“The first name has never quite sat perfectly with me.”
Leaves are falling, autumn is calling — and pretty soon you’ll have a newborn crawling.
With September and October being two of the most popular months to welcome a baby, per UnityPoint Health, it’s no surprise to see so many parents adding fall names to their baby name list this time of year.
Just look at Asher, the 20th most popular boy’s name in 2024, per the Social Security Administration.
Asher, which means “happy” and “blessed” in Hebrew, naturally connects to the gratitude and abundance that defines the Thanksgiving season — and holiday season, as a whole.
It can also be linked to the ash tree, known for its yellow, maroon and sometimes purple leaves in the fall.
Other fall names for boys that ranked in the SSA’s top-100 are Aiden (47), Jayden (59) and Rowan (71).
Aiden, meaning “little flame” in Irish, has a warm and cozy element to it — like the flicker of candlelight during a cool fall evening or the glow from a fireplace when the weather turns crisp.
Meanwhile, Jayden — meaning “thankful” in Hebrew — is another popular Thanksgiving-inspired name.
Rowan, like Ash, ties beautifully to the autumn season as a tree-inspired name. The leaves of the rowan tree are known for turning a wide range of colors (yellow, orange, red) before falling to the ground.
READ MORE: Fall-inspired baby girl names that feel as warm and cozy as your favorite autumn sweater
But why stop there when there are so many other fall-inspired names worth considering for your son?
From color names like Bruno and Golden to Halloween names like Jack and Mortimer, fire-related names like Blaze and Flint, and more tree names like Aspen and Forrest — fall names come in abundance.
So, grab your coziest blanket and pour some hot cider because these autumn names are worth falling for!
Autumn names inspired by fall colors and trees
When fall arrives, nature puts on its most spectacular show — painting the landscape in beautiful shades of amber, crimson and gold while towering trees shed their leafy coats in preparation for winter's rest.
So, why not honor your little one with a name that captures the very essence of autumn's beauty?
From warm, earthy color names that mirror fallen leaves to strong tree names that stand tall like the oaks and maples dotting the landscape, these fall names for boys are as timeless as the season itself.
If that’s what you’re looking for in a name, then here are 10 autumn names we think you’ll enjoy!
Forrest
Origin: English; Old French
Meaning: Large area covered with trees
Forrest, pronounced FOHR-ist, comes from the English word forest and Old French word forest, referring to a large area covered with trees. Just imagine a vast expanse of trees displaying its beautiful fall foliage.
Aspen
Origin: Old English
Meaning: Aspen tree; City in Colorado
Aspen, pronounced ASS-pin, comes from the Old English word æspe, referring to the aspen tree known for its white bark and yellow foliage. Aspen trees are the most widely distributed tree in North America.
Cypress
Origin: Greek; Late Latin
Meaning: Cypress tree
Cypress, pronounced SYE-priss, derives from the Late Latin word cypressus and Greek word kyparissos, referring to the evergreen tree known for its bright, coppery-bronze, cinnamon and orange fall foliage.
Rowan
Origin: Gaelic
Meaning: Rowan tree; Little red one
Rowan, pronounced ROW-an, comes from the Gaelic word ruadh, meaning "red," and the rowan tree (mountain ash), known for its bright red berries. Its fall foliage is full of fiery yellow, orange and red hues.
Elon
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Oak tree
Elon, pronounced EE-lon, comes directly from the Hebrew word for "oak tree,” which are known for their long lifespans and strong and durable wood. Oak trees are often the stars of autumn landscapes.
Russell
Origin: Norman; French; Latin
Meaning: Little red one; Reddish-brown
Russell, pronounced RUSS-uhl, comes from the French word rous, meaning “red” and Latin word russus, meaning “reddish-brown.” It’s inspired by the warm, reddish-brown hues that define fall's unique palette.
Blaine
Origin: Scottish; Old Irish
Meaning: Yellow
Blaine, pronounced BLAYN, comes from the Old Irish name Bláán and Old Irish word blá, meaning “yellow, combined with a diminutive suffix. Yellow is perhaps the most luminous hue in autumn's palette.
Bruno
Origin: Germanic
Meaning: Brown
Bruno, pronounced BROO-no, derives from the Germanic element bruno, meaning “brown.” Brown appears everywhere in autumn landscapes, including the bark on trees and color of freshly fallen leaves.
Rory
Origin: Irish
Meaning: Red-haired king
Rory, pronounced ROR-ee, is the Anglicized form of the Irish name Ruaidhrí, composed of the Old Irish words rúad, meaning “red,” and rí, meaning “king.” Maple and Oak trees often have red leaves in the fall.
Bowie
Origin: Gaelic
Meaning: Yellow; Golden
Bowie, pronounced BOH-ee or BOO-ee, comes from the Gaelic word buidhe, meaning “yellow,” which beautifully links the name to the golden brilliance that defines some of fall's most luminous moments.
Fall names inspired by warmth and cozy weather
As temperatures drop, there's nothing quite like the cozy comfort that autumn brings.
After all, it's the season of crackling fireplaces, steaming mugs of apple cider, fuzzy socks, hayride snuggles, candlelit evenings and wrapping up in your favorite sweater as the first chill fills the air.
That’s what makes fall weather names and names meaning “fire” so popular this time of the year.
Whether your little one arrives during the first frost or on a particularly crisp October day, these cozy fall names for boys feel like a warm embrace — perfect for welcoming your bundle of joy into the world.
Hunter
Origin: English
Meaning: Hunter; Pursuer
Hunter, pronounced HUN-ter, derives from the Old English word hunta, meaning "hunter" or "pursuer." Fall has long been associated with hunting season, especially with deer, migratory birds and turkey.
Flint
Origin: English
Meaning: Rock known for producing sparks
Flint, pronounced FLINT, comes directly from the English word flint, referring to the type of rock commonly used in creating fire. Flint embodies the warmth that becomes so precious as temperatures begin to drop.
Blaze
Origin: English
Meaning: Bright flame; Fire
Blaze, pronounced BLAYZ, comes directly from the English word blaze, referring to a bright flame or fire. It’s reminiscent of the backyard fire pits and indoor fireplaces that provide literal and emotional warmth.
Phoenix
Origin: Greek; English
Meaning: Dark red; Crimson; Fiery mythical bird
Phoenix, Phoenix, pronounced FEE-niks, derives from the Greek word phoinix, meaning "dark red" or "crimson." It’s also the name of the fiery mythical bird, which will make anyone warm just thinking about it.
Aiden
Origin: Irish
Meaning: Little fire; Little flame
Aiden, pronounced AY-din, comes from the Irish name Áedán, which is derived from the Old Irish word áed, meaning “fire.” It evokes the smaller, more intimate fires of fall, like candlelight and tea lights.
Kenneth
Origin: English; Old Irish
Meaning: Handsome; Beautiful; Born of Fire
Kenneth, pronounced KEH-nith, is the Anglicized form of Cináed, meaning “born of fire.” It captures the robust and dependable warmth that becomes increasingly precious as fall temperatures start to drop.
Samson
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Sun; Son of Samuel
Samson, pronounced SAM-sun, comes from the Hebrew name Shimshon and derives from the Hebrew word shemesh, meaning “sun.” While temperatures do drop during the fall, sunny days are still prevalent.
Sawyer
Origin: English
Meaning: Woodcutter; One who cuts wood
Sawyer, pronounced SOY-er, originated as an English occupational surname given to someone who saws or cuts wood. After all, fall is the season when splitting and stacking firewood becomes a cherished ritual.
Keanu
Origin: Hawaiian
Meaning: Cool breeze
Keanu, pronounced KEE-ah-noo, comes from the Hawaiian elements ke, a definitive article, and anu, meaning “coolness.” It captures autumn's signature weather phenomenon as cool breezes fill the air.
Bayu
Origin: Indonesian; Sanskrit
Meaning: Wind; Breeze
Bayu, pronounced BAY-yoo, comes from the Indonesian word bayu and Sanskrit word vayu, meaning “wind” or “breeze.” This is another name that symbolizes the crisp air we’ve all learned to love in the fall.
Spooky fall names inspired by all things Halloween
A list of fall names for boys wouldn’t be complete without a little Halloween spirit.
After all, October is the month of carved pumpkins, haunted houses, spooky decorations, creepy crawly spiders, horror movie marathons, and little ghouls and goblins roaming the town in search of candy.
These Halloween names capture that playful sense of mystery and magic that make October so magical.
Whether your baby boy arrives on Halloween night (Friday, Oct. 31) or simply during the spookiest month of the year, these fall boy names add just the right amount of eerie elegance and supernatural charm.
Mortimer
Origin: Old French; Latin
Meaning: Dead water; Death
Mortimer, pronounced MOR-duh-mer or MOR-tih-mer, is believed to mean “dead water” in Old French, but can also be linked to the Latin word mortis, meaning “death” — a common theme come Halloween.
Jack
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: God is gracious; Jack-o-lantern
Jack, pronounced JAK, is a diminutive of John, which means “God is gracious” in Hebrew. In this case, it refers to several Halloween characters, such as jack-o-lanterns, Jack Skellington and Jack Torrance.
Draco
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Dragon; Count Dracula
Draco, pronounced DRAY-koh or DRAK-oh, comes from the Greek name Drakon, meaning “dragon.” In this case, we’re using it as a nickname for Count Dracula, one of the most popular vampires of all-time.
Freddy
Origin: Germanic
Meaning: Peaceful ruler; Freddy Krueger
Freddy, pronounced FREH-dee, is a diminutive of the German name Frederick, which means “peaceful ruler.” It refers to one of horror’s most iconic villains: Freddy Krueger from "A Nightmare on Elm Street."
Jason
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Healer; Jason Voorhees
Jason, pronounced JAY-sin, comes from the Greek name Iason, which derives from the Greek word iaomai, meaning “to heal.” Jason Voorhees is the hockey-masked killer from the "Friday the 13th" series.
Bram
Origin: Hebrew; Dutch
Meaning: Father of many; Bram Stoker
Bram, pronounced BRAM, is a shortened form of Abraham, which means “father of many” in Hebrew. In this case, it’s linked to Bram Stoker, the Irish author who popularized Count Dracula through “Dracula.”
Chucky
Origin: English; Germanic
Meaning: Man; Army; Chucky doll
Chucky, pronounced CHUH-kee, is a diminutive of the names Charles and Karl, which means “man” or “army” in German. Chucky is the nickname of the killer doll from the "Child's Play" horror franchise.
Casper
Origin: Dutch; Scandinavian; Hebrew
Meaning: Treasurer; Casper the Friendly Ghost
Casper, pronounced KASS-purr, is the Dutch and Scandinavian form of Jasper, which means “treasurer” in Hebrew. It refers to the beloved ghost in “Casper the Friendly Ghost” — but not all ghosts are friendly.
Michael
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Who is like God?; God-like
Michael, pronounced MY-kuhl, comes from a Hebrew name meaning “Who is like God?” It refers to Michael Myers, the masked killer from the "Halloween" film series, not to be confused with Mike Meyers.
Jett
Origin: English; French
Meaning: Black gemstone; Darkness
Jett, pronounced JET, can either be a color name inspired by black, a gemstone name inspired by jetstone (deep black lignite). It refers to the darkness that makes Halloween so atmospheric and thrilling.
Fall-inspired names that are perfect for Thanksgiving babies
There's something special about welcoming a baby during the most grateful time of the year.
After all, November is a time when families gather around the table for a turkey feast, count blessings, share what they’re thankful for, watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and pull on wishbones.
These Thanksgiving-themed names capture that same spirit of gratitude and abundance.
Whether your due date falls on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, Nov. 27) or in the leadup to everyone’s favorite holiday season, these fall names for boys will have your son feeling blessed for life.
Demetrius
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Earth mother; Agricultural god; Follower of Demeter
Demetrius, pronounced duh-MEE-tree-us, derives from the name Demeter, referring to the Greek goddess of agriculture. It represents the abundant harvests that form the foundation of Thanksgiving.
Jadon
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Thankful
Jadon, pronounced JAY-din, comes from the Hebrew name Yadon and word yada, meaning “thankful.” There’s so much to be thankful for during the Thanksgiving season — and your baby is among them!
Barack
Origin: Swahili; Arabic
Meaning: Blessing
Barack, pronounced buh-ROK, comes from the Swahili name Baraka and Arabic word baraka, meaning “blessing.” It embodies the spirit of gratitude and recognition of life's blessings that help define the holiday.
Ekin
Origin: Turkish
Meaning: Harvest; Culture
Ekin, pronounced EH-kin, comes directly from the Turkish word meaning “harvest” and “culture.” It perfectly captures the essence of the harvest season that inspired the first Thanksgiving celebrations.
Thomas
Origin: Greek; Aramaic
Meaning: Twin; Adult male turkey
Thomas, pronounced TOM-miss or TOM-us, is the Greek form of Teʾoma, which means “twin” in Aramaic. In this case, it refers to an adult male turkey, which is called a Tom — a common nickname for Thomas.
Benedict
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Blessed; Well-spoken
Benedict, pronounced BEN-uh-dict, comes from the Latin benedictus meaning "blessed" or "well-spoken." It embodies the traditional Thanksgiving practice of offering blessings and saying a prayer before eating.
Shakir
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Thankful; To thank
Shakir, pronounced shuh-KEER, comes from the Arabic root shakara, meaning “thankful” and “to thank.” It reflects the practice of recognizing and expressing appreciation for life's blessings, both large and small.
Blessing
Origin: English
Meaning: Divine grace; Gift from God
Blessing, pronounced BLEH-sing, comes directly from the English word blessing (derived from the Old English word bledsunge), meaning “divine grace.” Thanksgiving is all about recognizing one’s blessings.
Jonathan
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: God has given; Jonathan apple
Jonathan, pronounced JAH-nuh-thin, comes from the Hebrew name Yehonatan, meaning “God has given.” In this case, it refers to the Jonathan apple, which is often used for apple pie and applesauce.
Eaton
Origin: English
Meaning: Riverside village; Eating
Eaton, pronounced EET-ihn, originated as a surname meaning “riverside village” in Old English. In this case, it’s a diminutive of the English word eating, which is what we all look forward to on Thanksgiving.
Will any of these fall names for boys land on your shortlist?
When looking for fall-inspired names for boys, sometimes you have to think outside of the box.
From the golden hues of Aspen and Bruno to the cozy warmth of Aiden and Blaze, the fall names for boys listed above offer endless inspiration for parents welcoming little ones during autumn's magical months.
Tree names, color names, weather names, and even holiday names — what’s not to like?
After all, autumn names capture everything we love about fall — the crackling fires, colorful leaves, harvest abundance, and that special sense of coziness that comes with shorter days and cooler weather.
Your little autumn miracle deserves a name that's just as special as his grand entrance into this world.
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And if you can’t seem to find the perfect fall inspiration for a name as you sip your hot cider and cuddle up by the fireplace, then you can always try Mod Moms Clubs’ baby name generator for even more ideas!
