100 Western and Cowboy Baby Names

If you’re looking for a cowboy-themed baby name for your lil buckaroo, then you’re not alone. Countless people have been inspired by everything from the television series “Yellowstone” to Beyonce’s new country album “Cowboy Carter” to wrangle up a western-themed moniker.

Part of the draw is that wild west baby names evoke all that cowboys—and cowgirls—stand for such as adventure, loyalty, bravery, and more. Not only are the names like Beau, Nash, and West as rugged as they are casual, but they also imply strength, athleticism, and attractiveness—all keys to a solid cowboy name.

Keep reading to discover some of our favorite cowboy names in the herd. And if you don’t find one that suits your fancy, try a variation of one of the names included—or use this list as inspiration to create a cowboy name of your own.

Cowboy holding his baby

Parents / Getty Images

Although this article separates names by gender, your baby’s assigned sex at birth does not need to dictate the name you choose for them. Names are not inherently gendered or associated with a specific sex, and it's important to select a name that feels right for your little one and your family.

Cool Cowboy Names

Not surprisingly given the role cowboys played in the development of the western United States, cowboy-inspired names have stood the test of time and often make it into the top 1,000 baby names in the country every year. Here are some cool cowboy names that not only inspire thoughts of saddling up and riding off into the sunset, but also have been popular baby name choices—many for years and years.

Archer

  • Origin: English
  • Meaning: Bowman
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Arch, Archie, Archibald, Asher, Arthur

Beau

  • Origin: French
  • Meaning: Handsome
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Beauregard, Bo, Bodhi

Boone

  • Origin: English, French
  • Meaning: Blessing, lucky
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Boon, Booker

Dallas

  • Origin: Irish
  • Meaning: Skilled
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Dallan, Dalles

Maverick

  • Origin: American
  • Meaning: Independent, nonconformist
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Maverik, Mavric, Mav 

Nash

  • Origin: English
  • Meaning: By the ash tree
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Cash, Dash, Ash

Remington

  • Origin: English
  • Meaning: Place on a riverbank
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Remy, Rem, Remme

Sawyer

  • Origin: English
  • Meaning: Woodcutter
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Sawyerr, Sayer, Sadler

Shane

  • Origin: Irish
  • Meaning: Old and wise
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Shayne, Shaine, Sean, Shawn

West

  • Origin: Word name, American
  • Meaning: Western meadow
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Weston, Westley, Westen

Other Cool Cowboy Names

If none of the names above have you singing Yippee-ki-yay, here are some other cool cowboy names that may be well-suited for your future wrangler. One of these cool monikers may just become your ace in the hole.

Tip

People often use everyday items in the West to come up with their cowboy names like Stetson, a cowboy hat brand, or Ford and Chevy, the manufacturers of popular pickup trucks. So if there’s a pair of cowboy boots you love (Tecova) or a comfortable pair of jeans (Levi), it just might make a great western-themed baby name, too.

  • Angus
  • Arizona
  • Blaze
  • Bowen
  • Buck
  • Cash
  • Clint
  • Colter
  • Denver
  • Garth
  • Hank
  • Kendrick
  • Loyal
  • Wilder
  • Zane

Cowboy Boy Names

If you’re looking for a cowboy name that inspires grit, freedom, and independence, take a look at this list of cowboy-inspired names for your future cowpoke. These names represent the hardworking spirit of a cowboy and their unspoken code of honor.

  • Alonzo
  • Ames
  • Atticus
  • Austin
  • Bart
  • Billie
  • Butch
  • Carter
  • Cassidy
  • Chevy
  • Clay
  • Colton
  • Corbin
  • Deacon
  • Dylan
  • Jesse
  • Levi
  • Mack
  • Oakes
  • Roscoe
  • Shiloh
  • Silas
  • Tecova
  • Wyatt
  • Wylie

Cowgirl Names

Not to be outdone, cowgirls like Annie Oakley and Sacagawea have also inspired parents for generations to give their children strong, courageous names that depict character, leadership, and intelligence. Here are some cowgirl names that help summon the spirit of the old west.

  • Abilene
  • Aggie
  • Annie
  • Arizona
  • Billie
  • Calico
  • Carolina
  • Charlie
  • Cheyenne
  • Dakota
  • Dixie
  • Etta
  • Jolene
  • Kit
  • Loretta
  • Mae
  • Montana
  • Nora
  • Oakley
  • Paisley
  • Reba
  • River
  • Shania
  • Tillie
  • Wynona

Western-Inspired Names

From horseback riding to country fun, western-inspired movies and television shows are becoming increasingly popular. And with that resurgence comes a renewed interest in western-inspired baby names. Here are some of our favorite rancher-influenced monikers—some of which are even gender neutral (like Briggs, Destry, Ryder, and Weston).

  • Briggs
  • Brooks
  • Butch
  • Clive
  • Cooper
  • Destry
  • Duke
  • Dutton
  • Ellis
  • Flynn
  • Ford
  • Houston
  • Judd
  • Owen
  • Ranger
  • Reno
  • Riggs
  • Ryder
  • Sterling
  • Stetson
  • Tanner
  • Walker
  • Waylon
  • Weston
  • Zeke

Tips for Naming Your Child

Choosing a cowboy themed name is all the rage right now, but you also want to make sure the name you select will not be too trendy or go out of style. Take for instance the names Dallas, Sawyer, or Shane. Even though these names give off cowboy vibes, they also fit into other name categories as well and have consistently been in the top 1,000 for baby names in the US. The goal is to select a name that will stand the test of time and fit your child no matter their age or stage in life. Here are some other things to consider when naming your child.

  1. Think about your family tree. Surnames, maiden names, and distant relatives’ names often make great baby names like Parker, Murray, and Drake.
  2. Honor your family’s heritage or culture. Sometimes the best baby names are those that represent your family’s roots.
  3. Remember that middle names matter, too. If a cowboy name doesn’t feel right as a first name, consider using it as a middle name instead.
  4. Test drive the name. Say the name out loud; think about how it might be mispronounced; or consider what it might rhyme with. This will help eliminate anything potentially embarrassing.
  5. Make sure you know the meaning of the name. Sometimes the meaning of a name is something completely different than what you might expect, so make sure you’re good with what your baby’s name means.
  6. Pay attention to the initials. Before you decide on a name, look at the initials, does it give your baby an unexpected nickname like PIG or DOG?
  7. Choose a name that is significant to you. When deciding on a name, select one that has meaning behind it, especially since you will be using it often for years to come.
  8. Consider incorporating or adapting a family member’s name. Maybe Aunt Ethel’s name becomes Ethylene or Uncle Jack’s name becomes Jax. 
  9. Try not to overthink the process. No matter what name you choose, or what it means, your baby will give it a unique spin that will be as special as they are.

More Baby Name Ideas

For more baby name inspiration, take a look at this lists:

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