Boston
Boston is a boy name of English origin meaning “Botolph's stone”, pronounced BAWS-tun. It ranked #620 in the United States in 2025, given to 451 babies, and peaked at #536 in 2012. Common nicknames: Bos, Boz.
How popular is Boston in the United States?
Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA). Based on all Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
What does Boston mean, and where does it come from?
Boston is an English town in Lincolnshire before it is an American city: the name is usually explained as Botolph's stone, after the Anglo-Saxon saint whose monastery stood nearby, and the Massachusetts capital was named for it by settlers from that part of England. As a given name it has been recorded in the United States since the 1880s, but it only became a real choice in the 2000s, alongside Brooklyn, Denver and Austin. Parents pick it for the city — for a team, a college, a family connection — and it wears that specificity well.
Variations & Nicknames
Variations
Nicknames
Famous People Named Boston
- Boston Corbett — Union Army sergeant who shot John Wilkes Booth
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Sibling Name Ideas for Boston
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Boston mean?
Boston is a boy name of English origin meaning "Botolph's stone." Boston is an English town in Lincolnshire before it is an American city: the name is usually explained as Botolph's stone, after the Anglo-Saxon saint whose monastery stood nearby, and the Massachusetts capital was named for it by settlers from that part of England. As a given name it has been recorded in the United States since the 1880s, but it only became a real choice in the 2000s, alongside Brooklyn, Denver and Austin.
How do you pronounce Boston?
Boston is pronounced BAWS-tun. Common variations include Bostyn, Bostin.
Is Boston a boy name?
Yes, Boston is traditionally a boy name. Popular nicknames include Bos, Boz.