Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Aaron

High mountain

Hebrew

Abel

Breath

Hebrew

Abner

Father of light

Hebrew

Alabama

Thicket clearing

Native American

Alan

Little rock

English

Alvin

Elf or magical being, friend

English

Amos

To carry; borne by God

Hebrew

Antonio

Unknown meaning

Italian

Arlen

Pledge, oath

Gaelic

Ash

Of the ash tree

English

Ashton

Ash tree town

English

Athens

Of Athena

Greek

Atticus

From Attica

Latin

Augustine

Great, magnificient

Latin

Austin

Great

English

Bailey

Berry clearing; bailiff; city fortification

English

Barnett

Burned clearing

English

Barton

Barley settlement

English

Bates

Variant of Bartholomew often used as a surname.

English

Beau

Handsome

French

Benjamin

A favorite son

Hebrew

Bentley

Bent grass meadow

English

Benton

Town in the bent grass

English

Billy

Will helmet, protection

German

Bishop

Bishop

English

Blaine

Yellow

Gaelic

Bobby

Bright fame

German

Boone

Good

Latin

Branson

Son of Brand

English

Braxton

Brock's town

English

Bridger

Lives near the bridge; bridge-worker

English

Briggs

Bridges

English

Brock

Badger-like

English

Brooks

Small stream

English

Bubba

Boy

German

Buck

Male deer

English

Buddy

Brother

English

Caleb

Whole heart

Hebrew

Callahan

Bright-headed

Irish

Calvin

Hairless one

English

Camden

Valley

English

Cameron

Crooked nose

Scottish

Cannon

Official of the church

French

Cash

Case

English

Charles

Free man

German

Charleston

Free peasant's settlement

English

Christopher

Bearing Christ

English

Clancy

Son of Flannchadh

Irish

Clarence

One who lives near the River Clare

Latin

Clayton

Clay settlement

English

Clement

Merciful

Latin

Cletus

Illustrious; called forth, invoked

Greek

Clinton

Fenced settlement

English

Clyde

“The keeper of the keys,” from the Greek Meidion, a key.

Scottish

Cody

Helpful

Irish

Colby

Swarthy person's settlement

Scandinavian

Colt

Young horse

English

Colton

Charcoal settlement

English

Crawford

Ford of the crows

English

Curtis

Courteous, polite

French

Dale

Valley

English

Dallas

Meadow dwelling

Scottish

Darcy

Dark

Irish

Darryl

From Airelle

English

Davis

Son of David

English

Dawson

Son of David

English

Deacon

Dusty one; servant; messenger

Greek

Dean

Valley

English

Duane

Dark, swarthy

Scandinavian

Duke

Leader

Latin

Earl

Nobleman, warrior, prince

English

Easton

East town

English

Elliott

My God is Yahweh

English

Elmer

Noble, famous

English

Elvis

Unknown

English

Elwood

Old, noble woods

English

Emmett

Universal

English

Emory

Home strength

German

Floyd

Gray-haired

Welsh

Ford

River crossing

English

Forrest

Woodsman; woods

French

Franklin

Free landholder

English

Gage

Pledge

English

Garrett

Spear rule

English

Garth

Keeper of the garden

Scandinavian

Gatlin

Companion

English

Gentry

Of gentle, good breeding, or high social position

English

Graham

Gravelled homestead

English

Granger

Farmer

French

Grant

Great

English

Grayson

Son of the steward

English

Hank

Home ruler

German

Harlan

Army land

English

Harley

Hare meadow; the long field

English

Hart

Strong, brave; stag

English

Hayes

Hedged area

English

Houston

Hugh's town; settlement on the hill

Irish

Huck

Short form of Huckleberry

American

Hunter

Hunter

English

Jack

God is gracious

English

Jackson

Son of Jack

English

Jameson

Son of James

English

Jarvis

“A mender of pots and pans; a tinker.” Based on the Latin gero (carry) and vas (a vessel).

French

Jenson

Son of Jan; God is gracious

Scandinavian

Johnny

God is gracious

Hebrew

Josiah

God supports

Hebrew

Judd

Flowing down

Hebrew

Knox

Round hill

English

Lance

Lancet

French

Landon

Long hill

English

Landry

“The ruler of the land,” from the Germanic land (land) and rihhi (ruler).

English

Lane

Pathway

English

Lawrence

From Laurentum

Latin

Lawson

Son of Lawrence

English

Ledger

Speared tribe

English

Lee

Pasture or meadow

English

Levi

Joined together

Hebrew

Lexington

Town of new law

English

Lloyd

Gray-haired; sacred

Welsh

Louis

Famous warrior

French

Lyle

The island

French

Mack

Son of; greatest

Latin

Macon

Marsh dweller

French

Mason

Stoneworker

English

Maverick

Independent one

American

Memphis

Established and beautiful

Greek

Merritt

Boundary gate

English

Micah

Who is Like God?

Hebrew

Miles

Soldier

Latin

Miller

One who grinds grain

English

Milton

Mill town

English

Montgomery

Gomeric's hill

French

Nash

By the ash tree

English

Nathan

He gave

Hebrew

Ned

A diminutive form of Edward.

English

Nelson

“The son of Nell or Neal,” from Nell or Neal and son.

English

Odell

Woad hill

English

Orlando

“The fame of the land,” an Italian variant of Roland, which see.

Spanish

Otis

Wealth; son of Otto

German

Patton

Fighter's town

English

Paxton

Poecc's settlement

English

Payton

Fighting-man's estate

English

Percy

A diminutive form of Percival.

Latin

Perry

“(The man who lives in the cottage near) the pear tree,” ultimately from the Latin pirum, a pear.

Modern

Porter

Door keeper

English

Prescott

Priest's cottage

English

Presley

Priest's meadow

English

Preston

Priest's town

English

Raleigh

Roe deer's meadow

English

Randall

Wolf shield

German

Randy

A diminutive form of Randolph.

English

Raymond

Protector

English

Reagan

Little king

Gaelic

Remington

Settlement by the stream

English

Rhett

Advice

English

Richmond

Rich hill

French

Rodney

Roda's island; island near the clearing

German

Ronald

Ruler's counselor

Scandinavian

Ryder

Mounted warrior

English

Sawyer

Wood Cutter

English

Sheldon

Steep valley

English

Sherman

Shear man

English

Sidney

Wide meadow

English

Sonny

Son

English

Sterling

Genuine, of high quality

English

Stuart

Steward

English

Sutton

Southern settlement

English

Tanner

Leather maker

English

Tennessee

Where waters meet

Native American

Terrence

A variant spelling of Terence.

Latin

Texas

Friend

Native American

Thomas

Twin

Greek

Todd

Fox

English

Travis

To cross over

French

Trevor

Large settlement

Welsh

Tucker

Cloth softener

English

Tyler

Tiler

English

Vance

Marshland

English

Vernon

Alder grove

French

Virgil

“A man of authority,” based on the Latin ver ger e (to bend), but ultimately on virgo, a staff of authority.

Latin

Wade

To ford

English

Walker

Fuller of cloth

English

Waylon

Land by the road

English

Wayne

Wagon builder or driver

English

Weston

West town

English

Wilbur

Bright will

German

Willard

Strong desire

English

Willie

Willing protector

English

Willis

“The son of Will(iam ),” based on Will (diminutive of William) and is (his).

English

Wilson

Son of William

English

Winston

Joyful stone

English

Wyatt

Brave in battle

English

Zachariah

The Lord recalled

Hebrew

Are you looking for a masculine moniker loaded with Southern sweetness? You’re in good company, as parents can’t get enough of this cute style. These Southern boy names tango easily with a twang and don’t mind getting a little dirty with outdoor play before Sunday supper. Let’s meet some Southern stunners and see which might pop up on your favorites list.

Classic Southern baby boy names are an excellent place to get acquainted with the style. They have strong roots in the land and loads of tradition. Clarence, Earl, and Alan are some of the most identifiable monikers. They may not be the most popular picks today, but they’re still well-known. You might recognize Preston, Willie, and Floyd, too. Maybe even the nickname-style Southern classics like Bubba and Buddy.

If you’d prefer something more modern, you’re still in luck. Alvin is an old favorite, but his close friend Calvin is seeing a recent revival in use. Try out occupational picks with a Southern side like Mason, Porter, and Tanner, or perhaps a country music-themed modern moniker like Cash or Brooks. Other modern Southern names for boys that fit in on the baby name charts are Gage, Hayes, and Landry.

A popular option is to opt for Southern baby boy names related to locations, like Austin, Memphis, or Houston. Don’t worry about feeling boxed in, as there’s a ton of versatility here. Raleigh has a modern ring to him, while Charleston feels like an old friend. Franklin has historical ties, and Orlando’s right at home in Hollywood. You could also use an abbreviated form to be less obvious, like Nashville’s friend Nash, Asheville’s Ash, or Louis for Louisville. More Southern names for boys with location roots are Augustine, Tennessee, and Texas.

Conversely, you can always find rare Southern baby boy names if you’d prefer something less common. Crawford is an excellent pick, and he mirrors today’s top names in many ways while remaining unique. He’s a surname and has a strong C start, like Carter or Cooper. Miller and Dawson are similar and not too common. Lovers of rare old-school names might love Curtis, while Dale might be the one-syllable wonder of your dreams.

Browse the rest of our Southern boy names collection and see if any charm their way into your heart.