20 Slam Dunk Basketball-Inspired Names for Your Future Players

Since her All-American collegiate career at Iowa State, the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year and first-round draft pick has (finally) become a favorite in women’s basketball. Her fan base was popular—the first time Clark toured the league, Indiana Fever games drew millions of eyeballs. The name isn’t as groundbreaking as the star. However, when spelled “Caitlin,” this is less common and it fell into the top 1,000 baby names for girls in the 2023 Social Security Administration rankings.

If you have a baby boy, you have no reason to disrespect Caitlin Clark. Her last name makes this a breeze. The name Clark is of Latin origin stafftranslated as “scribe” or “scholar.”

Jewell Loyd is the No. 1 pick in the 2015 WNBA draft and a star guard for the Seattle Storm. If you’re a fan of sparkling gems and jewelry, this name may also resonate (but note the extra “L,” which you can take with you or keep when you sign your birth certificate.)

LeBron James went from high school phenom to NBA first-round pick. Next stop (after he plays for the Lakers with son Bronny)? Hall of Fame. Or you could choose this name for someone already in the HOF: James Worthy, who won an NCAA championship with Michael Jordan at the University of North Carolina and three NBA championship rings with the Lakers. He earned the nickname “Big Game James” due to his passion for making a comeback in the playoffs. It’s the fourth most popular name for baby boys in the Social Security Administration’s 2023 list, so if you’re looking for something unique, it might not be the best fit.

Becky Hammon (real name: Rebecca) broke the glass ceiling as an assistant coach with the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs, becoming only the second woman to hold the position. On December 30, 2020, Hammon also made history when she became the first female acting head coach in league history after head coach Gregg Popovich was ousted. Harmon went on to win a WNBA championship as head coach of the Las Vegas Aces. Rebecca Lobo, a star at the University of Connecticut and the New York Liberty’s first center, was another barrier-breaking basketball player with this name, so the nickname really is the nickname of a future pioneer.

The baby boy is a tribute to one of the WNBA’s biggest stars, Breanna Stewart, who also won an Olympic gold medal with Team USA at the Summer Olympics. The name is of Scottish origin and means “steward”.

While pop culture buffs might think you named your little girl after the Teenage Witch or Sabrina Carpenter, you might make no secret of the fact that Sabrina Ionescu inspired her nickname. The New York Liberty guard and former Oregon Ducks player is considered one of the best players in college basketball and is currently in the midst of a WNBA All-Star career.

According to an analysis, 2020 was named after Kobe Bryant, who played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers (after being drafted by the Charlotte Hornets) and his daughter died in a helicopter accident. Kobe’s baby boom increased 201%. Kobe was named after Japanese beef, but the nickname translates to “turtle” in Swahili. (The Turtles look different than the Black Mamba, which was the nickname Kobe used during his career, wasn’t it?).

You don’t have to name your child after a real player. The name is inspired by the 2022 and ’23 WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces. For those who can’t decide between baseball and basketball (it’s hard to choose between spring and fall, isn’t it?), this one is versatile: Aces are also star pitchers.

Las Vegas Aces center and three-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson also won an NCAA championship as a member of the South Carolina Gamecocks. She was selected No. 1 overall by the Aces in the 2018 WNBA draft and clearly lived up to expectations. As for baby names, Wilson is also a unique alternative to more common names like William, which ranked No. 10 on the Social Security Administration’s 2023 list (Wilson dropped all the way to No. 670).

This is in honor of Jackie Young, another first-round draft pick who became a Las Vegas Ace. The former Notre Dame star and 2019 No. 1 overall pick even has a 5×5 gold medal at the 2024 Olympics. Names are gender neutral. However, in Young’s case, it is short for Jacquelyn, a version of the old French name Jacques, meaning “replacer.”

Considered one of the best players of all time, Sue Bird won four WNBA championships with the Seattle Storm and spent her entire WNBA career there. She also led UConn to two NCAA championships and won five Olympic gold medals. Not surprisingly, this nickname replaced the legendary figure’s surname, which means “bird.”

Bird’s Olympic and UConn teammate and sometimes broadcast partner Diana Taurasi also provides the GOAT with six Olympic medals, three NCAA crowns and three WNBA championships Strong support. She is also the league’s all-time scoring leader. After Princess Diana married Prince Charles, the name broke into the top 100 in the United States in the 1980s and ranked as the 228th most popular name for girls in 2023.

A low-key tribute to Denver Nuggets champion Nikola Jokic, a 2014 second-round (yes second-round) draft pick. A more appropriate translation would be: “Victor of the People.” The unisex Niko or the more feminine Nicole both have the same meaning.

Go old school and choose a name that honors one of the early greats of women’s basketball, Cheryl Miller. A two-time NCAA champion, Miller was a star in high school, setting California high school state records for single-season points (1,156 points) and career points (3,405 points). Great broadcasting career.

We don’t need to explain this, right? He may have the temperament to take it personally.

Another way to spell Jason, this name is perfect for Celtics fans who are still counting on Jayson Tatum to lead one of the league’s most decorated teams to another championship in 2024 And feel excited.

Your child can share a classic name with two-time NBA champion and five-time Olympic gold medalist Kevin Durant. Although this name is common, it is not as popular as Noah. It’s No. 186 on the Social Security Administration’s 2023 list, so it’s “unique” but doesn’t arouse suspicion. You probably already know the sweet meaning of this Irish name to be true for your child: “handsome” or “beloved born.”

It’s a sweet revamp of Luke, but slightly less popular (Luke is ranked 31st in 2023, Luka is ranked 95th). From a basketball perspective, it’s inspired by Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, one of the best players of the modern era. Doncic’s nickname is “Luka Magic,” a gender-neutral nickname that could also be the abbreviation of a little girl named “Luciana.”

The design was inspired by former Lakers player and executive Jerry West, who was the inspiration for the NBA logo (hence his nickname “The Logo”). West passed away in 2024, but his legacy lives on as he helped shape the league as we know it. This name is suitable for babies of any gender.