names being incredibly popular in the US Calan has gone virtually unused. We think it’s a real gem!
Personal Care Brand Names
Aesop
Aesop is often mispronounced the correct pronunciation is EE-sop. It names a beauty brand based in Australia. To most, this will evoke those fables we were read as children. Aesop is a name of Greek origin that has an unclear meaning. It has never been a popular choice in the US but you could help put it on the map.
Axe
Axe is a brand of very potent deodorant. It is also a Scandinavian name, related to Axel which itself comes from Hebrew, a form of Absalom that means “father of peace.” Axe is only given to a handful of boys each year, making it a unique possibility.
Mac
MAC is a cosmetic brand and Mac is a Scottish or Irish name that means “son of.” Mac is a single-syllable wonder that is on the rise once more in the US. If you’re looking for a no-fuss name, it does not get any easier than this.
Finance, Entertainment, and Tech Brand Names
Chase
Chase is an energetic name of French origin that means “to hunt.” Chase is also a banking brand. Chase is an extremely popular name in the US but it has slipped a little bit in recent years.
Cisco
Cisco is a brand name for a computer networking company. The name is of Spanish and Portuguese origin, a short form of Francisco that means “free man.” Cisco has never been a popular option in the US but we think it deserves more attention from new parents today.
Hyatt
Hyatt is a brand name for a hotel company. It originated as an English surname that means “loft gate.” Hyatt could be a great alternative to the trendy name, Wyatt. It has never been a popular option in the US.
Household Brand Names
Ajax
Ajax is a brand of foaming cleanser. The name originated in Greek mythology for “Ajax the Great” in the Iliad. The meaning of the name is contested and it could be “eagle” or “of the earth.” It has never been a popular option in the US.
Brio
Brio names a brand of toys. The name originated in Italian and means “zesty.” Brio is also a term in music that means “to play with vigor.” So, if you are a lover of music, this name could be a great fit. Unfortunately, this playful name has never been popular in the US.
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Dyson
Dyson is a short form of Dennison, a name of English origin that means “son of Dennis.” It also names a brand known for its great vacuum cleaners. As you might expect, not too many parents are going for this name but it is a definite possibility.
Heinz
Heinz is a German name, a diminutive form of Heinrich, meaning “estate ruler.” If you’re looking for a unique alternative to Henry, this would be the direction to go in. Heinz has never been seen as a possibility in the US and we likely have the condiment brand to thank for that.
Jameson
One of the most popular brand names for boys on this list, Jameson also belongs to a brand of Irish whiskey. The name first gained traction in the 1960s and it’s been climbing ever since, becoming more popular today than ever before. In fact, it is one of the most popular boy names that starts with J. The name is of English origin and means “son of James.”
Reynolds
Reynolds was last popular as a given name in the US over 100 years ago! The name is English from German and it has been in use since the Middle Ages. The name means “powerful counselor.” Reynolds is a big brand of consumer products.
Tito
Tito is a brand of vodka. It is such a playful name and it’s unfortunate that it was last favored in the 1970s. Tito is a Spanish form of the Roman name, Titus, meaning “title of honor.” If you’re after a spunky name, you know what to do!
Fashion Brand Names for Boys
Aldo
ALDO is a brand of shoes but don’t let that scare you away from this spectacular name. Aldo is an Italian name from German that means “sagely.” Aldo has had plenty of ups and downs through the years and it peaked in 2002. If you’ve got Italian heritage, this could be a great choice.
Armani
Armani is a multicultural name with roots in Italian, German, and Persian. Thus, it has a few meanings: “soldier,” “hope,” and “wish” are all possibilities. Armani has been climbing the charts for both girls and boys since the 1990s. Today, it’s firmly in the top 500. Of course, this name belongs to the luxury fashion brand.
Boden
Boden is the name of a fashion brand that is known for its catalogs. It’s also a bodacious name for boys of English and German origin. It is a habitational name that means “from the hill shaped like a bow.” The name is on an upward trend today in the US. It’s been climbing since 2014. Last year, it ranked as the 827th most popular name for boys.
Kenzo
Kenzo is an extremely popular name in Japan and it sits just outside the top 500 in the US. Kenzo names a fashion brand and designer. With Japanese names, the meanings change depending on the kanji used to build them. Thus, Kenzo has many meanings. One of our favorites is “strong and healthy.”
Levi
Levi is the most popular name for boys on this list. Last year, it was the 12th most popular name and the most favored it has ever been in the US. It is of Hebrew origin and means “joined.” Levi’s is a popular denim brand.
Valentino
Valentino is a luxury fashion brand the likes of which you have seen on many a red carpet. Valentino is an Italian or Spanish name from Latin that means “strength.” The name has been climbing in recent years and it is more popular today than ever before in the US. Who does not love the nicknames Val and Tino?
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Manolo
Shoe brand and designer Manolo Blahnik made the name Manolo synonymous with expensive stilettos. But, there’s more to it than just pumps. Manolo is a Spanish name, a form of Manuel, which itself is a short form of Emmanuel, which comes from Hebrew and means “God is with us.” The name is popular in Spanish and Italian-speaking communities but sadly it has never been too popular in the US. It’s time to change that!
Now you know all of the brand names that could work for your son. Now, not all of these names are going to feel like a proper fit but many feel so established that they just might work. If you liked learning about these appellations, keep reading. We’ve got baby names that mean “star” to share with you.
Astra
Astra is a girl’s name of Latin origin meaning “stars.” Despite its accessible sound and familiarity, Astra has never been a popular choice as a given name for girls in the US. Parents, you know what to do!
Estelle
Estelle is the French form of the Latin word stella which means “star.” While we totally endorse you naming your girl Stella, we thought the name Estelle was a bit more off the beaten path. You will find that most names that mean star are.
Roxana
A little more romantic than Roxanne, Roxana means “little star” or “dawn.” It’s a Persian name that belonged to the wife of Alexander the Great. A beautiful name for any parent who’s always wanted to call their daughter “Roxy.”
Vesper
The name Vesper comes from Latin and means “evening star.” It’s a mysterious and fun name for girls. Evening prayers are often called vespers in Catholic practices. For a name that connotes mystery, contemplation, and stars, Vesper is a winner.
Danica
Danica is a name of Slavic origin that is associated with Diana or Venus. The name means “morning star.” We love that this name sounds balanced, both feminine and straightforward. The name has been a mildly popular choice in the US ever since the 1970s but it has so much more potential.
Seren
Seren is a top girls’ name in Wales – and a lovely choice almost unknown elsewhere. Seren, in the Sirona form, was an ancient goddess of the hot springs. This name is found in both Welsh and Turkish traditions as a name meaning “star” or “sail mast.” Let’s bring this Welsh hit to the US!
Desdemona
Is Desdemona too much of a name for a baby girl to shoulder today? That’s up to you! it is one of the names that mean star but it’s not the happiest association. The name is of Greek origin with a root that means “ill-starred.” Desdemona is a Shakespearean name, but because the beautiful and innocent wife of Othello came to such a tragic end, her name has been avoided for centuries. We think it’s time for a revisit!
Yvaine and Yvain
Yvaine is a unisex name (more commonly spelled Yvain for boys) that is of Scottish origin and means “evening star.” Yvaine is considered the more feminine form of the two but if you are interested in Yvain as a boy’s name the name belonged to a Knight of the Round Table in Arthurian legend.
Tana
Tana is a girl’s name of Greek origin meaning “fire or star goddess.” The correct pronunciation of this appellation rhymes with Hannah. The name was once a favored choice among new parents in the US from the 1940s through the 1980s. It has since fallen off completely. It’s one of the best names that mean star that parents are not using today.
Calytrix
Calytrix, pronounced CALL-uh-trix, has the potential to throw some folks but we do not think it is a dealbreaker. The name is of Greek origin as a botanical name meaning “star-flower.” The Calytrix flower is native to much of Australia and is part of the myrtle family. They are commonly known as star flowers, because of their dainty 5 petalled flowers that are usually bright white in color.
Hesper
If Vesper didn’t do it for you, perhaps Hesper will. Hesper is a girl’s name meaning “evening star.” It is a feminine form of Hesperus, the name of the Greek mythological personification of the Evening Star. This name has never been popular in the US.
Hoshi
Hoshi is a traditional Japanese name for girls that means “star.” Despite this name’s inviting sound that is completely accessible it has never been widely given as a name for baby girls in the US.
Tarabai
Pronounced ta-rab-eye, Tarabai is an Indian appellation with serious feminist clout. Tarabai Bhosale was a 17th-century Maratha queen who was a skilled military leader and successfully resisted the Mughal empire on behalf of her people. Centuries later the name belonged to Tarabai Shinde who is often regarded as the writer of India’s first feminist text. Even the name’s meaning touts this, “feminine star.” Bravo!
Itri
There are very few boy names that mean star. In fact, most of them on this list are unisex options! So it is very rare to find Itri, a name for boys that means “star.” It is of Berber origin and is virtually unknown in the US. Let’s hope that changes!
Izar
Izar is a unisex name of Basque origin that means “star.” As we just mentioned, there are not many names that mean star for boys but this unisex option can work for any baby. In Europe, where the name is far more popular, it is more often given to baby girls than boys.
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Realtin
Pronounced RAYL-teen, Realtin could prove a bit of a challenge. It’s not one of the most accessible names that mean star but it is one of the options for parents who also want an Irish name for their daughter. Realtin means “little star.” We’re not sure if this name will ever cross the pond but it’s an interesting option to consider.
Sidra
Sidra is a girl’s name of Latin origin meaning “like a star.” It’s one of the multicultural names that mean star but only in its Latin translation. The name is also found in Arabic and Hebrew with the meaning “lotus tree” and “sequence.” It’s one of our favorite girl names that mean star on this list and we hope more US parents discover it!
Zorya
Zorya is the name of the two star goddess in Slavic mythology: Zorya Utrennyaya and Zorya Vechernyaya. The first refers to the morning star and the second, the evening stars. The name is used often in Russia and anywhere Slavic languages are spoken. It simply means “star.”
Etoile
Those without a French background might stumble over the pronunciation of Etoile, the French word for star. If you are looking for French names that mean star, this could be the very best option for your baby girl.
Maristela
Maristela is one of the many names for the Virgin Mary. The appellation is popular in Spanish and Portuguese-speaking communities. The name is of Latin origin and means “star of the sea.” It’s the best of Mary and Stella all in one name!
Namid
One of the few boy names that mean star, Namid is of Native-American, Ojibwa origin and means “star dancer.” Does that take the cake as the best meaning among these names that mean star? We think that’s very much possible but you get to be the judge.
Rasalas
A virtually unknown Arabic name in the US, Rasalas has the colorful meaning, “the northern star of the lion’s head.” If you think this name might be related to the constellation Leo, you would be correct! Rasalas is the name of a star in the constellation Leo. Again, this is one of the very few boy names that mean star.
Tarak
Tarak is a boy’s name of Sanskrit origin that means “star” and “protector.” Tarak has a sci-fi sound to it but it’s still easy enough for most English speakers to access it. The name has never been a popular one in the US and we desperately hope that changes in the coming years.
Este
Pronounced es-tay, Este is a Persian diminutive form of the name Esther. Both are names that mean star. We like this express version of the name which is the perfect alternative to Esme. Despite this name being relatively unknown in the US it does belong to Este Arielle Haim one of the members of the band Haim.
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Aster
Aster is a unisex English name that means “star.” The name of the Aster flower, named by the English, was derived from the Greek word for star. This is a beautiful botanical meets celestial name that brings the best of both worlds together in a single name!
There you go! We hope you enjoyed these names that mean star. You would think there would be more out there but it’s a very unique name meaning that not many appellations can claim.