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Athletic Baby Names

If you're a sports fan, you may find baby name inspiration while watching a football game or a tennis match. While the legendary stars of sports history usually had regular guy names like Joe and Jimmy and Michael and Mickey (not to mention Billie Jean), some of the newer luminaries, as well as the surnames of classic athletes, offer options for baby names that go beyond the perimeters of that limited playing field. Names such as Beckham and Iker in particular have really taken off.

Along with Beckham and Iker, other athletic baby names in the US Top 500 include Brady, Colt, Gabriella, Jesse, Kyrie, Mia, Palmer, and Serena. Rare names with strong ties to illustrious athletes include Gehrig, Magic, Usain, and Wilt.

An athletic baby name may not imbue your child with sports skills, but it can give him or her a hero to look up to. If you love sports, consider using an athletic baby name as a first or middle name for your child. Browse our favorite options below.

Serena

Meaning: tranquil, serene

Origin:Latin
248
Althea

Meaning: with healing power

Origin:Greek
155
Kirby

Meaning: church settlement

Origin:Norse
3955
Venus

Meaning: desire

Origin:Latin
449
Reese

Meaning: ardor

Origin:Welsh
584
Vida

Meaning: life

Origin:Spanish
1496
Ruth

Meaning: compassionate friend

Origin:Hebrew
255
Gabriella

Meaning: God is my strength

Origin:Italian feminine variation of Gabriel
458
Rio

Meaning: river

Origin:Spanish
1096
Nolan

Meaning: champion

Origin:Irish
140
Austin

Meaning: great, magnificent

Origin:English, shortened form of Augustine
318
Colt

Meaning: young horse

Origin:Word name
505
Rory

Meaning: red king

Origin:Irish
64
Bo

Meaning: to live

Origin:Norse nickname
575
Evander

Meaning: bow warrior; strong man

Origin:Scottish; Greek
47
Emmett

Meaning: truth; universal

Origin:English; Hebrew
3848
Brooks

Meaning: of the brook

Origin:English
101
Lennox

Meaning: elm grove

Origin:Scottish
271
Moss

Meaning: descendant of Moses

Origin:English
533
Orlando

Meaning: famous throughout the land

Origin:Italian variation of Roland
333