When it comes to choosing a baby name, the sources of inspiration are as limitless as our imaginations. Many parents' first thought is to choose a baby name based on family heritage and legacy, which we absolutely admire — but not everyone has a family name that they want to pass on. A lot of the family names that haven't been used recently can feel old-fashioned in a not-so-good way, we may not have great relationships with our families, or we may also want our kids to have something that separates them from those who came before them. For anyone who wants to name their kid after a role model who isn't a member of their family, consider historical leaders. The people in this list are united in one way: They made impressive things happen in their lives.Ā
Whether they led countries, movements, science, or the arts, these men deeply impacted our world. While none of the men on this list are perfect, they all accomplished and contributed something great to society. Generally, if we want to name a kid after someone who never did anything bad and never made poor choices, we would be limited to, well, nobody. We can't think of a single person who never missed the mark. But these people all have something to admire about them — and they all affected the world around them.
Ā For anyone considering a baby name that isn't popular in the US but is becoming fashionable across the pond, take a look atĀ British baby boy namesĀ andĀ boy names trending around the world. Whether we want our kid to have a name that is common, so his classmates are familiar with it, or we want to avoid super popular names, it's a good idea to familiarize ourselves withĀ boy names expected to dominate the next decadeĀ andĀ 2019's trending baby boy names. On the opposite end of the spectrum, we'd recommend taking a look atĀ Bohemian names, which will have more unusual names to choose among, as well asĀ forgotten boy names from the Roaring '20s.
KARL
KingĀ Karl XI of Sweden was a just and kind ruler from the 1600s. He led his armies to victory against invading forces from Denmark. He was aĀ skilled military leader, avoided conflicts as much as possible, and under his reign, the country's finances were vastly improved.
PEDRO
DomĀ Pedro II of Brazil reigned over his country for 58 years in the 19th century. He inherited an empire that was about to fall apart, but he turned Brazil around, making it an emerging power. He abolished slavery and supported the arts and sciences.
PARKS
Naming a son after political activist and hero Rosa Parks is a wonderful way to honor this amazing American legend. Known for her key role in challenging segregation by refusing to give up her seat on the bus, Parks was a critical leader in the civil rights movement.
ALFRED
KingĀ Alfred the Great of defeated the Vikings in southern England and saved the city of London. The ninth century ruler made way for peace and understanding among enemies, promoted literacy, and provided protection from raiders for his people. He led toward a united England, which led to more peace.
KHAN
Genghis Khan may be most famous for being incredibly destructive, but he was also a remarkable military leader. In the 12th century, he created the largest land-based empire in the history of the world, and he was an extremely effective leader.
MARCUS
MarcusĀ Aurelius was considered the last of the āfive good emperorsā of the Roman Empire and is considered a remarkable thinker, writer, and philosopher, as well as a just and good ruler. He wrote a book titledĀ Meditations, which remains a text people admire to this day, about a sense of duty, service, peace, and drawing inspiration from nature.
ANTHONY
Antoninus Pius was a Roman emperorĀ fromĀ ADĀ 138 to 161, and he was the fourth of the "five good emperors." He ruled for 23 years, and he gave the whole empire a feel of well-being with his strong leadership. Antoninus is an older version of the name Anthony, but the name Anthony is still a way to honor him.
FRANKLIN
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was president of the US during most of the Great Depression. He created the New Deal,Ā and he is consideredĀ one of the three greatest US presidents, along with George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
BADER
Ruth Bader Ginsberg, bornĀ on March 15, 1933, has successfully fought against gender discrimination both before her appointment to the US Supreme Court and after. We think naming a baby boy Bader in her honor would be show admiration for this American hero.
FRY
Nicknamed the "angel of prisons," Elizabeth Fry was a Quaker in Britain during the Victorian period. She led the campaign to make prison conditions more humane for prisoners. In addition, she improved both the British hospital system and mental health facilities.
LINCOLN
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the US. He led the nation through the Civil War, preserved the Union, and abolished slavery. We admire his rise from growing up poor on the frontier to leading the nation.
MARIO
The director of Negro Affairs of the National Youth Administration in the 1930s and '40s, Mary McLeod Bethune advised President Franklin Roosevelt on interracial relations. Among her achievements, the Womenās Army Corps became integrated because of her work. Mario is a variation of Mary that works for boys.
JORDAN
Barbara Jordan became famous during the Watergate scandal of the 1970s as a freshman member of the judiciary committee, but she was also the first African American woman to preside over a legislative body in the US.
LUTHER
Martin Luther King Jr. was an inspiring spokesman and leader of the US civil rights movement, known for advancing civil rights through civil disobedience and a deep commitment to nonviolence, inspired by the activism of Mahatma Gandhi.
GEORGE
George Washington was the first president of the United States. He led the colonists to victory against the British, and was known as a remarkably honest and honorable man among his peers. He was also known for placing his men's needs ahead of his own.
CYRUS
Cyrus the Great was an amazing Persian conqueror from the sixth century BC. He was a kind, benevolent ruler whom US President Thomas Jefferson looked up to. He created a successful model for centralized administration, and created a government that profited its subjects.
NELSON
Nelson Mandela was the driving force behind the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, where he became the country's first black head of state. He was a renowned political leader and philanthropist who helped dismantle institutionalized racism in his country.
PETER
Peter the Great of Russia was well-beloved by his people for expanding the empire and leading a cultural revolution that brought to the forefront modern, scientific thinking of the 18th century. He also held Russia strong against multiple invaders.
LOUIS
Louis IX of France, commonly known as St. Louis, is the only king of France to have been made a saint by the Catholic church. He banned cruel practices like trial by ordeal, worked to prevent war, and introduced the idea that we are all innocent until proven guilty to the justice system. That said, the 13th century ruler did some pretty cruel things as well, including expanding the scope of the Inquisition.
DESMOND
Desmond Tutu is a South African Anglican cleric known for his inspiring work as an anti-apartheid activist and a human rights advocate. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work, and used nonviolent protest to make his points heard.
NIKOLA
Nikola Tesla was a Serbian-American inventor who's works were often miscredited and unrecognized during his lifetime. He is most famous for his contributions to science, in particular, his work aroundĀ modern alternating current electricity supply system, known today as the Tesla coil. His work has led to many modern inventors using his methods to create various forms of sustainable energy. Brilliant and heroic? That's a perfect baby name source.
WILLIAM
William Shakespeare is considered the foremost poet and writer of the English language. Not only did he write some of the most timeless classics, he even shaped modern language by inventing words and phrases in the 16th century that we use today. His influence can be felt around the world.
LEO
Leo Tolstoy is another prolific writer worthy of naming a son after. The 19th century novelist and philosopher focused much of his work on morality and challenged the way we think about our own values and virtues. His most notable contributions areĀ War and Peace and Anna Karenina.
NEIL
Neil Armstrong is more of a modern day hero. This American scientist and astronaut was the first man to walk on the moon in 1969. He's responsible for the timeless line:Ā āThatās one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.ā
CLAUDE
Claude Monet was a groundbreaking impressionist painter. He inspired millions with his work that forced people to truly look at and absorb art. In fact, his paintings from the turn of the 20th century sparked the entire Impressionist movement.
PABLO
We know Pablo Picasso as the famous artist who ushered in an era of Cubism in the first part of the 20th century, and as a man who revolutionized the art world as we know it. But Picasso was more than just a painter; he was a peace activist who often used his art to bring awareness and spark political discourse.
MALCOLM
Malcolm is the perfect name for a little boy you want to raise to stand by his conviction. His namesake would be the indomitable Malcolm X who was the leader of the nation of Islam and a black civil rights activist.
DARWIN
Parents who have a love of science will appreciate this moniker. The name Darwin in this case is derived from Charles Darwin. Darwin is best known as the scientist who proposed and popularized the theory of evolution.
AUSTEN
Though not a man, Jane Austen's last name is the perfect moniker for a little boy. Her novels were provocative for the early 19th century and she was a consistently barrier-breaking writer in all of her published works.
GRANT
Ulysses S. Grant was not only a fearsome leader and US president. Grant vehemently opposed and defeated early versions of the KKK. He is often credited for standing up for black citizens.
