Most popular baby names in America

Written by:
September 10, 2020
Surne1shots // Shutterstock

Most popular baby names in America

It’s a question expecting parents get on a regular basis: Have they figured out a name yet? Naming a child is a massive responsibility, one that will impact how people see the child throughout the rest of their lives. Some research suggests that a person’s name can influence many different factors in their lives, from their profession to their choice of spouse to whether or not they’re accepted to a particular school (though more recent findings have called into question a few of those conclusions).

To help understand which names dominate today, Stacker looked to data from the Social Security Administration, which ranks names by the number of babies born in 2019.

Some parents stick to family names, some look to classic and timeless names that will never go out of fashion, others favor unique names that may raise a few eyebrows, and some parents even let their children choose. Additionally, various cultures have different naming traditions—for example, parents in the days of early Christianity were encouraged to name their children after early church figures, while in some Jewish cultures, it’s taboo to name your child after a living relative.

Naming trends follow a fascinating path throughout American history. Today, America’s diverse population has led to a wide variety in baby names that reflect historical figures, religious and cultural preferences, and pop culture.  

Read on to find out if your name, the names of your children, or other family and friends land on this list of the most popular names in the U.S.

You may also like: Baby names with the most timeless popularity

#50. Hudson (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 6,462 (1.2% decrease from 2018)

The name Hudson translates to “son of Hudd,” Hudd being a medieval nickname for both Richard and Hugh. Hudson just barely made the cutoff in the list of America’s top 1,000 names in 1995, but the next year it experienced a massive jump in popularity and has mostly continued its rise over the past couple of decades.

#50. Bella (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 4,354 (3.6% decrease from 2018)

The name Bella started to rise to the top of the charts in 2010, thanks to the "Twilight" book and movie series. Its origin is Latin and is a form of the name "Belle,” meaning beauty.

#49. Ezra (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 6,489 (8.2% increase from 2018)

The Hebrew name Ezra, translating to “help,” has continued to rise in popularity every year since 2003 and made a considerable jump in popularity from 2018 to 2019. A heroic figure in the Bible, Ezra has also had a place in popular culture over the years, from children’s author Ezra Jack Keats who published “The Snowy Day” in 1962 to Ezra Fitz in the young adult novel series (and consequent hit TV show) “Pretty Little Liars,” which was on the air from 2010 to 2017.

#49. Audrey (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 4,430 (5.0% decrease from 2018)

Audrey is a name that has been around since the time of Shakespeare and means "noble strength.” It was originally derived from Saint Audrey, and became more popular because of Hollywood icon Audrey Hepburn. It has stayed high on the list ever since the 19th century, but saw a surge in the 2000s.

#48. Joshua (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 6,574 (10.7% decrease from 2018)

Modern-day Joshuas share the name with the Book of Joshua in the Bible's Old Testament. Its common nickname, Josh, also has joking associations that date back to the Old West.

#48. Lucy (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 4,444 (2.1% increase from 2018)

The name Lucy has been rising in popularity fairly steadily since 1978 when it ranked #588 in America—the name did see quite a bit of love in the first half of the 20th century, but 2019 proved to be Lucy’s peak thus far. The name is engrained in the arts and entertainment world from the classic TV show “I Love Lucy” to the Beatles’ song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds." One potential link to the name’s recent climb is actress Lucy Hale from “Pretty Little Liars.” The first year the TV show was on the air in 2010 the name shot up 26 spots in SSA’s ranking.

#47. Thomas (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 6,612 (2.5% decrease from 2018)

In Aramaic, Thomas means “twin.” The name has biblical ties, too. In the New Testament, it's Thomas the apostle who doubted the return of Jesus, inspiring the term “doubting Thomas.”

#47. Addison (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 4,473 (14.0% decrease from 2018)

Addison is English in origin and translates to mean "Adam,” which in Hebrew means earth. It was mildly popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but it reached its peak in 2007. That is the year that the character Addison Montgomery-Shepherd was introduced in the hit television show "Grey’s Anatomy,” which could be part of why it rose in popularity.

#46. Andrew (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 6,757 (6.6% decrease from 2018)

The name Andrew has biblical roots, and means “manly.” It's often shortened to Andy or Drew, both of which also made it to the top 500 names of 2017.

#46. Willow (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 4,566 (17.7% increase from 2018)

Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith welcomed their daughter Willow into the world in 2000; that year the name ranked #760 on the list of most popular names for girls in the U.S. By 2002 it reached #504 and has mostly continued to climb as Pink named her daughter Willow in 2011 and actress Willow Shield played Primrose Everdeen in the first film in “The Hunger Games” franchise in 2012.

#45. Josiah (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 6,767 (2.5% increase from 2018)

Josiah, which can be found in the Bible, has been a fairly common name in the 21st century: It started the new millennium as the 180th most popular name for boys in the U.S. and is now the most popular it’s ever been at #45. Those with the name Josiah share their namesake with one the men to sign the Declaration of Independence, Josiah Bartlett.

#45. Aubrey (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 4,570 (11.9% decrease from 2018)

The name Aubrey means "elf ruler" and has a Germanic origin. It can also be spelled as Aubree or Aubri, although the latter two are not as popular. The name has flip-flopped in popularity over time; it was very popular from the 1920s to the 1940s, but took a nosedive after 1960. It wasn’t until 2008 that the name became popular again; three years, prior in 2005, Aubrey O'Day first appeared on MTV's popular reality show, "Making the Band," in which Sean "Diddy" Combs helped put together girl group Danity Kane. 

#44. Christopher (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 6,960 (4.1% decrease from 2018)

Christopher has Greek origins and a meaning of “one who carries Christ.” It has been a popular name for boys for decades, first from 1972 to 1973, and then again from 1979 to 1994.

#44. Leah (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 4,739 (5.1% decrease from 2018)

Leah is a traditional name that first appeared in the Bible. The popularity of the name comes from English and Hebrew backgrounds. It also has different meanings. In English and Hebrew, it means "tired and weary.” However, in Gaelic, it means "the light of the sun.”

#43. Asher (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 6,984 (2.7% increase from 2018)

Asher, a name with Jewish origins, means happy or blessed, and can be traced to the Old Testament: Asher was Jacob’s eighth son and Zilpah’s second son. Asher began shooting up in popularity in the U.S. in the early 2000s.

#42. Jaxon (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 7,221 (6.2% decrease from 2018)

Jaxon, another version of Jackson, is quite literally “son of Jack.” Jaxon debuted in the Social Security top 1,000 names in 1997, and has been climbing up the ranks ever since.

#42. Emilia (for girls) (tie)

- Babies born in 2019: 4,751 (18.2% increase from 2018)

From 2011 to 2012, Emilia jumped 58 spots in SSA’s ranking of girls' names—2011 just so happens to be the year audiences were introduced to Emilia Clarke’s portrayal of Daenerys Targaryen on HBO’s “Game of Thrones.” The name has continued to climb the ranks every year since and hit its peak in 2019.

#42. Everly (for girls) (tie)

- Babies born in 2019: 4,751 (10.2% increase from 2018)

Everly broke into the top 1,000 most popular girls' names in 2012, coming in at #902 on SSA’s ranking. In 2013 it rocketed to #379, the same year Jenna Dewan and Channing Tatum named their baby girl Everly. The name also has links to the music world with rock ’n’ roll duo The Everly Brothers and another more recent folk duo called Everly that was active from 2008 to 2012—one of the members was Bethany Joy Lenz, who had a role on the popular teen drama “One Tree Hill” (2003–2012).

#41. Lincoln (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 7,432 (0.9% increase from 2018)

Perhaps most well known as the surname of the 16th U.S. president, Lincoln now holds its own as a popular first name. The name has Celtic and English origins, and means “lakeside colony.”

#41. Natalie (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 4,782 (6.1% decrease from 2018)

The name Natalie means being born at Christmastime, especially in the Russian language. In Spanish, Natalie is derived from the word "natalis,” which means birthday. The name has been among top baby girl names since the 1970s. It was the most popular in 2006 when over 10,000 girls were given the name.

#40. Leo (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 7,454 (10.9% increase from 2018)

Leo is Latin for lion and represents an astrological sign—as well as many famous popes, 13 of them to be exact. Other famous bearers of the name include Russian author Leo Tolstoy (of “War and Peace” fame) and famous actor Leo (short for Leonardo) DiCaprio (known for “Titanic,” among other movie credits).

#40. Aurora (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 4,952 (3.5% increase from 2018)

Aurora is derived from the Latin word for dawn. The name can also refer to the northern lights, known as the Aurora Borealis.

#39. Dylan (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 7,514 (12.1% decrease from 2018)

Dylan as a name first entered charts in the 1960s, shortly after recording artist Bob Dylan came on the scene. It also has origins in Welsh mythology, as the name of a god of the sea.

#39. Stella (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 4,965 (3.0% decrease from 2018)

Stella comes from the Latin language and means "star.” It was most popular in the early 1900s, but popped up again (and stayed at the top) in the late 1990s. Stella, in pop culture, is widely known for a main character in Tennessee Williams’ play, "A Streetcar Named Desire.”

#38. Anthony (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 7,669 (4.2% decrease from 2018)

The name Anthony, said to mean “priceless one,” is Latin in origin. It can be traced to the Roman family name "Antonius," of which the famous historial figure Marcus Antonius (also known as Mark Anthony in English) belonged. He was a ruler and general who lived from 83-30 B.C. and and was married to Cleopatra at the end of both of their lives. 

#38. Zoe (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 5,034 (0.6% decrease from 2018)

A Greek name, Zoe means "life.” When the name first came about, Hellenized Jews took the name as a translation of "Eve.” As time went on, it became a more Christian name, and had peak popularity in the 1990s. The name dropped to a lower point on the most popular baby names list in 2007, and then spiked again in 2008.

#37. Gabriel (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 7,678 (7.9% decrease from 2018)

The name of a messenger of God in the Bible, Gabriel means “God is my strong man.” The angel Gabriel also serves as a prominent figure in Jewish and Islamic texts.

#37. Lillian (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 5,092 (8.0% decrease from 2018)

Lillian is an English name that means "innocence,” "beauty,” and "purity.” It is often a nickname for Elizabeth and can be a longer version of the name Lilly. From 1885 to 1915 it was popular, but dropped from favor from 1920 to 1990. It started coming back into vogue from 2002 on.

#36. Theodore (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 7,839 (11.7% increase from 2018)

Theodore, often shortened to Teddy, has religious connotations: The name means God-given. Perhaps the most famous Theodore in American history was the 26th President Theodore Roosevelt, for whom the classic children's toy, the teddy bear, is named.

#36. Violet (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 5,386 (12.3% increase from 2018)

Violet has three different origins, with varied meanings. The English meaning comes from the "Viola," who was a character in Shakespeare’s "Twelfth Night,” while the Italian and American meaning of the girl’s name is "flower.”

#35. Jayden (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 7,903 (7.6% decrease from 2018)

A newer name to climb the charts, Jayden skyrocketed to popularity in the first decade of this century when multiple celebrities (including Will Smith and Jada Pinkett, Andre Agassi, and Christian Slater) chose it for their sons. The name, which has Hebrew roots and means “thankful,” was given to nearly 90,000 boys between 2000 and 2009.

#35. Ellie (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 5,404 (4.1% increase from 2018)

The name Ellie has Greek origin and means "shining light.” It's commonly used as a nickname for Eleanor or Ellen. The name's popularity grew after 2002, the same year NBC released a new sitcom called "Watching Ellie," starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Steve Carell, and Darren Boyd.

#34. Isaac (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 8,148 (3.2% decrease from 2018)

Another name with strong biblical roots, Isaac is Hebrew for “he will laugh.” The name also belongs to renowned English physicist, Isaac Newton.

#34. Lily (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 5,419 (5.0% decrease from 2018)

The name Lily, or Lilly, which is a common spelling, comes from the English perennial flower. It’s currently most popular in Scotland and Wales, but is still at the top of the charts in the United States. Lily reached its peak in 2008 after a slow climb to the top.  

#33. Grayson (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 8,237 (3.5% decrease from 2018)

An English name that means “son of the gray-haired one,” Grayson also serves as a surname. 2019 was the first year the name dropped in popularity 2001. 

#33. Hazel (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 5,431 (10.5% increase from 2018)

In 2016, Bustle picked the name Hazel as a retro baby name that is making a comeback. Indeed, ever since 2015, Hazel has seen an uptick, for the first time since the 19th century. The name is English and is based on the hazel tree.

#32. Luke (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 8,375 (2.4% decrease from 2018)

Luke has a meaning of “light giving.” It also has biblical ties—the third book in the New Testament is the Book of Luke—as well as pop culture connections. The original “Star Wars” film, with lead character Luke Skywalker, was released in 1977, just three years before Luke first appeared on the top 100 names chart.

#32. Hannah (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 5,586 (0.8% decrease from 2018)

Hannah is another name that has multiple meanings in various languages. The American and biblical meanings show Hannah means "gracious,” "merciful,” and "willingly to give.” In Hebrew and English, Hannah is the name of Samuel the prophet and means "favor of grace.” It was insanely popular in the late 1800s, dipped in the 1900s, and climbed back to the top in the 1980s, since when it remains a top name.

#31. Julian (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 8,401 (1.1% increase from 2018)

With English and Latin origins, Julian is “youthful, downy.” It's been one of the top 100 boy names in the United States since 2000, ranking #74 from 2000 to 2010.

#31. Zoey (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 5,650 (4.2% decrease from 2018)

While we saw the name "Zoe” previously on this list, Zoey is ranked higher than the other spelling. The meaning of the name is the same; it means "life” in Greek. This spelling has had rising popularity since 1990. It peaked in 2004 and has remained high on the most popular names for baby girls lists ever since.

#30. Carter (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 8,631 (7.3% decrease from 2018)

An adapted English surname of a cart driver, Carter has been consistently in the top 1,000 names since 1900. It reached its highest rank to date, #24, in both 2015 and 2017.

#30. Riley (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 5,676 (5.0% decrease from 2018)

Riley is a unisex name that has English origins that combines the words "ryge" and "leah," and means "one who dwells near a rye field.” It also is derived from the Scottish name Reilly. The name reached peak popularity in 2010 and has remained a favorite ever since.

#29. Wyatt (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 8,772 (3.9% decrease from 2018)

With roots as an English last name, Wyatt is now popular as a first name, too. It means “little warrior.” Some celebrities, including Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, as well as Sheryl Crow more recently, have named their sons Wyatt, suggesting a possible source for the name’s recent popularity surge.

#29. Nora (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 5,899 (1.7% increase from 2018)

Nora has been incredibly popular among those with Irish heritage, but is Latin in origin. It is commonly used as a nickname for Eleanor and means "torch” or "honor.” It was popular in the 1880s, but slowly declined through the 1900s. It started its rise again in 2002 and remained at the top since.

#28. John (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 8,779 (3.7% decrease from 2018)

John reigns as one of the most popular boy names of all time, with over 4.5 million Johns born in the United States since 1918. The name means “God is gracious” in Hebrew.

#28. Grace (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 6,062 (9.8% decrease from 2018)

Grace seems like a traditional, religious name that is rooted in Latin heritage and means "blessing” or "favor.” The name was dormant for most of the 20th century, but reached new popularity in the mid-1990s and has continued to rise.

#27. David (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 8,896 (8.3% decrease from 2018)

With Hebrew origins, David means “beloved” or “uncle.” A number of notable Davids have existed both past and present, from well-known biblical figure King David (of the David and Goliath legend) to musician David Bowie, soccer player David Beckham, and comedian Dave Chappelle.

#27. Eleanor (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 6,164 (8.3% increase from 2018)

The name Eleanor originally came from the French name Aliénor, which is derived from the name Helen. Eleanor, in the English language, means "shining one” or "bright one,” and in German, it means "alien” or "foreign.” Eleanor was at the height of its popularity in 1915, dropped significantly in subsequent years, but eventually made its way back up the list.

#26. Mateo (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 8,962 (9.7% increase from 2018)

A Spanish version of a biblical name, Mateo has soared in popularity in recent years. Mateo is the name of Jane's son in the massively popular TV show "Jane the Virgin," which aired from 2014 to 2019. The English version, Matthew, has been steadily near the top of the charts for decades: The name means “gift of God.”

#26. Madison (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 6,269 (10.9% decrease from 2018)

Madison is of German and English descent and means “son of a mighty warrior.” There are many spellings of the name, including Madyson, Maddison, and Madisson, but Madison is by far the most popular. While Madison was always a common name, it started to rise in 2007.

#25. Levi (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 8,973 (6.3% increase from 2018)

Meaning “joined in harmony,” Levi has roots in Hebrew. The name also has ties to modern U.S. history since it belongs to German immigrant Levi Strauss, whose Levi Strauss and Co. made the first blue jeans.

#25. Victoria (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 6,344 (10.5% decrease from 2018)

Victoria is the female version of Victor; in English and Latin, the name means "victory” and "victorious.” It also has strong English roots because of the royal family and Queen Victoria. Victoria has remained generally popular throughout the years.

#24. Joseph (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 9,058 (5.2% decrease from 2018)

The name Joseph carries strong biblical ties and Hebrew origins meaning, “may God give increase.” The name has been consistently used in the United States for decades, and is the ninth most popular male name of the past century.

#24. Chloe (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 6,361 (4.0% decrease from 2018)

Chloe seems to be a more recent popular baby name, but it does have ancient ties; the Greek goddess Demeter was sometimes known as Demeter Chloe. Chloe was also named in the New Testament in the Gospel of Paul. It has a meaning of all things nature and translates to "green shoot.” Before cracking the top baby names in the United States, it was popular in France and the United Kingdom. It started to become more popular in 2008, just as the Kardashians, including Khloe Kardashian, started to become more famous.  

#23. Matthew (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 9,199 (7.3% decrease from 2018)

Matthew is a biblical name that's shared with the writer of the first Gospel of the New Testament. It means “gift from God,” and is the 13th most popular name of the past century.

#23. Layla (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 6,478 (0.2% increase from 2018)

Layla means "night” and "dark beauty,” and has a Middle-Eastern/Arabic origin. Layla didn’t rise to popularity until 2012, when over 6,000 baby girls were given that name.

#22. Samuel (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 9,237 (5.1% decrease from 2018)

Samuel was ranked as one of top male names of the past century, coming in at #45. The name, which means “God heard,” has continued to grow in popularity since 2000, and now holds its highest position ever on the charts.  

#22. Penelope (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 6,697 (3.4% increase from 2018)

Penelope is a Greek name that means weaver, because in Greek mythology the goddess Penelope, wife of Odysseus, weaved to ward off suitors and pass the time before her husband came home. Popularity of the name has gone up and down over time, but its most recent peak started in 2006 and it has continued to climb.

#21. Owen (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 9,302 (0.2% increase from 2018)

A traditional Welsh name, parents who pick the name Owen may be drawn to its meanings of “young warrior” and “noble.” Well-known Owens of pop culture include actor Owen Wilson, the title character in John Irving's “A Prayer For Owen Meany,” and more recently, fictional protagonist Owen Grady of the “Jurassic World” movie series.

#21. Scarlett (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 7,044 (1.9% decrease from 2018)

Scarlett is an English name and most notably means "red” when it is spelled as Scarlet. It is derived from the French word "escarlate” which translates to someone who sells rich cloth. The name became increasingly popular because of "Gone with the Wind” main character Scarlett O’Hara, but skyrocketed in 2006 and has stayed in the list of top baby girl names.

#20. Aiden (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 9,326 (6.5% decrease from 2018)

Aiden's “fiery” meaning is consistent with the name's burst into popularity. Between 1995 and 2010, it jumped over 900 spots in the top 1,000 list, finally peaking at #9 in 2010 and 2011, ultimately placing as the 13th most popular name so far this decade.

#20. Aria (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 7,072 (4.4% decrease from 2018)

Aria is of Italian heritage and means "solo melody.” Some may also consider it a derivation of the Greek name Ariana, which means "very holy.” An alternate spelling is Arya. Aria started to rise in popularity in 2013, which may be attributed to the character on the TV series "Pretty Little Liars" (on the air from 2010–2017), as well as Arya Stark, a major character on HBO's "Game of Thrones" (2011–2019). 

#19. Jack (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 9,349 (5.8% increase from 2018)

Jack is one of the few names to make the list that's widely considered to be an independent name. Few male names rival it in long-term popularity. It was so common in the Middle Ages, in fact, that it was a slang term for “man” or “boy.”

#19. Mila (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 7,309 (10.1% decrease from 2018)

Mila is a name that has a Slavic origin and the most popular meaning is "pleasant” or "dear.” Other meanings are "favor” and "grace.” While Mila is most popular in Northern Europe, the popularity in the United States has been increasing since 2005, possibly due to actress Mila Kunis.

#18. Sebastian (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 9,828 (2.2% decrease from 2018)

Sebastian has Latin and Greek origins, and means “venerable.” Current Sebastians share the name with a martyred saint; composer Johann Sebastian Bach; and a classic Disney character from "The Little Mermaid." 

#18. Avery (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 7,311 (9.2% decrease from 2018)

Avery is an Old English name that means "elf,” and initially was a boy’s name. The name was mildly popular in the mid-20th century, but it wasn’t until 1980s that it started a slow rise in popularity.

#17. Jackson (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 10,102 (2.1% decrease from 2018)

Not to be confused with Jaxon, Jackson (or “son of Jack”), was originally an English surname that has taken on a first name life of its own. Famous Jacksons include painter Jackson Pollock and singer-songwriter Jackson Browne.

#17. Sofia (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 7,355 (3.5% decrease from 2018)

Sofia has two spellings: Sofia and Sophia. Sofia comes from the Greek word wisdom and is mostly used in Spanish culture, as a former queen held the name. Sofia has increasingly become more popular because of stars like Sofia Coppola, Sofia Vergara, and Sofia Richie. The name was low on the popular list from 1930 to 1980, but quickly started to rise afterwards.

#16. Logan (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 10,490 (15.1% decrease from 2018)

Logan has been a top-100 name since the early 1990s. The name has Scottish origins and means “small hollow.” 

#16. Luna (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 7,755 (12.4% increase from 2018)

Luna translates literally as "moon,” and has been increasing in popularity ever since J.K Rowling introduced her "Harry Potter" character, Luna Lovegood. Another famous Luna is Chrissy Teigen and John Legend’s daughter, born in 2016.

#15. Daniel (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 10,504 (6.0% decrease from 2018)

Daniel has Hebrew roots and a meaning of “God is my judge.” The name has been ranked as high as #5 four times—in 1985, 1990, 2007, and 2008.

#15. Camila (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 7,809 (4.5% increase from 2018)

Camila is an Italian name that means "attendant.” Its recent rise in popularity started in 2000 and has remained high on the list of baby girl names ever since.

#14. Michael (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 10,514 (9.5% decrease from 2018)

Michael has been the most popular name in the United States 44 times in the past century, though it's currently #12. The name is Hebrew for “who is like God?”

#14. Elizabeth (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 7,844 (7.9% decrease from 2018)

Elizabeth can be spelled as Elisabeth, but it is most popular with a "z.” It means "God is my oath” in Hebrew. It also can mean "my God is my abundance, my God is my vow.” Elizabeth has always been a popular name, most notably because of Queen Elizabeth I and Queen Elizabeth II. With some dips along the way, Elizabeth was again on the upswing in 2012 and has remained popular.

#13. Jacob (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 10,679 (9.3% decrease from 2018)

In Hebrew, Jacob means “supplanter,” someone who takes the place of someone else. The name, which has ties to the Old Testament, has been popular for decades, ranking as high as #1 from 1999 to 2012.

#13. Ella (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 8,079 (0.3% increase from 2018)

Ella is a French name, but it has different meanings in other languages. In French it means "little cinders,” which can refer to the origin of Cinderella. In Gothic, Ella means "truly lively” and in Greek, it means "shining, bright one.” It has remained high on the list of top names for baby girls since 2000.

#12. Henry (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 10,704 (0.5% increase from 2018)

Henry, which has German roots and a meaning of “estate ruler,” peaked in popularity in the early 1900s, when it was the 11th most popular boy's name of the decade. The name also has royal ties; it is shared with a line of English kings.

#12. Emily (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 8,213 (5.1% decrease from 2018)

Emily is of Latin origin and translates to mean "rival.” It originally began as the name "Emil,” but later the last letter was added. Emily has always been popular, but it wasn’t until 1994 that it hit a huge spike. Emily fell to the bottom of the list soon after, but picked back up in 2008.

#11. Alexander (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 11,230 (6.3% decrease from 2018)

Based on its continued popularity, the phrase “Alexander the Great” can also be applied to the popular name. The ancient Greek name, shared by a king and military conqueror, means “defender or helper of mankind.”

#11. Abigail (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 9,106 (7.0% decrease from 2018)

As a traditional Hebrew name, Abigail means "joy of the father.” It also can be considered a biblical name, because it was King David’s wife’s name in the Bible. The name hit its popular height in the 1980s and has remained a top choice ever since.

#10. Ethan (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 11,241 (5.2% decrease from 2018)

Since 2002, Ethan has held every spot in the top five, except the elusive #1. The name has Hebrew origins, and means “strong” and “firm.” Well-known modern-day Ethans include actor Ethan Hawke, as well as Ethan Hunt, the protagonist in the “Mission Impossible” film series.

#10. Evelyn (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 10,392 (0.2% increase from 2018)

The first time Evelyn ever appeared as a popular baby name was in 1910. In the 1970s, Evelyn hit a peak and it wasn’t until mid-2010s that it rose to the top again. Evelyn has origins in French, Hebrew, and Celtic and means "lively,” "life,” and "pleasant.”

#9. Mason (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 11,408 (8.3% decrease from 2018)

On top of being a name that's recently skyrocketed in popularity, a mason is also a bricklayer. Thought it's never held the #1 position, it's been as high as #2, and spent six of the past seven years in the top five.

#9. Harper (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 10,442 (1.3% decrease from 2018)

Harper began as a boy’s name, and while it still remains unisex, it is more popular now as a girl’s name. It is an English, Scottish, and Irish name that means "harp player.” The name began rising in popularity in 2012, after David and Victoria Beckham named their daughter Harper the previous year.

#8. Lucas (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 12,412 (1.4% decrease from 2018)

Lucas, or “bringer of light,” has been steadily growing in popularity since the 1960s. The name entered the top 100 for the first time in 1980, shortly after George Lucas released “Star Wars,” which also overlapped with the shorthand version, Luke, rising in popularity, too.

#8. Mia (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 12,414 (1.8% decrease from 2018)

The name Mia has many origins—Israeli, Scandinavian, Latin, Italian, and American. The name's most common meanings are "wished for child” or "rebellion.” In Israeli, the name is short for Michal and in Italian, it’s short for Marie. The name has been popular since the 1960s and has remained on top lists.

#7. Benjamin (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 12,942 (3.3% decrease from 2018)

The name Benjamin has been given to over 700,000 boys in the past century, securing it a spot as the #42 most popular boy's name. The name means “son of my right hand,” and has ties to the Old Testament, as well as American history, thanks to Benjamin Franklin.

#7. Amelia (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 12,862 (4.6% increase from 2018)

It wasn’t until 2006 that Amelia started to gain popularity. It has Latin roots and is said to be a combination of the names Emelia and Amalia; it also can be a variation of Emily.

#6. James (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 13,087 (3.2% decrease from 2018)

Not only is it highly ranked this year, the name James also has the distinct honor of being the top male name for the past century, with nearly 4.8 million boys and men sharing it. It means “supplanter,” just like another top 10 boy's name, Jacob.

#6. Charlotte (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 13,138 (1.5% increase from 2018)

Charlotte is the feminine version of Charles, which means "free man.” Charlotte’s rise to the top of the name charts has only been happening since 2013, when it cracked the top 20. The rise of the name likely will continue because of Princess Charlotte of Cambridge.

#5. Elijah (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 13,300 (3.2% increase from 2018)

Another name with strong biblical roots, Elijah has had a steady presence among the top 600 names since the early 1900s. It didn't break into the top 10 until 2016. In Hebrew, it means “Yahweh is God.”

#5. Isabella (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 13,306 (8.0% decrease from 2018)

Isabella is the Italian and Spanish version of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God.” It has been one of the most popular and used girl’s names since 1990, and has never left the spotlight.

#4. William (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 13,542 (6.7% decrease from 2018)

William also has earned a spot as the fifth most popular name of the century. The name, which means “resolute protector,” is shared among a number of notable figures in history and present-day pop culture, including William Shakespeare, William Wallace, and Prince William. It's also the given first name of William “Brad” Pitt.

#4. Sophia (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 13,714 (1.5% decrease from 2018)

Sophia is more popular than its previous spelling, Sofia, but holds the same meaning of "wisdom” in Greek. Sophia rose to popularity in 2002 and has been a favorite name since.

#3. Oliver (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 13,891 (3.7% increase from 2018)

Oliver is often considered to have Latin roots meaning “olive tree.” The name re-entered the top 100 chart in 2009, more than 100 years after a streak of popularity in the 1880s and 1890s.

#3. Ava (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 14,440 (3.2% decrease from 2018)

Ava has a Germanic history and can mean "desire.” In Latin, it can also be translated to "bird like.” Ava often has been a popular name since the 19th century and started to make a run again in 2012.

#2. Noah (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 19,048 (4.3% increase from 2018)

Noah, which comes from a Hebrew word for “rest,” is the name of the biblical hero who survived the flood in the Old Testament. It's also seeing a surge in pop culture references, too, perhaps most notably as the name of the male lead in “The Notebook,” played by Ryan Gosling. The film was released in 2004, shortly before the name broke into the top 20 for the first time.

#2. Emma (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 17,102 (8.5% decrease from 2018)

The #1 baby girl name in 2017 was Emma. It’s an English name, taken from the German word for "whole” or "universal.” It was always a popular name, but skyrocketed starting in 2004.

#1. Liam (for boys)

- Babies born in 2019: 20,502 (3.4% increase from 2018)

Liam has soared to popularity so quickly that it doesn't yet have a spot on the top 100 names of the century. It's a shorter version of William, and has the same protective meaning. Baby boys named Liam share the moniker with celebrities, including actors Liam Neeson and Liam Hemsworth, and singer Liam Payne.

#1. Olivia (for girls)

- Babies born in 2019: 18,451 (3.0% increase from 2018)

Olivia is of Latin origin and means "olive tree” and is the female version of Oliver. It has been a favorite baby name for a few years, finally became #1 in 2016, and has remained a top name.

Trending Now