12 Boy Names Meaning Courage

Courage is a powerful wish for a son. These 12 boy names meaning courage are bold, meaningful, and full of heart.

· 8 min read

Courage is one of the most meaningful qualities a name can carry — a wish for a son who stands firm, acts bravely, and lives with heart. These twelve boy names meaning courage come from across cultures, and a few languages return to the same idea again and again: the brave man, the strong heart, the bold counsel.

Worth knowing up front: not every name below is a literal translation of "courage." Some, like Everett and Leonardo, build courage out of an animal metaphor — a boar, a lion — that ancient namers used as shorthand for fearlessness. Others are associated with bravery through a famous bearer rather than through etymology. We've noted the difference for each one.

1. Everett

Pronunciation: EV-er-et

Origin: Old German (Eberhard)

Meaning: "Brave as a wild boar"

The boar was a symbol of fearlessness in Germanic warrior culture, so this name encodes courage directly into an animal image rather than an abstract word.

Everett has surged in the US over the past decade as parents look for names that feel both classic and fresh — it was rare a generation ago and is now a common top-100 pick.

Nicknames & variations: Ev, Rhett · Variations: Everet, Averett

2. Leonardo

Pronunciation: lee-oh-NAR-doh

Origin: Germanic/Italian, from leon + hard

Meaning: "Brave lion" or "lion-hearted"

The lion is the most direct courage symbol across cultures, and this name pairs it with 'hardy, brave' for a double dose of the theme.

Made famous by Leonardo da Vinci, the name carries an association with genius and creativity as well as bravery, which is part of why it feels both bold and artistic.

Nicknames & variations: Leo, Nardo, Leon · Variations: Lennart, Leonard

3. Valerian

Pronunciation: vuh-LEER-ee-an

Origin: Latin, from valere

Meaning: "To be strong, to be brave"

Valere is the same root that gives us 'valor' — this is one of the most literal courage names available.

Borne by a third-century Roman emperor and several early Christian saints, Valerian has a regal, slightly rare feel that hasn't caught on widely, which some parents count as an advantage.

Nicknames & variations: Val, Vale · Variations: Valerio, Valeriu

4. Andreas

Pronunciation: an-DRAY-as

Origin: Greek, from andreios

Meaning: "Manly, brave"

The Greek root andreios is literally the word for courageous — this is a direct, unambiguous match for the theme.

Andreas is the source of Andrew, one of the twelve apostles, and remains common across Germany, Scandinavia, and Greece today.

Nicknames & variations: Andy, Dre · Variations: Andrew, Anders, Andrea (masc. in Italian)

5. Conrad

Pronunciation: KAHN-rad

Origin: Germanic, from kuoni + rad

Meaning: "Brave counsel" or "bold advice"

Pairs courage with wisdom — a name for someone who is brave and also thinks before acting.

Several medieval German kings and dukes carried the name, and it has a sturdy, old-world feel that has recently started returning to US name charts.

Nicknames & variations: Con, Connie, Cody · Variations: Konrad, Kurt

6. Bernard

Pronunciation: ber-NARD or BER-nard

Origin: Germanic, from bern + hard

Meaning: "Brave as a bear" or "bear-hardy"

Like Everett, this uses an animal image — the bear — as the ancient shorthand for strength and fearlessness.

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux and the dog breed both trace to this name, giving it a warm, protective association well beyond its literal meaning.

Nicknames & variations: Ben, Bernie, Barney · Variations: Barnard, Bernhard

7. Ewan

Pronunciation: YOO-an

Origin: Scottish Gaelic, possibly from eoghan ("born of the yew") or a form of Eugene ("well-born")

Meaning: "Born of the yew"; associated with youth and vigor

This one is associated rather than literal — courage isn't in the direct translation, but the yew tree symbolized endurance and resilience in Celtic tradition, qualities close cousins of bravery.

Ewan has a soft, easy sound that keeps it popular in Scotland and increasingly in the US, often linked to actor Ewan McGregor.

Nicknames & variations: Ewy · Variations: Euan, Owen, Eoghan

8. Garrison

Pronunciation: GAIR-uh-son

Origin: Old French/English, from garni ("fortified") + son

Meaning: "Son of the spear-armed one"; historically, a fortified place or the troops defending it

Associated with courage through its military meaning — a garrison is the force that stands and holds ground, which is the everyday definition of bravery in action.

Originally a surname referring to a defensive post, Garrison entered use as a first name more recently and reads as strong and protective.

Nicknames & variations: Gary, Gary, Rison · Variations: Garrisen, Garison

9. Holden

Pronunciation: HOHL-den

Origin: Old English, from hol + denu

Meaning: "Deep valley" or "hollow valley"

This one is purely associated, not literal — Holden's tie to courage comes from Holden Caulfield in The Catcher in the Rye, a character defined more by resistance and honesty than physical bravery, so the connection is thematic at best.

As a surname-turned-first-name, Holden has climbed steadily in the US since the 2000s, likely helped by its clean, modern sound rather than any courage meaning.

Nicknames & variations: Hol, Denny · Variations: Holdyn, Holdin

10. Tiberius

Pronunciation: tie-BEER-ee-us

Origin: Latin, from the Tiber River

Meaning: "Of the Tiber" — a river name, not a courage word

Included here for its imperial, commanding sound rather than a literal meaning — Tiberius carries courage by reputation, since it was the name of Rome's second emperor, not by translation.

Tiberius ruled Rome from 14–37 AD. The name is rare today outside of Star Trek references (Captain James Tiberius Kirk), which gives it an unusual pop-culture edge.

Nicknames & variations: Tibby, Ty · Variations: Tiber, Tiberio

11. Kanan

Pronunciation: kah-NAHN

Origin: Hebrew, related to Canaan; also used in Hindi as a name meaning "forest"

Meaning: In Hebrew tradition, tied to the land promised and fought for; in Sanskrit-derived use, "forest" or "garden"

Associated rather than literal — the connection to courage comes through the biblical narrative of entering and claiming a difficult land, not through the word itself.

Popularized in some circles by the Star Wars Rebels character Kanan Jarrus, a name chosen deliberately for its gravity and resolve.

Nicknames & variations: Kan · Variations: Canaan, Kannan

12. Baldwin

Pronunciation: BAWLD-win

Origin: Germanic, from bald + win

Meaning: "Bold friend" or "brave friend"

A direct, literal courage name — bald in Old Germanic meant bold or brave, not the modern English word for hairless.

Several Crusader-era kings of Jerusalem carried this name, tying it historically to leadership under pressure.

Nicknames & variations: Bald, Winnie · Variations: Balduin, Baudouin

If you're choosing between a literal courage name and one that's merely associated, think about what you actually want to tell your son when he's old enough to ask. "Your name means brave" is a clean, permanent answer. "Your name is linked to a brave character" is a fine answer too, but it's a different kind of gift — say the name aloud, learn its real history, and pick the version of the story you're comfortable repeating for the next eighteen years.

How We Chose These Names

Courage rarely translates as a single clean word across languages, so we looked closely at what each root actually says. Some names here literally mean brave, bold, or strong-hearted in their language of origin — Andreas, Valerian, Conrad. Others, like Holden or Tiberius, carry courage only by association — through a character, a story, or a stretch in meaning that popular baby-name sites repeat without checking. We flag which is which so you know exactly what you're naming your son.

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