Boy Names That Start With “A”

When it comes to naming their babies, parents-to-be often rely on popular choices, but some go the extra mile and pay experts to help them choose a name. As a baby name consultant, Sheri Suzanne does just that. She says she can often spend up to thirty hours working on a single name report for expecting parents. Her services can be expensive and she often consults with cultural experts to ensure the name suits a family's particular background.

“While some criteria, like name popularity, can be measured and ranked objectively, I find that other qualities, like the morality of a name or likelihood for success, are very subjective and vary from person to person, community to community, and particularly generation to generation,” Suzanne told The Star. She often works with cultural experts to ensure that a proposed name suits the family’s background.

If you prefer a more organic and economical option, data from the Social Security Administration can also help. The following baby boy names starting with "A" were the most popular names in 2021. Is your favorite on the list?

Arlo
Most commonly a boy's name, the name Arlo comes from Old English and means "fortified hill."

Atticus
Atticus is one of those trending baby names that evoke feelings of strength and power. It is of Greek and Latin origin and means "from Attica" or Athens.

Asher
The name Asher is of Jewish origin and means "fortunate," "blessed," or "happy" in Hebrew. It is one of many popular names being used for both girls and boys in recent years.

Ari
In Hebrew, the boy name Ari means "lion" though often it's one of those popular names that is also a gender-neutral nickname.

Archie
Many of us think of the name Archie as a nickname for Archibald. However, in the UK, it's a popular boy name meaning "bold" — as evidenced in 2019 when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle named their son Archie.

In recent years, parents have been choosing nostalgic and beautiful baby names that harken back to days gone by. It could be that parents are honoring their grandparents and great-grandparents, or more likely people are just gravitating toward more classic-sounding names. Which of these old-fashioned names for boys that start with "A" is your favorite?

Abraham
A derivative of the Hebrew name, Avraham, Abraham has gained popularity in recent years.

Amos
Amos is another Hebrew, biblical name. Meaning "carried by God," the name Amos was popular in the early 1900s and has seen a resurgence in the last several years.

Arthur
The Celtic name Arthur means "bear" and may be derived from a combination of the Celtic phrases, "elements artos" and "viros," meaning "man."

August
August is the second in this list of baby names starting with "A" which has been used by royals in recent years. Last year, Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, named their son August Philip Hawke.

Ambrose
Ambrose, another of the beautiful names of days long gone, reached its peak in the late 19th century. However, the vintage name is slowly making a comeback. While we may never really know the reason for this, it's safe to assume that some parents have been inspired by characters in their favorite books.

Despite raising their children in gender-specific ways, unisex baby names have been on the rise with parents in recent years. Mom Lori Kinkler chose the gender-neutral name, Riley, for her daughter.

“We knew her sex, but gender is fluid and yet to be determined. Of all the difficulties faced by those who live beyond, or across, the binary, we didn’t want name-changing to be one of them," the Texas psychologist told CBS News. "I like that she feels she has options and knows she’ll be accepted by us no matter what.”

While parents are embracing potential gender fluidity, often they just like the way particular names sound. Here are some gender-neutral baby names that start with "A."

Avery
The meaning of this name is just as cute as your new little bundle of joy. Used for both boys and girls, the name Avery means "ruler of elves."

Aubrey
Another name with elf connotations is Aubrey; a gender-neutral baby name meaning "elf ruler." During the Middle Ages, it was a popular name for men, but in the seventies it became a common name for parents to give baby girls.

Alexis
The name Alexis has been one of the most popular names for girls since the early nineties. It is gender-neutral of Greek origin, meaning "defender."

Aspen
Aspen, from the old English word "aespe," means "shaking poplar tree."

Ainsley
Of Scottish and English origin, the gender-neutral name, Ainsley means "one or only" and is derived from "leah" which means woods or meadow.