140 Boy and Girl Baby Names That Start with ‘B’
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When it comes to choosing a name for your baby, things can get complicated, to say the least. Do you want something totally unique and straight out of a Wes Anderson film? Are you looking for something more traditional? Maybe you want something super quirky (but not too weird). The options truly are endless, and it can feel daunting choosing a name that will stick with someone for the rest of their life. To narrow things down, we suggest starting with a letter. If you're looking for the ideal name that begins with “B,” we did the hard work for you. (Psst: here are 100 baby names that start with “C”.)
The names on this list have been hand-selected from a variety of places (such as the Social Security Administration’s list of the most popular monikers) and includes some of our personal favorites. From Bernadette to Beckham, Brock to Bodhi, here are 140 classic, unique and seriously cool baby names that start with “B” for both genders.
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Classic B Names for Girls
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1. Bethany
The official meaning is “house of welcome” or “house of figs.” It’s also a town near Jerusalem.
2. Becca
A riff on the Hebrew name, Rebekah, Becca is a cute moniker meaning “to bind, to tie.” Maybe she’ll be the glue that holds the family together?
3. Brianna
Meaning “noble,” the name Brianna is an Irish moniker that dates back to the 16th century. It can take on various forms and spellings (Briana, Bryanna and Breana, to name a few) and is thought to be the female form of Brian.
4. Beatrice
“Bringer of Joy.” What else could a new parent ask for?
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5. Bonnie
This name means “pretty girl.” How sweet.
6. Bridget
Also known as Brigid, it means “noble” or “exalted one,” so you bet she’ll be strong.
7. Belinda
Like a few others on this list, the name means “beautiful.” Only this one’s of Spanish descent.
8. Barbara
Perhaps it's not as common as it used to be (it landed the 976th spot for most popular moniker in 2022), but Barb will always and forever be a solid nickname.
9. Beverly
Of English origin, the name means “beaver stream or meadow.” So, not only will she love the environment, but she’s pretty much destined to love Beverly Cleary books.
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10. Beth
Usually short for Elizabeth, Beth does well all on its own.
11. Blythe
“Happy” is the meaning—pretty much says it all.
12. Bertha
This name of Old German origin was a big deal in the late 19th century and remained a popular choice up until the 1930s. Given its meaning of “bright and famous,” we think it’s eligible for a comeback.
13. Babette
This retro little number has a mixed Greek and French influences, meaning “God’s promise.” It’s considered a derivative of Elizabeth and Barbara. If you love a good classic, you’ll know it’s also the title of Babette’s Feast.
14. Birdy
Birdy is a spin on the German name Bertha, meaning “bright, famous.” Future movie star?
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15. Bette
From Bette Davis to Bette Midler, this name brings plenty of star power. It has Dutch, Hebrew and English roots, translating to “God’s promise.” It’s also a shortened version of Betty and Elizabeth.
16. Bernadette
Bernadette means “brave as a bear,” and if you’re familiar with the namesake song by The Four Tops, you already know it can inspire great passion.
17. Brenda
The feminine variation of Brendan, this Scandinavian name means “sword.”
18. Birdie
The name—which means “little bird”—is also shared by Jessica Simpson’s youngest child, a sign the popularity of this one will likely spike in the upcoming years.
19. Betsy
A diminutive form of Elizabeth, it means “God is my oath.”
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20. Beverlianne
Can’t pass on a double name. Beverlianne is a mashup of the British name Beverly (“meadow”) and French Anna (“grace”).
21. Brookanne
Another American baby girl name that combines two classics—the Old English and German name Brook (“small stream”) and the French name Anne (“grace”).
22. Becky
A popular variation of Rebecca, this name (of Hebrew origin) means “captivated or captivating.”
Unusual Names for Girls
23. Berti
German for “noble,” Berti is a cute, shortened version of the baby girl names Alberta and Bertha.
24. Brynlee
Another combo of two names, Brynlee means “burnt meadow.”
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25. Brenna
Pronounced BREN-ah it is of Gaelic origin and means "little drop of water.”
26. Bristol
This topographical name means “site off the bridge.” Let your imagination determine what said site looks like, but know that Bri and Tollie are seriously cute nickname options.
27. Bernadine
Similar to Bernadette, Bernadine means “brave as a bear,” a fine quality you’d want in any little girl.
28. Bellamy
Emerging as an up-and-coming girls' name, this one is a take on the super-popular Bella. And like its predecessors, it also means “beauty.”
29. Berri
Of Greek origin, the meaning of Berri is "light green semi precious gemstone.” It’s also a variant of the names Bernice and Beryl.
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30. Bhumika
This Indian name means “Earth.” (It’s pronounced bhu-mi-ka).
31. Badriya
Badriya is an Arabic name for girls that means “like the full moon.”
32. Brielle
This name—which is of French origin—means “God is my strength.”
33. Bari
Not to be confused with Barri—Bari is a gender-neutral spin on the Gaelic Barry, meaning “fair-haired.” In Hebrew and Arabic, the definition becomes “to select.”
34. Baila
With delicate features and a lightness of step, it’s like the name Baila was meant to be. In Spanish, it means “dance” and “ fair.”
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35. Bambi
A certain (doe-eyed) Disney deer made this Italian name famous, but we think it’s a cute pick for a little girl, too. It quite literally means “child.”
36. Bahati
This name has Swahili origins, a badass sound and a meaning of “luck or fortune.” It’s also the name of Adam Levine’s model wife.
37. Bernice
Greek for “bringer of victory,” Bernice is a name that destines your baby girl to shine.
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38. Brycen
This unisex name is a fancy version of Bryce, which is thought to come from a Celtic word meaning “speckled” (freckles).
39. Barri
With a name that literally means “victory bringer," this little girl is bound to be tough.
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40. Breigh
Similar to Brianna, it’s meaning is "high, noble or exalted."
41. Bathsheba
Hebrew for “daughter of the oath,” the Biblical figure Bathsheba was known for her beauty, and for being the mother of the famous King Solomon.
42. Benedictine
This Latin name translates to “blessed.”
43. Belen
Derived from Spanish origin, Belen means “house of bread” and, in terms of how it sounds, it’s basically the tougher cousin of Helen.
44. Briony
Briony, sometimes spelled Bryony, is a feminine name of Greek origin that means “climbing plant.”
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45. Benita
Pronounced beh-nee-tah, this Spanish moniker means “blessed.”
46. Babita
Of Greek origin, this b name means “stranger” (and is pretty cute when shortened to Babs).
47. Baldwina
Meaning “brave, bold friend,” Baldwina is a Swiss and German name that perfectly describes what you hope your baby will become. And it’s got plenty of variations—Baudouin (French), Baldovino (Italian) and Balduino (Spanish).
Cool B Names for Girls
48. Bianca
Equal parts soft and spunky—this name of Italian origin meaning “white” and “pure” reached peak popularity in the 70s and 80s and remains a timeless choice.
49. Beckham
While this baby name means “homestead by the stream,” don’t mistake it for something too peaceful. If you think your little girl will have serious athletic potential, it’s also a nod to one of soccer’s most recognizable stars and the 2002 lady-led film, Bend It Like Beckham.
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50. Brinn
Or Brynn if you prefer, the name is sometimes short for Brynnlee and is also related to Brianna.
51. Briar
Meaning “shrub” or “small tree,” this name symbolizes growth, something which your daughter will inevitably take part in way too fast.
52. Braelynn
Braelynn is an American name invention (coming from the names Bray and Lin) is a topographical moniker that means “meadow” or “dweller near the moor.” It also topped the U.S. baby name charts in 2011 and there are four other ways to spell it, including Braylin, Braylen, Braelyn, and Braylynn.
53. Bailey
Courtesy of the English, this name goes way back and literally means “bailiff” or “steward.”
54. Bexley
The name made its debut on the U.S. Top 1000 in 2016 and is increasingly being adopted by parents looking for a novel name in the Kinsley/Ainsley/Paisley family. It has English origins and a meaning of “clearing surrounded by box trees.”
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55. Bindi
Meaning “butterfly” in the Australian aboriginal language of Noongar, Bindi has become a well-known name thanks to croc-hunting Steve Irwin’s daughter. Who knows? Maybe she’ll be just as adventurous.
56. Bronwyn
Here’s a suitable name for any striking beauty: the Welsh name Bronwyn, meaning “fair, white raven.”
57. Brooke
This b name means “water” or “small stream,” so your daughter may well turn out to be quite the swimmer.
58. Blakely
This one is a compound name consisting of two Old English words that, together, roughly translate to “black meadow” or “dark clearing.”
59. Brooklyn
This combo name (Brook + Lynn) is used for both boys and girls and means “broken land” or “pretty brook.”
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60. Blair
Also spelled Blaire, this moniker is derived from the Scottish Gaelic blàr, meaning "plain," “meadow” or "field."
61. Billie
A variation of Billy (which has become unisex), the name means “determination.” Not to mention, it's fairly common with celebs—Billie Holiday, Billie Jean King and Billie Eilish to name a few.
62. Brandy
Also spelled Brandi (like the actress), this American name speaks for itself—it literally means brandy.
63. Bobbie-Jo
Bobbie-Jo is an American name meaning “Jehovah shall add,” but it’s also a combo of the English and German Bobbie, meaning “bright fame,” plus Jo, which translates to “God is gracious.”
64. Blossom
Looking for a flower name? This one means "to bloom" and has gotten attention thanks to The Powerpuff Girls and Riverdale.
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65. Beyoncé
Sure, you know Queen Bey, and although her name came from her mother’s surname, it also means “beyond others.”
66. Blake
This Old English name means “pale blond one” (we’re looking at you Blake Lively). It’s also a popular version of the longer name, Blakely, and a one syllable moniker that packs a punch.
67. Brittany
A favorite '80s name that was further popularized by Britney Spears (notice the alternate spelling option), the moniker means “from Britain,” which makes total sense since it's of English origin. We think it’s full of energy and attitude.
68. Belle
This French name means “beauty.” Looks like Disney did their homework when coming up with a name for its Beauty & the Beast heroine.
69. Bella
Like Belle, this name also has French origins and a meaning of “beautiful.” It’s also very popular, landing in the top 50 names for girls in 2018.
70. Buffy
Buffy is an English diminutive of Elizabeth that means “God is my Oath.” And dare we say, it slays? (Sorry, we had to.)
Classic B Names for Boys
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1. Benjamin
Landing the #9 spot on the popularity list last year, it means “son of the right hand.”
2. Blaine
The Scottish name began gaining wider recognition in the 19th century. It also means “yellow,” most likely referring to someone with blonde or light hair.
3. Brayden
Not quite as common as Benjamin, this b name still made it in the top 100 last year. It also has several different spellings—Braydan and Braydon included.
4. Bobby
Bobby is a classic nickname (it’s short for Robert) that is also a standalone name of English and German origin. It has retro vibes and a meaning of “bright fame.”
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5. Boris
This classic name has Slavic roots and a fierce meaning of “wolf” and “battle warrior,” plus a decidedly manly sound to match.
6. Brian
A timeless choice—Brian is a masculine name of Irish origin that boasts a lofty meaning of “high” and “noble.”
7. Billy
Though commonly used as a nickname for William, we like Billy all on its own as a moniker of Old German origin with a fierce meaning of “resolute protector.”
8. Bret
Here, the masculine version of Brittany with the same meaning of “from Britain.”
9. Buster
This funny throwback has British origins and a familiar meaning of “tough guy.”
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10. Burt
Burt is a less common spelling of Bert and a shortened version of Albert that means “bright” and “noble.” It was also the given name of a very famous mustached actor (Burt Reynolds) and a music industry giant (Burt Bacharach).
11. Barry
This timeless classic is a gender-neutral name of Irish origin that means “fair-haired.”
12. Bart
Usually short for Bartholomew, Bart does well all on its own. It’s also been made popular by a certain cartoon character.
13. Bryan
This one is almost as popular as the other spelling of the name (Brian), according to the SSA.
14. Bradley
The official meaning of this b name is “from the broad meadow.”
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15. Blake
This Old English name means “pale blond one” and is unisex. It’s also a popular version of the longer name, Blakely.
16. Bryson
This unisex name, a fancy version of Bryce, is a patronym that’s thought to come from a Celtic word meaning “speckled” (freckles).
17. Bruce
The name Bruce is a boy's name of French, Scottish and English origin meaning "from the thick brush.”
18. Bennett
It means “little blessed one” and is of Latin origin. We like Ben or Bennie for short.
19. Bruno
Derived from German origins, Bruno means “brown.”
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20. Benedict
Or Benny, for short. This masculine name has Latin origins and a meaning of “blessed.”
21. Brandon
This name—which is of English origin—means “from the broom hill.”
22. Bernard
This boy’s name of English and French origin has a sophisticated sound and a strong meaning of “brave” and “strong bear.”
23. Barrett
Pronounced like Garrett with a “B,” this one is originally an English surname. It also means “trader.”
24. Brady
If you’re more of a Miranda than a Carrie, Samantha or Charlotte, you can’t go wrong with this one, which means “spirited.”
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25. Brody
Courtesy of Scotland, the name literally means “second son.”
Unique B Names for Boys
26. Betserai
“Born to assist.” What more can new parents ask for?
27. Braxton
Fun fact: There were 2,379 Braxtons born in 2022.
28. Beau
Also spelled Bo, this French name means “beautiful” or “handsome.”
29. Bomani
Of African origin, Bomani means “warrior.”
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30. Baxter
This unique moniker has Old English roots and a long history as an occupational surname that means “baker.” As a modern given name, we’re getting too-cool-for-school vibes.
31. Brantley
This combo name (Brant + Leigh/Lee) means “fire” or “field.”
32. Bodhi
Of Indian origin, it means “understanding of true nature” and is pronounced bohd-hee.
33. Bowen
The name made its U.S. Top 1000 debut in 2011 and is of Welsh origin.
34. Babu
With a name that literally means “gentleman," your son is destined to have great manners.
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35. Boston
Looking for a geographic name? We recommend this one (Call him Bo for short).
36. Babafemi
It means “my father loves me,” so he’ll never forget.
37. Bronson
Bronson (not to be confused with Pierce Brosnan’s surname) is a boy's name of English origin that means “son of brown-haired one.”
38. Baker
Of Anglo-Saxon descent and later spreading to the Celtic countries of Ireland, Scotland and Wales, Baker is an occupational name meaning “baker of bread.”
39. Brecken
Meaning "freckled” or “speckled," Brecken is a fresh, Irish alternative to the similar-sounding (and super-popular) Beckett.
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40. Bodie
From the German surname, Bode, this longer version means “messenger.”
41. Bronx
One of the very first European settlers of the Bronx area of New York was Jonas Bronck. The area was called “Bronck’s land,” which is where the name comes from.
42. Blaze
This one means “flame,” so chances are he’ll be a little feisty.
43. Basim
It means “smile” aka what your happy baby will be doing a lot of.
44. Bongani
This African name means “grateful” or “he sings with joy” (fingers crossed your son turns out to have impressive vocal cords).
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45. Bogdan
This undeniably original choice has Romanian and Slavic roots and a fitting religious meaning of “gift from God.”
46. Bharat
Bharat is an Indian name with Sanskrit origins that date back to ancient Hindu scripture. It means “shining one.”
47. Belisario
This masculine name of Spanish and Greek origins is seriously fun to say and boasts a fierce meaning of “swordsman,” to boot.
48. Baz
This one-syllable winner has roots all over the world and just as many meanings. (“Fair-haired,” “royal king” and “falcon,” to name a few.)
49. Bojan
Bojan is a Slavic given name found throughout Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria and beyond. It means “struggle” or “battle.”
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50. Baishan
Pronounced BYE-shawn, this name is a city in China and a moniker that means “knife” in the Apache language.
Cool B Names for Boys
51. Baylor
Like Taylor with a twist. This moniker means "one who delivers goods."
52. Bjorn
The Scandinavian moniker means “bear.” We guess that’s where Baby Bjorn got its name.
53. Benson
The English name speaks for itself—it literally means “son of Ben.”
54. Byron
Byron is an English name for boys that means “from the barns.”
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55. Brooks
Similar to the female version (Brooke), this name means “water” or “small stream.”
56. Barack
Of African origin, the name Barack means “blessed.” Oh, and there’s also a chance he grows up to become president.
57. Briggs
Meaning “dweller by the bridge,” the name is commonly used for boys and girls.
58. Braylen
Another combo of two names, Braylen is an American invention—coming from the names Bray and Lin—and has no specific cultural meaning (but it sure is cute).
59. Braden
Popular in both the U.S. and Canada, this moniker originated from the British Isles. It means "broad valley" or "broad hillside."
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60. Briar
It's one of the newly popular nature-word names, charting in the U.S. for the first time in 2015 for both genders. Meaning “shrub” or “small tree,” this name symbolizes growth.
61. Brenden
Although very similar to Brandon, Brenden (or Brendan if you prefer) means “prince.”
62. Boone
The name simply means “a blessing,” which is exactly what your new son will be.
63. Bishop
Bishop means “overseer” or “guardian.” Makes sense.
64. Benicio
If you’re looking for something that symbolizes kindness, look no further than this Spanish name, which means “benevolent one.”
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65. Beckham
Further popularized by David Beckham and his crew, the nickname Beck also works for this one.
66. Boyd
Though most commonly seen as a surname, Boyd is also a given name of Irish and Scottish origin that’s well-suited to a fair-haired boy; it means “blond.”
67. Bastian
Bastian is a shortened form of Sebastian that boasts a badass sound to match its meaning of “sublime.”
68. Bo
This unisex Scandinavian name meaning “to live, dwell” has ties to American actress (and total babe) Bo Derek, as well as the revered American guitarist Bo Diddley.
69. Brock
Originally used as a surname, this moniker of British origin has tough guy vibes and a meaning of “badger.” (Let’s hope your baby doesn’t live up to that once he starts to talk.)
70. Blair
This gender-neutral Scottish name has a fierce sound and multiple meanings that include “battlefield,” “meadow” and “plain.”
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