100 Courageous Baby Names and What They Mean

Some names carry a quiet dare in them. From Old Norse warrior words to gentle Latin roots that simply mean courage, names meaning brave have been given to fighters, saints, and stubborn little ones who refuse to back down, and they still sound fresh on a birth certificate today.

Below you will find 100 names that mean brave, sorted so you can skim straight to what fits: 35 fearless picks for girls, 58 mighty ones for boys, and 7 unisex options that work for anyone. Each comes with its origin and meaning, so you can trace where the courage in the name comes from.

Scroll on to find the one that sounds like your kid, and check the FAQs at the end for the questions parents ask most.

35 Fearless Female Names That Mean Brave

Give your daughter a daring start in life with these beautiful girl names that mean brave.

1. Alala: This ancient Greek female name translates to battle cry, serving as a constant reminder of inner power.
2. Alexandra: The feminine form of Alexander carries the epic meaning of defender of mankind.
3. Aluma: This medieval Hebrew girl’s name suits resilient kids with its meaning of strong and brave.
4. Amaia: A lyrical Basque name meaning high place in Spanish, with a poetic night rain reading in Japanese.
5. Andrea: A beautifully powerful option among girl names meaning courage, strong, and brave.
6. Anh: This Vietnamese name sounds soft but holds fierce meanings like hero and brave.
7. Athena: Borrow this highly confident name from the Greek goddess of war and wisdom.
8. Audrey: This retro-sounding name comes from Old English and admirably means noble strength.
9. Bellona: Choose this feisty brave name inspired by the Roman goddess of war.
10. Bryndis: This Scandinavian name means armored goddess and wears like a shield of power.
11. Elfriede: Originating from the Middle Ages, this fantasy name means elf strength.
12. Elizabeth: Meaning God is my oath, this classic offers spiritual bravery as a guiding light.
13. Faith: Pick this gorgeous virtue name for a baby raised in a believing household.
14. Geesi: An uncommon Somali entry among names that mean brave and courageous.
15. Generys: This rare Welsh name champions female empowerment with its meaning of girl hero.
16. Hera: One of the mightiest names for a woman comes directly from the fearless Greek goddess.
17. Hilma: This highly resilient name translates directly to determined warrior.
18. Hope: Similar to Faith, this virtue name inspires the strength to believe and endure.
19. Imara: This catchy Swahili choice ranks high among girl names meaning brave and strong.
20. Kinga: A regal Slavic female name that directly translates to brave.
21. Leoni: This cute name means lioness and works perfectly for fearless leaders.
22. Louise: The feminine form of Louis means renowned warrior and fits brave little soldiers.
23. Marceline: Meaning young warrior, this French girl’s name encourages a strong will and bravery.
24. Matilda: Meaning strong in battle, this is a fantastic literary choice among names meaning courage.
25. Merida: Name your daughter after the fiery heroine princess in the movie Brave.
26. Millicent: Meaning strong, brave, and hardworking, this gothic name shortens easily to the nickname Millie.
27. Minerva: The Roman goddess of warfare, wisdom, and bravery makes a commanding namesake.
28. Nanna: It might sound grandmotherly, but this Old Norse name actually means brave and daring.
29. Poppy: Poppies symbolize bravery, resilience, and honor to make a spectacular botanical name.
30. Rikki: This feminine diminutive form of Richard means brave ruler and overflows with confidence.
31. Ruby: A gemstone name that sparkles in red, a color historically associated with courage and bravery.
32. Taylor: Singer Taylor Swift released an album titled Fearless, keeping this name highly relevant for brave girls.
33. Terrwyn: A unique Welsh pick among uncommon girl names that mean brave.
34. Valerie: A vintage Latin name for a girl packed with strong and brave qualities.
35. Valeska: Sharing roots with Valerie, this cool Slavic name oozes resilience and valor.

58 Mighty Male Names That Mean Brave

These bold boy names carry fearless meanings and wear like a badge of honor.

1. Aaron: Meaning mountain of strength, this name is about as courageous as you can get.
2. Abbas: An Arabic boy’s name from the top of the register that proudly means stern lion.
3. Abhay: A triumphant Hindu choice among male names that mean brave for fearless little lads.
4. Aito: This warrior choice stands as a fabulous Hawaiian entry among names that mean powerful.
5. Alexander: One of the most beloved badass names meaning strong for a defender of mankind.
6. Andrew: A cool, common, and confident choice for manly, brave, and powerful boys.
7. Archibald: A genuinely bold name meaning brave, perfect for a spirited little fighter.
8. Archie: This Archibald diminutive remains hugely popular as an independent name in recent years.
9. Armando: A Portuguese boy’s name meaning soldier for tough, brave kids.
10. Baldwin: This Old German name carries the assuring meaning of brave friend.
11. Balendin: A melodic Latin name designed for a fierce and brave fighter.
12. Basil: A classic Greek name meaning royal, brave, and kingly.
13. Bernard: A hardy, bear-like choice among traditional German names that mean brave.
14. Bernardino: A distinctly bold Italian boy’s name meaning brave.
15. Bolesław: A great glory name inspired by the first king of Poland, Bolesław the Brave.
16. Brion: A cool variant of Brian, this fresh Irish name carries the royal meanings of high, noble, and brave.
17. Cenric: Unusual yet striking, this Old English name means bold ruler.
18. Dũng: A heroic Asian male name firmly rooted in bravery.
19. Efe: A short yet strong Turkish name meaning brave and older brother.
20. Errol: A vintage choice among names meaning strong for a nobleman or brave warrior.
21. Ethan: A popular Hebrew entry among brave names for boys that means strong and solid.
22. Fearghal: A great Irish name for a man of valor that implies status and greatness.
23. Ferdinand: A confident pick for a brave, bold voyager.
24. Fernando: A Spanish take on Ferdinand that carries the same courageous spirit.
25. Findlay: A sweet surname turned male given name that means fair-haired and courageous.
26. Gabriel: Meaning God is my strength, this devout name overflows with inner bravery and power.
27. Gebhard: A very Old High German name meaning brave and hardy.
28. Hamza: A handsome entry among Arabic names meaning strong and steadfast.
29. Hào: A Sino-Vietnamese choice for a brave and heroic little leader.
30. Harold: You can always trust Harold with its brave meaning of army ruler.
31. Hartmann: Literally translating to hard and brave man, this German name stands out as a solid option.
32. Howard: A noble and gracious name for a boy with a brave heart.
33. Jango: This African boy’s name fits Star Wars fans perfectly with its meaning of brave warrior.
34. Jasur: An Asian name for a boy who is exceptionally brave and courageous.
35. Ken’ichi: A Japanese name for an all-around brave guy that means wise, strong, and healthy.
36. Koa: Uniquely Hawaiian, this short yet mighty choice means brave and bold.
37. Lalama: A unique Hawaiian boy’s name meaning fearless and clever.
38. Lenni: Meaning brave lion, this Finnish name sounds fun and friendly.
39. Leonard: Another powerful brave lion name with Leo acting as the perfect nickname.
40. Leopold: A vintage German name highly suited for brave boys.
41. Louis: Popular and familiar, this powerful choice translates to renowned warrior.
42. Miles: Meaning soldier, Miles is a classic Latin name for disciplined babies.
43. Mordecai: It is impossible not to feel invincible with a Hebrew name meaning warrior.
44. Oz: This Hebrew male name means strength and courage.
45. Peter: Meaning rock, this vintage tough guy name stays sturdy and everlasting.
46. Ranbir: Fiery warriors can wear this Indian boy’s name with pride since it means brave warrior.
47. Richard: Meaning brave ruler, this Old German name justifies its long-standing popularity.
48. Ruadh: This medieval Gaelic name matches a warrior and takes inspiration from the courageous color red.
49. Simba: This popular Swahili name translates to strength and lion.
50. Urho: A unique Finnish-American saint name that directly means brave.
51. Valeriy: A Slavic name with Latin roots for the strongest and bravest of warriors.
52. Waqqas: A hardy Arabic name for a brave and wise warrior.
53. Willihard: Just like Willard, these manly German names mean brave and hardy.
54. Wolf: An awesome choice among names meaning brave since the animal acts as a timeless symbol of courage.
55. Wolfhard: A no-nonsense Old German name for a brave wolf.
56. Wyatt: Meaning brave in war, this is a great name to have in your arsenal.
57. Yiğit: Starting with a cool Y initial, this Turkish name means brave and valiant.
58. Zubair: This name and its variants like Zubayr, Zuberi, and Zubir all mean strong and brave.

7 Ultimate Unisex Names That Mean Brave

These gender-neutral names offer the perfect mix of courage and flexibility for any young warrior.

1. Alex: One of the most iconic gender-neutral nicknames carries the strong-willed meaning of defender.
2. Ari: This internationally popular name proves incredibly hardy with its Armenian meaning of brave.
3. Ariel: Meaning lion of God, this famous name radiates strength, courage, and spiritual power.
4. Casey: A widely used Gaelic unisex name meaning watchful and brave.
5. Griffin: A mythical creature recognized as a symbol of courage makes a trendy modern name.
6. Hero: This unisex name can be worn proudly like a medal of bravery.
7. Riley: A friendly and upbeat Irish name that translates perfectly to brave.

Names That Mean Brave FAQs