Baby Names That Mean Brave: 80+ Courageous Names for Your Little Hero
Baby Names That Mean Brave: 80+ Courageous Names for Your Little Hero
The Courage to Name for Courage
My son has the most inappropriate name in our family. We named him Valor—literally 'courage, bravery'—and he's the most cautious kid you'll ever meet. Checks for monsters under the bed. Won't try new foods. Needs the light on.
But here's what I've learned: courage isn't fearlessness. Courage is being afraid and doing it anyway. My Valor, scared as he is, goes to school every day though it terrifies him. He sleeps with the light on, but he sleeps in his own bed. He tries new foods if we ask enough times. That's courage—real courage, the kind that matters.
Brave names carry this blessing. They don't guarantee your child will be a daredevil. They hope your child will face fears, persist through challenges, and find strength when it's needed. Every child will need courage at some point. Every life requires it. These names just make the wish explicit.
This guide explores names meaning brave, courageous, bold, and fearless from cultures around the world. Some are warrior names, some are hero names, some are quietly-brave names. All carry the hope that your child will find the courage they need.
What Brave Names Mean
Bravery comes in many forms, and so do brave names.
Physical Courage
Traditional brave names often evoked battle courage—facing enemies, standing ground, protecting others. Warrior names carry this meaning: strong, fierce, ready to fight.
Moral Courage
Standing up for what's right when it's hard. Speaking truth to power. Doing the right thing when it costs you. This is everyday courage, and some names honor it specifically.
Emotional Courage
Facing fears, trying new things, being vulnerable. The courage to feel, to love, to risk heartbreak. Quieter than battle courage but no less real.
Resilience
The courage to keep going. To get up after falling. To persist when it's hard. Names meaning 'enduring' or 'steadfast' carry this brave quality.
Brave Girl Names
Girl names meaning brave range from fierce warriors to quiet strength.
Classic Brave Girl Names
- Valerie (VAL-er-ee) - Latin, 'strong, brave.' Classic elegance.
- Valentina (val-en-TEE-na) - Latin, 'strong, healthy.' Bravely vital.
- Audrey (AW-dree) - Germanic, 'noble strength.' Hepburn elegance.
- Matilda (ma-TIL-da) - Germanic, 'mighty in battle.' Roald Dahl heroine.
- Millicent (MIL-i-sent) - Germanic, 'strong in work.' Industrious bravery.
- Andrea (an-DRAY-a) - Greek, 'strong, brave.' Feminine Andrew.
- Bernadette (ber-na-DET) - Germanic, 'brave as a bear.'
- Edith (EE-dith) - Germanic, 'prosperous in war.'
Modern Brave Girl Names
- Bree (BREE) - Irish, 'strength, valor.'
- Brianna (bree-AN-a) - Celtic, 'strong, noble.'
- Carla (KAR-la) - Germanic, 'free woman' with strength.
- Emery (EM-er-ee) - Germanic, 'brave, powerful.' Rising unisex.
- Sloane (SLOHN) - Celtic, 'warrior.' Sleek and strong.
- Trudy (TROO-dee) - Germanic, 'spear of strength.'
- Kendra (KEN-dra) - English, 'royal champion.'
International Brave Girl Names
- Vira (VEER-a) - Slavic, 'faith' or Sanskrit 'brave.'
- Keena (KEE-na) - Irish, 'brave.' Direct and simple.
- Valda (VAL-da) - Germanic, 'rule, brave.'
- Adira (a-DEER-a) - Hebrew, 'strong, noble.'
- Casey (KAY-see) - Irish, 'vigilant, brave.'
Brave Boy Names
Boy names meaning brave carry warrior strength.
Classic Brave Boy Names
- Andrew (AN-droo) - Greek, 'strong, manly, brave.'
- Brian (BRY-an) - Celtic, 'strong, noble.' Irish king.
- Bernard (ber-NARD) - Germanic, 'brave as a bear.'
- Leonard (LEN-ard) - Germanic, 'brave lion.'
- Richard (RICH-ard) - Germanic, 'powerful ruler.' Lionheart.
- Gerald (JER-ald) - Germanic, 'spear ruler.' Weapon bravery.
- Everett (EV-er-et) - Germanic, 'brave as a boar.'
- William (WIL-yam) - Germanic, 'resolute protector.'
Modern Brave Boy Names
- Valor (VAL-or) - English, 'courage, bravery.' Direct word name.
- Wyatt (WY-at) - English, 'brave in war.'
- Barrett (BAIR-et) - Germanic, 'bear strength.'
- Emery (EM-er-ee) - Germanic, 'brave, powerful.' Works for boys.
- Harvey (HAR-vee) - Breton, 'battle worthy.'
- Howard (HOW-ard) - Germanic, 'brave heart.'
- Drew (DROO) - Short for Andrew. 'Brave.'
International Brave Boy Names
- Conall (KOH-nal) - Irish, 'strong wolf.' Fierce.
- Evander (ee-VAN-der) - Greek, 'good man' but sounds brave.
- Farrell (FAIR-el) - Irish, 'man of valor.'
- Kavan (KAV-an) - Irish, 'handsome, brave.'
- Willard (WIL-ard) - Germanic, 'resolute, brave.'
Warrior and Hero Names
Some names specifically invoke battle and heroism.
Warrior Names
- Gunnar (GOO-nar) - Norse, 'battle warrior.'
- Marcus (MAR-kus) - Latin, 'dedicated to Mars' (war god).
- Martin (MAR-tin) - Latin, 'of Mars.'
- Dustin (DUS-tin) - Norse, 'valiant fighter.'
- Casey (KAY-see) - Irish, 'vigilant in war.'
- Murphy (MUR-fee) - Irish, 'sea warrior.'
- Cadell (ka-DEL) - Welsh, 'battle.'
- Owen (OH-en) - Welsh, 'young warrior.'
Hero Names
- Hector (HEK-tor) - Greek, 'holding fast.' Trojan hero.
- Achilles (a-KIL-eez) - Greek hero. Invincible (almost).
- Ajax (AY-jaks) - Greek warrior. 'Of the earth.'
- Leander (lee-AN-der) - Greek, 'lion man.'
- Perseus (PUR-see-us) - Greek hero. Slew Medusa.
- Theron (THAIR-on) - Greek, 'hunter.' Action hero sound.
Fierce Animal Names
- Leo/Leon - 'Lion.' Brave animal.
- Griffin - Mythical brave creature.
- Phoenix - Rising from ashes. Ultimate courage.
- Wolfgang - Germanic, 'wolf path.' Fierce.
- Hawk - Bird of prey. Watchful courage.
International Courage Names
Every culture honors bravery in names.
Celtic Courage Names
- Brian - 'Strong, noble, brave'
- Kieran - 'Dark' but often courage-associated
- Conall - 'Strong wolf'
- Cathal - 'Battle rule'
- Finley - 'Fair warrior'
- Conan - 'Little wolf, little warrior'
Germanic Courage Names
- Richard - 'Powerful ruler'
- William - 'Resolute protector'
- Bernard - 'Brave bear'
- Leonard - 'Brave lion'
- Willard - 'Resolute, brave'
- Arnold - 'Eagle power'
Arabic Courage Names
- Jabir - 'Comforter' (strength to comfort)
- Aziz - 'Powerful, mighty'
- Hamza - 'Strong, steadfast'
- Assad - 'Lion'
- Shuja - 'Brave, courageous'
Sanskrit/Hindi Courage Names
- Veer - 'Brave, heroic'
- Dhruv - 'Pole star, steadfast'
- Prithvi - 'Earth, brave'
- Vikram - 'Valor, bravery'
- Abhay - 'Fearless'
Japanese Courage Names
- Takeshi - 'Fierce, warrior'
- Isamu - 'Brave, courageous'
- Yuuki - 'Courage'
- Kenta - 'Strong, healthy'
Everyday Courage Names
Not all bravery involves battles.
Steadfast Names
- Ethan - Hebrew, 'strong, enduring.' Persistence courage.
- Constantine - Latin, 'constant, steadfast.'
- Constance - Feminine form. Staying power.
- Patience - Virtue name. Courage to wait.
Resilience Names
- Phoenix - Rising from ashes. Ultimate resilience.
- Renata/Rene - 'Reborn.' Comeback courage.
- Orion - Hunter who became stars. Transcendent.
Truth-Teller Names
- Veritas - Latin, 'truth.' Courage to be honest.
- Alethea - Greek, 'truth.'
- Vera - 'Truth' in Slavic languages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Are brave names too aggressive?
Not necessarily. Many brave names emphasize inner strength, not aggression: Ethan (enduring), Valerie (strong), Audrey (noble strength). Even warrior names can carry protective rather than aggressive associations. Choose names that emphasize the kind of courage you value.
Q2: Can brave names work for quiet kids?
Absolutely. Quiet bravery—facing fears, persisting through challenges, speaking up when it matters—is still bravery. A shy child named Valor has the same courage reminder as a bold one. The name hopes for courage; it doesn't demand a personality.
Q3: Which brave names feel modern?
Valor, Emery, Phoenix, and Sloane feel contemporary. Classic names like Audrey and Matilda have fresh appeal. Wyatt and Barrett are current. Avoid names that feel stuck in time (Mildred, Willard) unless you're going for vintage intentionally.
Q4: What if my brave-named child is easily scared?
Then they'll need the reminder even more. Courage isn't about not being scared—it's about acting despite fear. A scared child named Bravery isn't a contradiction; they're living the meaning of the word every time they face their fears.
Q5: Are there brave names I should avoid?
Some warrior names have violent associations (Gunner can sound aggressive). Names of controversial historical warriors might carry baggage. Very literal names (Valor, Bravery) might feel like too much pressure. Choose based on what fits your family and culture.
Courage in a Name
My son Valor finally slept without a nightlight last month. He'd been working up to it for years—negotiating down from full lights to a nightlight to cracking the door. The night he closed the door and slept in darkness, he came out in the morning glowing.
'I was brave, Dad,' he said. 'Like my name.'
That's what brave names do. They don't make children fearless—nothing does. They give children a story about themselves: you were named for courage because your parents believed you'd find it. When you're scared, remember what you're made of. Remember what you're named for.
Every child will need courage. The world requires it. But a child named for bravery carries a built-in reminder: you come from people who believed in your strength. Go find it.
Discover your perfect courage name on SoulSeed, where bravery takes many forms and every name carries the hope for strength.
