If you or your partner are obsessed with sports, why not consider naming your new baby boy after a famous athlete? Honoring your passion for athletics by naming your child after a sportsman that you truly admire, is a big move, yes, but it’s one you won’t likely regret — especially if you’re a lifelong fan.
Or perhaps, you just want to ceremoniously set your child up for greatness. We get it! We all want our kids to achive big things, just like some of the incredible athletes that have amazed and entertained fans for decades.
Someone like Tom Brady, who announced his retirement from the NFL in January 2022, will always invoke the idea of excellence, and we can’t argue pinning something like that on your child. So here, we’re sharing 20 awesome baby names inspired by famous athletes to consider for your new little one.
Brady
We won’t get to see Tom Brady play in any more Super Bowls, but that doesn’t mean the memory of him will disappear any time soon, especially if you well… name your baby after him. The name Tom itself is traditional and way common, so why not go with Brady instead? It comes from Old English, and means, “broad eyes.”
Ali
Boxing fans would be remiss not to consider the name, Ali, for a baby boy. Muhammed Ali, who died in 2016, was even nicknamed “The Greatest” shortly after starting his career as a boxer. The name is Arabic, and means, “lofty, sublime, high.”
Rafael
Rafael is a gorgeous sounding name, whether you’re into sports or not, but if you happen to be a tennis fan, it probably makes you think of the ultra-famous, Grand Slam-winning tennis player, Rafael Nadal. It actually comes from the Hebrew language, and means, “God has healed.”
Peyton
Peyton Manning has been retired from the NFL for years, and he still holds the record for most MVP awards in the league. It’s five, by the way. The name comes from the English surname, Payton, which is thought to have been associated with a specific town.
Beckham
Literally everyone knows who David Beckham is. The soccer player has been retired since 2013, but he certainly left his mark on the sport, and on pop culture in general when he started modeling and married former Spice Girl, Victoria (Posh Spice) Beckham. It’s, of course, an English surname.
Alex
Alex is a pretty common name among athletes. Most prominently, retired MLB player, Alex Rodriguez, and retired NFL quarterback, Alex Smith, share the name. The name has Greek roots, from the name Alexander, and means, “to defend, to help.”
Bryant
What better way to honor a legend, than by naming your baby boy after him? We lost NBA star, Kobe Bryant, way too soon, so whether in honor of his talent and ability or in memoriam to his life, Bryant, which means, “noble, strong, virtuous, wealthy,” in Gaelic, is a great name option.
Jordan
The name Jordan, is a modern classic, in part due to its biblical connotations, but possibly even moreso, due to the popularity of NBA legend, Michael Jordan. It’s currently the #82 name for boys in the United States, and has been consistently in the top 100 for years. It means to “flow down, descend,” (like the river).
Nolan
Nolan is a name we don’t hear that often at all anymore, so if you want a sports name that’s a bit different, it’s a good option. Nolan Ryan was a very famous and accomplished MLB pitcher in the late ’80s and early ’90s. The name is a derivative of an Irish surname.
Satchel
Satchel is a unique name inspired by baseball player Satchel Paige, whose real name was actually Leroy. It was his nickname, which he earned because he worked as a porter at a train station. He was the first baseball player from the Negro league to be inaugurated into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
LeBron
LeBron James is one of the most revered basketball players in the entire world, and considered the GOAT by many. His name is definitely non-traditional, but it really does sound good. Interestingly, it’s also a surname in France, Spain and some parts of Latin America.
Conor
Conor is a really strong sounding name for any little guy, but when you consider that it’s the name of one of the UFC’s most notorious fighters, Conor McGregor, it’s even more impactful. It’s Gaelic and means, “wisdom, counsel, strength.”
Josef
For soccer fans, Josef is a fun variation on the name Joseph. It’s the name of Josef Martinez of the Atlanta United team. He’s originally from Brazil, hence the spelling. It comes from the Hebrew language and means, “God shall have.”
Shaun
If you’re a fan of snowboarding, the first person you probably think of when you hear the name Shaun, is Olympic champion Shaun White. It’s a classic name with many spelling variations, that means, “God is gracious.”
Michael
It may still be one of the most popular names in the United States, but whether we’re talking Michael Phelps or Michael Jordan, there’s no denying people with this name tend to do big things. It means, “who is like God,” in Hebrew.
Emmitt
Cameron
There are at least a few NFL players who boast the name Cameron, most notably, Carolina Panthers quarterback, Cam Newton. The name Cameron actually comes from a Gaelic word that means, “crooked nose” or “crooked hill.”
Ozzie
Ozzie is such a cute name, isn’t it? And, it just so happens to be the name of an NFL great. Ozzie Newsome, known as “the wizard of Oz,” is widely considered one of the greatest ever to have played the game, and is currently the general manager of the Baltimore Ravens. It means, “God of the forest” in Old English.
Hugo
Hugo is such a great sounding name, and its meaning is awesome too. It comes from the Old High German language and means, “heart, mind, spirit.” That’s quite fitting for an athlete like Hugo Lloris, who is the captain of the French national soccer team and goalkeeper for the Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.
Bode
Bode Miller has long been known as one of the best alpine skiiers of all time, and his name just so happens to be really cool. It reportedly is of German origin, and means “messenger.”
