Boy Names That Start with N

Finding the perfect name for your baby boy can be an exciting journey. Names hold a lot of significance, often influenced by family traditions or personal preferences.

Whether you have a special connection to names starting with the letter “N” or are simply looking for inspiration, there are many meaningful and unique options to consider.

There is a rich variety of boy names beginning with “N,” each with its own distinct meaning. This list provides some notable options to help you find the ideal name for your little one.

Popular Boy Names That Start With N

Noah

Noah is a Hebrew name meaning “rest” or “repose.” It gained prominence from the biblical story of Noah’s Ark, where Noah saved his family and various animal species from the Great Flood.

Though not widely popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries, it surged in popularity during the 1970s and continues to do so today, partly due to figures like actor Noah Wyle and the character in The Notebook.

Nathan

Nathan is another Hebrew name, translating to “he gave.” In the Old Testament, Nathan was a prophet. Noteworthy individuals with this name include actor Nathan Fillion and poet Nathan Alterman.

Nolan

This name comes from the Anglicized Irish Ó Nualláin, rooted in the word nuall, meaning “famous” or “loud.”

Nolan has steadily increased in popularity since the 1970s, with baseball player Nolan Ryan contributing to its fame.

Nicholas

Derived from the Greek phrase for “victory of the people,” Nicholas is also commonly spelled Nicolas.

Saint Nicholas, a fourth-century bishop in what’s now Turkey, is a notable historical figure tied to this name, inspiring the myth of Santa Claus.

Contemporary examples include actors Nicholas Cage and Nicholas Hoult, and author Nicholas Sparks.

Nathaniel

Meaning “God has given” in Hebrew, Nathaniel has been used in English-speaking regions since the Protestant Reformation.

Some well-known Nathaniels are the American writer Nathaniel Hawthorne, football player Nathaniel Hackett, and YouTuber Nathaniel Drew.

Nash

Originally an English surname, Nash comes from the Middle English phrase “at the ash tree.”

It became more common as a given name from the 1990s, notably due to the TV series Nash Bridges. Mathematician John Nash is a famous bearer of this surname.

Nico

Often a shortened form of Nicholas, Nico (or Niko) is popular in countries like Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Finland, Croatia, Georgia, and Slovenia.

Nasir

Nasir means “helper” in Arabic. While already popular in Arabic-speaking countries, it has been gaining traction in the United States.

Nehemiah

This name has biblical roots, meaning “Yahweh comforts” in Hebrew.

Nehemiah was a key figure in the Old Testament, leading the Jews and overseeing the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity.

Noel

Noel is the English form of the French word Noël, meaning Christmas.

Well-known individuals with this name include British musician Noel Gallagher and playwright Noël Coward.

Unique Boy Names That Start With N

Nanna

Nanna can be used as a name for both boys and girls. In Sumerian mythology, Nanna is known as the moon god. He is the son of Enlil and the husband of Ningal.

Nairyosangha

This Persian name comes from the Avestan language, combining the words for “male” and “word.”

In Zoroastrian belief, Nairyosangha is an angel who serves as a messenger for the god Ahura Mazda.

Nanabozho

Nanabozho means “my rabbit” in Ojibwe, a language of indigenous tribes in North America.

According to Anishinaabe legend, Nanabozho is a trickster spirit.

Nergüi

Nergüi is a Mongolian name that translates to “no name.” It was traditionally bestowed to confuse evil spirits.

Nīkau

Nīkau is a Māori name derived from a type of palm tree native to New Zealand.

Nuada

Originating from Irish mythology, Nuada was the first king of the Tuatha Dé Danann, a supernatural race. This name was also used by some semi-legendary Irish kings.

Nodens

Nodens likely comes from an old Celtic root meaning “mist” or “haze.”

Nodens is a Celtic god associated with healing, fishing, and hunting. This name may also be the origin for names like the Irish Nuada or Welsh Nudd.

Nynniaw

Nynniaw is an old Welsh name found in the twelfth-century works of Geoffrey of Monmouth and in the Welsh tale “Culwch and Olwen.”

Nagendra

Nagendra translates to “lord of snakes” in Sanskrit and is another name for Vasuki, the king of snakes in Hindu mythology.

Nurlan

Nurlan is a name from Kazakhstan that means “light,” “young man,” or “soldier.” It is also used in Kyrgyzstan.

Biblical Names Starting with N for a Boy

Nadab

Nadab means “generous” in Hebrew. This name was given to the son of Aaron in the Old Testament and also to the second king of Israel.

Nahum

Nahum translates to “comforter” in Hebrew. It refers to one of the 12 minor prophets in the Old Testament.

Naphtali

Naphtali means “my strife” or “my struggle.” This name was used for the son of Jacob by Rachel’s servant Bilhah in the Old Testament. He became one of the 12 tribes of Israel.

Narcissus

Narcissus has roots in Greek mythology but also appears briefly in the New Testament. The Greek name means “sleep” or “numbness.”

It was borne by several early saints and was used especially in Catholic regions to honor saints.

Nathanael

Nathanael comes from the Hebrew Netan’el, meaning “God has given.”

This name appears for many characters in the Old Testament and also for an apostle in the New Testament.

Nebo

Nebo is a form of Nabu, likely from a Semitic root meaning “to announce.”

Though Nabu was a god in Assyrian and Babylonian mythology, Nebo appears in the Old Testament for Mount Nebo, where Moses saw the Promised Land before his death.

Nebuchadnezzar

Nebuchadnezzar is the Hebrew form of an Akkadian name meaning “Nabu protect my eldest son.”

This name was used by kings of the Babylonian empire, including a king who captured Jerusalem in the Old Testament.

Nereus

Nereus means “water” in Greek and refers to a sea god in Greek mythology. In the New Testament, Nereus is the name of a Christian in Rome.

Nicodemus

Nicodemus comes from the Greek word meaning “victory of the people.”

It is used in the New Testament for the character who helps Joseph of Arimathea entomb Jesus.

Nimrod

The meaning of Nimrod is not clear. It could have Akkadian roots or come from a Hebrew word meaning “rebel.”

In the Old Testament, Nimrod is the great-grandson of Noah.

Cool Boy Names That Start With N

Naiche

Naiche means “mischief-maker” in Apache. It was the name of a nineteenth-century Chiricahua Apache chief.

Naram-Sin

This name means “beloved of Sin” in Akkadian. Sin is the name of a moon god. Naram-Sin was also the name of a ruler from the Akkadian Empire in the twenty-third century B.C.E.

Ninos

Ninos likely comes from the ancient city of Nineveh in Assyria. According to Greek historians, it was also the name of Semiramis’ husband and the founder of Nineveh.

Neferkare

Neferkare is an Ancient Egyptian name that means “the soul of Ra is beautiful.” Several Egyptian pharaohs bore this name.

Narses

Narses is the Hellenized form of Narseh, which originates from the Zoroastrian name Nairyosangha.

Narses was used by a Byzantine general of Armenian descent, who helped restore Italy to the Roman Empire during Justinian I’s reign in the sixth century.

Nabopolassar

Nabopolassar is a Babylonian name meaning “Nabu protect my son,” where Nabu is the Assyrian and Babylonian god of wisdom.

This name was also borne by a king of the Babylonian Empire in the seventh century.

Nikolaj

Nikolaj is the Danish and Slovene form of Nicholas.

The most famous bearer of this name is Danish actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, known for his role in Game of Thrones.

Naoise

Naoise is a name of Irish origin, though its meaning remains unknown.

In Irish mythology, Naoise fled to Scotland with Deirdre, who was intended to marry the king of Ulster.

Neo

Neo is a versatile name with different meanings depending on the culture.

In South Africa, it is used for both boys and girls and means “gift” in Tswana. In Greek, it means “new.”

Neo is best recognized as the name of the main character played by Keanu Reeves in the Matrix movies.

Ninurta

Ninurta comes from the Sumerian words nin, meaning “lord,” and urta, meaning “ear of barley.”

In Sumerian and Akkadian mythology, Ninurta was a god of agriculture, healing, and hunting, and later associated with war.

Common Boy Names That Start With N

Neil

Neil originates from the Irish name Niall, potentially meaning “fury,” “passion,” or “hero.”

This name has been used throughout history, from the Middle Ages by Norse raiders to the Normans.

Notable people named Neil include astronaut Neil Armstrong, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, writer Neil Gaiman, actor Neil Patrick Harris, and singer Neil Young.

Nelson

Nelson is derived from an English surname meaning “son of Neil.”

Its most famous bearer is British admiral Horatio Nelson. As a given name, Nelson is notably associated with South African statesman Nelson Mandela, who was originally named Rolihlahla but was called Nelson by a teacher.

Neville

Neville was initially a surname from a place name meaning “new town” in Norman French. It is mainly popular in Britain and Australia.

Examples include former British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and Harry Potter character Neville Longbottom.

Nick

Nick is a common short form of Nicholas.

Some notable individuals named Nick include musician Nick Cave, singer Nick Jonas, writer Nick Hornby, and tennis player Nick Kyrgios.

Nigel

Nigel is a medieval Latinized version of Neil and might come from the Latin word for “black.”

It gained popularity in the nineteenth century, possibly due to Walter Scott’s novel The Fortunes of Nigel.

Notable Nigels include celebrity chef Nigel Slater and violinist Nigel Kennedy.

Norman

Norman originates from an old Germanic term meaning “north man,” referring to Vikings.

The name was revived in the nineteenth century thanks to C.M. Yonge’s novel The Daisy Chain. Examples include writer Norman Mailer, painter Norman Rockwell, and actor Norman Reedus.

Norbert

Norbert is based on the Germanic words nord meaning “north,” and beraht meaning “bright.”

Nate

Nate is a shorter form of Nathan or Nathaniel.

Niles

Niles comes from the English surname that evolved from Neil. A notable example is the character Niles from the TV show Frasier.

Nikolai

Nikolai is common in Russia and Bulgaria, being the local variation of Nicholas. Writer Nikolai Gogol is a well-known bearer of this name.

Cute Boy Names That Start With N

Nacho

Nacho is a short form of Ignacio, a name with Spanish roots that traces back to a Roman family name, potentially of Etruscan origin.

Nudd

This Welsh name comes from Nuada, an important character in Welsh legends and early poetry like Culhwch and Olwen.

Nagi

Nagi is an Arabic name meaning “intimate friend.” It’s a lovely choice reflecting close companionship.

Nando

Nando is a short form of names like Fernando in Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian. This name is both unique and charming.

Nanuk

Nanuk, also spelled Nanuq, means “polar bear” in Inuktitut, the language spoken by the Inuit.

Neely

Neely is derived from a Scottish surname, which is an Anglicized version of a Gaelic name that means “son of the poet.”

Nemo

Nemo means “nobody” in Latin. It was popularized by Jules Verne in his book Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and later by the animated movie Finding Nemo.

Nicky

Nicky is a diminutive form of Nick, making it a familiar and endearing name choice.

Nālani

This Hawaiian name means “the heavens” or “the chiefs.” It’s a beautiful and cultural name.

Nitya

Nitya is an Indian name used for both boys and girls. It means “always” or “eternal” in Sanskrit, adding a timeless quality to this name.

International N Names for Boys

Nikollë

This is the Albanian form of Nicholas, which might be a great choice for families with Albanian roots.

Nerses

Nerses is the Armenian version of Narseh, a Persian name from Avestan Nairyosangha. A notable figure with this name is Saint Nerses, a fourth-century Armenian church leader.

Niels

Niels is the Danish form of Nicholas, and also the Dutch short form of Cornelius. A famous bearer of this name is the Danish physicist Niels Bohr.

Nigul

This name is the Estonian form of Nicholas.

Narcisse

Narcisse is the French form of Narcissus. It is used for both boys and girls and is also known as the name of a flower.

Nii

This name comes from West Africa and is derived from a Ga word used as a royal title for males.

Naveen

This Indian name has Sanskrit roots meaning “new.” It’s common in India and among people with Indian heritage, such as the actor Naveen Andrews.

Njáll

This is the old Norse form of Niall. It is known from the thirteenth-century Icelandic saga, Njáls Saga, based on the life of a tenth-century Icelandic chieftain.

Nnamdi

Nnamdi means “my father is alive” in Igbo. It’s traditionally given to a child believed to be the reincarnation of his grandfather.

Niccolò

Niccolò is the Italian version of Nicholas. A notable individual with this name is Niccolò Machiavelli, the political philosopher and author of The Prince.

Strong and Powerful Boy Names Starting With N

Nabu-Kudurri-Usur

Nabu-Kudurri-Usur is the Akkadian form of the name Nebuchadnezzar.

Nándor

Nándor is a Hungarian name that originally referred to Bulgarian people living near the Danube. Since the nineteenth century, it has been used as a Hungarian short form of Ferdinand.

Napoleon

Napoleon’s origins are not entirely clear. Some suggest it could stem from the Germanic Nibelungen, meaning “sons of mist.” Others connect it to the Italian city of Naples. The name is famously associated with the French emperor Napoléon Bonaparte and gained renewed popularity with the film Napoleon Dynamite.

Narayana

Narayana means “path of man” in Sanskrit. This name is also the title of the god of creation in Hinduism.

Neptune

Neptune’s meaning is uncertain, though some theories link it to the Indo-European root nebh, meaning “wet” or “damp.” In Roman mythology, Neptune is the god of the sea, equivalent to the Greek god Poseidon. It’s also the name of the eighth planet in the solar system.

Nazzareno

Nazzareno is the Italian form of Nazarenus, which means “from Nazareth.” This refers to the town where Jesus lived.

Nedeljko

Nedeljko is derived from the Croatian nedjelja and Serbian nedelja, both meaning “Sunday.”

Nero

Nero, a name from ancient Rome, possibly has Sabine origins meaning “strong” or “vigorous.” It was borne by a Roman emperor in the first century. Today, it is also used in Italy as a short form of Raniero.

Nenad

Nenad means “unexpected” in Serbian and Croatian. It is even featured in the Serbian folk song Predrag and Nenad.

Neoptolemus

Neoptolemus means “new war” in Greek. It was the name given to the son of Achilles.