Catholic Boy Names With Virtue and Valor

Capture your faith and instill a sense of virtue and valor in your son with Catholic boy names. These devoted monikers tie strongly to Catholicism through religious texts, figures of tremendous faith, including popes and saints, and meanings that resonate with moral strength. Many are quite popular today, a testament to their enduring appeal. Let’s explore some of these inspiring names.

The tradition of Catholic naming often reflects a desire to imbue children with qualities admired within the faith: piety, courage, and devotion. This list of Catholic Boy Names With Virtue and Valor provides parents with options that are both meaningful and steeped in religious history.

Apostolic Authority: Catholic Boy Names

Apostles make up a great deal of the most commonly seen Catholic boy names today. These monikers have been popular in waves, though some have achieved coveted classic status, such as Andrew (Greek, meaning "manly"), Thomas (Aramaic, meaning "twin"), and James (Hebrew, meaning "supplanter"). We can’t miss John (Hebrew, meaning "God is gracious"), either, one of the all-time most popular male names in history.

Other apostle picks have seen their popularity ebb and flow, like Matthew (Hebrew, meaning "gift of God"), Mark (Latin, dedicated to Mars), and Luke (Greek, "from Lucania"). You may know Peter (Greek, meaning "stone"), too. There’s also Philip (Greek, meaning "a lover of horses"). See Bartholomew (Aramaic, "son of Talmai"), Simon (Hebrew, "he has heard"), and Thaddaeus (Aramaic, "heart") for more apostle names.

These names, borne by the original followers of Christ, carry an inherent association with faith, dedication, and the courage to spread the Gospel.

Papal Picks: Names of Leadership and Faith

Another great way to find Catholic names for boys is to browse popes. Francis (Latinized German, meaning "Frenchman; free man") is a favorite, embodying humility and service, while Leo (Latin, meaning "lion") is a blast from the past seeing recent popularity on the name charts, projecting strength and leadership. Benedict (Latin, meaning "blessed") is another solid choice, appearing as modern popes and those in the distant past, suggesting divine favor. Pius (Latin, meaning "pious") is also a popular name amongst popes, though not common on children today.

Check out Gregory (Greek, meaning "watchful"), Clement (Latin, meaning "merciful"), and Alexander (Greek, meaning "defender of man") for more papal picks.

Choosing a papal name can represent a desire for your son to embody the virtues of leadership, wisdom, and spiritual guidance. These Catholic Boy Names With Virtue and Valor are filled with the rich history of the church.

Saintly Inspiration: Catholic Boy Names

Don’t forget about saints, either, as many amazing Catholic boy names hide among them. For starters, there’s Nicholas (Greek, meaning "victory of the people"), as in the Christmas-linked saint, the patron saint of children and gift-givers. You likely know Valentine (Latin, meaning "strong, healthy"), too, as he’s associated with a certain love-themed holiday on February 14th. While he’s lovey-dovey, he’s also strong, meaning "the healthy one." Zacchaeus (Hebrew, meaning "the Lord recalled") is another awesome find.

Theodore (Greek, meaning "God’s gift") is recognized as a warrior saint if you’re looking for added strength, while Magnus (Latin, meaning "great") serves as the patron saint of sciences, tying him to heaps of wisdom. Additional sainty sweethearts include Sylvester (Latin, meaning "wooded"), Pierre (French form of Peter, meaning "stone"), and Otto (German, meaning "wealth").

These Catholic Boy Names With Virtue and Valor, drawn from the lives of holy men, offer a direct connection to stories of sacrifice, faith, and miraculous deeds.

More Catholic Boy Names With Virtue and Valor

Here are even more Catholic boy names to inspire your search:

• Aaron (Hebrew): "High mountain."
• Abel (Hebrew): "Breath."
• Abraham (Hebrew): "Father of nations."
• Adam (Hebrew): "Man."
• Adrian (Latin): "From Hadria."
• Aidan (Irish): "Little fire."
• Albert/Alberto (German): "Noble, bright, famous."
• Alonso (Spanish): "Ready for battle."
• Ambrose (Greek): "Immortal."
• Ammon (Hebrew): "Teacher, builder."
• Anastasius (Greek): "Resurrection."
• Andre (French): "Manly."
• Angelico (Italian): Italian equivalent of Angell
• Angelo (Italian): "Messenger of God."
• Anthony/Antoine/Antonio (Latin/French/Italian): "Of unknown meaning."
• Bartholomew (Aramaic): "Son of Talmai."
• Basil (Greek): "Royal, kingly."
• Benjamin (Hebrew): "A favorite son."
• Bernard (German): "Strong, brave bear."
• Bertrand (French): French form of Bertram.
• Blaise (Latin): "Lisp, stutter."
• Brendan (Irish): "Prince."
• Bruno (German): "Brown."
• Cadoc (Welsh): "Battle."
• Callistus (Latin): "Very beautiful."
• Carlo/Carlos (Spanish): "Free man."
• Casimir (Slavic): "Famous destroyer (of peace)."
• Caspar (Persian): "Treasurer."
• Cassius (Latin): "Helmeted warrior."
• Charles (German): "Free man."
• Christian (Latin): "Follower of Christ."
• Cian/Cianan (Irish): "Ancient/Archaic."
• Claudio (Latin): "Lame."
• Conrad (German): "Brave, bold ruler or counsel."
• Cornelius (Latin): "Horn."
• Cyprian (Latin): "From Cyprus."
• Cyril (Greek): "Master, lord."
• Dallan (Irish): "Blind."
• Damian/Damien (Greek/French): "To tame."
• Daniel (Hebrew): "God is My Judge."
• David (Hebrew): "Beloved."
• Diego (Spanish): "Saint James."
• Dionysius (Greek): "God of wine."
• Dominic (Latin): "Of the Lord."
• Donatus (Spanish): "Given; gift from God."
• Dunstan (English): "Brown stone."
• Edmund (English): "Wealthy protector."
• Edward (English): "Wealthy guard."
• Edwin (English): "Wealthy friend."
• Elias (Hebrew): "My God is Yahweh."
• Emilian (Latin): "Eager."
• Emmanuel (Hebrew): "God is with us."
• Engelbert (German): "Angel-bright."
• Eugene (Greek): "Well-born, noble."
• Eustace (Greek): "Fruitful."
• Evan (Welsh): "God is gracious."
• Fabian (Latin): "Bean farmer."
• Faustus (Latin): "Fortunate."
• Felix (Latin): "Happy and lucky."
• Ferdinand (German): "Bold voyager."
• Fergus (Scottish): "Supreme man."
• Finbar (Irish): "White or fair head."
• Flavian/Florentius (Latin): "Yellow hair/In blooming."
• Florian (Slavic): "Flower."
• Francesco/Francis/Francisco (Spanish/Latin/Spanish): "Frenchman; free man/From France."
• Frederick (German): "Peaceful ruler."
• Gabriel (Hebrew): "God is my strength."
• Gaius (Latin): "Happy, rejoice."
  Garcia (Spanish): "Brave in Battle"
• George (Greek): "Farmer."
• Gerard (English): "Spear brave."
• Giacomo (Italian): Italian form of Jacob and James.
• Giles (Greek): "Small goat."
• Giovanni (Italian): "God is gracious."
• Giuseppe (Italian): Italian form of Joseph.
• Godfrey (German): "God-peace."
• Gonzalo (Spanish): "Battle."
• Guillermo (German): "Will helmet, protection."
• Gunther (German): "Battler, warrior."
• Henry (English): "Home ruler."
• Hermes (Greek): "Messenger."
• Heron (Greek): "Hero"
• Hiro (Spanish): "Sacred name."
• Hubert (German): "Bright intellect."
• Hugh (German): "Soul, mind, intellect."
• Humbert (German): "Famous giant; renowned warrior."
• Humphrey (German): "Peaceful warrior."
• Ignacio/Ignatius (Portuguese, Spanish/Latin): A variant form of Ignatius/"The ardent one"
• Inigo (European, Spanish): "My little love."
• Isaac (Hebrew): "He will laugh."
• Isaiah/Isaias (Hebrew/Latin): "God is salvation."
• Ivan (Slavic): "God is gracious."
• Jacob/Jacques/Jaime/James (Hebrew/French/Spanish/English): "Supplanter."
• Jarlath (Irish): "Tributary lord."
• Jason (Greek): "To heal."
• Jenaro (Latin): "Gateway."
• Jeremiah/Jeremy (Hebrew/English): "God will exalt."
• Jerome (Greek): "Sacred name."
• Joachim (Hebrew): "Established by God."
• Johann/John (Hebrew): "God is gracious."
• Jordan (Hebrew): "To descend."
• Jose/Joseph (Spanish/Hebrew): "Jehovah will increase."
• Juan (Spanish): "God is gracious."
• Judas (Greek): "Praised."
• Julian/Julius (Latin/Greek): "Young at heart/Youthful and downy."
• Justin/Justus (English/Latin): "Just and fair/Upright, just."
• Karl (German): "Free man."
• Kenan (Hebrew): "Acquire."
• Kenneth (Scottish): "Handsome."
• Kevin (Irish): "Handsome."
• Kieran/Kilian (Irish): "Black/Bright-headed."
• Konstanty (European): "Firm, constant."
• Laurent/Lawrence (Latin): "From Laurentum."
• Lazarus (Hebrew): "God is my help."
• Leonardo (Italian): "Brave lion."
• Leopold (German): "Brave people."
• Louis/Luigi (French/German): "Famous warrior."
• Lucian/Lucius (Latin/Greek): "Light/From Lucanus."
• Ludwin (Slavic): Slavic form of Ludwig.
• Macarius (Greek): "Blessed."
• Magnus (Latin): "Great."
• Manuel (Spanish): "God is with us."
• Marcus/Mark/Martin (Latin): "Dedicated to Mars."
• Marinus (Latin): "Of the sea."
• Mateo/Matthew/Matthias (Spanish/Hebrew/Welsh): "Gift of God."
• Maximilian/Maximus (Latin): "Greatest."
• Michael/Miguel (Hebrew/Spanish): "Who is Like God?"
• Moses (Hebrew): "Saviour."
• Myron (Greek): "Myrrh, fragrant oil."
• Nazarius (Latin): "From Nazareth."
• Nestor (Greek): "Traveler."
• Nikolaus (Greek): "People of victory."
• Nino (Italian): "Boy; little."
• Norbert (German): "Northern brightness."
• Octavius (Latin): "Eighth."
• Odran (Irish): "Pale."
• Olaf (Scandinavian): "Ancestor’s relic."
• Oliver (English): "Olive tree."
• Orion (Greek): "Boundary."
• Ormond (English): "Mountain of bears."
• Oswald (German): "God’s power."
• Otto (German): "Wealth."
• Owen (Welsh): "Noble born."
• Paolo (Latin): "Small."
• Paris (Greek): "Of unknown meaning."
• Paschal (Latin): "Easter child."
• Patrick (Latin): "Nobleman."
• Peregrine (Latin): "Traveler, wanderer."
• Philemon (Greek): "Loving."
• Philo (Greek): "Love."
• Pietro (Spanish): "Rock."
• Quentin/Quintus (Latin): "Fifth."
• Quirinus (Greek): "Spear."
• Rafael/Raphael (Spanish/Hebrew): "God heals/Healing God."
• Ralph (English): "Wolf counsel."
• Raymond (English): "Protector."
• Richard (German): "Brave ruler."
• Robert/Rupert (German): "Bright fame/variant of Robert."
• Roger (German): "Famous spearman."
• Roman/Romanus/Romulus (Latin): "One from Rome/Citizen of Rome/Man of Rome."
• Ronald (Scandinavian): "Ruler’s counselor."
• Ronan (Irish): "Little seal."
• Roque (Italian): "Rest."
• Rudolf (German): "Famous wolf."
• Rufus (Latin): "Red-haired."
• Salvatore (Latin): "Savior."
• Samson (Hebrew): "Sun."
• Sebastian (Greek): "Venerable or honorable."
• Simeon/Simon (Hebrew): "To hear/He has heard."
• Sixtus (Latin): "Sixth."
• Solomon (Hebrew): "Peace."
• Stephen (English): "Crown."
• Sylvester (Latin): "Wooded."
• Teodorico (German): "Power of the tribe."
• Terence (Latin): "The third of the same name."
• Thaddaeus/Thaddeus (Aramaic): "Heart."
• Theobald (German): "Brave people."
• Theophilus (Greek): "Loved by God."
• Tiberius (Latin): "Near the Tiber river."
• Timon (Greek): "Respect."
• Titus (Greek): "The avenger."
• Ubald (German): "A brave spirit."
• Ulric (German): "Power of the wolf."
• Urban (Latin): "From the city."
• Ursus (Italian): "Bear."
• Valentine/Valerian (Latin): "Strong, healthy/Variant of Valerius"
• Victor/Vincent (Latin): "Champion/Conquer."
• Walbert (German): "The bright ruler."
• Walter (German): "Commander of the army."
• William (German): "Willing protector."
• Yared (Hebrew): "Descent, he who descended."
• Yohan (Aramaic): "God is merciful."
• Zacchaeus/Zachariah/Zachary (Hebrew): "The Lord recalled/God remembers."
• Zeno (Greek): "Gift of Zeus."

By selecting a Catholic boy name, you connect your son to a rich heritage of faith, virtue, and valor. Consider the meaning and history behind each name to find the perfect fit for your family and aspirations.