
The short answer
Boston is a masculine name used in English. Behind the Name describes it this way: "From the American city of Boston in Massachusetts, itself named after a town in Lincolnshire, England. The town's name is said to mean ‘Botwulf's stone’." It ranked #620 for boys in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, from the American city of Boston in Massachusetts, itself named after a town in Lincolnshire, England. The town's name is said to mean ‘Botwulf's stone’. The entry lists its usage as English.
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Boston ranked #620 for boys in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #620 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Boston in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Boston mean?
Behind the Name does not give Boston a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: from the American city of Boston in Massachusetts, itself named after a town in Lincolnshire, England.
Is Boston a popular name?
Boston ranked #620 for boys in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Boston a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Boston appears in the boys' list; Behind the Name labels it masculine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Boston — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.