If you’re expecting a bundle of joy or seeking a touch of Southern charm for your book character, you’ve found the perfect spot.
In this blog, we’re fixin’ to explore the winding trails of Southern boy names.
Whether you’re a true Southern belle or a transplanted Yankee with a hankerin’ for some Dixie flair, we’ve rounded up a list of names that’ll drawl their way into your heart.
Just like our collection of Southern girl names, this list has got it all, from timeless classics to unique gems as rare as a Southern snowstorm.
You’ll explore the origin and meaning of each name, along with suggested nicknames in parentheses.
To help you in your search, we’ve included each name’s current popularity ranking. Any name not rated indicates it’s out of the top 1000 baby names on the US SSA website, making it a rare choice.
Read on to find the perfect Southern boy name for your little one!
Rustic Country Boy Names
- Arlo – #169
Old English Fortified hill (Ar, Arl, Arle)
- Austin – #111
Latin Great, magnificent (Aus, Aussie, Austie, Stin)
- Barrett – #208
German Bear strength (Bare, Barry, Rhett, Rhetty, Bar)
- Bennett – #83
Latin Blessed, well-spoken (Ben, Benny, Bens)
- Blake – #228
English Black, white (Blakey, Blay, Lake, Blakes)
- Bowen – #389
Welsh Son of Owen (Bow, Bowie, Owen, Wen)
- Brody – #207
Irish Ditch, muddy place (Bro, Brode, Rodey, Brodes)
- Burke
French From the fortress (Bur, Burry, Burs, Burkey)
- Colton – #91
English Coal town (Col, Colt, Colty, Ton)
- Davis – #631
English Son of David (Dave, Davey, David, Vis)
- Dawson – #183
English son of David (Daw, Daws, Dawsie, Sonny)
- Evan – #134
Welsh God is gracious (Ev, Van, Vans, Evs)
- Ezra – #25
Hebrew Helper (Ez, Ezie, Ezrie)
- Fletcher – #677
English Arrow maker (Fletch, Fletchy, Floo, Flooch)
- Gable
German God is bright (Gabe, Gab, Gabes, Able)
- Gabriel – #36
Hebrew God is my strength (Gabe, Gabes, Able, Gab, Gibby)
- Grant – #220
French Tall, big (Gran, Grants, Grin)
- Hank – #445
German Home ruler (Han, Hankie, Hanker)
- Harvey – #403
French Battle worthy (Har, Harry, Harv, Vey)
- Hayden – #160
Old English Hay field (Hay, Hayes, Hayd, Haydie, Denny)
- Holden – #283
Old English Valley (Hold, Holdie, Den, Denny)
- Hudson – #27
English Son of Hugh (Hud, Huddy, Huds, Sonny)
- Hunter – #101
English One who hunts, pursuer (Hun, Hunt, Hunty, Huns)
- Hutton
Old English Settlement on the bluff (Hut, Hutt, Hutty, Ton)
- Ivan – #159
Slavic God is gracious (Iv, Ivy, Ives, Van)
- Jenson
Scandinavian Son of Jens (Jen, Jenny, Jens, Sonny)
- Jude – #161
Hebrew Praised (Judey, Judes, Ju, Judd)
- Leroy – #855
French The king (Lee, Roy, Royce, Ler)
- Liam – #1
Irish Strong-willed warrior (Li, Lee, Lia)
- Marshall – #384
French Caretaker of horses (Mars, Mar, Mare, Marsh, Marshy)
- Owen – #18
Welsh Noble-born (Ow, Owie, Wen)
- Reid – #325
English Red-haired (Reidy, Reddy, Red, Reds)
- Rhett – #151
Latin To speak, advisor (Rhetty, Rhetts, Rhetro)
- Spencer – #338
Old French Steward, administrator (Spen, Spence, Spencey, Pence)
- Toby
Hebrew God is good (Tob, Tobs, Tobes, Tobe)
- Travis – #383
French Toll collector (Trav, Travie, Trave, Vis)
- Truett – #745
English Dry wood, river bend (True, Truey, Ett)
- Weston – #83
English From the western town (Wes, West, Westie, Ston, Ton)
RELATED: Cottagecore Names With Rustic Charm For Boys & Girls
Double Southern Baby Boy Names
- Benton Knox
Old English Settlement in the bent grass (Ben, Benny, Bent, Knox)
- Billy Bob
German protector (Bill, Billy, Bob, Bobby, Bob)
- Billy Joe
German Resolute protector (Bill, Billy, Bills, Joe, Joey, Jojo)
- Corey Lee
Gaelic In a cauldron, in a hollow (Cor, Cores, Corey, Lee)
- Everett James
Old English Strong boar (Ever, Ev, Rhett, Rhetty, Jamie)
- Jack Avery
Hebrew Yahweh has been gracious (Jack, Jacky, Jacks, Ave)
- James Wyatt
Old English Brave at war (Jame, Jamie, Wy)
- Jesse James
Hebrew God’s gift, the Lord exists (Jess, Jesse, James, Jer)
- John David
English God is gracious (Johnny, Johns, Dave, Davey)
- Michael Lee
Hebrew Who is like God? (Mike, Mikey, Mickey, Lee)
- Tucker Owen
Old English To torment (Tuck, Tucky, Ow, Owie)
- Tyler James
Old English Doorkeeper of an inn (Ty, Tyl, James)
Check out these black boy names and black girl names for monikers rich in culture.
Unique Southern Male Names
- Alfie
English Elf, counsel, wise (Alf, Al, Alfs)
- Arrow
English A projectile fired from a bow (Ar, Are, Arry, Airy, Row)
- Benton
English Town in the bent grass (Ben, Benny, Bens, Bent)
- Bishop
English Overseer (Bish, Bishie, Shop, Shopper)
- Blaise
French Lisp, stutter (Blay, Blaisie, Blaser, Laser)
- Booker
English Someone concerned with books (Book, Books, Bookie)
- Brent
English Hill, mount (Brentie, Bren, Brenny)
- Clint
English Fenced settlement (Cly, Clinty, Lint)
- Deagan
Hebrew Grain of corn (Dea, Diggy, Deag)
- Guthrie
Irish Windy place (Gut, Guth, Guthie, Thrie)
- Jethro
Hebrew Excellence, eminent (Jet, Jeth, Jethie, Thro)
- Lyle
French Someone who lives on an island (Ly, Lele, Lyz)
- Orrin
English River, green (Orie, Ore, Rin, Oreo)
- Palmer
Old English He who holds the palm (Palm, Palmy, Palms)
- Radley
English From the red field, red meadow (Rad, Boo, Raddy)
- Warrick
German leader who defends (War, Rick, Ricky, Richie, Warry)
- Whit
English White, good-natured (Whitty, White, Whits, Wit)
See this post for more unique and unusual boy names!
Nature-Inspired Southern Male Names
- Briar – #743
English Thorny bush of wild roses (Bry, Bri, Bro)
- Brooks – #76
German Water, small stream (Broo, Brookie, Brooker, Rook, Rookie)
- Cedar
Latin Cedar tree (Ced, Ceddy, Dar, Cede)
- Clay – #615
English Clay worker (Clays, Clayclay, Lay, Cly, Ly)
- Cliff
Old English Cliff-side slope (Cliffy, Liff, Cliffs, Cly)
- Cypress
Greek Evergreen tree (Cyp, Cy, Cypie, Pressie, Press)
- Denver – #480
Old English Green Valley (Den, Denny, Dennys, Denvie, Denv)
- Dillon – #726
Irish Like a lion, loyal (Dill, Dilly, Dil, Lon, Lonny)
- Finch
English Songbird (Fin, Finny, Finchie, Fincher, Fins)
- Fisher – #890
English Fisherman (Fish, Fishy, Fi, Fy)
- Hayes – #209
English Hedged area (Hay, Hazy, Yes)
- Heath – #861
English Land of heather and grass (Heathy, Hea, Hue, Heat, Heaty)
- Jasper – #130
Persian Treasurer (Jas, Jazzy, Jazz, Jasp, Jaspie)
- Micah – #90
Hebrew Who resembled God? (Mick, Mickey, Mike, Mikey, My)
- Ridge – #532
English Continuous elevated mountain crest (Ridgy, Reg, Reggie, Rid, Riddy)
- River – #105
English A flowing body of water (Riv, Rivvy, Rive, Riva)
- Rowan – #96
Irish Little red-head (Row, Rowie, Rows, Owen)
- Shepherd – #493
English Herder of sheep (Shep, Sheppy, Herdie, Herder, Sheps)
- Silas – #87
Latin Forest, woods (Sil, Sile, Siley, Las)
- Stone – #982
English Stone, sweller by the rocks (Stones, Stony, Tony, Tones, Tons)
- Sylvan
Latin Of the forest (Sylv, Sylvie, Syl, Van, Vanny)
- Wade – #346
English To go, ford (Wades, Wadey, Wader)
- Wells – #466
English From the well, spring (Well, Welly, Weller, Wel)
- Woodrow
English Row of houses by the wood (Wood, Woody, Woods, Row, Rows)
SEE ALSO: 220 Boy Names Rooted in Nature
Old Southern Boy Names
- Abbott
English Father, priest (Ab, Abs, Abby, Bott)
- Autry
Old English Noble strength (Aut, Art, Artie, Autie, Try)
- Beckett – #195
Old English Brook (Beck, Becker, Kett, Kit)
- Bentley – #172
English Meadow with coarse grass (Ben, Benny, Bent, Ley, Benz)
- Boyd
Scottish Yellow, blond (Boy, Boydy, Bobo, Bo)
- Brigham
Old English Bridge homestead, settlement (Brig, Briggy, Briggs, Ham)
- Callahan – #518
Irish Bright-headed (Cal, Call, Cally, Han)
- Chandler – #640
French Candle maker (Chan, Chanman, Chandy, Handler, Chand)
- Charles – #50
Old English Free man (Charls, Charlie, Chuck, Chucky, Char)
- Chester
English Fort, encampment (Chez, Ches, Chessy, Cheeze)
- Colby – #597
Norse Swarthy person’s settlement (Col, Collie, Colb, Bee)
- Cooper – #53
English Barrel maker (Coop, Coopy, Coo, Oop)
- Darwin – #987
English Dear friend (Dar, Darwin, Winnie, Winner, Dare)
- Easton – #80
English East town (East, Eastie, Tony, Tones)
- Emmett – #115
English Universal, truth (Em, Emmy, Emmer, Mett, Metty)
- George – #142
Greek Farmer, earthworker (Georgie, Jordie, Geoff, Geo, G)
- Grady – #405
Irish Renowned, noble (Gray, Grade, Grades, Grader, Rady)
- Graham – #155
Scottish Gravelly homestead (Gram, Gray, Grams, Ham, Hammy)
- Harlan – #725
English Dweller by the boundary wood (Harl, Har, Harly, Harls, Lan)
- Henry – #7
German House ruler (Hen, Hank, Harry, Henny)
- Houston – #694
Scottish From Hugh’s town (Hous, Hue, Huey, Tony)
- Jebediah
Hebrew Beloved friend (Jeb, Jebby, Jebs, Jed, Jeddy)
- Jefferson – #759
Old English Son of Jeffrey (Jeff, Jeffrey, Jeffs, Sonny)
- Lawson – #409
English Son of Lawrence (Law, Laws, Lawsie, Son, Sonny)
- Montgomery
French Mountain belonging to the ruler, manpower (Mon, Mont, Monty, Gom, Gommy)
- Preston – #255
English Priest’s town (Pres, Prest, Pressie, Prestie, Ton)
- Sawyer – #131
English Woodworker (Saw, Saws, Soybean, Soy)
- Skeeter
English Fast and rapid (Skeet, Skeety, Sket, Skee)
- Sterling – #401
English Starling, little star (Sterl, Sterly, Ster, Star, Starry)
- Sullivan – #365
Gaelic Dark eyes (Sul, Sully, Ivan, Vanny)
- Theodore – #10
Greek A gift from God (Theo, Teddy, Ted, Thor)
- Trigg
Middle English Trustworthy, faithful (Triggy, Try, Tree, Rigg, Riggy)
- Tristan – #226
Celtic Sad, melancholy (Tris, Tristy, Stan, Trissy)
- Tucker – #197
Middle English Tailor (Tuck, Tucky, Tucks)
- Waylon – #66
Old English Land by the road (Way, Wayl, Waylie, Wayls)
- Winston – #420
Old English Joyful stone (Win, Winnie, Winner, Wins, Ston)
Badass Southern Boy Names
- Archer – #126
Latin Bowman (Arch, Archie, Arches, Artie, Art)
- Beau – #89
French Handsome (Bo, Bea)
- Casey – #336
Irish Watchful, vigilant, brave (Cay, Case, Cases, Cass)
- Chase – #136
English Hunter (Chas, Chaz, Chazzy, Chaser)
- Clyde – #688
Scottish Warm, friendly (Cly, Clyd, Clydie, Clyds)
- Crew – #254
English A group of people (Crews)
- Darren – #852
Irish Great (Dare, Dar, Ren, Renny)
- Deacon – #515
Greek Messenger, helper (Dea, Deac, Con, Conner)
- Dean – #163
English Valley (Deanie, Deaner, Deans)
- Duke – #679
Latin Leader (Dukey, Dukes, Duker, Due, Dues)
- Dylan – #41
Welsh Son of the sea (Dyl, Dilly, Lan, Dylans, Dyller)
- Gavin – #206
Scottish White hawk (Gav, Gavey, Vin, Vinny, Vine)
- Gunner – #387
German Battler, warrior (Gun, Guns, Gunny)
- Maverick – #40
English An unorthodox or independent-minded person (Mack, Mav, Mavvy, Rick, Ricky)
- McCoy – #860
Irish Son of Aodh, fire (Mack, Coy, Coys)
- Nash – #251
English By the ash tree (Nashy, Nasher, Ash, Asher, Ashy)
- Roderick
German Glory, ruler (Rod, Rick, Ricky, Rich, Ricky)
- Stetson – #238
English Boxer, fighter (Stet, Stets, Son, Sonny, Tetsy)
- Tate – #234
English cheerful, happy (Tates, Tater, Tatertot, Tat)
- Tripp – #437
French One who tripped (Trip, Trippy, Tripper, Ripper, Tip, Tippy)
- West
Old English Western stream (Westy, West, Wester, Wests)
- Wilder – #373
German Untamed, wild (Wildy, Wilds)
- Wyatt – #38
English War strength, brave warrior (Wy, Wyer, Wys, Wyse)
- Xavier – #100
Arabic New house (X, Xav, Xavie, Xay)
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Wrapping Up Southern Boy Names
Our stroll through Southern boy names has come to a close.
We reckon you’re now armed with a mighty fine collection of monikers to choose from, so go on and let your little one’s name be as rare and special as a Georgia snowfall.
Whether you’re embracing your Southern roots or discovering the magic of the South for the first time, let your choice reflect your love, values, and dreams.
Until we meet again, keep that Southern spirit alive!
Take a look at our extended list of fashionable boy names. Vintage Boy Names for a Comeback Gentle and Sweet Soft Boy Names Mighty Choices of Strong and Powerful Boy Names Boy Names from the Scriptures Boy Names with a Romantic Touch