140 Radiant R Names for Boys

The letter R gives a boy’s name a certain roll and rumble, from the soft warmth of Ryan to the crisp command of Rex. It shows up in old kings and quiet poets alike, which is why it keeps landing on so many shortlists.

We pulled together 140 boy names that start with R, each one paired with its meaning and origin so you are not guessing where it came from. You will find rugged classics, regal picks with royal roots, and less common choices drawn from cultures around the world.

Scroll through, say a few out loud, and see which one fits your little one best.

140 Regal Boy Names that Start with R

Get ready to explore these R names for boys, ranging from radiant classics to beautifully rare gems. According to the Social Security Administration, which has tracked U.S. baby names since 1880, about 1,000 boy names make its annual popularity list each year ⁽¹⁾. According to the Social Security Administration, the agency has now published this annual ranking for more than 145 years.

1. Ra: Named after Ra, the ancient Egyptian sun god and one of the most powerful deities in the pantheon.
2. Rade: A Slavic short form of names featuring the “rad” element, such as Radomil.
3. Radomil: A chirpy Slavic name for a boy who is always happy and gracious.
4. Rafał: A strong Polish form of Raphael, meaning “God heals.”
5. Rafferty: A unique Irish male name meaning “flood tide” or “prosperity.”
6. Rafi: A significant Islamic name meaning “exalted, noble” in Arabic.
7. Ragnall: This badass name carries mighty power drawn from Gaelic, Germanic, and Old Norse roots.
8. Ragnar: A thunderous Norse name meaning “warrior” or “army counsel,” borne by the legendary Viking Ragnar Lothbrok.
9. Rahul: A Sanskrit name meaning “able” or “efficient,” famously borne by the son of the Buddha.
10. Rain: This weather-inspired name sounds romantic and fresh.
11. Raini: A beautiful Native American boy name meaning “creator.”
12. Raj: Meaning “king” or “ruler” in Sanskrit, this 3-letter name is undeniably mighty.
13. Rajani: Meaning “dark one,” this gender-neutral Hindi name is mysterious and alluring.
14. Rajesh: A grander form of Raj, meaning “ruler of kings” in Sanskrit.
15. Ralph: With Norman roots, this old-fashioned boy name means “wolf counsel.”
16. Ralphie: A pet form of Ralph that sounds perfectly endearing for a little boy.
17. Rami: A sweet name of various origins, including “archer” or “marksman” in Arabic.
18. Ramón: An attractive Spanish form of Raymond.
19. Ramsay: Meaning “from the island of wild garlic,” this Scottish name packs a punch.
20. Ramses: A striking Egyptian name nodding to the sun god Ra and carried by several powerful pharaohs.
21. Ranbir: This Indian boy’s name is fit for the finest of brave warriors.
22. Randall: A slick name for a protective man, meaning “shield wolf.”
23. Randolph: A festive-sounding variant of Randall, this Old German name means “shield wolf.”
24. Randy: This typically American nickname comes from Germanic names starting with “Rand.”
25. Ranjit: An upbeat Indian name radiating “victory” and “delight.”
26. Raphael: A beautiful male name of Hebrew origin meaning “God has healed,” shared by the archangel and the Renaissance painter Raphael.
27. Rashawn: A modern American name combining Ray with Shawn, meaning “God is gracious.”
28. Rashid: An Arabic baby boy name for a rightly-guided lad.
29. Rasmus: A Swedish alternative to the Greek Erasmus, meaning “beloved.”
30. Raul: Soft and European, this handsome name means “wolf counsel.”
31. Ravana: This roaring name belonged to a demon in Hindu mythology.
32. Raven: Named after the dark black bird, a mysterious and nature-inspired choice.
33. Ravi: A warm option among 4-letter names for boys, meaning “sun” in Sanskrit and shared by sitar maestro Ravi Shankar.
34. Ray: A nickname for Raymond that feels like a bright sunbeam.
35. Rayan: Signifying one of the gates to paradise in Islamic tradition.
36. Raymond: With German roots, this classic old man’s name means “wise protector.”
37. Reaper: An occupational surname meaning “harvester,” famously associated with the Grim Reaper.
38. Reece: A cheerful Welsh name meaning “ardor” or “enthusiasm,” an anglicized spelling of Rhys.
39. Reed: A perfect pick among boy names that start with R for redheads.
40. Reeve: This strikingly handsome name means “steward” or “officer.”
41. Regan: Meaning “regal,” this name carries a royal presence.
42. Regulus: A starry name for your little king from Roman Latin.
43. Rei: This biblical Hebrew name means “friend,” serving as a cute alternative to Ray.
44. Reko: A Finnish form of Gregory, meaning “watchman.”
45. Remington: An upper-class English name meaning “settlement” or “raven.”
46. Remus: Named for one of the twin founders of Rome, Remus means “oar”; the name also belongs to Harry Potter’s Remus Lupin.
47. Rémy: A charming name meaning “oarsman,” perfect if you like French boy names.
48. Ren: A gender-neutral Japanese name meaning “lotus,” or a sleek spelling of Wren.
49. Rene: A classic French name meaning “reborn,” long loved for boys and girls alike.
50. Reuben: This Hebrew name means “behold, a son,” borne by the eldest son of Jacob in the Bible.
51. Rex: Fit for a dino-lover, this regal Latin name means “king.”
52. Rey: The Spanish word for “king” is a cool pick for Star Wars fans.
53. Reyes: A plural form of Rey, meaning “kings” in Spanish.
54. Reynaldo: A kingly Spanish name meaning “counsel” or “rule.”
55. Rhaegal: Spicy and exotic, this unusual name is inspired by a Game of Thrones dragon.
56. Rhett: For a kid who knows what is up, consider this English name meaning “advice” or “counsel.”
57. Rhodes: Named after the Greek island, this is also a beautiful English name meaning “where roses grow.”
58. Rhys: A fun spelling variant of Reece, meaning “ardor” or “passion.”
59. Rian: An Old Irish name meaning “little king,” sharing the royal root of Ryan, though some sources link it to “water.”
60. Ricardo: A handsome Spanish and Portuguese variant of Richard.
61. Rich: A short form of Richard that inspires wealth and success.
62. Richard: A commanding Germanic name meaning “brave ruler,” borne by King Richard the Lionheart.
63. Richter: This German surname means “judge,” making a great first name for a no-nonsense chap.
64. Rico: This Richard diminutive sounds modern and fresh.
65. Ridwan: A smart Arabic name meaning “satisfaction.”
66. Rikke: A Nordic name drawn from the -rik element, meaning “ruler.”
67. Riku: This slick Japanese boy’s name element has the earthy meaning of “land.”
68. Riley: This popular unisex name has various meanings, including “brave” or “rye clearing.”
69. Rio: A tropical-sounding name meaning “river” in Spanish.
70. Riordan: Means “poet king” for budding Irish literary geniuses.
71. Ripley: A sci-fi surname and given name meaning “a strip of land clearing.”
72. Rishabh: A brilliant Indian R name that literally means “superior.”
73. Rishi: Another wise choice, meaning “sage” or “poet” in Sanskrit.
74. Risto: A cool diminutive of Christopher, meaning “bearer of Christ.”
75. Ritchie: This medieval name is a fun alternative to Richard.
76. Ritter: A triumphant surname for a handsome knight.
77. River: Smooth and tranquil, this watery name is gorgeous for any gender.
78. Robbie: A cute and friendly nickname for Robert.
79. Robert: A Germanic classic meaning “bright fame,” a top-ranked boy’s name for generations.
80. Robertson: A common surname and great first name for a son of Robert.
81. Robin: A chirpy name for boys and girls, named after the sweet bird.
82. Robson: An alternative to Robertson, likely for a son of Rob.
83. Rocco: A stylish Italian name honoring Saint Rocco, the beloved protector invoked against illness.
84. Roch: A stylish Polish and French form of the peaceful name Rocco.
85. Rochefort: An elegant French surname meaning “strong castle.”
86. Rocío: This gender-neutral Spanish name means “dew,” connoting fresh mornings.
87. Rockwell: This punchy surname shines as a male given name, meaning “rock spring.”
88. Rocky: A nickname-style pick for a tough, resilient boy, made famous by boxer Rocky Balboa.
89. Roderick: A gothic Germanic name for a “famous ruler.”
90. Rodney: A classic English name meaning “island near the clearing.”
91. Rodolfo: A Spanish form of Rudolph, meaning “famous wolf.”
92. Rodrigo: A commonly heard Spanish variant of Roderick.
93. Roger: A traditional name meaning “famous spear” of Norman origin.
94. Rogue: A fresh name for an unpredictable and charming troublemaker.
95. Rohaan: A popular Indian Muslim name among spiritual families.
96. Rohit: This dreamy Sanskrit name refers to the beautiful red shades of a sunrise.
97. Roland: An Old German name meaning “renowned land,” immortalized by the medieval hero of The Song of Roland.
98. Roman: A beautiful Latin male name full of myth and culture, meaning “from Rome.”
99. Romeo: The most romantic R name of all, borne by Shakespeare’s young lover and meaning a man “from Rome.”
100. Romulus: Along with Remus, Romulus was a legendary founder of Rome.
101. Ronald: Meaning “advice” or “rule,” this old Scandinavian name has vintage appeal.
102. Ronaldo: The Spanish and Portuguese form of Ronald, hugely popular thanks to footballer Cristiano Ronaldo.
103. Ronan: This handsome Gaelic name has the quirky meaning of “little seal.”
104. Rongo: A unique Maori name meaning “protector of the crops.”
105. Ronin: A form of Ronan, also holding the badass Japanese interpretation of “masterless warrior.”
106. Ronnie: A short form of Ronald, famous in comedy and music.
107. Rook: Inspired by the crow bird, the chess piece, or perhaps a newcomer.
108. Rooney: Sure to be a hit among parents, this Irish-rooted name means “descendant of the champion.”
109. Roope: A radiant Finnish form of Robert, meaning “bright fame.”
110. Rory: A traditional and timeless Gaelic name meaning “red king.”
111. Roscoe: This trendy name has the earthy meaning of “deer wood” with Old Norse origins.
112. Ross: A friendly Scottish name meaning “headland.”
113. Rossi: Means “red,” a vivid pick among Italian guy names.
114. Rourke: An Irish name that offers a strong and regal stature.
115. Roux: This Old French name means “red-haired.”
116. Rowan: Means “the little red one,” after a type of tree believed to offer sacred protection.
117. Roy: A powerful 3-letter pick, meaning “king” in French and “red” in Scottish.
118. Royal: Another regal name for your noble little leader.
119. Royce: Meaning “fame” or “royal,” this German boy’s name reminds us of luxury.
120. Rua: A name with dual interpretations, meaning “lake” in Maori and “red” in Irish.
121. Ruadh: This medieval Gaelic name would make an epic middle name.
122. Ruairi: A traditionally Irish form of Rory, with the cute meaning of “red king.”
123. Rubio: Rustic and sweet, this Spanish name means “red” or “red-haired.”
124. Rudolph: Like the festive reindeer, meaning “famous, glorious wolf” from German roots.
125. Rudy: A vintage and lovable nickname for Rudolph.
126. Rue: Means “regret” but has a beautifully dainty ring.
127. Rufus: Another fun R name meaning “redhead” in Latin.
128. Rune: If you love a mystery, this symbolic name refers to “secret lore.”
129. Runo: Means “poem,” and this unisex Finnish name suits sensitive, creative souls.
130. Russell: A name that reminds us of the sound of leaves in autumn, meaning “reddish.”
131. Russett: After a red-brown shade, perfect for a boy with handsome auburn hair.
132. Rusty: A fun and playful nickname for a redhead.
133. Rutherford: A confident Scottish boy’s name made from elements meaning “cattle” and “river crossing.”
134. Ryan: Timeless and popular, this Irish name means “little king.”
135. Ryder: For a horseman or knight, this trendy name is sure to sound smart.
136. Ryker: Trendy and swish, a German name for the rich man in your life.
137. Rylan: A stylish version of Ryan, meaning “land of rye” in Old English.
138. Ryszard: The Polish form of Richard, with a spelling sure to turn heads.
139. Ryu: Short yet mighty, meaning “dragon” in Japanese.
140. Ryūji: Another hot Japanese name with “dragon” as a possible meaning.

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