Most popular baby names of the past decade

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November 20, 2020
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Most popular baby names of the past decade

William Shakespeare's famous female protagonist once asked, "What's in a name?" The answer? Honestly, quite a bit. Though the young lovestruck Juliet presents her soliloquy in the interest of proving quite the opposite—that a name means nothing, and her affection for Romeo should not be hindered by feuding family names—the truth about the weight carried by a name is quite contrary to her point.

The reality is that names tell stories. They tell stories about those who give them to us, and they come to tell stories about us as we carry them through our lives. They tell stories about cultural trends and current events that inform them or about the long-standing traditions that serve to carry them on from generation to generation. Names are like mirrors that reflect where we've come from, who we are, what connects us, and where we're going.

This is a time when finding unique baby names—think Aymeline, Bohan, and Ingram—seems to be a high priority. A look at baby name trends over the past decade shows that even as we grasp for the unconventional, there's still a fair share of names that reign supreme when it comes to baby name selection.

Stacker consulted data from the Social Security Administration to collect the most popular baby names of the past decade. The names were ranked by the total number of American babies that were given the name between 2010 and 2019 (data released September 2020). The story also includes each name's highest and lowest points of popularity in the decade or the years in which the most and least children were given these names. This list is broken down by birth gender, as reported on the baby's Social Security card application. The names on this list include those that have been popularized by television phenomena (Aria, from "Game of Thrones"); names rooted in tradition (Samuel, from the Bible); and those that coincide with technological advances (we're looking at you, Alexa).

Read on to learn more about the top 100 baby names of the past decade and the stories behind their popularity.

You may also like: Baby boomer baby names that have gone out of style

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#50. Charles (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 69,715
- Peak popularity: 2014 (Rank: #51; 7,339 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #51; 6,348 babies born)

The name Charles is of French and German origin, with roots in the Germanic name Karl, meaning "free man." While the name was still in the top 50 most popular boy names for the decade, it has mostly been on a steady decline, except for a couple of spikes during some years between the 1920s and '30s.

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#50. Mila (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 43,974
- Peak popularity: 2018 (Rank: #14; 8126 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2010 (Rank: #363; 881 babies born)

The name Mila has Spanish and Slavic origins and was often found at the start or end of a name such as Milena or Camila. Jena Hager Bush named her first daughter Mila, a moniker shared by actress Mila Kunis.

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#49. Thomas (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 69,718
- Peak popularity: 2016 (Rank: #48; 7,338 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #47; 6,612 babies born)

The boy’s name Thomas means "twins" and is of Greek descent. The list of people born with this moniker is as long as its history and includes inventor Thomas Edison, actors Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise, and Tommy Lee Jones, and the fictional character Thomas the Tank Engine.

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#49. Stella (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 44,069
- Peak popularity: 2018 (Rank: #38, 5121 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2010 (Rank: #85, 3439 babies born)

This name long predates Marlon Brando yelling ”Stella!” in "A Streetcar Named Desire." In the Middle Ages, "Stella" was used to describe the Virgin Mary. Tori Spelling and Matt Damon both have a daughter named Stella.

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#48. Aaron (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 70,225
- Peak popularity: 2011 (Rank: #50; 7,613 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #61; 5,509 babies born)

A name of Hebrew origin, Aaron means "exalted or enlightened." There has been some debate about the name's roots, with some believing it comes from Ancient Egypt. In the Old Testament, Aaron is the older brother and spokesperson for Moses, playing a critical role in the prophet's appeal to the Egyptians to free the Israelites from slavery. Today, the name remains pretty steadily popular, with a few contemporary famous namesakes, including actors Aaron Paul, from "Breaking Bad," and Aaron Eckhart.

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#48. Kaylee (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 44,452
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #35; 6,095 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #114; 2,528 babies born)

Kaylee, which is almost a portmanteau of two other names (Kayla and Hailey), is an American name that means "laurel, crown." The name was most popular at the start of the decade, after which it began to fall out of favor as the years went on.

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#47. Hunter (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 74,564
- Peak popularity: 2013 (Rank: #36; 8,954 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #66; 5,353 babies born)

An English name by origin, Hunter, means "one who hunts." While the name saw several years of high popularity within the past two decades, it was virtually unused in the U.S. before 1990 but saw its most significant climb to popularity in the decade leading up to the turn of the millennium.

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#47. Nevaeh (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 44,666
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #25; 6,420 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #90; 3,080 babies born)

A relatively recent name, Nevaeh, is "heaven" spelled backward. The name's popularity first started rising when rocker/rapper Sonny Sandoval of P.O.D. introduced his baby daughter, Nevaeh, on MTV's home tour show, "MTV Cribs" back in 2000. This is a polarizing one, though: While the popularity of the name has been on the rise since the early aughts, that rise has coincided with some serious disdain for the name on the other side of the spectrum, too.

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#46. Isaiah (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 75,756
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #43; 8,571 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #53; 6,150 babies born)

A name with a strong religious foundation, Isaiah is one of the most important prophets in the Bible, and the name means "God is salvation" in its original Hebrew. Though it's unclear what triggered the sharp spike in the name's popularity in 2010, it may be more than just a coincidence that in February of that same year, actor Isaiah Mustafa rose to almost instant fame as the face of Old Spice in the popular "The Man Your Man Could Smell Like" ad campaign.

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#46. Sarah (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 46,380
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #28; 6,321 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #81; 3,287 babies born)

Sarah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "princess." While the name sat somewhere within the top five baby names for most of the 1990s, its popularity has been on a steady decline since the turn of the millennium.

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#45. Levi (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 77,474
- Peak popularity: 2019 (Rank: #25; 8,973 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2010 (Rank: #70; 6,006 babies born

Levi is believed to derive from the Hebrew word yillaweh, meaning "he will join." While the name was at its lowest popularity coming into the decade, a rising trend of celebrity children that were given the name around that time like Levi James Crow and Levi Alves McConaughey may have set the stage for the names to crawl back to fame.

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#45. Aaliyah (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 46,490
- Peak popularity: 2012 (Rank: #36; 5,505 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #70; 3,636 babies born)

The name Aaliyah is the Arabic word meaning "exalted or held in high regard." The first spike in the name's popularity came in 2002, the year after 22-year-old R&B singer Aaliyah lost her life in a plane crash. The next big spike in the name's popularity came a decade later, in 2012, right after the 10th anniversary of the beloved artist's death.

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#44. Landon (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 79,091
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #33; 10,471 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #63; 5,471 babies born)

Landon is a name with English origin, and it means "long hill." Though the name is traditionally a last name, the name's rise to popularity as a first name in 2010 coincided with the year that soccer superstar Landon Donovan scored his iconic World Cup goal against Algeria, which has since been deemed one of the most notable moments in the history of American soccer.

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#44. Penelope (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 47,454
- Peak popularity: 2019 (Rank: #22; 6,697 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2010 (Rank: #200; 1,547 babies born

 

The name Penelope has a Greek origin, coming from the word pēnē, meaning "thread on a bobbin." The name itself was given the definition "weaver" due to its role in Greek mythology, where the wife of Odysseus, Penelope, spent her time weaving while she waited for her husband to come back from the Trojan War—which took 20 years. For this reason, the name has often been associated with loyalty and faithfulness, as well.

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#43. Julian (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 79,242
- Peak popularity: 2019 (Rank: #31; 8,401 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2012 (Rank: #53; 7,374 babies born)

The name Julian—which means "youthful" and "downy"—comes from English and Latin origins. The name is a variation of Julius and one that carries a long history of ruling Roman families.

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#43. Hailey (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 47,607
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #19; 7,018 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2018 (Rank: #79; 3,449 babies born

Hailey comes from the English term meaning "Hay's meadow." The name gained its highest level of popularity in 2010, which was also the year that a famous namesake—albeit one with a different spelling—Hailee Steinfeld starred in "True Grit," a role which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

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#42. Jonathan (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 79,519
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #28; 11,121 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #64; 5,418 babies born)

Jonathan comes from Hebrew, in which it means "gift from God." The name had its peak popularity of the decade in 2010, which was also the year that Jon Hamm earned himself the GQ Man of the Year award and his third Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Drama Television Series.

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#42. Claire (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 47,630
- Peak popularity: 2016 (Rank: #40; 5,207 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #55; 4,111 babies born)

Claire is a name of French origins, and it means "clear and bright." The name rose to peak popularity in 2016, which also happened to coincide with the rising popularity of actress Claire Foy, whose portrayal of Queen Elizabeth in Netflix's "The Crown" first aired in November of that year.

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#41. Christian (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 83,809
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #29; 11,095 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #57; 5,739 babies born)

The name Christian, which comes from the Latin name Christianus, means "follower of Christ." Interestingly enough, the name was originally most popular as a girl's name in the Middle Ages before becoming more common as a boy's name.

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#41. Gabriella (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 47,927
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #33; 6,177 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #76; 3,461 babies born)

The name Gabriella has a Hebrew origin, and means "devoted to God." It's also the girl version of the boys' name, Gabriel. Though the name had been steadily climbing to its peak popularity in 2010, it has since seen a continued decline in popularity with every year since.

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#40. Jack (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 85,439
- Peak popularity: 2019 (Rank: #19; 9,349 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2012 (Rank: #46; 7,934 babies born

Jack, which is derived from the name John, has its origins in English. The name means "God is gracious." Thanks to its use in many a classic story or rhyme—think "Jack and Jill," "Jack and the Beanstalk," and "Little Jack Horner"—the name has always had a pretty steady level of popularity throughout the decades.

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#40. Allison (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 48,883
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #38; 5,862 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #77; 3,424 babies born)

The name Allison—which means "noble"—has Scottish origins. Though the name's peak popularity for the decade was in 2010, it held an impressively steady spot in the top 40 names for the first half of the decade before beginning to drop off in 2016.

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#39. Caleb (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 86,369
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #32; 10,472 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #52; 6,345 babies born)

Caleb, which has its origins in Hebrew, is often referenced as meaning "faithful" and "loyal." Interestingly, though, the literal translation of the name's origin, "kelev," means "dog." The popularity of the name decreased drastically in the mid-1900s before seeing a resurgence in the 1970s.

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#39. Anna (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 51,028
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #26; 6,326 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #63; 3,807 babies born)

One of many names in the "Ann" family, Anna, is the Latin form of Hannah, which is a Hebrew name meaning "grace." The popularity of the name—which has such famous namesakes as actress Anna Paquin, tennis player Anna Kournikova, and journalist-editor Anna Wintour—has been remarkably steady over the past decades. The name has only fallen out of the top 100 girl's names a total of 10 times over the past century.

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#38. Sebastian (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 86,381
- Peak popularity: 2016 (Rank: #24; 10,276 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2010 (Rank: #68; 6,357 babies born

Though different variations of the name (including Spanish and French) are popular, Sebastian is originally derived from the Latin name Sebastianus, which means "man from Sebastia," an ancient city that sat in what is today Black Sea Region of Turkey. The name's peak popularity in 2016 coincides with a period of peak popularity for "Captain America" actor Sebastian Stan. In December of that year, Vanity Fair chronicled the growing infatuation with Stan, whom the publication called the "Tumblr boyfriend" of 2016.

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#38. Audrey (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 51,464
- Peak popularity: 2015 (Rank: #37; 5,601 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #49; 4,430 babies born)

Audrey is a name with English origins, and it means "noble strength." The name's peak popularity in 2015 coincided with the National Portrait Gallery's debut of its "Audrey Hepburn: Portraits of an Icon" exhibit in July in London of the same year. The exhibit featured over 70 rare photographs of the iconic actress, some of which came from the personal collection of her children.

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#37. Wyatt (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 87,435
- Peak popularity: 2017 (Rank: #25; 9,661 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2010 (Rank: #57; 7,370 babies born

Wyatt is believed to be derived from the Middle English name Wyot, which itself is a derivative of the name Wigheard, meaning "brave in war." Famous namesakes include former hockey player-turned-actor Wyatt Russell (who is also the son of actors Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn), "It" actor Wyatt Oleff, and comedian Wyatt Cenac.

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#37. Savannah (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 51,637
- Peak popularity: 2014 (Rank: #38; 5,472 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #54; 4,148 babies born)

Savannah—also the name of a city in Georgia—is a variation of the Spanish-rooted word "savanna," which means "flat grassland" or "grassy plain." The name, which reached peak popularity in 2014, was originally liked for its uniqueness. However, it has started to dwindle in popularity since becoming more common.

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#36. Nathan (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 87,746
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #27; 11,372 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #55; 6,049 babies born)

Nathan is of Hebrew origin, coming from the Old Testament and meaning "given." The name's peak popularity in 2010 coincides with the one-year-earlier premiere of the hit TV show "Castle," which stars Canadian American actor Nathan Fillion. The name's peak popularity also came in the wake of the peak viewership of "Gossip Girl," where one of the main characters (played by Chace Crawford) was named Nate.

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#36. Aria (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 52,068
- Peak popularity: 2018 (Rank: #19; 7,394 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2010 (Rank: #353; 903 babies born

 

Aria—which can mean "air" or "song/melody"—has its origins in both Hebrew and Italian. Throughout the decade, television shows portraying leads with the name—particularly "Pretty Little Liars," which first aired in 2010, and "Game of Thrones," which first aired in 2011—helped push the moniker to peak popularity in 2018.

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#35. Ryan (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 90,746
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #23; 11,968 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #54; 6,087 babies born)

Ryan is a name with Irish origins, and it means "little king." The moniker has remained impressively high on the popularity charts over the years, staying in the top 50 boy's names each year since 1972. The name's peak popularity this decade hit in 2010, which also happened to be the year that famous namesake Ryan Reynolds earned himself the honor of being People's Sexiest Man Alive in 2010.

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#35. Leah (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 55,811
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #24; 6,536 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #44; 4,739 babies born)

A biblical name at its root, Leah has a Hebrew origin. Though the name's meaning—"weary"—isn't particularly positive, that hasn't stopped the name from rising in popularity over the years. Leah has been among the top 100 girl's names each year since 2000.

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#34. Owen (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 90,861
- Peak popularity: 2016 (Rank: #23; 10,282 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2010 (Rank: #47; 8,174 babies born

Owen—which means "young warrior"—has its origins in Welsh. After seeing some of its lowest popularity of the century between 1970 and the mid-1990s, this name has been steadily rising in popularity since the turn of the millennium. Famous namesakes include actor Owen Wilson and author Owen King.

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#34. Riley (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 55,966
- Peak popularity: 2016 (Rank: #22; 7,131 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2014 (Rank: #47; 4,790 babies born

 

The name Riley—which is of Irish origin and originates as a surname—means "courageous." While the name is one of the most popular for girls in the past decade, it has also become one of the most popular gender-neutral first names in recent years.

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#33. Henry (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 92,276
- Peak popularity: 2019 (Rank: #12; 10,704 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2010 (Rank: #67; 6,397 babies born

Henry—which means "estate ruler"—comes from the Germanic name Heimrich, which translates to "home rich." The peak popularity of the name in 2018 coincided with the much-buzzed-about royal wedding between famous namesake Prince Henry of Wales (better known as Prince Harry) and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.

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#33. Samantha (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 56,780
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #15; 8,405 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #80; 3,351 babies born)

Samantha—which is a feminization of Samuel—comes from Hebrew origins, where it means "told by God." It may also have roots in Aramaic, where it means "listener." The name saw peak popularity in 2010 but has been steadily declining over the last decade. Still, even with its dwindling popularity, the name remains more popular today than it was even during the 1960s when it saw its largest year-over-year spike in popularity as a result of the hit show "Bewitched," which aired in 1964. The show is about a beautiful witch named Samantha clumsily navigating life with her mortal husband.

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#32. Luke (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 92,977
- Peak popularity: 2014 (Rank: #28; 10,503 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #32; 8,375 babies born)

The name Luke has a Greek origin, and it simply means "man from Lucania," Lucania being an ancient region in Southern Italy. The name has seen growing popularity in recent decades, a lot of which can likely be attributed to the character Luke Skywalker in the "Star Wars" franchise. As far as the name's peak popularity this decade, though, it may also have something to do with the rising popularity of country singer Luke Bryan, who, in 2014, was the first country artist to release three #1 singles.

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#32. Camila (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 57,775
- Peak popularity: 2019 (Rank: #15; 7,809 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2010 (Rank: #61; 4,302 babies born

 

The name Camila is of Latin origin and means "young ceremonial attendant." The name's popularity has been increasing in recent years, and its peak popularity in 2018 coincided with the skyrocketing career of pop artist Camila Cabello, whose hit single "Havana" was named the best-selling digital song of 2018.

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#31. Isaac (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 94,112
- Peak popularity: 2013 (Rank: #29; 10,107 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #34; 8,148 babies born)

Isaac is a biblical name with Hebrew origins, and it means "one who laughs." The name's peak popularity occurred in 2013, just one year after Hurricane Isaac tore through Louisiana, leaving major destruction in its wake.

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#31. Zoe (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 57,863
- Peak popularity: 2012 (Rank: #30; 6,455 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #38; 5,034 babies born)

Zoe comes from Greek origins and means "life." The name saw its popularity reach its peak in 2012, which apparently affected more than just newborn girls stateside: That same year, French car manufacturer Renault debuted its supermini electric car, Renault Zoe, at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

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#30. Carter (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 94,881
- Peak popularity: 2015 (Rank: #24; 10,771 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2010 (Rank: #48; 8,152 babies born

The name Carter has an English origin and a pretty straightforward meaning: "transporter of goods by cart." While the name has been steadily climbing in popularity since the late 1990s, its peak popularity in 2015 could have something to do with the premiere of Marvel's "Agent Carter" in January of that year. The show is about a secret agent, Peggy Carter, of the Strategic Scientific Reserve.

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#30. Scarlett (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 58,097
- Peak popularity: 2016 (Rank: #18; 7,698 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2010 (Rank: #115; 2,716 babies born

 

Scarlett—which means "scarlet" or "red"—comes from English origin. It's hardly surprising that the name reached peak popularity in 2016, as this was also the year that actress Scarlett Johansson starred as Black Widow in the hit "Captain America: Civil War" and ranked as the top-grossing actor of 2016.

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#29. Dylan (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 96,076
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #31; 10,510 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #39; 7,514 babies born)

Dylan comes from the Welsh words meaning "son of the sea." The popularity of the name has remained remarkably consistent—sitting somewhere between the 19th and the 34th spots each year since 1992.

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#29. Brooklyn (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 60,061
- Peak popularity: 2011 (Rank: #21; 7,164 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #52; 4,270 babies born)

Brooklyn is the name of a New York City borough that is named after the Dutch town of Breukelen, which translates to "broken land." The name has gained popularity in recent years, however, as not just a girl's name but a unisex name, with some famous namesakes including actress Brooklyn Decker and Brooklyn Beckham, the son of David and Victoria Beckham. The name's peak popularity in 2011 could be attributed to the rising popularity of a book of the same name by Irish author Colm Tóibín, which was released in 2009 but spent the next few years gaining widespread popularity.

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#28. Oliver (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 97,775
- Peak popularity: 2019 (Rank: #3; 13,891 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2010 (Rank: #88; 4,663 babies born

The name Oliver comes from the Latin word "oliva," meaning "olive tree." The name may also be a derivative of Olivier, the French variation of the ancient Germanic name Alfher. The name's rising popularity around its peak popularity in 2018 might have been a result of the concurrent chatter around Disney's "Oliver!" remake.

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#28. Layla (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 62,958
- Peak popularity: 2019 (Rank: #23; 6,478 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2010 (Rank: #37; 5,889 babies born

 

Leila comes from the Arabic word meaning "night." The name's popularity saw a surge going into the new millennium, and it has been steadily increasing since.

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#27. Christopher (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 101,693
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #13; 14,273 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #44; 6,960 babies born)

Christopher has Greek origins and means "bearer of Christ." Though the name remains a top-ranking one for boys, it has seen some declining popularity over the past decade compared to the previous decade, where Christopher remained amongst the top 10 boy's names for each year (except 2009, when it fell to #11). Just one look at the long list of famous namesakes, including actors Chris Evans, Chris Pine, Chris Pratt, and Chris Hemsworth, highlights just how popular the name is.

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#27. Hannah (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 64,195
- Peak popularity: 2013 (Rank: #23; 7,294 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #32; 5,586 babies born)

Hannah has a Hebrew origin and means "grace." The name's peak popularity, which occurred in 2013, came just one year after the premiere of the hit HBO series "Girls," in which Lena Dunham plays the main character named Hannah.

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#26. John (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 102,303
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #26; 11,555 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #28; 8,779 babies born)

John—which means "God is gracious"—is an English derivative of the Hebrew name Yochanan. The name's peak popularity, which occurred in 2010, happened in the same year the film "Dear John," which is based on the book by Nicholas Sparks of the same name and stars Amanda Seyfried and Channing Tatum, was released.

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#26. Zoey (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 64,665
- Peak popularity: 2012 (Rank: #20; 7,466 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2010 (Rank: #47; 5,207 babies born

 

Zoey is an alternate spelling of Zoe and has the same origin (Greek) and meaning ("life"). The name, which was relatively unpopular as recently as the mid-1990s, managed to remain in the top 30 girl's names for almost the entire decade (except for 2010, when it ranked at #47).

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#25. Andrew (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 104,603
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #14; 14,236 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #46; 6,757 babies born)

Andrew has its roots in Greek and means "strong and manly." The name remained consistently popular over the past century, never falling out of the top 100 list of most popular boy's names and hitting its lowest point as far back as 1945 when it still came in at #86. Some famous Andrews include actor Andrew Garfield, actor Andy Samberg, and tennis player Andy Roddick.

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#25. Lillian (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 64,718
- Peak popularity: 2012 (Rank: #22; 7,156 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #37; 5,092 babies born)

Lillian has a Latin origin and means "lily." The name has been growing slowly in popularity: The resurgence in its use marks the most popular period for the name since the 1920s.

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#24. Gabriel (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 105,060
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #21; 12,873 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #37; 7,678 babies born)

Gabriel originates in Hebrew and means "God is my strength." While the name hasn't always been the most popular, it did see a spike in usage in the mid-1970s and had been climbing the ranks ever since. A couple of famous namesakes include Irish actor-director Gabriel Byrne and actor Gabriel Macht, known best for his portrayal of lawyer Harvey Specter on "Suits."

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#24. Aubrey (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 65,726
- Peak popularity: 2012 (Rank: #15; 8,047 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #45; 4,570 babies born)

Aubrey is a French derivation of the Germanic name Alberic, which translates to one of the more interesting name meanings: "elf power" or "elf ruler." While many of the notable Aubreys that may come to mind, like actress Aubrey Plaza, are women, the moniker was considered to be exclusively a boy's name before 1974 when it began making the switch into a more gender-neutral space.

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#23. Joshua (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 105,701
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #11; 15,438 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #48; 6,574 babies born)

Joshua is a Hebrew name, meaning "the Lord is my salvation." After sitting comfortably as one of the top five boy's names for over 20 years, the name Joshua began trickling slightly down the list in 2009 when it fell to #6. 

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#23. Natalie (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 67,935
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #14; 8,776 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #41; 4,782 babies born)

Natalie is a French variation of the Russian name Natalia, which means "birthday" or "Christmas." The name reached peak popularity in 2010, which is the same year that famous namesake Natalie Portman won the Oscar for Best Actress following her portrayal of a tortured ballerina in "Black Swan."

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#22. Samuel (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 107,544
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #24; 11,959 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #22; 9,237 babies born)

Samuel—which is Hebrew for "told by God"—has long been a popular name with biblical roots. So much so, that it has managed to stay within the top 100 boy's names over the past century, much like a few of the other classics on the list. In addition to some famous Samuel's you might be familiar with, like actor Samuel L. Jackson and baseball player Sammy Sosa, there's also a long list of celebs that have chosen the name for their own kids, including Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber, and Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck.

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#22. Lily (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 68,054
- Peak popularity: 2011 (Rank: #15; 8,177 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #34; 5,419 babies born)

After almost falling out of the top 1,000 girl's names in 1970—Lily came in at #999 that year—the name saw a huge resurgence of popularity in the 1990s and has been maintaining its rank ever since. A few of the famous namesakes include actresses Lily James and Lily-Rose Depp, the daughter of Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis.

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#21. Anthony (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 111,719
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #10; 15,487 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #38; 7,669 babies born)

Anthony has a Latin origin and means "the priceless one." The name, which has remained steadily popular over the years, is associated with such famous namesakes as actor Anthony Hopkins and chef/author Anthony Bourdain. 

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#21. Victoria (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 70,774
- Peak popularity: 2014 (Rank: #19; 7,991 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2010 (Rank: #32; 6,226 babies born

 

Victoria, which is the feminized version of the boy's name Victor, comes from the Latin word for victory. Notable namesakes include designer (and former Spice Girl) Victoria Beckham and actress Victoria Justice. Though not responsible for the name's peak popularity in 2016, something that may have helped cement the name's popularity even later into the decade could be the release of the drama series "Victoria," which chronicles the life of a young Queen Victoria.

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#20. Joseph (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 115,015
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #20; 13,825 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #24; 9,058 babies born)

Joseph is a name of Hebrew origin that translates to "may Jehovah give" or "may God increase." Remarkably, before 2010, the name Joseph had not fallen below a #16 ranking in over 100 years. In the past decade, however, while the name remains one of the most popular for a boy, it is has seen a notable dip in its use. Some of the famous namesakes include actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, actor Joseph Fiennes, and President Joe Biden.

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#20. Addison (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 70,804
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #11; 10,324 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #47; 4,473 babies born)

Addison has an English origin and translates to "son of Adam." Though the name used to be primarily a last name, it has seen a rise in popularity as a girl's name. This trend is believed to have emerged due to Addison's resemblance to the name Madison, to which it offers a unique alternative. "Grey's Anatomy" featured a character named Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh) from 2005–2012, who got her own spin-off with "Private Practice" (2007–2013).

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#19. Jackson (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 115,791
- Peak popularity: 2013 (Rank: #16; 12,585 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #17; 10,102 babies born)

Like Addison, Jackson is a name of English origin that translates to "son of Jack." The name has most commonly been seen as a surname but has crept up in rank recently to become a highly popular boy's name. The relative newness of the name's popularity as a first name has coincided with several celebrities, including Maria Bello and Spike Lee, selecting the moniker for their children.

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#19. Grace (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 72,702
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #18; 7,681 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #28; 6,062 babies born)

Grace is the English form of the Latin "gratia," meaning "grace." The name, which was popular during the 19th century, saw a steady decline in popularity during the first three-quarters of the 1900s before seeing a resurgence in the 1970s. Today, in addition to famous namesakes like Grace Coddington, the popular name also belongs to many celebrity children, including the daughters of Mark Wahlberg, Meryl Streep, and Kevin Costner.

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#18. David (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 116,078
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #15; 14,196 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #27; 8,896 babies born)

David comes from the Hebrew word meaning "beloved." The name has always remained steadily popular throughout the decades, and this decade has been no different. Famous namesakes include soccer superstar David Beckham, actor David Schwimmer, and talk show host David Letterman.

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#18. Sofia (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 82,186
- Peak popularity: 2015 (Rank: #14; 9,684 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2010 (Rank: #27; 6,325 babies born

 

Sofia has a Greek origin and means "wisdom." The name has seen a considerable spike in popularity over the past several years, with its peak popularity in 2015 coinciding with famous namesake Sofia Vergara's induction to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The actress was honored with a star on Hollywood Boulevard by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce on May 7, 2015.

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#17. Lucas (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 118,288
- Peak popularity: 2017 (Rank: #11; 12,951 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2010 (Rank: #35; 10,376 babies born

Like Luke, the name Lucas also has a Greek origin and means "man from Lucania," the ancient region in Southern Italy. The name has also been associated with meaning "light" in its various origins, including French and Gaelic. The name's peak popularity in the past decade occurred in 2017, which was a year after actor Caleb McLaughlin portrayed the popular main character, Lucas Sinclair, on the hit Netflix series "Stranger Things."

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#17. Avery (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 82,712
- Peak popularity: 2014 (Rank: #13; 9,563 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2010 (Rank: #23; 6,673 babies born

 

Another fun one like Aubrey, Avery, is a name with a little mysticism attached to it, as the English-derived name means "ruler of the elves." The name was relatively unpopular as recently as the 1990s but has seen a rapid climb into the top 20 girl's names over the past several years.

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#16. Matthew (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 124,552
- Peak popularity: 2011 (Rank: #12; 14,159 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #23; 9,199 babies born)

Matthew is a Hebrew name meaning "gift of God." The long-popular name made its way into the #10 slot for most popular boy's names back in 1972 and managed to remain in the top 10 up until 2009, when it dropped to #16. While Matthew didn't return to the top 10 boy's names list in the last decade, it remains a highly popular name as far as top picks for boys go.

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#16. Harper (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 84,915
- Peak popularity: 2016 (Rank: #10; 10,773 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2010 (Rank: #119; 2,631 babies born

 

The name Harper comes from English origins and means "harp player." While it was traditionally considered a boy's name back in the 1800s, the name took on a gender-neutral nature with the release of Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" and the subsequent popularization of the name as a girl's name. Today, the name belongs to several celebrity children, including the daughters of Victoria and David Beckham, Neil Patrick Harris, and Tiffani Amber Thiessen.

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#15. Jayden (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 125,578
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #4; 17,171 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #35; 7,903 babies born)

Jayden, which means "thankful," has origins in Hebrew and the Old Testament. The name is relatively new and only rose to popularity at the turn of the millennium. Its peak popularity coincided with the release of "The Karate Kid" in 2010, which was a remake of the original film, starring a young Jaden Smith (the son of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith) alongside Jackie Chan and Taraji P. Henson.

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#15. Chloe (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 84,981
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #9; 11,750 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #24; 6,361 babies born)

Chloe has a Greek origin and means "young green shoot." In Greek mythology, the name was actually used as an alternative for Demeter, who was the goddess of agriculture and fertility. The name has been more popular in the past two decades than during any other period in the last 100 years.

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#14. Logan (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 126,402
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #17; 14,019 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #16; 10,490 babies born)

Logan has a Scottish origin and means "small hollow." The name saw a drastic surge in popularity in the 1970s and has been steadily increasing in rank since. The name's first entry into the top five boy's names came in 2017, which coincided with the release of "Logan," the third and final film in X-Men's Wolverine trilogy.

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#14. Ella (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 85,589
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #13; 9,872 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2015 (Rank: #18; 7,896 babies born

 

Ella is a name of English and German origins, meaning "fairy maiden" in the former, and "all" or "completely" in the latter. The name saw a rapid spike in popularity in the 1990s and early aughts and has since plateaued at a high level of popularity. Several celebrities have chosen the name for their daughters, including John Travolta and Kelly Preston, Mark Wahlberg, and Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor.

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#13. Aiden (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 129,157
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #9; 15,535 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #20; 9,326 babies born)

Aiden comes from the Irish name Aidan, meaning "little and fiery" which is actually derived from Aodh, the Celtic god of sun and fire. The name only became popular in the U.S. as of the late 1990s, and it had its peak popularity in 2003.

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#13. Evelyn (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 86,718
- Peak popularity: 2017 (Rank: #9; 10,675 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2010 (Rank: #39; 5,840 babies born

 

The name Evelyn may have a couple of origins: the English origin, in which it means "wished-for child," and the Celtic origin, in which it means "giver of life." The name's popularity dwindled in the middle of the century after having its heyday back in the early 1900s, but it began picking back up in the 1970s.

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#12. Daniel (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 133,335
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #8; 15,836 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #15; 10,504 babies born)

Daniel comes from the Hebrew name Daniyyel, which means "God is my judge." Daniel is fairly consistent with its ranking over the years, as is common for names with biblical origins. Famous Daniels include actor Daniel Craig, who gained major popularity in his portrayal of James Bond in the most recent Bond films, and Daniel Radcliffe, who is best known for his role as Harry Potter in the film adaptations of J.K. Rowling's magical novels.

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#12. Amelia (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 93,454
- Peak popularity: 2019 (Rank: #7; 12,862 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2010 (Rank: #41; 5,455 babies born

Amelia comes from German roots, and it means "to work." The name has a history of popularity thanks to iconic namesakes like Amelia Earhart, but it fell slightly out of popular use in the middle of the century. It has since been increasing in popularity pretty steadily since the 1960s, however, around the time that the popular "Amelia Bedelia" children's book series began getting published by Harper & Row.

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#11. Benjamin (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 133,971
- Peak popularity: 2016 (Rank: #6; 14,629 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2010 (Rank: #22; 12,428 babies born

Benjamin has Hebrew origins and means "son of the right hand." Like other names with biblical roots, Benjamin has seen pretty steady popularity over the past several decades. The peak year of popularity for the name in the past decade happens to coincide with the 2016 premiere of famous namesake Ben Stiller's "Zoolander 2"—and Stiller's world-record-setting selfie stick.

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#11. Elizabeth (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 93,590
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #12; 10,260 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #14; 7,844 babies born)

Elizabeth has Hebrew origins and means "pledged to God." One of the most consistently popular girl's names, Elizabeth, has not once dropped below a #15 ranking in the past 40 years. Famous namesakes include actress Elizabeth Banks, actress Elizabeth Olsen, and activist Elizabeth Smart.

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#10. Elijah (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 136,261
- Peak popularity: 2011 (Rank: #13; 13,960 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2018 (Rank: #7; 12,886 babies born)

A name of Hebrew origin, Elijah, which means "The Lord is my God," was the name of a Hebrew prophet in the Old Testament who, upon his death, was swept up to heaven in a chariot of fire. Unlike the typical staying power that most religious names have seen throughout history, Elijah has had a bit more fluctuation in popularity over the past several decades. That said, it's been mostly on the rise since the 1960s, and has returned to being one of the most popular boy's names. The name reached its highest ranking of the century to date in early 2019.

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#10. Madison (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 98,108
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #8; 13,176 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #26; 6,269 babies born)

The name Madison is of English origin and means "son of Maud." The name's rise in popularity for girls started in the mid-1980s, and some of today's notable namesakes include singer Madison Beer, dancer and television personality Maddie Ziegler, and Olympic gymnast Madison Taylor Kocian.

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#9. James (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 138,999
- Peak popularity: 2016 (Rank: #5; 14,842 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #6; 13,087 babies born)

James, which means "supplanter," is a name of biblical and royal history, with Hebrew and English origins. The name saw its peak popularity over the past decade in 2016, which coincided with the year that famous namesake James Corden hosted the Tony Awards.

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#9. Charlotte (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 102,109
- Peak popularity: 2019 (Rank: #6; 13,138 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2010 (Rank: #46; 5,357 babies born

As the feminine diminutive of the name Charles, Charlotte is also rooted in French and means "free man." The name has been steadily rising in popularity since the early aughts, which could coincide with the growing popularity of a certain HBO series featured Kristin Davis in the role of one Charlotte York Goldenblatt.

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#8. Alexander (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 141,595
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #6; 16,752 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #11; 11,230 babies born)

A powerful name of Greek origin, Alexander means "defending men." The name was at its peak popularity over the last decade in 2010 and has since been dropping a rank or two each year. Famous namesakes include former baseball shortstop Alex Rodriguez (better known as A-Rod), as well as the son of Naomi Watts and Liev Shreiber, who goes by Sasha, which is a common nickname for Alexander in a lot of Eastern and Southern European countries.

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#8. Emily (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 117,283
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #6; 14,268 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #12; 8,213 babies born)

Emily has Latin origins and means "industrious and striving." The name has long been one of the most popular for girls, which is mostly owing to its timelessness. The name has dropped a bit in popularity, after sitting at #1 for a number of years in a row. Famous Emilys of the past include Emily Dickinson and Emily Brontë, while a few contemporary namesakes include Emily Blunt and Emily Deschanel.

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#7. Michael (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 144,399
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #3; 17,342 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #14; 10,514 babies born)

Michael is a Hebrew name meaning "who is like God?" For nearly the entire second half of the 1900s, Michael remained ranked at #1 as far as popular boy's names went. Going into the 2000s, though, the name began to drop slightly in rank and has continued to move lower down the list.

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#7. Abigail (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 118,258
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #7; 14,243 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #11; 9,106 babies born)

Abigail comes from Hebrew origins and means "my father is joyful." Though the name may seem a bit old-fashioned—one of the most famous non-biblical namesakes is, after all, Abigail Adams, the second First Lady of the United States—the name has interestingly been climbing the ranks in popularity over the past several years. Today, some of the famous namesakes include actresses Abigail Breslin and Abigail Spencer.

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#6. Ethan (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 148,656
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #2; 18,000 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #10; 11,241 babies born)

Ethan is a name of Hebrew origin, derived from the name Eitan, meaning "strong and firm." In the mid-1950s, the name wasn't even popular enough to make it into the top 1,000 boy's names, but that changed when it started becoming more popular in the 1960s. In 2009–10, the name reached peak popularity for two years running, coming in at #2 on the list of most popular boy's names.

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#6. Mia (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 128,636
- Peak popularity: 2015 (Rank: #6; 14,892 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2010 (Rank: #10; 10,637 babies born

 

Mia comes from Italian and Scandinavian origin, and the name means "mine or bitter." The name is relatively new to popularity but has been slowly increasing in rank over the past several years. The decade's peak popularity of the name occurred in 2015, which coincides with actress and famous namesake Mia Wasikowska's role in Guillermo del Toro's "Crimson Peak," in which she starred alongside Tom Hiddleston and Jessica Chastain.

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#5. Mason (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 157,378
- Peak popularity: 2011 (Rank: #2; 19,507 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #9; 11,408 babies born)

Mason is a name of English origin that means "worker in stone." The name reached peak popularity in the past decade when it ranked #2 in 2011, which is likely connected to the increased popularity in the name following Kourtney Kardashian's selection of the name for her son, Mason Disick, in 2009.

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#5. Ava (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 155,301
- Peak popularity: 2015 (Rank: #4; 16,361 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #3; 14,440 babies born)

Ava is a name of Latin origin that means "life." The name saw a huge spike in popularity at the start of the millennium, as celebrities like Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe, or Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness, chose the name for their daughters. It has since remained in the top 10—and for some years, the top five—spots as far as most popular girl's names.

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#4. William (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 159,299
- Peak popularity: 2011 (Rank: #3; 17,339 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #4; 13,542 babies born)

William is a name of English origin that means "resolute protection." The name spent the vast majority of the past century in the top 10 bracket of most popular boy's names, only falling below #10 during the late 1970s through the early 2000s. This past decade, though, William made its way back up to slot #3 for several years. Famous namesakes include actor William Moseley ("The Royals"), actor William H. Macy ("Shameless"), and football cornerback William Gay.

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#4. Isabella (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 169,834
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #1; 22,905 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #5; 13,306 babies born)

Isabella is a name meaning "pledged to God" and has its origins in Hebrew, Spanish, and Italian. The name hit peak popularity this decade when it reached #1 in 2010, which is likely due in large part to the release of the hugely popular "Twilight" film saga, which released one film in the trilogy each year between 2008 and 2010. The lead character in the films (and the books on which they're based) is Bella—short for Isabella—Swan (played by Kristen Stewart).

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#3. Jacob (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 162,540
- Peak popularity: 2010 (Rank: #1; 22,117 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #13; 10,679 babies born)

Jacob, like Jake, comes from the Hebrew term meaning "supplanter." And like Isabella, the name Jacob, which has long been popular, saw a particularly substantial spike in popularity in 2010, coinciding with the culmination of the "Twilight" film saga, in which actor Taylor Lautner plays a swoon-worthy teen werewolf by the name of Jacob.

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#3. Sophia (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 180,578
- Peak popularity: 2012 (Rank: #1; 22,304 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #4; 13,714 babies born)

A variation of the aforementioned Sofia, Sophia, is also derived from the Greek word meaning "wisdom." The name's rising popularity—it made it to #1 on the list of most popular girl's names for a few years running this decade—is largely fueled by its use by many celebrity parents for their daughters. This includes Jude Law, Sylvester Stallone, and Benjamin Bratt.

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#2. Liam (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 173,358
- Peak popularity: 2019 (Rank: #1; 20,502 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2010 (Rank: #30; 10,927 babies born

Liam is a name with Irish origins, and it means "resolute protector." Though the name has gained popularity as a standalone moniker, Liam can also be short for the longer William. As the name has become one of the most popular boy's names of the decade, a lot of that popularity is due to the name's presence among several famous namesakes, including actor Liam Neeson, actor Liam Hemsworth, and singer Liam Payne.

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#2. Olivia (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 183,858
- Peak popularity: 2014 (Rank: #2; 19,791 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2010 (Rank: #4; 17,022 babies born

Like the popular boy's name Oliver, Olivia has a Latin origin and comes from the word meaning "olive tree." The name has remained consistently popular over the years and topped the list in 2019.

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#1. Noah (for boys)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 182,510
- Peak popularity: 2015 (Rank: #1; 19,613 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2010 (Rank: #7; 16,447 babies born

Noah comes from the Hebrew meaning "to comfort," and is linked to biblical tradition as the chosen one during the Great Flood. Today, the name has taken on contemporary popularity that has earned it a spot as the most popular boy's name of the decade. In addition to older stars, including "ER" actor Noah Wyle, who has given the name's popularity a running start several years ago, a new influx of younger namesakes, including actor Noah Centineo and singer Noah Cyrus, continue invigorating the popularity of this top-trending boy's name.

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#1. Emma (for girls)

- Total babies with this name, 2010-2019: 194,363
- Peak popularity: 2013 (Rank: #2; 20,936 babies born)
- Lowest popularity: 2019 (Rank: #2; 17,102 babies born)

The name Emma comes from German origins and means "universal." The name has topped the charts for several years running, with the popularity in the past decade peaking in 2015. The continued popularity of the name over the past several years has coincided with the peak popularity of famous namesakes like Emma Stone, whose roles in recent films like "La La Land" and "Birdman" have earned her a host of accolades, including the Academy Award for Best Actress and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress.

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