Top Boy Names to Inspire You!

There’s a lot to do when getting ready for the birth of your baby boy, and finding the best name is likely right at the top of your to-do list. To help, we’ve collated a list of 1,000 strong, classic, cool, cute, and even the top boy names for babies and our predictions for the most popular names in 2023. With so many great baby boy names to choose from, we’re sure you’ll find the perfect one on our list.

Popular Boy Names in Canada

Although there aren’t official baby name statistics for Canada as a whole, each of Canada’s ten provinces and three territories have their own statistics each year. So, although 2022’s statistics have yet to be released, we’ve compiled a list of our predictions for the top 10 boy names in Canada for 2023, based on the most recent statistics.

1. Noah. Noah is a classic Hebrew name with a long history. It has been popular in the English-speaking world for centuries and is currently one of the most popular baby boy names across Canada (including in Alberta, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Quebec) and it’s our top prediction for 2023. The name means “rest and repose” and is famous due to the biblical story of Noah and the great flood. It’s often associated with strength and resilience and is said to bring peace to those who bear it.

2. Liam. The boys’ name Liam is quickly becoming one of the most popular baby names in Canada and even reached the top spot in British Columbia, Manitoba, and New Brunswick. It’s an Irish name and short form of William, meaning “strong-willed warrior” and “protector”. Liam is also a popular name for celebrities, such as actors Liam Hemsworth and Liam Neeson. It’s a timeless name that is sure to stand the test of time.

3. Benjamin. This classic name of Hebrew origin means "son of the right hand". It’s a timeless name, that is both strong and dignified, but with the cute and playful options of Ben, Benji, or Benny as nicknames.

4. Jack. Jack is a timeless classic name that has been around for generations. This derivative of John meaning "God is gracious” was the top boys’ name in Nova Scotia and came in second in Alberta and Prince Edward Island. Your little one might be delighted at all the fairytales and nursery rhymes their name features in, such as Jack and the Beanstalk, Jack and Jill, and Little Jack Horner.

5. Ethan. Meaning "enduring, firm, and strong," Ethan is often seen as a strong, independent, and confident name. The name is often associated with the Biblical figure Ethan the Ezrahite, who was known for his wisdom and counsel, and more recently, actor Ethan Hawke and Tom Cruise’s character in Mission Impossible.

6. Theodore. This popular name for boys has been climbing the baby name charts in Canada in recent years. It means "gift of God" and was derived from the Greek words theos, meaning "God," and dōron, meaning "gift." Theodore may seem formal and sophisticated, but it also has the fun and adorable diminutives of Theo, Ted, and Teddy.

7. William. With a long and distinguished history, it’s no wonder this strong boys’ name is still a popular choice. Originally derived from the Germanic name Willahelm, the name means “strong-willed warrior” and was popular among royalty, as well as literary legends such as William Shakespeare, William Wordsworth, William Blake, William Faulkner, and William Butler Yeats.

8. Oliver. Prince Edward Island’s top boys‘ name and Saskatchewan’s number 4 is Oliver. With its meaning of "olive tree", symbolic of peace, and often associated with strength and courage, Oliver is a sweet and trendy boys’ name. You may recognize it from the Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist.

9. Lucas. As the Latin form of Luke, this trendier and more playful option means “from Luciana” (a region in southern Italy), or it may come from the Latin word lux meaning “light.” Either way, your little boy is sure to be the light of your life. Lucas is already climbing up the rankings in Nova Scotia and Ontario, so we may see it continue to climb in the coming years.

10. Logan. Logan is a strong and trendy gender-neutral name that comes from a Scottish surname meaning “little hollow.” It was the name of the character Wolverine from the X-men comics and movies.

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More Popular Baby Boy Names

As well as our 2023 predictions for the top 10 boy names in Canada, we’ve also listed many more boy names that were popular choices in 2022 and recent years:

Classic Baby Boy Names

If you’re looking for a classic baby boy name with wide appeal, choose from among these:

Old-fashioned Baby Boy Names

If you’d like to name your son after a beloved family member, you might be thinking along the lines of an old-fashioned male name, like one of these:

Strong Baby Boy Names

The following baby boy names connote strength and power. Perhaps one reminds you of the qualities you’d love to see in your little prince’s character or personality:

Cute Baby Boy Names

Take a look at these cute baby boy names to see if one stands out as the best choice for your son:

Cool and Modern Baby Boy Names

You may have your heart set on a baby name that is modern and different, or simply put, cool. That’s because your baby boy is unique and deserves an effortlessly hip name, like one of these:

Uniquely Spelled Baby Boy Names

Set your son apart from all the other babies in 2023 with a unique baby boys’ name that features an unusual or rare spelling:

Romantic Baby Boy Names

If you’re looking for a name that has an air of romance and charm, like that of an Italian boys’ name, one of these following might make your shortlist:

The Bottom Line

Once you have a short list of top baby boy names, why not involve family and friends in narrowing the field? Consider throwing a baby naming party so that your loved ones can help you settle on the best baby name for your boy, or go through the alphabet beginning with boy names that start with A.

If you’re looking for the perfect middle name for your baby boy, any of the above could work. However, we also have a separate list of middle names for baby boys that you should check out.

If you’re still browsing for the perfect baby boys’ name, check out our Baby Name Generator, which you can use to search names by gender, popularity, name meaning, and more.