“Nerdy” names have a certain vibe. They sound curious, a little brainy, and often tie back to science, mythology, books, or classic “library kid” energy.
Below are nerdy boy names in easy sections, each with a quick meaning so you can shortlist fast for a baby, character, pet, username, or group chat.
Science and math-leaning nerdy boy names
- Archimedes: master thinker (Greek name meaning “chief planner”)
- Euclid: good glory (Greek)
- Pascal: Easter, born at Passover (French)
- Blaise: lisping, stammering (Latin)
- Isaac: he will laugh (Hebrew)
- Nikola: victory of the people (Slavic form of Nicholas)
- Albert: noble, bright (Germanic)
- Alfred: elf counsel (Old English)
- Edwin: wealthy friend (Old English)
- Erwin: friend of the army (Germanic)
- Felix: happy, fortunate (Latin)
- Cyrus: sun, throne (Persian tradition)
- Galen: calm (Greek)
- Linus: flax (Greek)
- Miles: soldier (Latin tradition)
- Rene: reborn (French)
- Victor: conqueror (Latin)
- Quentin: fifth (Latin)
- Otto: wealth, fortune (German)
- Hugo: mind, spirit (Germanic)
Space and astronomy-inspired nerdy boy names
- Orion: rising in the sky (Greek)
- Leo: lion (Latin)
- Atlas: bearer of the heavens (Greek)
- Helios: sun (Greek)
- Cosmo: order, universe (Greek)
- Nova: new (Latin)
- Sol: sun (Latin)
- Stellan: calm (Swedish)
- Sterling: of high quality (English)
- Aster: star (Greek)
- Altair: the flying one (Arabic)
- Sirius: glowing, scorching (Greek)
- Rigel: foot (Arabic)
- Draco: dragon (Latin)
- Mars: Roman god of war (Latin)
- Janus: Roman god of beginnings (Latin)
- Jupiter: sky father (Latin)
- Apollo: destroyer (Greek tradition)
- Phoebus: bright, pure (Greek epithet)
- Zephyr: west wind (Greek)
Greek and Roman myth nerdy boy names
- Ares: god of war (Greek)
- Hermes: messenger god (Greek)
- Damon: to tame (Greek)
- Evander: good man (Greek)
- Leander: lion man (Greek)
- Theseus: to set, to place (Greek tradition)
- Perseus: destroyer (Greek tradition)
- Hector: holding fast (Greek)
- Odysseus: wrathful (Greek tradition)
- Achilles: pain, lip (Greek tradition)
- Adonis: lord (Phoenician via Greek)
- Castor: beaver (Greek)
- Pollux: very sweet (Greek tradition)
- Jason: healer (Greek)
- Nestor: homecoming, traveler (Greek tradition)
- Triton: sea messenger (Greek)
- Pan: all (Greek), also a nature god name
- Eros: love (Greek)
- Cronus: time (Greek tradition)
- Midas: mythical king name (Greek tradition)
Bookish and literary nerdy boy names
- Atticus: from Attica (Greek)
- Dorian: of Doris (Greek)
- Tristan: sorrowful (Celtic tradition)
- Edgar: wealthy spear (Old English)
- Oscar: deer friend (Irish)
- Byron: from the barns (Old English)
- Milton: mill town (Old English)
- Chaucer: shoemaker (Old French surname meaning)
- Dante: enduring (Italian, from Durante)
- Virgil: staff bearer (Latin tradition)
- Homer: hostage, pledge (Greek tradition)
- Ovid: sheep (Latin tradition)
- Aldous: old (Germanic)
- Calvin: bald (Latin)
- Benedict: blessed (Latin)
- Cedric: kindly, loved (Celtic tradition)
- Percival: pierce the valley (Old French)
- Arthur: bear (Celtic tradition)
- Jules: youthful (French, from Julius)
- Tobias: God is good (Hebrew)
Classic “smart kid” vintage nerdy boy names
- Theodore: gift of God (Greek)
- Thaddeus: heart, courageous (Aramaic tradition)
- Sebastian: venerable (Greek)
- Frederick: peaceful ruler (Germanic)
- Leonard: brave lion (Germanic)
- Bernard: brave as a bear (Germanic)
- Eugene: well born (Greek)
- Francis: free one (Latin)
- Lawrence: from Laurentum (Latin)
- Clarence: bright, clear (Latin)
- Cecil: blind (Latin)
- Graham: gravel homestead (English/Scottish)
- Harold: army ruler (Old English)
- Howard: high guardian (Germanic)
- Norman: northman (Germanic)
- Reginald: ruler’s counsel (Germanic)
- Roland: famous land (Germanic)
- Stanley: stone clearing (Old English)
- Wallace: Welshman, foreigner (Old French/English)
- Warren: park keeper (Old French/English)
Techy, modern, and STEM-adjacent nerdy boy names
- Dexter: right-handed, skilled (Latin)
- Cade: round, lumpy (Old English), also “battle” in Welsh tradition
- Trent: trespasser (Latin tradition), also a river name
- Nash: at the ash tree (English)
- Knox: round hill (Scottish)
- Jett: jet black (English)
- Ryder: rider (English)
- Phoenix: dark red, also the mythical bird (Greek)
- Neo: new (Greek)
- Max: greatest (Latin)
- Zane: God is gracious (Hebrew, via John)
- Caspian: of the Caspian Sea (geographic name)
- Cassian: of Cassius (Latin)
- Milo: merciful (Germanic tradition)
- Silas: of the forest (Latin)
- Soren: stern (Danish)
- Kai: sea (Hawaiian)
- Rowan: little red one (Irish/Scottish)
- Quinn: chief, leader (Irish)
- Sage: wise one (Latin/English)
More nerdy boy names (extra picks)
- Alaric: ruler of all (Germanic)
- Ansel: with divine protection (Germanic)
- August: great, venerable (Latin)
- Aurelian: golden (Latin)
- Basil: royal (Greek)
- Cormac: charioteer (Irish)
- Cillian: little church (Irish)
- Emil: rival (Latin)
- Enzo: ruler of the household (Italian)
- Ezra: help (Hebrew)
- Finn: fair, white (Irish)
- Gideon: hewer, one who cuts down (Hebrew)
- Idris: interpreter, studious (Welsh and Arabic usage)
- Jasper: treasurer (Persian/Greek tradition)
- Jude: praised (Hebrew)
- Levi: joined, attached (Hebrew)
- Lucian: light (Latin)
- Magnus: great (Latin)
- Nico: victory of the people (Greek)
- Orson: bear cub (Latin)
A nerdy boy name should feel clever without feeling like a costume. The easiest test is the real-life one: say it out loud with your last name, then picture it on a kid and on a grown-up. If it still sounds natural and you still smile a little when you say it, you have a winner.