Some great athletes earn nicknames for their impressive performances, but these superstars of football, basketball and baseball got their memorable names the old-fashioned way… from their parents.
Twenty-nine fabulous football player names
As you consider potential names for your son, do you picture him catching that game-changing touchdown pass? If so, then you may just find inspiration from these football superstars.
- Aeneas Demetrius Williams: The Southern University grad played cornerback and free safety for the Arizona Cardinals and St. Louis Rams. Williams was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014.
- Bacarri Jamon Rambo: After graduating from Georgia, Rambo was drafted by the Washington Redskins. He now plays safety for the Buffalo Bills.
- Benardrick Cornelius McKinney: The Mississippi State grad was drafted to play linebacker for the Houston Texans in 2015.
- Brashton Satele: The linebacker played college ball in Hawaii and is currently a free agent.
- Bronislau “Bronko” Nagurski: Not only was Nagurski a professional football player, he was also a world heavyweight champion professional wrestler.
- Curley Culp: An offensive and defensive lineman, this all-star hall of famer played college ball at Arizona State and professional football for the Chiefs, Oilers and Lions.
- D’Brickashaw Montgomery Ferguson: Drafted by the Jets in 2006, this Virginia grad has been to three Pro Bowls.
- Dermontti Farra Dawson: After lettering for four years in Kentucky, this hall of famer dedicated his entire pro career to the fabulous Pittsburgh Steelers.
- Earthwind C. Moreland: Moreland played cornerback for the NFL’s Patriots and the Arena Football League’s Las Vegas Gladiators.
- Emlen Lewis Tunnell: Iowa’s Tunnell was the first African-American to play for the New York Giants and the first African-American to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
- Ewell Doak Walker, Jr.: Since 1990, the best running back in college football has been awarded the Doak Walker Award, in honor of the SMU grad and Heisman winner who went on to play for the Detroit Lions.
- Fair Hooker: The Cleveland Browns drafted the Arizona State wide receiver in 1969.
- Hercules Satele: Hawaiian-born Satele was signed by the Arizona Cardinals in 2008. Samson Satele is his cousin.
- Ikemefuna Chinedum “IK” Enemkpali: Born in Texas to Nigerian parents, IK played college football at Louisiana Tech and was drafted by the Jets in 2014. He currently plays for the Buffalo Bills.
- Immaculate Perfection Harris: Now known as I-Perfection, Harris was ranked the No. 6 football prospect in the state of New York by SuperPrep magazine.
- Junious “Buck” Buchanan: Buck’s performance at Grambling College led him to the College Football Hall of Fame, and his career with the Kansas City Chiefs earned him a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
- Knute Kenneth Rockne: Norwegian-American Rockne played at Notre Dame before becoming a coach there. The College Football Hall of Fame calls him, “without question, American football’s most-renowned coach.”
- Lucious Pusey: The Eastern Illinois linebacker has legally changed his name to Lucius Seymour.
- Merlin Jay Olsen: Before becoming an actor, Merlin Olsen was selected to the Pro Bowl 14 times in his 15-year NFL career.
- Ndamukong Suh: The Nebraska Cornhusker was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 2010. In 2015, Suh signed a six-year contract worth more than $114 million with the Miami Dolphins.
- Orenthal James “O.J.” Simpson: The football player-turned-actor, known as “The Juice,” is currently incarcerated at the Lovelock Correctional Center in Nevada. He was acquitted of the 1994 murders of his ex-wife and her friend, but is serving 33 years for 2007 armed robbery and kidnapping felonies.
- Prince Kelechi Amukamara: Amukamara was a rookie cornerback with the New York Giants when they won the 2011 Super Bowl.
- Sterling Sharpe: The wide receiver played for the Green Bay Packers from 1988 to 1994.
- Texas Earnest “Tex” Schramm: Tex was the original general manager of the Dallas Cowboys franchise.
- Tiaina Baul “Junior” Seau Jr.: After playing linebacker for the Chargers, Dolphins and Patriots, the hall of famer committed suicide at the age of 43.
- Uranius “UJ” Johnson: UJ played wide receiver for Marshall University’s Thundering Herd. After receiving a bachelor’s degree and two masters, he took a coaching position with IMG Academy.
- Wonderful Terrific Monds Jr.: The Steelers drafted this defensive back in 1976. His son Mario Monds is a former NFL defensive tackle, and his son Wonderful Terrific Monds III was a Minor League Baseball player.
- Yelberton Abraham “Y.A.” Tittle: This hall of famer played quarterback for the Baltimore Colts, San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants.
- Yourhighness Morgan: Yourhighness was a linebacker at Florida Atlantic University until a serious concussion ended his football career.
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