150+ Sports Names For Boys And Girls

It’s a dream come true for sports-loving parents to name their child after a great athlete. Athletes are great role models, and as a result, sports baby names provide excellent baby name inspiration. Whether you are a fan of baseball, basketball, football, or tennis, there are plenty of inspirational names you can use to give your little one a suitable name.

However, it’s not always easy to come up with the perfect sports name for your baby. To ease your struggle, we have collected the best sports names for both boys and girls for you to choose from. These sports baby names explore different legends the world has seen and are here to help you find that perfect baby name.

Sports Baby Names for Boys

Here is the list of sports names for boys with meanings inspired by some well-known sports personalities:

Basketball Boy Names

Some popular basketball sports names for baby boys:

1. Barkley

Barkley comes from Old English and Scottish origins and means a “birch tree meadow.” It is the name of an outstanding basketball player called Charles Barkley.

2. Bryant

The last name of Kobe Bryant, one of the greatest basketball players, is of Gaelic origin. The name means “strong,” “noble,” or “virtuous.”

3. Duke

This name is popular with North Carolina basketball fans of English origin, meaning “a sovereign male ruler” or a “member of the highest grade of the British peerage.”

4. James

James is a classic name for boys of English origin, meaning “supplanter.”  It is also the last name of Lebron James, an American basketball player.

5. Jordan

This name is popular because of Michael Jordan, one of the greatest basketball players. The name hails from Hebrew origin, meaning “to flow down” or “descend.”

6. Nolan

Nolan is a traditional Irish name meaning “champion” or “noble.” The name became popular in sports after Nolan Ryan, the Basketball Hall of Fame moniker.

7. Blake

Many think of the name Blake as feminine, but it is actually not, as Blake is used for boys, too. Say hello to Blake Griffin, an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics.

8. Allen

Just like its meaning, which is “handsome”, Allen is a popular and handsome name. Ray Allen is an American former professional basketball player and one of the most prolific shooters in basketball history.

9. David

David is a common and traditional boy’s name used worldwide. One of the basketball legends bearing this name includes David Maurice Robinson, an American former professional basketball player who played for the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA.

10. Julius

Julius is a Biblical name for boys, meaning “soft and tender hair.” Julius Erving is an American former professional basketball player who was the best-known player in American Basketball Association.

Formula 1 Boy Names

Some popular Formula 1 names for boys:

1. Adrian

Adrian, who drove the Ferrari engine for Super, is a name of Latin origin meaning “person from Hadria,” a place of royal origin.

2. Beat

The name of the F1 driver, who died while warning others of a crash, means “blessed” and is of German origin.

3. Daniil

Daniil, was the name of the second F1 driver for Toro Roso. The name is of Russian origin and means “only God is my judge.”

4. Fernando

The name of the F1 renowned driver is of Spanish origin that means “daring.”

5. Jenson

The name Jenson after Jenson Button is one of the youngest and successful British car racers. The name originates from Hebrew, meaning “son of Jan or God is Gracious.”

6. Lewis

Lewis is a famous F1 driver for Mercedes. The name of English origin means “famed warrior.”

Athletic Boy Names

Some popular athletic names for boys:

1. Ali

Ali deriving from the Arabic origin name, is made famous by Muhammad Ali, the greatest boxer. The name means “supreme.”

2. Andre

Andre of French and Portuguese origins is a derivative of Andreas, a Greek name. The first name of the famous Canadian sprinter, Andre de Grasse, means “warrior” or “manly.”

3. Dempsey

Jack Dempsey, an American professional boxer, is an Irish origin name meaning “proud.”

4. Jenner

The American sports hero, Jenner, is of English origin called “Of the Family of Jens/Jons.”

5. Rafael

The Spanish Tennis champion, Rafael Nadal, means “God has healed” and is of Spanish and Hebrew origin.

6. Usain

Usain, the name made popular by Usain Bolt, the fastest man in the world, means “beautiful.”

7. Rory

Rory is a traditional Irish name and, most of all, an unheard-of name. One famous golfer bearing this name include Rory McIlroy.

8. Tiger

Tiger is a bold and powerful name for boys. One of the decorated athletes bearing this name is Tiger Woods, who is considered one of the greatest golfers of all time.

9. Brooks

Brooks meaning “of the brook” is a popular boy’s name. This stylish name is bear by Brooks Robinson, who is one of the greatest third basemen ever.

10. Floyd

Floyd is a wonderful and attractive name for boys. Floyd Mayweather Jr. is a boxer and one of the highest-paid athletes.

Tennis Boy Names

Some popular Tennis names for boys:

1. Arthur

Arthur is a Welsh origin name of the great tennis player who won 8 Grand slam titles. The name means “bear.”

2. Boris

The german Wimbledon champion, Boris, is a Turkish origin name meaning “battle glory.”

3. Corrado

Corrado is the name of the US Open semi-finalist. The name is of Italian origin and means “sage counselor.”

4. Don

Don, the name of the tennis star who was the World no 1 champion for two years, is an Irish origin name meaning “noble” or “chief.”

5. Gustavo

The name of the three-year consecutive champion of the French Open means “peaceful ruler” and is of Italian origin.

6. Novak

Novak, a German-origin name meaning “newcomer,” is the 17 times Grand slam champion.

7. Stan

Stanislas Wawrinka, AKA Stan Wawrinka, is a Swiss professional tennis player who grabbed the singles ranking of world No. 3 for the first time on 27 January 2014. Stan is a cool and short boy’s name, meaning “stony meadow.”

8. Reilly

Although Reily is used the most, you can choose its unique and lesser-known version, Reilly, which means “valiant.” Reilly Opelka is an American professional tennis player who is famous as the tallest-ever ATP-ranked player.

9. Murray

Derived from the Gaelic word, Murray means “from the land by the sea.” Andy Murray is a popular British tennis player once ranked world No. 1 by the Association of Tennis Professionals for 41 weeks.

10. Milos

Milos is a cute and traditional boy’s name. Milos Raonic is a Canadian professional tennis player, once ranked as high as world No. 3 in singles by the ATP.

Olympic Boy Names

Some popular Olympic names for boys:

1. Armin

Armin Zoggeler is a famous luger along with being a double Olympic champion. The name is of Greek origin, meaning “defender.”

2. Ben

Ben, a Canadian sprinter whose name originates from Hebrew, means “son of my right hand.”

3. Carl

Carl, the name of the 100 meters gold medallist from the US, is a German origin name meaning “man.”

4. Enrique

The silver medallist of 100 meters race is a Spanish origin name meaning “home-runner.”

5. Fritz

Fritz, the German origin name of the silver medallist athlete from Germany, means “peace.”

6. Justin

Justin, meaning “righteous,” is a Latin origin name of a bronze medal Olympic athlete.

7. Abebe

Abebe is an African boy’s name, meaning “asked for.” One Olympic legend bearing this name is Abebe Bikila, who made history by winning an Olympic gold medal at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome by running barefoot.

8. Clemens

Clemens is a Latin name for boys, meaning “merciful.” Some of the popular Olympic athletes bearing this name include a field hockey goalkeeper, Clemens Arnold, Austrian Snowboarder, Clemens Millauer, and Ski jumper, Celems Aigner.

9. Frazer

Frazer is the Anglicized form of the Gaelic name Frasach, which means “generous.” The name has a bold and tough feel. Frazer Clarke is a British professional boxer who won bronze at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

10. Kirill

Kirill is a unique Russian name which means “lord.” The name is slowly beginning to become popular. Kirill Kaprizov is an Olympic athlete from Russia.

Baseball Boy Names

Some popular baseball names for boys:

1. Bo

Bo meaning “strong and fast” of Israeli origin, is the perfect short name for a baby boy of baseball enthusiast’s parents.

2. Camden

Camden is a Scottish origin moniker meaning “winding valley.” The name Camden Yards, the home field of Baltimore Orioles’ is known to all baseball fans.

3. Gehrig

Gehrig, the name became popular due to Lou Gehrig. Lou Gehrig is most remembered for his farewell address at Yankee Stadium after being diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

4. Jacoby

Jacoby, the surname of the Boston Red Sox player Jacoby Ellsbury is a Hebrew origin name meaning “he who supplants.”

5. Mickey

The famous cartoon character’s name is associated with the popular basketball star player Mickey Mantle.

6. Satchel

Satchel Paige, the first baseball player to be inaugurated into the Baseball Hall of Fame, made Satchel popular among sports fans.

7. Hank

Hank is a masculine name meaning “estate ruler”. Hank Aaron, Hank Greenberg, and Hank Bauer, all born Henry, are worthy namesakes given to these American baseball players.

8. Mitt

Mitt is not your regular boy’s name, as it is a baseball glove worn by the defending team baseball players. If you are a die-hard baseball fan, this cool and cute name could be a choice.

9. Albert

Albert is a common boy’s name and a safe choice if you can’t think of anything extraordinary. However, in the baseball world, the name Albert is synonymous with the celebrated Dominican–American former professional baseball player, Albert Pujols.

10. Johnny

Johnny is a casual and outspoken boy’s name, perfect for extroverts and friendly personalities. Johnny Bench is an American professional baseball player who is considered one of the finest catchers in the baseball game.

Soccer Boy Names

Some popular soccer names for boys:

1. Achille

Achille is a Greek origin boy’s name that means “pain” is made popular after the mythological Trojan War hero Achilles. In soccer, the name is popular due to the Cameroonian player Achille Emaná.

2. Carson

Carson is a Scandinavian name that means “son of marsh dwellers.” Carson, formerly a surname, is best known as the quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals, Carson Palmer.

3. Colt

The name Colt is a name associated with the quarterback, Colt McCoy of the Cleveland Browns. The name is of English origin and means “young horse.”

4. Danilo

Honduran midfielder Danilo Elvis Turcios Funez currently plays for UPNFM. Danilo is the Ukrainian equivalent of Daniel, a Hebrew name that means “God is my judgment.”

5. Landan

Landan Donovan, the United States soccer superstar, made this name popular. The name of English origin means “long hill” or “ridge.”

6. Peyton

This name of Old English origin means “Poega’s town.” The name is popular due to Peyton Manning of Indiana Colts.

7. Cristiano

If you are a football fan, there’s no doubt you haven’t heard of one of the best footballers in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo. The name is very popular among football fans worldwide and in Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian-speaking countries.

8. Josh

Josh is a short yet eye-catching boy’s name. Josh Caleb Gordon is the wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns of the NFL. Josh can also be used as a nickname for Joshua.

9. Arjen

Arjen is a light and jaunty name, similar to the Indian name Arjun. Arjen Robben is a former Dutch football player.

10. Bobby

The name Bobby has appeared many times in the history of soccer. Be it Bobby Wood, Bobby Moore or Bobby Charlton, all these players have contributed their best to football.

Sports Baby Names for Girls

Here’s a list of sports baby girl names inspired by some of the world’s most renowned female sports personalities:

Athletic Girl Names

Some popular athletic girls names:

1. Gabrielle

Gabrielle, a French origin name, means “God is my strength.” The name is made popular by Gabrielle, a gymnast, for her performance in the 2012 Olympics.

2. Kallie

Kallie Humphries, the Canadian Olympian, made this beautiful name popular, whose meaning is “from the forest.” The name also has a Greek origin meaning“fairest” or the “most beautiful.”

3. Marina

Marina, a Latin origin name derived from “marine,” means “from the sea.” It was made popular by Marina Navratilova, a great tennis player.

4. Misty

The 3 times Olympic gold medallist Misty Trenor made this sweet name popular. The Old English origin name means “mist.”

5. Nadia

The famous Romanian gymnast Nadia made this name popular. The name of Russian origin means “hope.”

6. Ronda

Ronda Rousey, the popular martial artist, made this female name popular. The moniker has Welsh and Hebrew origins and means “grand” or “loud.”

7. Dara

Dara is a short and attractive name used for both boys and girls. The name means “oak tree” in Gaelic. One of the fine examples of this name bearer is Dara Singh, a professional wrestler.

8. Lolo

Lolo is a sassy Nigerian name, meaning “prosperous”. If you happen to follow the winter Olympics, Lolo Jones is a hurdler and a bobsledder.

9. Annika

This Swedish name may not sound very sporty, but Annika Sorenstam, a popular name bearer, is one the best female golfer ever known. The name means “grace.”

10. Coe

Coe is a quintessential girl’s name meaning “jackdaw.” Sebastian Coe is an Olympic runner and a Member of Parliament.

Tennis Girl Names

Some popular tennis girls names:

1. Amelie

This Latin origin name meaning “strive,” was the name of Amelie Mauresmo, a tennis player who ranked number one.

2. Ana

This short and sweet Latin origin name is renowned for Ana Ivanovic, who won 15 career titles. The name means “favor.”

3. Dinara

Dinara Safina, a former tennis player with number one ranking globally, made this Russian origin name popular that means “treasure.”

4. Jelena

Jelena, a Greek origin moniker meaning “light,” was made popular by world-class tennis player Jelena Djokovic.

5. Maria

Maria is a Latin name that means “Star of the Sea.” The name also belongs to the famous tennis player, Maria Sharapova.

6. Martina

Martina is a Latin name that means “dedicated to Mars.” Martina Navratilova has 59 championships to her name.

7. Naomi

Naomi could be an inspiration if you are a die-hard fan of sports and tennis and want an inspiring name for your daughter. Naomi Osaka is a Japanese professional tennis player and a four-time Grand Slam singles champion.

8. Serena

Serena means “tranquil” in Latin. However, this American former professional tennis player is nothing tranquil but a blast on the tennis court. Serena Williams holds two Olympic Golds and has won all four Grand Slams twice, US Open five times, and Wimbledon seven times.

9. Sloane

Sloane means “warrior.” Sloane Stephens is an American professional tennis player who once achieved a career-best ranking of world No. 3 after Wimbledon.

10. Lindsay

Lindsay is a unisex name of British origin, mostly used for females. Lindsay Davenport is an American former professional tennis player who once held the singles world No. 1 ranking for a total of 98 weeks.

Basketball Girl Names

Some popular basketball girls names:

1. Chamique

This moniker belonged to a former Women’s National Basketball Association player. This lovely name translates as “song of joy.”

2. Cynthia

Cynthia Cooper is a retired American basketball player, widely regarded as one of the best female basketball players of all time. In Greek mythology, this lovely name is an epithet of Artemis and means “from Mount Kynthos.”

3. Dawn

Dawn Staley, a three-time Olympian, is a basketball coach and Hall of Famer from the United States. Her name means “the first appearance of light or daybreak.”

4. Lisa

Lisa Leslie is a former WNBA basketball player from the United States. Lisa is a diminutive of Elizabeth and meaning “pledged to God.”

5. Sheryl

Sheryl Swoopes is one of the most well-known basketball players of all time. This version of Sheryl with an “S” instead of a “C” means “darling.”

6. Tamika

Tamika Catchings is an American basketball player who has played for the Indiana Fever and Galatasaray in Turkey. It is a Japanese girl’s name that means “people.”

7. Diana

Diana is a featured name, not just because of the late British queen but also because of one of the top 15 WNBA players of all time, Diana Taurasi.

8. Candace

Candace is a popular English girl’s name with an upbeat charm. Candace Parker, AKA Ace, is an American professional basketball player and is considered one of the greatest WNBA players of all time.

9. Ivory

Ivory is gender-neutral, meaning “elephant’s tusks.” If you are looking for a rare and precious name for your kiddo, then this name could be the one, as ivory itself is very precious. Ivory Latta is an American professional basketball player.

10. Yolanda

Yolanda is a Greek name, meaning “violet.” Yolanda Griffith is an American professional basketball player who is also awarded a hall of fame player.

Baseball Girl Names

Some popular baseball girls names:

1. Annie

Baseball players refer to their groupies as “Annie.” Annie, as a name, is one of the most upbeat variations of Ann that translates as “grace.”

2. Dorothy

Often known as “The Human Vacuum Machine,” Dorothy Schroeder is widely regarded as the finest fielder in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League’s history. Dorothy is the Greek variation of Dorothea, meaning “God’s gift.”

3. Jean

Jean Faut was selected as an All-Star four times throughout her nine years in the AAGPBL. Jean is a French version of Johanna, which means “God is gracious.”

4. Julie

Julie Croteau is the first woman to play baseman in the men’s NCCA, a popular Latin first name derived from the Latin name Julia, meaning “youthful,” “attractive,” or “vivacious.”

5. Pepper

The term “Pepper” refers to a pre-game workout. The American origin name refers to hot spice.

6. Sophie

Sophie Kurys stole 201 bases in 1956, which is an AAGPBL and a global record. It is a girl’s name of Greek origin, meaning “wisdom.”

7. Ila

Ila is a popular and short girl’s name of French origin. It means “from the island.” Ila Borders is an independent professional baseball player.

8. Alice

Not so Alice in Wonderland, but Alice in Baseball. Alice Hohlmayer was one of the legendary women who played professional baseball in the American Girls Professional Baseball League between the 1940s and 50s.

9. Cindy

Cindy is a diminutive of the Greek name Cynthia, which means “from Mount Kynthos.”

10. Edith

Edith is a classic girl’s name from Old English, meaning “rich” and “happy.” Edith Houghton was an American professional baseball player.

Soccer Girl Names

Some popular soccer girls names:

1. Abby

The United States Soccer Athlete of the Year, Abby Wambach, has more international goals than any other female soccer player. The name is derived from the Hebrew name Avigail, which means “my father’s joy.”

2. Birgit

Birgit Prinz is the three-time FIFA World Player of the Year. Birgit is a Norwegian girl’s name which means the “exalted one.”

3. Christine

Christine Sinclair is the captain of the national women’s soccer team. Christine is a girl’s name of French and Latin origin, and its meaning is “follower of Christ.”

4. Homare

Homare is the nickname of one of the best female midfielders. It is a Japanese name that means “honor,” “glory,” and “renown.”

5. Megan

The name, Megan, was made popular by Megan Rapinoe, a soccer player. The name is of Welsh origin and means “pearl.”

6. Mia

Mia is one of the most well-known soccer players in the United States. The name is derived from the Slavic word Mila, which means “darling” or “beloved.”

7. Michelle

Michelle is a celebrated soccer player and a winner of the Golden Boot in the the Women’s World Cup. If you are on the lookout for a female soccer legend, Michelle is the best choice.

8. Lotta

Lotta is a casual and jaunty name, but the person in the interest bearing this name is one of the top female soccer players in the world. Lotta can also be used as a nickname for Charlotte.

9. Alex

Alexandra Morgan, AKA Alex Morgan, is an American professional soccer player. She was the youngest player on the US national team that placed second in the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

10. Carli

Carli Lloyd is a celebrated American former professional soccer player who holds Olympic gold medals two times, FIFA Women’s World Cup two times, and FIFA Player of the Year two times. Carli Lloyd is certainly an inspiring personality and holds an inspiring name.

Racing Driver Girl Names

Some popular racing driver girls’ names:

1. Danica

Danica Patrick is a well-known stock car racer. It is a feminine name of Slavic origin that means “dawn star.”

2. Desire

Desire, a French origin name meaning “desired,” is the name of Desire Wilson, the first woman to win an F1 race.

3. Giovanna

This name of an F1 driver, Giovanna, means “the Lord is gracious,” originating from Hebrew.

4. Lella

Lella Lombardi is a popular F1 racer who participated in 17 races. The name is of Arabic origin and means “dark beauty.”

5. Michele

Michele meaning “who is like God,” is a French origin name. The name is made popular by Michele Mouton, who races for the Audi factory team.

6. Simona

Simona de Silvestro, a Formula E-championship racer, made this name famous. The name means “to be heard”  and is a Spanish-origin name.

Gender-Neutral Sports Baby Names

Unisex names or gender-neutral names are those names that are suitable for both boys and girls, like universal names. So, if you want a universal name with no rules, here are 30 gender-neutral name sports baby names:

1. Aramis

Aramis is a gender-neutral baby name of French origin. The name is a habitational name and stands for “from Aramits, France.” Aramis Ramirez is a baseball player.

2. Arrow

Arrow is a new-to-ear baby name of English origin. It basically means “a projectile fired from a bow.” The object is related to archery, so if you want your kiddo to excel in athletics, Arrow could be a good option.

3. Cal

Cal is basically a short form for names starting with Cal. It is English and gender-neutral. Parents looking for something unique and cool may find this a suitable choice.

4. Carlen

Carlen is a stylish name of English origin. The meaning of the name is “descendant of Charles.” Carlen is a fresh and unique alternative to the commonly-found name Charles.

5. Carrigan

Derived from an Irish surname, Corrigan, which means “pointed” or “spear”, Carrigan sounds strong and amiable. If you wish for your little one to be sharp like a spear or just have a thing for old-time sports, then this is a good option!

6. Chevis

Chevis is a unisex name of French origin which means Chub Fish. If you have a knack for unique things, then this name with a weird meaning could be an ideal option.

7. Dallas

Dallas is a popular baby name of Scottish origin. Though the name is unisex, it is mostly used for boys than girls. The name means “from the meadow dwelling.”

8. Deiondre

Deiondre is an elegant and prim baby name that originated in America. The meaning of the name is “valley.”

9. Embry

If you are on the lookout for a most gorgeous and voguish name, then say hello to Embry! Embry is an English name, meaning “work rule.”

10. Eniola

Similar to Enola of Netflix’s Enola James, Eniola has the potential for a big fan base. This name of African – Yoruba origin means “wealthy person.”

11. Evert

An alternative to the commonly known name Everett, Evert stands for “wild boar herd.”

12. Finlay

Finlay is a cute Scottish name with a strong and bold meaning: “fair warrior.” Don Finlay was a British athlete and Royal Air Force officer.

13. Galaxy

Galaxy is a dapper gender-neutral name with a friendly vibe to it. Derived from the Greek word galaxias, Galaxy is a large system of stars and dark matter.

14. Gatlin

Gatlin is a fresh out-of-the-wardrobe unisex name, but more titled towards boy’s name for now. One of the famous name bearers includes Justin Gatlin, a retired American sprinter who was the 2005 and 2017 World Champion in the 100 meters.

15. Jalen

Surprisingly, Jalen is a gender-neutral name. The name is made popular by an American basketball player Jalen Rose.

16. Jesse

This Hebrew name means “God’s gift.” There are several professionals bearing this name, such as Jesse Ventura, a professional wrestler and Jesse Owens, a four-time Olympic gold medalist.

17. Kimani

Kimani is an African – Kukiyu name of Kenya origin, meaning “sailor” or “adventurer”, which we’re sure your son will become.

18. Kyel

You must have heard of Kyle, but have you heard of Kyel? Kyel is a derivation of the name Kyle. This English name means “narrow straight.” Kyel Romane Reid is an English professional footballer.

19. Lou

A short form of the name Louise, which means “famed warrior.” One Famous athlete bearing this name includes Lou Gehrig, a baseball player.

20. Madden

Madden is a humble and breezy unisex name, meaning “little dog.” Not exactly a professional athlete, but we have an example of an American baseball manager and coach, Joe Maddon.

21. Maz

Did you know that Maz is a 17th-century creative spin-off of the name Mads? This Scandinavian name means “gift of God.” Maria Strong, AKA Maz, is a proud Australian Paralympic athlete.

22. Mirza

Mirza is an Arabic name that means “prince.” We have Sania Mirza, an Indian professional tennis player who was ranked by the Women’s Tennis Association as the Indian No. 1 in singles.

23. Payton

Payton is a habitational name of English origin that stands for “from Pacca’s town.” Walter Payton is a known football player.

24. Reggie

Reggie comes from the name Regina. You must have heard of Reggie Jackson, an American former professional baseball player.

25. Starlin

Starlin is a cool and classy name which stands for “beautiful star.”

26. Theoren

Theoren is a stylish and classy gender-neutral name of French origin. It means “hunter.”

27. Thurl

Thurl is a voguish name with a sporty look. However, it does not have any confirmed meaning.

28. Wayne

Wayne is a classic name meaning “wagon driver.” Wayne Snyman is a well-known South African race walker.

29. Wellington

Wellington means “from Weola’s town.” Popular athlete bearing this name includes Welington Castillo, a baseball player.

30. Wrigley

Wrigley is an English name, meaning “clearing by the river bend.” Mark Wrigley is an inspiring athlete.

So, whether you’re an F1 enthusiast or a die-hard soccer fan, now you can honour your favourite sports personality by naming your child after them.