Boss

♂ Boy

Pronounced BAWSS /ˈbɔs/High

Meaning: From the word boss, 'a leader; a chief; the one in charge' (from the Dutch baas, 'master'); a word-name; we note the wordLow

In 30 seconds: A leader; a chief; the head: Boss is a word-name. Crisp, modern, and warm.

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Origin LowEnglish, Dutch

MeaningFrom the word boss, 'a leader; a chief; the one in charge' (from the Dutch baas, 'master'); a word-name; we note the word

U.S. rank (2025)#9849 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births7 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2018

Total births (all-time)≈ 451

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Boss comes from the word boss, 'a leader; a chief; the one in charge' (from the Dutch baas, 'master'); a word-name (we note the word). A crisp, modern name (said 'BAWSS').

In the U.S. it appears as a modern word/aspirational name. Rare, a-leader-and-a-chief at the root, and crisp.

Did you know? Boss means 'a leader; a chief' (from the Dutch baas, 'master') — a bold, modern word-name (we note the word; said 'BAWSS').

Overall data confidence 32%

References — Boss — word-name

Variations

BosBossy

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Boss…

Chief— a fellow leader word-name

King— a sound-neighbor status word-name

Duke— a companion status word-name

Ace— a kin bold word-name

Explore names like Boss

By themeenglish word-name dutch

By meaningLeader

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Boss mean?

Boss is 'a leader; a chief; the one in charge' (from the Dutch baas, 'master'). We note the word.

How do you pronounce Boss?

It's said BAWSS /bs/ — one syllable.

Is Boss a boy or girl name?

Boss is a boy's name.

How popular is Boss?

Boss is a very rare name in the U.S.