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Boy Names

Boy Names

Classic, modern, and timeless names for your son. Every name has a story, discover the meaning, origin, and pronunciation behind it.

Boy

Shelumiel

God is my peace

Shelumiel is a biblical Hebrew name meaning 'God is my peace' or 'friend of God,' derived from 'shalom' (peace) and 'El' (God). It is a name of profound spiritual significance rooted in the concept of divine wholeness.

Origin: Hebrew
Boy

Shemayah

God has heard

Shemayah is a Hebrew name meaning 'God has heard' or 'the Lord hears,' composed of 'shama' (to hear) and 'Yah' (a shortened form of the divine name). It expresses faith that prayers are received and answered.

Origin: Hebrew
BoyFalling

Shengli

Victory

Shengli is a Chinese masculine name written with the characters for victory and power or benefit. The name directly expresses triumph and success, conveying the aspiration that a son will overcome challenges and achieve great things. It was particularly popular in China during the mid-twentieth century, especially in the revolutionary era when names expressing collective achievement were favoured. Today it carries associations with that historical period while retaining its core meaning of triumphant success.

Origin: Chinese
BoyStable

Shengyu

Sage-like and vast as the cosmos

Shengyu (圣宇) brings together 圣 (shèng), meaning 'sage,' 'holy,' or 'virtuous,' and 宇 (yǔ), meaning 'universe' or 'vast space.' The name conveys an image of a person with the moral stature of a sage and a spirit as expansive as the cosmos.

Origin: Chinese
Boy

Shenming

Divine brilliance, spiritually enlightened

Shenming (神明) combines 神 (shén), meaning 'spirit,' 'divine,' or 'supernatural power,' with 明 (míng), meaning 'bright,' 'clear,' or 'enlightened.' The name suggests a person touched by divine clarity, spiritually bright and possessed of an enlightened mind.

Origin: Chinese
BoyRising

Shepherd

One who tends sheep

Shepherd is a straightforward occupational English surname that has steadily gained traction as a given name in the 21st century. Its meaning resonates on both a literal and metaphorical level, evoking leadership, nurturing, and the guiding of others, which gives it a quietly powerful character. The name also carries strong religious overtones, given its prominent use as a metaphor in Christian scripture.

Origin: English
Boy

Sherborne

Bright clear-running stream

Sherborne is a distinguished English place name, most famously associated with the historic town of Sherborne in Dorset, which is home to a celebrated medieval abbey and one of England's oldest independent schools. As a given name it is exceptionally rare, carrying with it an aura of English heritage, aristocratic association, and centuries of history. Its use as a personal name is a bold choice that honours the depth of English cultural identity.

Origin: English
Boy

Sherlock

Fair-haired, bright locks

Sherlock is an Old English occupational or descriptive surname that made a dramatic transition to a given name largely through the enduring fame of Arthur Conan Doyle's fictional detective Sherlock Holmes. The name has a strong, distinctive sound that lends itself to memorable characters. In modern culture it is synonymous with razor-sharp deductive reasoning.

Origin: English
Boy

Sherwood

Bright forest, shire wood

Sherwood is deeply tied to English legend through Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire, the legendary haunt of Robin Hood. As a given name it projects a rugged, outdoorsy character with roots in medieval English landscape. It has been used primarily as a masculine given name in the United States from the late 19th century.

Origin: English
BoyFalling

Shigeru

to flourish or to grow luxuriantly

Shigeru is written with kanji such as 茂 (shigeru, to grow thickly/flourish) or 繁 (shigeru, to be prosperous/abundant). Both characters are rooted in the natural world, describing the dense growth of vegetation or the proliferation of life. The name embodies a wish for its bearer to flourish in all endeavors, growing strong and abundant like a thriving forest that fills the landscape with life and vigor.

Origin: Japanese
BoyStable

Shihab

Shooting star, meteor

Shihab means 'shooting star,' 'meteor,' or 'flame' in Arabic, conjuring an image of brilliance, speed, and luminous power streaking across the night sky. The name evokes a person of exceptional brightness, energy, and impact. It suggests someone whose presence is both dazzling and forceful.

Origin: Arabic
BoyRising

Shijie

World hero

Shijie combines the Chinese characters for world and outstanding or heroic. The name suggests someone whose excellence is recognised on a global stage, a person of international achievement and broad vision. It carries an ambitious, aspirational quality that reflects the hopes many Chinese families hold for a son who will excel beyond boundaries and make his mark on the wider world.

Origin: Chinese
Boy

Shimon

God has heard

Shimon is the Hebrew form of Simon, derived from the root 'shama' meaning 'to hear' or 'to be heard,' often interpreted as 'God has heard.' It is the name of one of the twelve sons of Jacob and a tribe of Israel.

Origin: Hebrew
BoyStable

Shin

True or new

Shin is a Japanese name whose meaning depends on the kanji character used to write it. Written with the kanji for 'true' or 'genuine', it suggests authenticity and moral integrity. Written with the kanji for 'new', it evokes freshness, innovation, and renewal, making it a name rich with philosophical possibility depending on the character chosen by the family.

Origin: Japanese
BoyRising

Shingo

True enlightenment

Shingo is a Japanese given name constructed from kanji characters that most commonly pair shin, meaning true, genuine, or new, with go, meaning enlightenment, prospering, or the number five. The combination creates a name of thoughtful depth, suggesting a life guided by genuine understanding and progress. It is a considered, intellectual name with a calm philosophical quality.

Origin: Japanese
BoyStable

Shinji

True second son

Shinji is a Japanese name most commonly written with the kanji for shin (true, genuine, real) and ji (second, next), traditionally indicating a second-born son. However, like many Japanese names, it can be written with different kanji to carry alternative meanings such as new path or deep benevolence. The name conveys sincerity, depth and quiet inner strength.

Origin: Japanese
BoyFalling

Shinpei

true peace or deep peace

Shinpei is written with kanji such as 真平 (true + flat/peace), 慎平 (prudent + peace), or 新平 (new + peace). Each combination emphasizes a different shade of peaceful character, genuine tranquility, careful composure, or a renewal of peace. The -pei/-hei suffix component 平 (peace, flat, level) is shared across many distinguished Japanese masculine names, grounding Shinpei in a tradition of names expressing harmonious ideals.

Origin: Japanese
BoyStable

Shinsuke

true helper or new assistance

Shinsuke is written most often as 真介 (true + mediation/help) or 慎介 (prudent + mediation) or 新介 (new + assistance). The -suke suffix is one of the most traditional masculine name endings in Japanese, derived from the historical title 介 (suke), an official who assisted governors in feudal government. This suffix lends the name a classic, dignified air while encoding the value of competent, dedicated service.

Origin: Japanese
BoyStable

Shintaro

new first son or true first son

Shintaro is written with kanji such as 新太郎 (new + big + son), 真太郎 (true + big + son), or 慎太郎 (prudent + big + son). The -taro suffix is one of the most traditional and beloved masculine name endings in Japan, historically used for firstborn sons. The combination of the aspirational 'shin' prefix with the robust '-taro' suffix creates a name of considerable traditional weight and masculine dignity.

Origin: Japanese
BoyStable

Shinya

deep night or true arrow

Shinya is written with kanji such as 深夜 (deep night), 真矢 (true arrow), or 信也 (trust/belief + also/just). The deep night meaning conjures a profound, reflective quality, a person who finds clarity and depth in quietness. The true arrow meaning speaks to precision, direction, and the ability to hit one's target without distraction. Both meanings describe an admirable, focused character.

Origin: Japanese
Boy

Shipley

Sheep meadow, pastoral clearing

Shipley is a traditional English place name and surname found across Yorkshire and other northern English counties, reflecting the agricultural heritage of the region. As a given name it is rare but carries a grounded, pastoral character. Its use as a first name is most common in the United States, following the Victorian-era trend of adopting surnames as given names.

Origin: English
BoyRising

Shiro

White or fourth son

Shiro is a Japanese name with two principal meanings depending on the kanji used. Written with the character for white (shiro), it evokes purity, clarity, and cleanliness, qualities held in high regard in Japanese culture and Shinto tradition. Alternatively, written with the character for the number four combined with a masculine suffix, it traditionally designated the fourth son. White holds special sacred significance in Japan, associated with ritual purity, new beginnings, and the snow-capped peak of Mount Fuji.

Origin: Japanese
BoyRising

Shiv

Auspicious, benevolent

Shiv is the direct Sanskrit form of Shiva, one of the principal deities of Hinduism and part of the holy trinity alongside Brahma and Vishnu. The name means auspicious or benevolent, from the Sanskrit root shiva meaning that which is good, pure, and beneficial. Lord Shiva is known as the destroyer and transformer within the Trimurti, the cosmic cycle of creation, preservation, and dissolution. He is also worshipped as Mahadeva, the great god, and is associated with meditation, asceticism, yoga, and the arts.

Origin: Hindi
BoyRising

Shivaay

For Shiva, devoted to Shiva, an offering to Shiva

Shivaay is a devotional Sanskrit name meaning 'for the glory of Shiva', 'one devoted to Shiva', or an exclamation of praise to Lord Shiva. It embodies deep reverence for Lord Shiva as the supreme deity of transformation, consciousness, and liberation in Hindu tradition. The name is both an invocation and a prayer.

Origin: Hindi
Boy

Shivam

Auspicious, pure, embodying Shiva's goodness

Shivam is a classic Sanskrit name meaning 'auspicious', 'blessed', or 'one who embodies the qualities of Shiva'. It represents purity, benevolence, and divine grace, reflecting the highest spiritual ideals in Hindu philosophy. The name is also one of the Trisharana, Satyam (Truth), Shivam (Goodness), Sundaram (Beauty), a sacred triad in Hindu aesthetics.

Origin: Hindi
BoyStable

Shivansh

Part of Shiva

Shivansh is a Sanskrit-origin name meaning a part of Lord Shiva, combining the name of the supreme deity with the word ansh (part or portion). The name expresses a profound spiritual connection, suggesting that its bearer carries within them a fragment of the divine. It reflects deep devotion and the Hindu belief in the sacred nature of every individual.

Origin: Hindi
BoyStable

Shlok

Verse, hymn

Shlok derives from the Sanskrit word shloka, referring to a verse or couplet of sacred poetry, particularly the epic meter used throughout the Mahabharata and Ramayana. A shloka typically consists of two lines of sixteen syllables each and is the foundational unit of classical Sanskrit epic literature. The name therefore places its bearer at the heart of India's greatest literary tradition, suggesting someone whose life is itself a form of devotional expression.

Origin: Hindi
BoyStable

Shlomi

My peace, my well-being

Shlomi is a Hebrew name meaning 'my peace' or 'my well-being,' derived from 'shalom' (peace, wholeness) with the possessive suffix 'i' meaning 'my.' It expresses a personal sense of inner completeness and tranquility.

Origin: Hebrew
BoyStable

Shlomo

His peace

The Hebrew form of Solomon, meaning his peace or peaceful. King Shlomo was renowned as the wisest ruler in Jewish history, who built the First Temple in Jerusalem and authored the books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs. The name carries associations of wisdom, serenity, and divine favour.

Origin: Hebrew
BoyStable

Shmuel

God has heard

The Hebrew form of Samuel, meaning God has heard or His name is God. The prophet Shmuel was dedicated to God's service from birth by his mother Hannah, whose prayer of petition is the model for all Jewish prayer. He anointed both Saul and David as the first kings of Israel and stands as one of the towering figures of Jewish history.

Origin: Hebrew
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