So what exactly is a cowboy, and how did they come to be? When the Spanish arrived in America in the early 1500s, they built ranches in the western region, where they kept and raised cattle. There were no horses in the Americas at this time — the Spanish brought these animals over from Europe to help herd the cattle. Then they hired local natives to learn to ride horseback and tend to their cows. Called vaqueros, these were the very first cowboys. Ranch life quickly spread throughout the Western region. More and more cowboys were needed. Someone had to drive the cows to the pasture and herd them all back home. People of many diverse backgrounds adopted the cowboy culture. By the 1800s, English-speaker settlers made their way out west and made their living as cowboys after learning the ways of the vaqueros.
Why Choose a Cowboy Name?
Maybe you grew up in the western part of the United States, so you want to choose a name that reminds you of your upbringing. Or maybe you are from a totally different part of the world but you just loved watching your heroes say “Howdy,” in old westerns as a kid. Some of the classic cowboy names include Maverick, Ryder, and Colton. If you want a western name for your baby girl, consider names like Arizona, Miranda, or Paisley. So put on your cowboy boots and give us a “Yeehaw” when you find the perfect baby name for your little rancher. Here’s our list of western cowboy or cowgirl names for your little cowboy.
Cowgirl Names for Your Western Gal
Choose from our list of Wild West names for your baby girl.
Cowboy Names for Your Little Buckaroo
Here are our favorite baby boy country names for your little bronco.
Gender-Neutral Western Baby Names
Here are some cowpoke names that will work for your little roper, no matter their gender. For more baby name inspiration, visit our Baby Name Center. Pin it for later:
