Strong Names for Boys Girls That Exude Major 'Main Character Energy'
If you’re hoping your child grows up to be a sweet and soft-spoken pacifist who never rocks the boat, keep scrolling. Because the strong names on this list just don’t fit that type of person. The names on this list give main character vibes: no shrinking violets here. People with these names are bold, charismatic, and not afraid of the spotlight. When they walk into a room, the entire room notices — and they don’t mind being the center of attention.
Can what we name our kids as babies really influence the type of person they’re bound to become as adults? Maybe! Research provides some compelling evidence. One 2017 study says, “We argue that once a baby receives a name, this social label (name) leads to certain social expectations, inferences, and interactions. It is possible that he or she is treated as if certain personality traits based on his or her name are already in place.” And this undergrad research study from Virginia Commonwealth University states, “From a person’s educational worth to an association with lesser valued societal qualities, names allow people to form assumptions and draw conclusions without actively trying to.”
Strong names like the ones on this list not only feel confident — they’re distinctive, too. Not to an eyebrow-raising degree, but just enough. Your kiddo may or may not find their name on a personalized keychain in a souvenir store, but they also won’t have to go by their first name and last initial because there are multiple kids in their class with the same name.
Whether or not these strong names will actually influence your little one to be an assertive person with a dynamic presence, you can be sure of one thing: your baby will at least be ruling your roost for the next few years.
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Fallon
Not only does this gender-neutral name have main character energy, it has a main character meaning, too! Fallon comes from the Irish given name Fallamhán, meaning “leader.”
Adira
You’d better believe that you won’t find a girl named Adira shying away from a challenge; this name comes from the Hebrew name Adir, meaning “strong” or “mighty.”
Arden
The name Arden is derived from a Celtic word meaning “high,” which makes it perfect for a girl who walks into a room with her chin up and her presence strong! It’s technically a unisex name, though it sounds a little bit softer and more poetic when it’s used for a boy.
Donovan
Donovan comes from the Irish surname Donndubán, meaning “dark brown.” It gives off sophisticated and handsome vibes — sure to make anyone do a double-take!
Astrid
An Old Norse name derived from elements meaning “god” and “beloved,” Astrid has a strong sound and a noble Scandinavian vibe.
Dominic
This strong name comes from the Late Latin name Dominicus, meaning “of the Lord” and was traditionally used for boys born on Sundays. But we think it’s perfect for babies born any day of the week … and is it any coincidence that it sounds so much like “dominant?” We don’t think so!
Conrad
An Old German name meaning “brave counsel,” Conrad sounds as powerful as its meaning suggests.
Scarlet
We think of Scarlet as a bold, vibrant color — which makes this the perfect strong name for a girl who is bold and vibrant herself! Fun fact: though the word is widely associated with the color, it actually comes from the Persian saqrelat, which was a type of cloth.
Dash
In the English language, the word “dash” means to run or sprint — which makes Dash the perfect name for a dynamic, on-the-go personality. (And as a plus, it sounds like “dashing,” which is a synonym for handsome!)
Freya
The name Freya means “lady”… but don’t let your preconceived notion of the word fool you. There’s no delicate, prim and proper vibe here, because Freya is the name of an Old Norse goddess of love, beauty, war, and death.
Marcellus
Marcellus is an ancient Roman family name derived from Mars: the Roman god of war. Even if you shorten it to call your little guy Marcel or Mark, it’s a standout name sure to catch attention.
Harlow
Harlow effortlessly combines feminine and masculine elements — it’s a unisex name, but has become increasingly popular for girls thanks to its association with silver-screen sex symbol Jean Harlow.
Morgan
In the U.S., Morgan is used slightly more for girls than for boys — but not so much that it’s considered a “girl name.” Any gender can wear the name proudly! It comes from the Welsh name Morcant, which was likely derived from the Welsh words mor (“sea”) and cant (“circle”).
Kingston
The meaning of Kingston is simple: “king’s town.” And how could anybody argue about the strong and powerful vibe that comes from a name that begins with the word king?
Juno
The origins of the Juno are unclear, though it could possibly be from a root word meaning “young.” But what is clear is that it’s a strong name that packs a lot of punch into four little letters! In Roman mythology, Juno was the queen of the heavens, the protector of women, and the goddess of finance — how’s that for well-rounded?
Luca
As the strong names on our list go, this one is attention-grabbing while still maintaining an undeniable smoothness and charm. Luca is the Italian form of Luke, which simply means “from Lucania” (a region in southern Italy).
Sloane
Sloane is the (vastly!) easier-to-pronounce variation of the Irish surname Sluaghadhán, meaning “raid” (the warlike type). Nothing delicate about the meaning — or the name itself!
Stellan
Though the origins of Stellan are debated, most sources agree that it comes from the Norse word stilling, meaning “calm.” But despite its meaning, doesn’t Stellan sound like the name of a man who would set hearts aflutter?
Gia
Typically seen as a diminutive of Gianna, which itself is usually short for Giovanna — the Italian feminine version of John, meaning “God is great.” (But it could also be a cute nickname for Georgia as well!)
Caius
A strong name originating in ancient Rome, Caius is a variant of the name Gaius, which is said to be from the Latin gaudere, meaning “rejoice.” And since “gladiator” names are experiencing increased popularity, it’s a perfect choice.
Margot
There’s nothing wrong with the name Margaret (meaning “pearl”); its vintage charm lends to its appeal. But why not bump up the it-factor by using the glamorous French version of Margaret: Margot! If you think people will be too likely to misprounce it (that T at the end can sometimes throw folks off), you could always spell it Margo.
Roman
This name means (you guessed it!) from Rome — and it’s a perfect example of how a single letter can change the entire vibe of a name. Similar names like Rowan and Ronan are definitely softer and gentler-sounding, while Roman is decidedly stronger.
Arya
The name Arya has Indo-Iranian roots and means “noble” — but in today’s pop culture landscape, it’s most often associated with Games of Thrones bada** Arya Stark. If you want to know just how big the cultural impact on this name’s popularity was, look no further than the U.S. Social Security Adminstration’s baby name popularity charts. In 2011, when Game of Thrones debuted on HBO, the name was at #715 out of the top 1000. By the very next year, it had skyrocketed to #414 — and at its very highest point of popularity in 2019, it was at #92.
Enzo
Like Luca, Enzo is another strong Italian name that still manages to maintain a certain level of sophistication and smoothness. It’s often found as a nickname for longer names like Vincenzo (“to conquer”) or Lorenzo (“laurel”), but it stands tall all on its own.
Andre
The name Andre (or André, if you prefer the French version with the accent mark) is derived from the Greek word andreios, meaning “manly.”
Simone
Simone is the French feminine version of the male name Simon, which comes from the Hebrew name Shim’on meaning “listening” (something you hope your little Simone will do — at least when it comes to her parents!).
Victor
As far as strong names go, you can’t get much stronger than Victor. It means “victory” or “to conquer,” and, unlike many other names, its meaning is obvious — so folks know who they’re dealing with from the start!
Kaia
How do we get Kaia from Katherine? Well, Katerina is a variation of Katherine in several different languages (Dutch, Norwegian, and German, to name a few). And Kaia is a nickname for Katerina! But taking off the “-ina” ending, which is often used as a feminine diminutive, makes it a much stronger-sounding name. Its meaning is debated; most sources say it means “pure,” though some say it comes from the Greek aikia, meaning “torture.”
Evander
There are two possible origins for Evander. The first is from the Greek name Euandros, meaning “the good of man.” The second is a bit more convoluted — Evander is the English version of the Scottish name Iomhar, which is a variant of the Old Norse name ívarr, meaning “bow warrior.”
Imogen
There’s just something regal and sophisticated-sounding about the name Imogen. It likely stems from the Gaelic word inghean, meaning “maiden.”
Orion
Most sources agree that this name comes from the Greek word horion, meaning “boundary” or “limit.” But if there are any modern-day associations that come with the name, it’s the constellation Orion, which is named for a legendary Greek hunter.
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