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. 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, 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鈥攆or example, were encouraged to name their children after early church figures, , 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.
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#50. Hudson (for boys)
- Babies born in 2019: 6,462 (1.2% decrease from 2018)
The name Hudson translates to 鈥渟on of Hudd,鈥 Hudd being a medieval nickname for both Richard and Hugh. Hudson just barely made the cutoff in the list of America鈥檚 top , but the next year it experienced a massive jump in popularity and has mostly 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 . Its origin is Latin and is a form of the name "Belle,鈥 meaning beauty.
#49. Ezra (for boys)
- Babies born in 2019: 6,489 (8.2% increase from 2018)
The Hebrew name Ezra, translating to 鈥渉elp,鈥 has continued to 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鈥檚 author Ezra Jack Keats who published 鈥淭he Snowy Day鈥 in 1962 to Ezra Fitz in the young adult novel series (and consequent hit TV show) 鈥淧retty Little Liars,鈥 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 the time of Shakespeare and means "noble strength.鈥 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 .
#48. Joshua (for boys)
- Babies born in 2019: 6,574 (10.7% decrease from 2018)
Modern-day Joshuas in the Bible's Old Testament. Its common nickname, Josh, also has that date back to the Old West.
#48. Lucy (for girls)
- Babies born in 2019: 4,444 (2.1% increase from 2018)
The name fairly steadily since 1978 when it ranked #588 in America鈥攖he name did see quite a bit of love in the first half of the 20th century, but 2019 proved to be Lucy鈥檚 peak thus far. The name is engrained in the arts and entertainment world from the classic TV show 鈥淚 Love Lucy鈥 to the Beatles鈥 song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds." One potential link to the name鈥檚 recent climb is actress Lucy Hale from 鈥淧retty Little Liars.鈥 The first year the TV show was on the air in 2010 the name shot up 26 spots in SSA鈥檚 ranking.
#47. Thomas (for boys)
- Babies born in 2019: 6,612 (2.5% decrease from 2018)
In Aramaic, Thomas means 鈥渢win.鈥 The name has biblical ties, too. In the New Testament, it's Thomas the apostle who doubted the return of Jesus, inspiring the term 鈥渄oubting Thomas.鈥
#47. Addison (for girls)
- Babies born in 2019: 4,473 (14.0% decrease from 2018)
Addison is English in origin and which in Hebrew means earth. It was mildly popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but it in 2007. That is the year that the character Addison Montgomery-Shepherd was introduced in the hit television show "Grey鈥檚 Anatomy,鈥 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 鈥渕anly.鈥 It's often shortened to Andy or Drew, both of which also made it to the
#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 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 in the U.S. and is now the most popular it鈥檚 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 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 over time; it was very popular from the 1920s to the 1940s, but took a nosedive after 1960. It wasn鈥檛 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 鈥渙ne who carries Christ.鈥 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. 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.鈥 However, in Gaelic, it means "the light of the sun.鈥
#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 鈥.鈥 Jaxon 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 鈥2011 just so happens to be the year audiences were introduced to Emilia Clarke鈥檚 portrayal of Daenerys Targaryen on HBO鈥檚 鈥淕ame of Thrones.鈥 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 in 2012, coming in at #902 on SSA鈥檚 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 鈥檔鈥 roll duo The Everly Brothers and another more recent folk duo called Everly that was active from 2008 to 2012鈥攐ne of the members was Bethany Joy Lenz, who had a role on the popular teen drama 鈥淥ne Tree Hill鈥 (2003鈥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, Lincoln now holds its own as a popular first name. The name has Celtic and English origins, and means 鈥渓akeside colony.鈥
#41. Natalie (for girls)
- Babies born in 2019: 4,782 (6.1% decrease from 2018)
The name, especially in the Russian language. In Spanish, Natalie is derived from the word "natalis," which means birthday. The name has been 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鈥攁s well as many famous popes, 13 of them to be exact. Other famous bearers of the name include Russian author Leo Tolstoy (of 鈥淲ar and Peace鈥 fame) and famous actor Leo (short for Leonardo) DiCaprio ().
#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 , shortly after 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 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鈥 play, "A Streetcar Named Desire.鈥
#38. Anthony (for boys)
- Babies born in 2019: 7,669 (4.2% decrease from 2018)
The name Anthony, said to mean "," 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, When the name first came about, Hellenized Jews took the name as a translation of "Eve.鈥 As time went on, it became a more Christian name, and had 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.鈥 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)
that means "innocence,鈥 "beauty,鈥 and "purity.鈥 It is often a 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, 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 鈥渢hankful,鈥 was given to 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 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.鈥 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 . It鈥檚 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. 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 .鈥 It also has biblical ties鈥攖he third book in the New Testament is the Book of Luke鈥攁s well as pop culture connections. The original 鈥淪tar Wars鈥 film, with lead character Luke Skywalker, was released in 1977, just three years before 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. The American and biblical meanings show Hannah means "gracious,鈥 "merciful,鈥 and "willingly to give.鈥 In Hebrew and English, Hannah is the name of Samuel the prophet and means "favor of grace.鈥 It was 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.鈥 It's been one of the top 100 boy names in the United States since 2000,.
#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 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 . 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.鈥 It also is derived from the Scottish name Reilly. The name 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 鈥渓ittle warrior.鈥 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鈥檚 recent popularity surge.
#29. Nora (for girls)
- Babies born in 2019: 5,899 (1.7% increase from 2018)
Nora has been incredibly, but is Latin in origin. It is commonly used as a nickname for Eleanor and means "torch鈥 or "honor.鈥 It was, 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 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鈥 or "favor.鈥 The name was dormant for most of the 20th century, but 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 鈥渂eloved鈥 or 鈥渦ncle.鈥 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, which is derived from the name Helen. Eleanor, in the English language, means "shining one鈥 or "bright one,鈥 and in German, it means "alien鈥 or "foreign.鈥 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 for decades: The name means 鈥済ift of God.鈥
#26. Madison (for girls)
- Babies born in 2019: 6,269 (10.9% decrease from 2018)
Madison is of German and English descent and 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 鈥,鈥 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 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, 鈥渕ay God give increase.鈥 The name has been consistently used in the United States for decades, and is the 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; 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.鈥 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 of the past century.
#23. Layla (for girls)
- Babies born in 2019: 6,478 (0.2% increase from 2018)
Layla means "night鈥 and "dark beauty,鈥 and has a. Layla didn鈥檛 rise to popularity until 2012, when over 6,000 baby girls .
#22. Samuel (for boys)
- Babies born in 2019: 9,237 (5.1% decrease from 2018)
Samuel was ranked as one of , coming in at #45. The name, which,鈥 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 , 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 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 鈥測oung warrior鈥 and 鈥渘oble.鈥 Well-known Owens of pop culture include actor Owen Wilson, the title character in John Irving's 鈥,鈥 and more recently, of the 鈥淛urassic World鈥 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 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 鈥渇iery鈥 meaning is consistent with the name's burst into popularity. Between 1995 and 2010, it in the top 1,000 list, finally peaking at #9 in 2010 and 2011, ultimately placing as the .
#20. Aria (for girls)
- Babies born in 2019: 7,072 (4.4% decrease from 2018)
Aria is of Italian heritage and means ".鈥 Some may also consider it a derivation of the Greek name Ariana, which means "very holy.鈥 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鈥2017), as well as Arya Stark, a major character on HBO's "Game of Thrones" (2011鈥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 . Few male names rival it in long-term popularity. It was so common in the Middle Ages, in fact, that it was a.鈥
#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 is "pleasant鈥 or "dear.鈥 Other meanings are "favor鈥 and "grace.鈥 While Mila is most popular in Northern Europe, the popularity in the United States 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)
that means "elf,鈥 and initially was a boy鈥檚 name. The name was mildly popular in the mid-20th century, but it wasn鈥檛 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 鈥渟on of Jack鈥), 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 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 . The name has Scottish origins and
#16. Luna (for girls)
- Babies born in 2019: 7,755 (12.4% increase from 2018)
Luna translates literally as "moon,鈥 and has ever since J.K Rowling introduced her "Harry Potter" character, Luna Lovegood. Another famous Luna is Chrissy Teigen and John Legend鈥檚 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 鈥淕od is my judge.鈥 The name has been four times鈥攊n 1985, 1990, 2007, and 2008.
#15. Camila (for girls)
- Babies born in 2019: 7,809 (4.5% increase from 2018)
Camila is an Its recent rise in popularity started in 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)
in the United States 44 times in the past century, though it's currently #12. The name is Hebrew for 鈥渨ho is like God?鈥
#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.鈥 It means "鈥 in Hebrew. It also can mean "my God is my abundance, my God is my vow.鈥 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 鈥渟upplanter,鈥 someone who takes the place of someone else. The name, which has ties to the Old Testament, has been popular for decades, .
#13. Ella (for girls)
- Babies born in 2019: 8,079 (0.3% increase from 2018)
Ella is a in other languages. In French it means "little cinders,鈥 which can refer to the origin of Cinderella. In Gothic, Ella means "truly lively鈥 and in Greek, it means "shining, bright one.鈥 It has remained 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 鈥渆state ruler,鈥 in the early 1900s, when it was the of the decade. The name also ; 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.鈥 It originally began as the name "Emil,鈥 but later the last letter was added. Emily has always been popular, but it wasn鈥檛 until . 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 鈥淎lexander the Great鈥 can also be applied to the popular name. The ancient Greek name, shared by a king and military conqueror, means
#11. Abigail (for girls)
- Babies born in 2019: 9,106 (7.0% decrease from 2018)
As a traditional Hebrew name, Abigail means It also can be considered a biblical name, because it was King David鈥檚 wife鈥檚 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 . The name has Hebrew origins, and means 鈥渟trong鈥 and 鈥渇irm.鈥 Well-known modern-day Ethans include actor Ethan Hawke, as well as Ethan Hunt, the protagonist in the 鈥淢ission Impossible鈥 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, and it wasn鈥檛 until mid-2010s that it rose to the top again. Evelyn has origins in French, Hebrew, and Celtic and means "lively,鈥 "life,鈥 and "pleasant.鈥
#9. Mason (for boys)
- Babies born in 2019: 11,408 (8.3% decrease from 2018)
On top of being a name that's 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.
#9. Harper (for girls)
- Babies born in 2019: 10,442 (1.3% decrease from 2018)
Harper began as a boy鈥檚 name, and while it still remains unisex, it is more popular now as a girl鈥檚 name. It is an English, Scottish, and Irish 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 鈥,鈥 has been steadily growing in popularity since the 1960s. The name entered the top 100 for the first time in 1980, shortly after 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鈥擨sraeli, Scandinavian, Latin, Italian, and American. The name's most common meanings are "wished for child鈥 or "rebellion.鈥 In Israeli, the name is short for Michal and in Italian, it鈥檚 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 in the past century, securing it a spot as the #42 most popular boy's name. The name means 鈥渟on of my right hand,鈥 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鈥檛 until 2006 that Amelia started to gain popularity. It has Latin roots and is said to be a; 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 , with nearly 4.8 million boys and men sharing it. It means 鈥渟upplanter,鈥 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 , which means "free man.鈥 Charlotte鈥檚 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 鈥淵ahweh is God.鈥
#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.鈥 It has been one of the most popular and used girl鈥檚 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 . The name, which 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 鈥淏rad鈥 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鈥 in Greek. 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 鈥渙live tree.鈥 The name , 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.鈥 In Latin, it can also be translated to "bird like.鈥 Ava often has been a 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 鈥渞est,鈥 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 played by Ryan Gosling. The film was released in 2004, shortly before the name for the first time.
#2. Emma (for girls)
- Babies born in 2019: 17,102 (8.5% decrease from 2018)
The was Emma. It鈥檚 an English name, taken from the German word for "whole鈥 or "universal.鈥 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 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 . Baby boys named Liam, 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鈥 and is the . It has been a favorite baby name for a few years, finally became #1 in 2016, and has remained a top name.