If you or your partner are obsessed with sports, why not consider naming your new baby boy after a famous athlete? Honoring your passion for athletics by naming your child after a sportsman that you truly admire, is a big move, yes, but it’s one you won’t likely regret — especially if you’re a lifelong fan.
Or perhaps, you just want to ceremoniously set your child up for greatness. We get it! We all want our kids to achive big things, just like some of the incredible athletes that have amazed and entertained fans for decades.
Someone like Tom Brady, who announced his retirement from the NFL in January 2022, will always invoke the idea of excellence, and we can’t argue pinning something like that on your child. So here, we’re sharing 20 awesome baby names inspired by famous athletes to consider for your new little one.
Brady
Rafael
Rafael is a gorgeous sounding name, whether you’re into sports or not, but if you happen to be a tennis fan, it probably makes you think of the ultra-famous, Grand Slam-winning tennis player, Rafael Nadal. It actually comes from the Hebrew language, and means, “God has healed.”
Peyton
Peyton Manning has been retired from the NFL for years, and he still holds the record for most MVP awards in the league. It’s five, by the way. The name comes from the English surname, Payton, which is thought to have been associated with a specific town.
Beckham
Literally everyone knows who David Beckham is. The soccer player has been retired since 2013, but he certainly left his mark on the sport, and on pop culture in general when he started modeling and married former Spice Girl, Victoria (Posh Spice) Beckham. It’s, of course, an English surname.
Alex
Alex is a pretty common name among athletes. Most prominently, retired MLB player, Alex Rodriguez, and retired NFL quarterback, Alex Smith, share the name. The name has Greek roots, from the name Alexander, and means, “to defend, to help.”
Bryant
What better way to honor a legend, than by naming your baby boy after him? We lost NBA star, Kobe Bryant, way too soon, so whether in honor of his talent and ability or in memoriam to his life, Bryant, which means, “noble, strong, virtuous, wealthy,” in Gaelic, is a great name option.
Jordan
The name Jordan, is a modern classic, in part due to its biblical connotations, but possibly even moreso, due to the popularity of NBA legend, Michael Jordan. It’s currently the #82 name for boys in the United States, and has been consistently in the top 100 for years. It means to “flow down, descend,” (like the river).
