Top 50 Baby Names in the USA With Meanings and Origins
Every year the Social Security Administration publishes the definitive record of what American parents actually named their children, drawn from Social Security card applications filed at birth. It is the only naming data in the country that is not a survey, a prediction or a website's own traffic.
Below are 50 of the most popular names in America, 25 for girls and 25 for boys, each with its meaning and origin. The top ten in each list are the official rankings from the most recent SSA release. The names that follow are also among the country's most popular and appear here alphabetically rather than in exact rank order.
The 25 Most Popular Girl Names in the USA
The Official Top 10
1. Olivia means olive tree, a symbol of peace, from Latin. Number one in America for seven consecutive years.
2. Charlotte means free woman, from French. It climbed to second place last year, ending Emma's six year run in that spot.
3. Emma means whole or universal, from Germanic. One of the most internationally successful names in the world.
4. Amelia means industrious, from Latin. Forever associated with aviator Amelia Earhart.
5. Sophia means wisdom, from Greek. Ancient, elegant and popular across dozens of countries.
6. Mia means mine or beloved, from Italian and Scandinavian. Three letters that work in almost every language.
7. Isabella means devoted to God, from Hebrew by way of Spanish and Italian. Romantic and enduring.
8. Evelyn means wished for child, from English. The clearest example of the vintage revival in the top ten.
9. Sofia is the same name as Sophia in its Spanish, Italian and Scandinavian spelling, also meaning wisdom.
10. Eliana means God has answered, from Hebrew. The newest arrival in the top ten, replacing Ava.
Also Among America's Most Popular
Amara means grace in Igbo and everlasting in Sanskrit.
Aria means air or melody, from Italian, and lioness in Hebrew.
Aurora means dawn, from Latin, and is the name of the Roman goddess of sunrise.
Ava means life or bird, from Latin and Hebrew roots.
Avery means ruler of elves, from Old English, and works for boys and girls alike.
Camila means young ceremonial attendant, from Latin, and is hugely popular across Latin America.
Eleanor means shining light, from Old French and Greek roots.
Elizabeth means God is my oath, from Hebrew. One of the most enduring names in the English language.
Emily means rival or eager, from Latin. A top name in America for decades.
Gianna means God is gracious, from Italian, and is the feminine form of Giovanni.
Harper means harp player, from Old English. An occupational surname turned first name.
Hazel means the hazel tree, from Old English, and also describes the warm eye colour.
Luna means moon, from Latin. The name that began the celestial trend.
Nora means light or honour, from Irish and Latin roots.
Penelope means weaver, from Greek, and belongs to the faithful wife of Odysseus.
Scarlett means bright red cloth, from Old English, and became famous through literature.
Violet means the flower, from Latin. The most enduring of all the botanical names.
The 25 Most Popular Boy Names in the USA
The Official Top 10
1. Liam means resolute protector, from Irish, and is a short form of William. Number one in America for seven straight years.
2. Noah means rest or comfort, from Hebrew. Arguably the most internationally recognised boy name in the world.
3. Oliver means olive tree, a symbol of peace, from Latin and Norman French.
4. Theodore means gift of God, from Greek. The centrepiece of the vintage gentleman revival.
5. Henry means ruler of the home, from Germanic. Eight kings of England carried it.
6. James means supplanter, from Hebrew. Perhaps the most reliable classic in American naming.
7. Elijah means my God is Yahweh, from Hebrew. Biblical strength with a melodic sound.
8. Mateo means gift of God, from Hebrew through Spanish. Warm, global and rising for years.
9. William means resolute protector, from Germanic, and is the full form behind Liam.
10. Lucas means bringer of light, from Latin. Friendly, international and enduring.
Also Among America's Most Popular
Alexander means defender of the people, from Greek, and has a native form in nearly every European language.
Asher means happy or blessed, from Hebrew. A name that sounds like its meaning.
Benjamin means son of the right hand, from Hebrew. A permanent fixture in the American top twenty.
Daniel means God is my judge, from Hebrew, and appears in almost every Western country's rankings.
Ethan means strong or enduring, from Hebrew.
Grayson means son of the steward, from Old English. A surname name that became mainstream.
Jack means God is gracious, from English, originally a nickname for John.
Leo means lion, from Latin. Short, strong and popular across Europe and America at once.
Levi means joined or attached, from Hebrew. Ancient roots with a modern feel.
Luca means bringer of light, from Italian, and is the Italian form of Lucas.
Maverick means an independent thinker, from American English, originally a rancher's surname.
Michael means who is like God, from Hebrew. One of the most used names in American history.
Owen means young warrior or noble, from Welsh.
Samuel means God has heard, from Hebrew. Shortens naturally to Sam anywhere in the world.
Sebastian means venerable or revered, from Greek and Latin.
What the Data Tells Us
Meanings cluster around light, God and strength. Across both lists the same ideas repeat in different languages: light appears in Lucas, Eleanor, Nora and Aurora, divine gratitude in Theodore, Mateo, Eliana and Jack, and protection or strength in Liam, William, Ethan and Amelia.
The top of the chart barely moves. Olivia and Liam have held first place for seven consecutive years, and the top four boy names did not change at all last year. Naming fashion changes fast at the edges and very slowly at the summit.
Vintage names are the real trend. Theodore, Henry, Evelyn, Eleanor, Hazel and Violet all sound like names from a century ago, which is precisely why they feel fresh now. Naming follows a roughly hundred year cycle.
Nature and the sky are everywhere. Luna, Aurora, Hazel, Violet and Olivia all take their meaning from the natural world, a shift away from the purely traditional names that dominated earlier decades.
Two spellings can both win. Sophia and Sofia both sit in the girls' top ten, as do Lucas and Luca among boys, showing how much American naming now reflects Spanish, Italian and multilingual families.
How to Choose a Name From This List
Say the full name out loud. First name, middle name and surname together, several times. Rhythm decides more than meaning does.
Consider how common you want it to be. A top ten name means your child may share it with a classmate. Names lower in the rankings feel familiar without being everywhere.
Check the nicknames. Theodore becomes Theo or Teddy, Elizabeth becomes Liz, Beth or Eliza. You will not control which one sticks.
Look at the meaning, but do not be ruled by it. Almost nobody will know what a name means, yet it can be a lovely private reason for your choice.
Try it at three ages. A name should suit a toddler, a teenager and an adult in a professional setting equally well.
FAQ
What is the most popular baby name in the USA? Olivia for girls and Liam for boys, both holding first place for the seventh consecutive year according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the official baby name data come from? From Social Security card applications filed at birth, which makes the SSA the authoritative source for American naming statistics. It has published the list annually since 1997, with searchable data going back to 1880.
What are the fastest rising baby names in America? Klarity, Rynlee, Ailanny, Naylani and Madisson for girls, and Kasai, Akari, Eziah, Jasai and Neithan for boys. Kasai, meaning fire in Japanese and Swahili, jumped more than a thousand places in a single year.
Which baby name meanings are most common? Light, divine grace and strength dominate. Many of the most popular names in America carry one of those three meanings in Hebrew, Greek, Latin or Germanic roots.
Are traditional or modern names more popular in the USA? Traditional names dominate the top of the chart, while invented and modern spellings show the fastest growth further down the rankings.