Whether your interests fall with the thrill of the Olympics and Paralympics, the excitement of playoff baseball season, or the crisp air that tells you football and ice hockey seasons are right around the corner, there are plenty of winning sporty baby names!
From splashy and stylish names like Simone and Cristiano to traditional, strong names like Michale and Maria, we’ve compiled a list of over fifty sport-inspired baby names! So, if you’re looking for a baby name, check out these inspirational monikers!
Sporty Baby Boy Names
Baseball, soccer, and surfing stars, oh my! Our collection of sporty baby names for boys has them all!
Baseball Names
- Aaron Judge is considered a great modern baseball player. Aaron is a Hebrew name meaning high mountain or exalted.
- Derek Jeter is an American MBL player for the N.Y… Yankees. The name Derek has German origins and means people ruler.
- George “Babe” Herman Ruth is considered one of the greatest baseball players ever. George is a Greek name for a farmer.
- Kyle Schwarber is a modern slugger who, on average, hits well over 100 home runs per season. He’s been MVP and an all-star player more than once! Kyle is a Scottish name that means narrow or straight.
- Joseph (Joe) is a Hebrew name that means Jehova, and there are many famous Joes in sports. For instance, the boxing great Joe Lewis, football player Joe Nemeth, and baseball legend Joe DiMaggio are all famous, sporty Joes!
- Kenneth (Ken) is a Gaelic name that means born of fire! Ken Griffey and his son Ken Griffey Jr. are two American baseball legends!
- Michael (Mike) is a Hebrew name that means he who is like God. But whether it refers to Michael Jordan, Phelps, Schmidt, or Tyson, it is a name that packs a sporty punch!
Soccer and Football Names
- Anthony is Latin for priceless one, and Anthony Munoz, an 11-time Pro Bowler, was priceless to the Cincinnati Bengals from 1980 to 1992.
- Beckham is the last name of soccer great David Beckham. It’s an English name that means homestead by the stream.
- Cristiano is a Latin name meaning follower of Christ. And if you follow soccer, you’ll know that Cristiano Rinaldo is among the greatest players in the game!
- Deion Sanders is an 8-time Pro-Bowler who was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2011. He has had two Super Bowl wins and was the 1994 Defensive Player of the Year. Deion has Greek roots, meaning a follower of Dionysius.
- Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known more famously as Pele, is among the greatest soccer players ever. Edson is an English/Portuguese name that means son of Ead or Edward.
- Lionel is a name with Latin and French origins, meaning lion. Lionel Messi is among the greatest soccer players of all time!
Champion Names!
- Bruce is a Scottish and Irish name that means from the willowlands. Few names are more synonymous with martial arts than Bruce Lee!
- Duke is an English name meaning leader. Duke Kahanamoku is considered the father of modern surfing! Therefore, if you love the water, consider naming your son after this great leader!
- Emmet Brennan is an Irish heavyweight boxer. The name Emmet means truth or universal.
- Fletcher is an English name for arrow maker.
- Gordie is a diminutive form of Gordon, a Scottish name that means spacious fort. Ice Hockey fans know that Gordie Howe, known as “Mr. Hockey,” was among the greats who skated on the ice.
- Hunter Woodhall is a multi-medaled Paralympic athlete who won his first gold in Paris 2024 in the mixed 4x100m relay. Hunter is an English name meaning one who hunts. His wife, Tara Woodhall-Davis, also won gold in the Paris 2024 Olympics!
- Kendrick is a Scottish name that means royal ruler or champion.
- Nolan is Irish for Champion.
- Tony is shorty for Anthony, which is Latin for priceless. Tony Hawk is a former pro skateboarder and skateboarder entrepreneur.
- Rooney is a Gaelic name that means descendant of a champion!
Sporty Baby Girl Names
There are many solid yet feminine athletic names for your future star! Check out these great ones from various sports, from basketball to gymnastics to snowboarding!
GOAT Names
- A’ja or Aja is a Sanskrit name that means goat, and A’ja Wilson is a GOAT in women’s basketball!
- Bethany Hamilton is famous for surfing and surviving a shark attack in which she lost her arm at only 13 years old! Twenty-six days after her attack, she was back in the water surfing. Bethany is a Hebrew name that means “house of figs.”
- Carissa Moore is among the most successful female surfers ever, winning four world titles by her mid-20s! Her name, Carissa, has Greek and Latin origins and means beloved.
- Lindsey is an English name that means from the Linden trees. Lindsey Vonn is a four-time skiing champion!
- Maria is Aramaic for bitter or beloved. Maria Sharapova is a Russian tennis player who was formerly No. 1 worldwide!
- Michelle Kwan is famous for her athletic and graceful figure skating, while Michelle Wi was a teen phenomenon in female golf at only 13! Michelle is the feminine form of the Hebrew name Michael, meaning he who is like God.
- Simone Biles has been called the GOAT of gymnastics more than once! Her name, which has Hebrew origins, means to hear or listen.
- Venus is the Roman god of love and desire. Venus Williams has won 7 grand slam titles in tennis!
Record-Setting Names
- Amelia Earhart is infamously famous for disappearing over the Pacific Ocean in 1937. She was the first woman to make a solo flight across the Atlantic and the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to the U.S. Mainland. Amelia is a German name that means work.
- Danica Patrick made a name for herself and all women by being among a handful of women in the fast-paced car racing sport of the Indy 500. She holds the best finishing record of all female drivers, finishing 3rd in 2009, 4th in 2005, and 6th in 2006. Danica is a Slavic name that means morning star.
- Caitlin Clark is an American basketball player who set records left and right on the court. Caitlin is an Irish name meaning pure.
- Divine is Latin for holy. Divine Oduduru is a Nigerian sprinter.
- Evonne Goolagong is an Aboriginal tennis champion. Evonne is a variation of the French name Yvonne, which means yew.
- Serena Williams is one of the powerhouse tennis-playing sisters that took the world by storm. Her beautiful name is Latin for calm and serene.
- Tai Babilonia is a famous skater. Her name is Chinese for great extreme.
Olympian Names
- Irene is the ancient Greek word for peace. Irene Wust was the first Olympian to win five medals in five different Olympic games.
- Ivana Spanovic is a gold medalist Olympian in the long jump. Her name is Slavic and means gift from God.
- Katie Ledecky has 10 Olympic medals for swimming. Katie is a diminutive form of Katherine, which means pure in Greek.
- Natalia is a Latin name meaning Christmas Day. Natalia Partyka is a Paralympic table tennis player.
- Nikita Ducarroz is a BMX biker and Bronze Medal Olympian (Tokyo 2021). She also holds several European titles. Nikita means champion in Greek and habitation or temple in Sanskrit.
- Tara Woodhall-Davis won her first Olympic gold medal in the Paris 2024 Games. She is married to Paralympian Hunter Woodhall, who won gold this year! Now, talk about a power couple! Tara has Gelic origins and means hill.
- Tessa Virtue is a retired Canadian ice dancer and was the 2010 and 2018 Olympic champion! The name Tessa is Greek and means to gather.
Gender-Neutral Sporty Names
Here are a handful of sporty baby names perfect for boys and girls inspired by some of the greatest athletes of all time!
- Alex is short for the Greek name Alexander or Alexandria, which means defender of man. Alex Morgan is considered one of the best female soccer players in the U.S. and world history!
- Brooks is a name of German and English origin, meaning water or small stream. Brooks Robinson is considered one of the greatest 3rd basemen in MLB history and played 23 seasons for the Baltimore Orioles!
- Bryce Harper is a modern baseball star first noticed by scouts at 14! He played for the Nationals and now the Philadelphia Phillies. Bryce has Scottish and Welsh roots, which means freckled or speckled.
- Carlin is Irish for little champion.
- Curron is an Irish name meaning hero or champion.
- Jackie is another gender-neutral name with baseball roots. For instance, Jackie Robinson was the first African American player to enter the MLB, playing 1st base for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Jackie is a diminutive form of Jack, Hebrew for God is gracious.
- Jordan is the last name of NBA great Michale Jordan and means flowing down. Therefore, it is an excellent, sporty baby name!
- Kelly is an Irish name that means warrior. Kelly Slater is considered the best competitive surfer of all time.
- Ming is a Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese name that means shining bright. Yao Ming is a very tall and famous Chinese basketball player!
- Nike is the Greek goddess of victory. You might not consider naming your child after a shoe company, but why not after a goddess?
- Peyton is an English name that refers to a fighting man’s estate. Peyton Manning is one of the talented NFL Manning brothers.
Want more baby names?
Check out our other baby name lists: STEM Baby Names & Cowboy Baby Names.
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By L. Elizabeth Forry, September 11, 2026
