Boy Names
Classic, modern, and timeless names for your son. Every name has a story, discover the meaning, origin, and pronunciation behind it.
Perikles
“surrounded by glory or far-famed”
Perikles is a compound of the Greek 'peri-' (around, beyond) and 'kleos' (glory, fame, renown), yielding the meaning 'surrounded by glory' or 'of wide renown'. The element 'kleos' was one of the most prized concepts in ancient Greek culture, representing the lasting fame one earned through great deeds. The name thus carries an implicit aspiration for its bearer to achieve enduring greatness known far and wide.
Perrin
“Rock-solid and steadfast”
Perrin originated as a medieval French and English pet form of Peter and gradually became established as both a surname and a given name. It has a crisp, modern feel while retaining historical depth, making it attractive as a contemporary first name. The name gained additional cultural visibility through fantasy literature in the late 20th century.
Perry
“Pear tree”
Perry is an English occupational and locational surname turned given name, referring to someone who lived by or tended a pear tree. It also functions as a familiar short form of Peregrine, the Latin name meaning pilgrim or traveller. The name has a cheerful, approachable quality that sits comfortably in both classic and contemporary settings. Its brevity gives it a punchy, confident feel without losing warmth.
Perseus
“Destroyer”
Perseus is one of the great names of Greek mythology, thought to derive from the Greek word pertho, meaning to destroy or to sack. He was the legendary hero who slew the Gorgon Medusa and rescued Andromeda from a sea monster. The name evokes courage, divine favour and the triumph of the hero against impossible odds.
Perth
“Thicket”
Perth is a Scottish place name used as a given name, derived from a Pictish or Brittonic word believed to mean thicket or copse, referring to the dense woodland along the River Tay. Perth is known as the Fair City and was historically the capital of Scotland. As a given name, Perth carries the rugged, atmospheric quality of Scottish landscape names, evoking ancient forests, silver rivers, and the highland borderlands. It is an unconventional but quietly distinguished choice.
Pesach
“To pass over, to spare”
Pesach derives from the Hebrew root 'pasach,' meaning 'to pass over' or 'to spare,' directly connected to the Passover festival commemorating God passing over the homes of the Israelites during the final plague in Egypt. As a personal name, it signifies divine protection and the act of being spared.
Petachiah
“God has opened”
Petachiah comes from the Hebrew root 'petach' (פֶּתַח), meaning 'opening' or 'God has opened,' suggesting divine providence and new beginnings. It conveys the idea that God has opened a door or unlocked a blessing.
Petar
“Firm as a rock”
Petar is the South Slavic form of Peter, derived from the Greek 'Petros', which in turn translates the Aramaic 'Kephas', meaning rock or stone. The name was given by Jesus to his apostle Simon, making it one of the most historically significant names in Christianity. In its Petar form, it is particularly associated with Croatian, Serbian and Bulgarian traditions, where it has been among the most beloved masculine names for centuries.
Peter
“Rock or stone”
Peter is a strong, enduring name meaning "rock" or "stone," derived from the Greek word "petros." While used across many languages and cultures, the German form Peter (pronounced PAY-ter) has a particular warmth and solidity. It is one of the most universally recognised names in the Western world, symbolising steadfastness and reliability.
Petersfield
“Peter's open field or land”
Petersfield is an exceptionally rare English given name derived from the market town of Petersfield in Hampshire, England, whose name dates back to the medieval period. Like other English place names adopted as given names, such as Chester, Bradford, or Clifton, it carries a strong sense of English heritage and geographic identity. Its use as a first name is highly unusual, giving any bearer a truly one-of-a-kind name with deep roots in the English landscape.
Peterson
“Son of Peter, stone heritage”
Peterson originated as an English and Scandinavian surname denoting descent from a man named Peter. Its adoption as a first name follows the broader trend of transferring family names into given names. It carries a sturdy, grounded quality rooted in its stony etymology.
Petroc
“Cornish saint's name meaning rock”
Petroc is a distinctly Cornish name with deep roots in the early medieval Celtic Christian tradition of southwest England. Saint Petroc was a sixth-century monk who founded monasteries at Padstow and Bodmin, and his veneration made the name prominent in Cornwall for centuries. Today the name is a proud marker of Cornish heritage and identity.
Petronius
“Roman clan name, stone or rock lineage”
Petronius is a grand classical name of Roman origin that entered English usage primarily through scholarship and admiration of ancient literature. It is best known from the first-century Roman author Petronius Arbiter, credited with writing the satirical novel Satyricon. In English contexts the name has always been rare and literary in character, favoured by those with a deep appreciation of classical antiquity.
Petros
“Rock, stone”
Petros comes from the ancient Greek word petra meaning rock or stone, and it was the name given by Jesus to his apostle Simon, with the declaration that upon this rock he would build his church. The name therefore carries associations of foundational strength, steadfastness, and unshakeable reliability. It is the original Greek form of the name that became Peter across European languages.
Petter
“Rock, stone”
Petter is the Scandinavian form of Peter, ultimately derived from the Greek petros, meaning rock or stone. It shares its origins with one of the most widely used names in Western history, rooted in Christ's declaration that the apostle Peter would be the rock upon which his church was built. The name has a solid, dependable quality with a distinctly Nordic character.
Petworth
“Peota's enclosure, ancient Sussex homestead”
Petworth is a topographical name originating from the historic market town of Petworth in West Sussex, England, which has been recorded since the Domesday Book of 1086. As a given name it is exceedingly rare, belonging to the category of English place-names occasionally adopted by families with ancestral ties to a location. It carries a deeply English, country-house character strongly associated with Petworth House, one of Britain's great stately homes.
Phanes
“one who brings light or the manifest one”
Phanes derives from the Greek verb 'phainein' (φαίνειν), meaning to shine, to appear, or to make manifest, giving the name the significance of one who brings things to light or makes the unseen visible. In Orphic theology, Phanes was the first-born deity who emerged from the cosmic egg at the dawn of creation, embodying light, life, and the generative power of the universe. The name thus carries profound cosmological weight as a symbol of primal illumination and creative emergence.
Phanis
“shining or luminous”
Phanis shares its etymology with Phanes, both descending from the Greek verb 'phainein' (to shine, to make apparent), but Phanis functions as a more accessible given name used in Greek-speaking communities rather than the cosmological deity form. The name suggests brightness, clarity, and the quality of making things visible or evident. In modern Greece, Phanis is an affectionate and familiar-sounding name that retains classical luminous meaning while feeling approachable and warm.
Philaretos
“lover of virtue or friend of excellence”
Philaretos is composed of 'philos' (φίλος), meaning loving or friend of, and 'arete' (ἀρετή), the central Greek concept of virtue, excellence, and moral goodness. 'Arete' was perhaps the most important ethical concept in ancient Greek philosophy, encompassing not merely goodness but the full realization of one's potential and the habitual practice of virtue. To be Philaretos, a lover of virtue, was to embody the Aristotelian ideal of the excellent human being striving constantly toward moral and intellectual perfection.
Philemon
“Affectionate and loving by nature”
Philemon is a classical Greek name with a rich literary and biblical heritage that entered English usage through Christian tradition and Renaissance scholarship. In the New Testament, Paul's Epistle to Philemon addresses a Christian convert called by this name, giving it strong ecclesiastical roots. In English the name has been used since the Reformation era, particularly among Puritans and later Nonconformists who favoured biblical names.
Philibert
“Very bright”
Philibert is a French name of Old Germanic origin, composed of the elements filu meaning very much and beraht meaning bright or shining. The full meaning is therefore exceedingly bright or very brilliant. The name was introduced to France through the Franks and was borne by a 7th-century Gallo-Roman abbot, Saint Philibert of Jumieges, who founded several monasteries and became a significant figure in early French Christianity. The name has an aristocratic, distinguished quality that is distinctly old-world French.
Philip
“Lover of horses”
Philip comes from the Ancient Greek Philippos, a compound of philos meaning 'loving' or 'friend' and hippos meaning 'horse'. Horses were symbols of power and prestige in the ancient world, so the name carried aristocratic connotations from its earliest use. It was borne by Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, and has been used by European royalty ever since, including as the name of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
Philipp
“Lover of horses”
Philipp is the German form of the ancient Greek name Philippos, composed of philos (loving, fond of) and hippos (horse). In the ancient world, horses were symbols of wealth, nobility, and martial prowess, making 'lover of horses' a name of genuine distinction. Philipp has been carried by kings, landgraves, and dukes throughout German history, giving it a regal quality that sits comfortably alongside its warmth and approachability. It is a name that balances classical heritage with straightforward charm.
Philippe
“Lover of horses”
Philippe is the French form of Philip, derived from the ancient Greek name Philippos, composed of 'philos' (loving, fond of) and 'hippos' (horse). The compound meaning is therefore lover of horses, a name that carried great prestige in ancient Greece where horsemanship was associated with nobility and military prowess. Philippe was borne by six kings of France and remains one of the most recognisable and distinguished names in French history.
Philippos
“lover of horses”
Philippos is formed from 'philos' (φίλος), meaning loving or friend of, and 'hippos' (ἵππος), meaning horse, a prestigious animal in ancient Greek culture associated with aristocracy, warfare, and divine power. The combination yields 'lover of horses' or 'horse-friend', a name that in antiquity signaled noble birth and martial valor. The name was borne by multiple Macedonian kings, including the father of Alexander the Great, as well as one of the twelve apostles, giving it both royal and sacred resonance.
Philo
“Friend or lover of wisdom”
Philo is a short, punchy name of Greek origin that has been used in the English-speaking world since at least the early modern period. It carries connotations of philosophy, friendship, and intellectual curiosity, as it shares its root with words like 'philosophy' and 'philanthropist'. The name has a pleasingly simple sound while conveying a depth of meaning rooted in classical learning.
Phineas
“Oracle”
Phineas is a name of uncertain ancient origin, most likely derived from the Hebrew Phinehas, possibly meaning oracle, serpent's mouth, or Nubian. It carries an air of eccentricity and intellectual vitality. The name gained literary fame through Phineas Fogg, the protagonist of Jules Verne's Around the World in Eighty Days, and has enjoyed a modern revival through popular culture. It is distinctive without being obscure.
Phineus
“Oracle or brazen-voiced prophet”
Phineus is a rare and ancient name drawn from Greek mythology, borne by several figures including a blind prophet-king punished by the gods. Its rarity in modern usage gives it a distinctive, scholarly quality appealing to parents who favour classical mythology and antiquity. The name is closely related to Phineas, which has seen a modest revival in contemporary naming trends.
Phoebus
“Bright, pure”
Phoebus derives from the ancient Greek word 'phoibos', meaning bright, radiant, or pure. It was one of the most celebrated epithets of Apollo, the god of the sun, light, poetry, and music. The name evokes brilliance and clarity, connecting its bearer to one of the most powerful and beloved figures in Greek mythology.
Phoivos
“bright or shining”
Phoivos (the Greek form of Phoebus) derives from 'phoibos' (φοῖβος), an ancient Greek adjective meaning bright, shining, or pure, used as a standing epithet of the god Apollo in his capacity as a deity of the sun, light, music, and prophecy. The name captures the quality of blazing solar radiance and the clear light of prophetic vision. Apollo Phoibos was the archer-god whose golden arrows of sunlight both gave life and brought death, whose oracle at Delphi was the most authoritative voice in the ancient world.
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