15 ‘Q’ Names for Baby Boys With Quite a Ring to Them

What is it about a good 'Q' name that catches our eye? They're always a little interesting and a little unusual. That 'Qu' sound makes for sweet sounding names that have a strong backbone to them, and we love how steeped in history these names always are.

If you're looking for a baby boy's name that's just a little off-beat, maybe Q is the way to go. Here's a list of our favorite options:

  1. Qais: Pronounced "KICE," this solid name comes from the Arabic word for "lover." A tough name that has a secret and soft meaning? Yes please!

  2. Quaid: Quaid comes from English and Irish origins, and it's actually a distant cousin of the name Walter. Pronounced "kwAYd," it means "leader" or "powerful ruler."

  3. Quain: It's similar to Quaid in source and spelling, but Quain has a sound all of its own. It comes from the Irish surname of the same spelling, but it's gaining traction as a first name because of its sweet sound and strong history.

  4. Quanah: Sometimes spelt with two Ns, Quanah was the name of a powerful Native American tribe chief. The name means "fragrant" or "sweet smelling" and makes for a beautiful name with a powerful history.

  5. Quantum: Though it's most associated with the brand of physics, Quantum originally comes from the Latin word for "how much." It's used as a boy's name for a smarter and quirkier version of Quentin.

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  6. Quentin: One of the few Q names for boys that actually makes the popularity charts, Quentin can also be spelled Quenten, Quenton, or Quintin. We love how it's almost musical rolling off the tongue but doesn't seem to lose any of it's masculinity.

  7. Quest: Quest is an edgy name for adventurous boys. Its strong sound and obvious origins just make this name even cooler … if that's even possible.

  8. Quigley: Quigley comes from the Old English word for "lively," and it's one of those great names that sounds like it means. If you've got a Quigley, you're pretty much guaranteed to have a happy and energetic little boy.

  9. Quil: A descendant of the Irish surname O'Cuill, Quil (sometimes spelled Quill) comes from the word for "forest." It's as peaceful as its meaning would suggest and has a literary feeling because of it's relation to the quill pen.

  10. Quillan: With a similar sound to the far more popular Dylan, Quillan is a great option if you're looking for something a little more unique. It comes from the Gaelic word for "cub" and has a gorgeous but masculine sound to it.

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  1. Quinn: Though it's used a lot today as a girl's name, Quinn is traditionally a boys name. It's a derivative of the Gaelic word for "wisdom, intelligence, and reason," and we love it for it's sweet and strong sound. 
  2. Quince: A quince is a kind of apple, but it's also a variation of the name Quinn. It might have been used first by Shakespeare, who assigned it to one of his characters in A Midsummer Night's Dream.
  3. Quincy: Another popular Q name, Quincy was worn by a lot of notables throughout history — John Quincy Adams included. It comes from the Latin word for "fifth," but it's definitely strong enough to be a first, too.
  4. Quinlan: Quinlan has a lot of translations from its native Gaelic, and they're all good: "shapely," "graceful," and "beautifully made" are all on the list.
  5. Quint: Quint is a shortened and altered version of Quentin, so it also descends from the Latin word Quintus. It shares a sound and feel with Clint, but we love that it's just a touch more unusual.

Are you looking for a baby names that are a little bit quirky?

For more great baby name ideas, visit Baby Name Wizard.

Images via Alex Oakenman/shutterstock; Lucas MS/shutterstock