NFL-inspired names for baby boys

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Written by Mary Fetzer

It’s football season! You’ve had your favorites over the years – favorite team, favorite player – and now you can pay tribute to them by bestowing a football name on your son.

Baby names inspired by NFL teams

Bill. Colt. Falcon. Don’t put it past a diehard fan to name his little boy after the best professional football team on the planet.

Bill – Buffalo
Brown – Cleveland
Buck – Tampa Bay
Colt – Indianapolis
Falcon – Atlanta
Hawk – Seattle
Jet – New York
Raven – Baltimore
Red – Washington
Titan – Tennessee

55 Sporty baby names

Baby names inspired by Pro Football Hall of Famers

We cannot guarantee that that your little footballer will become a Hall of Famer, but we promise you that he’ll forever be grateful for a name like Marcus, Merlin or Warren (or John, Jim, Joe…).

Barry Sanders – running back, Detroit Lions (1989-1998)
Bob Griese – quarterback, Miami Dolphins (1967-1980)
Dan Marino – quarterback, Miami Dolphins (1983-1999)
Deacon Jones – defensive end, Los Angeles Rams (1961-1971), San Diego Chargers (1972-1973), Washington Redskins (1974)
Dick Butkus – middle linebacker, Chicago Bears (1965-1973)
Fran Tarkenton – quarterback, Minnesota Vikings (1961-1966, 1972-1978), New York Giants (1967-1971)
Franco Harris – running back, Pittsburgh Steelers (1972-1983), Seattle Seahawks (1984)
Frank Gifford – halfback/flanker, New York Giants (1952-1960, 1962-1964)
Howie Long – defensive end, Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders (1981-1993)

Top 50 Sports baby names

Jack Lambert – linebacker, Pittsburgh Steelers (1974-1984)
Jerry Rice – wide receiver, San Francisco 49ers (1985-2000), Oakland Raiders (2001-2004), Seattle Seahawks (2004)
Jim Brown – fullback, Cleveland Browns (1957-1965)
Jim Thorpe – halfback, Canton Bulldogs (1915-1917, 1919-1920, 1926), Cleveland Indians (1921), Oorang Indians (1922-1923), Rock Island Independents (1924), New York Giants (1925), Chicago Cardinals (1928)
Joe Green – defensive tackle, Pittsburgh Steelers (1969-1981)
Joe Montana – quarterback, San Francisco 49ers (1979-1992), Kansas City Chiefs (1993-1994)
Joe Namath – quarterback, New York Jets (1965-1976), Los Angeles Rams (1977)

All-American names for baby boys

John Elway – quarterback, Denver Broncos (1983-1998)
John Stallworth – wide receiver, Pittsburgh Steelers (1974-1987)
Johnny Unitas – quarterback, Baltimore Colts (1956-1972), San Diego Chargers (1973)
Larry Csonka – fullback, Miami Dolphins ( 1968-1974, 1979) New York Giants (1976-1978)
Lawrence Taylor – linebacker, New York Giants (1981-1993)
Lynn Swann – wide receiver, Pittsburgh Steelers (1974-1982)
Marcus Allen – running back, Los Angeles Raiders (1982-1992), Kansas City Chiefs (1993-1997)
Mel Blount – cornerback, Pittsburgh Steelers (1970-1983)
Merlin Olsen – quarterback, New York Jets (1965-1976), Los Angeles Rams (1977)
Mike Webster – center, Pittsburgh Steelers (1974-1988), Kansas City Chiefs (1989-1990)

Bad guys... with good names

Reggie White – defensive end, Philadelphia Eagles (1985-1992), Green Bay Packers (1993-1998), Carolina Panthers (2000)
Rod Woodson – cornerback/safety, Pittsburgh Steelers (1987-1996), San Francisco 49ers (1997), Baltimore Ravens (1998-2001), Oakland Raiders (2002-2003)
Roger Staubach – quarterback, Dallas Cowboys (1969-1979)
Ronnie Lott – cornerback/safety, San Francisco 49ers (1981-1990), Los Angeles Raiders (1991-1992), New York Jets (1993-1994)
Steve Young – quarterback, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1985-1986), San Francisco 49ers (1987-1999)
Terry Bradshaw – quarterback, Pittsburgh Steelers (1970-1983)
Thurman Thomas – running back, Buffalo Bills (1988-1999), Miami Dolphins (2000)
Tony Dorsett – running back, Dallas Cowboys (1977-1987), Denver Broncos (1988)
Troy Aikman – quarterback, Dallas Cowboys (1989-2000)
Warren Moon – quarterback, Houston Oilers (1984-1993), Minnesota Vikings (1994-1996), Seattle Seahawks (1997-1998), Kansas City Chiefs (1999-2000)

Unique and edgy names for baby boys

Baby names inspired by great NFL coaches

It takes a first-rate coach to lead a team to championship greatness. Choose a baby names -- like Chuck or Vince -- that pays tribute to the sport’s most successful and memorable coaches.