First, excuse me while I crumble over this photo of my older boy, who is about to turn ten, and who was the happiest, roundest, smiliest baby in the universe. I’m dying inside.
Here are my ten favorite baby boy names! They’re in no particular order, but I did save my current favorite for the end. As you will see, my preferred boy name would be a cross between Italian-Biblical, with a little Western Movie thrown in.
(Note here’s my girl name list if you missed it: My Top Ten Favorite Baby Girl Names)
Ashley
I’m just going to start this off with a bang. I’m sorry to everyone who hated either Gone With the Wind or Ashley Wilkes’ character, or who dislike female names for boys. I love the name Ashley for a boy. Always have. And I’d probably call him Ash.
Benjamin
Possibly my favorite biblical name for a boy. It conveys a sense of solid goodness, and the shortened name “Ben” is a name I’ve always associated with inner strength and good looks. I’m weird.
Santino
I wouldn’t shorten it to “Sonny.” It’d be all Santino, all the time. Santino Drummond. It speaks to me.
Preston
I can’t explain my lifelong love of this name. I knew a Preston when I was a little girl. He was a few years older than me, played tennis, and was tan. I don’t know if that played a role. But I’ve loved the name forever, and I love the shortened version, pronouned “Press.” There’s something romantic about it.
Samuel
I changed my mind. Samuel is my favorite biblical name. My grandpa’s nickname was Sam, the title of my favorite children’s book was Sam. There are just too many positive associations in my mind and heart to deny it: Sam or Samuel (I love either version equally) is way up there for me.
Nino
One of my best friends in college, Nicole, was from a beautiful Italian family and had a brother named Nino. I thought this was just about the best name I’d ever heard, and I decided the day I met him that my firstborn son would be called Nino. Then I married a cattle rancher who wanted to name his firstborn son Bull. We met in the middle somewhere. But I shan’t be satisfied until I have a son named Nino. And may his first child be a masculine child…
William
My dad’s name. My baby’s middle name. It’s strong, reliable, and good. And I wouldn’t shorten it to Will, though I do (separately) love the name Will. I just think William stands on its own.
Alexander
This is a huge name in Marlboro Man’s family, going back many generations. We shortened it for our daughter, made it our first son’s middle name, and I love the name more now than ever, whether for a boy or a girl. The name Alexander means “Protector of mankind,” which gives me chills.
Joseph
This is one of the few names I prefer in the shortened form: Joe. To the point. Simple. Confident. Classic.
Beau
Sigh. Beau. My favorite name. So Western Movie. So swoon-worthy. So romantic. I want one of my daughters to marry a man named Beau. But only if they’re over thirty. And only if he’s nice. And only if he likes Broadway show tunes. Is that too much to ask?
Honorable Mentions
Dante (Clearly I have a profound Italian hangup)
Smith (So unabashedly a last name, I love it as a first)
Oliver (Remember the little blond cousin in The Brady Bunch?)
Spence
Dino
Gustavo
Nico
I’ll stop now.
Share your favorite boy names! I loved reading your girl versions.
Ree Drummond is the founder of The Pioneer Woman and a lover of butter, basset hounds and life on the ranch! Ree started her blog in 2006, and now millions visit ThePioneerWoman.com every month for her trusted recipes and fun family stories. Here’s what she has been up to since it all began:
New York Times Bestselling Author
Ree has written two memoirs (Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, and Frontier Follies) plus nine bestselling cookbooks:
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl (2009)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food from My Frontier (2012)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays (2013)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime (2015)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Come and Get It! (2017)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: The New Frontier (2019)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Super Easy (2021)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinner’s Ready! (2023)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: The Essential Recipes (2025)
Food Network Host
Since 2011, Ree has been sharing simple, family-friendly recipes—and the occasional kitchen prank!—on her award-winning show The Pioneer Woman, filmed right on Drummond Ranch. Ree is also a regular judge on Food Network competitions, including Christmas Cookie Challenge.
Founder, The Pioneer Woman Collection
Ree has been creating and selling kitchen and home products at Walmart since 2015 and she’s involved in designing every piece and pattern. The line now includes best-selling appliances (you have to see the floral blender!), plus hundreds of pieces of cookware, tableware, and more. Ree doesn’t like to play favorites but the Agatha print has a special place in her heart.
Restaurant and Hotel Owner
Together with her husband Ladd, Ree has opened several bustling businesses in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, including The Pioneer Woman Mercantile—a bakery, restaurant, and general store that draws visitors from across the country (many come for the biscuits alone!), P-Town Pizza, Charlie’s Ice Cream Shop, and The Boarding House, a charming hotel with eight different rooms decorated by Ree and Ladd.
Media Personality
Ree appears regularly on national TV shows like Today, Good Morning America and more—all while managing to keep flour off her shirt.
Wife, Mom and…Grandma!
Ree’s kids (daughters Alex and Paige and sons Bryce and Todd) are all grown up, and as of December 2024, Ree is the proud grandma of the cutest baby ever, Sofia Scott, born to Alex and her husband Mauricio. Ree still cooks for Ladd (and the kids when they’re home), and she also looks after a few mischievous ranch dogs.
