For anyone who has a baby boy on the way and is in need of some baby-naming inspiration, or for anyone who's curious about how popular their baby name choice is with other parents, look no further: The Social Security office has just released its annual list of most popular baby names of the year! This is exciting news for parents who want to know which names have been hot this year and what names might trend for the next one.
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Want to know which names made the popular baby names list? We've got our readers covered.
According to Laura Wattenberg of BabyNameWizard.com, the big newcomer in the top 10 is Elijah, which bumped Alexander out of the top 10 for the first time in a decade. "That exchange highlights the increasingly smooth sound of today's boys' names, and the dominance of Old Testament names among tradition-minded parents, " she says. Pretty interesting, right? And no doubt there are plenty more names that show off the latest trends in the world of baby names, so keep on reading to find out!
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Read on to see what the hottest monikers were this year. Any guesses?
20. Joseph
From the Hebrew yōsēf, Joseph means "may he add, God shall add" — and it's been a top choice for baby boys for decades!
19. David
The definition of David is totally warm and fuzzy: From the Hebrew dāvīd, it means "beloved."
18. Logan
Irish name Logan is adorable, but the meaning is somewhat perplexing: "Dweller at a little hollow."
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17. Jackson
The meaning of this English name is a pretty easy one to figure out: "Son of Jack."
16. Aiden
The world welcomed fewer Aidens this year than last year, when it was number 13. This anglicized version of the Irish Aodhan means "little fiery one."
15. Matthew
The perfect name for your little angel, Matthew means "gift of God."
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14. Lucas
Lucas is a lovely name, even if no one is quite sure where it came from: It's thought to be derived from either the Latin name Lucius, which is from the root lux (light), or the Ecclesiastic Greek Loukas, a contraction of Loukanos (man from Lucania).
13. Daniel
More than just the name of an Elton John song, Daniel was saved from the lion by his faith (in Hebrew, this name means "God is my judge").
12. Oliver
Like Lucas, Oliver has two possible meanings: either "olive tree" from the Old French "Olivier" or "elf army" (of Germanic origin). (We like "elf army" for sure!)
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11. Alexander
Alexander is a "great" name — meaning "defender or helper of mankind" — but it's down from the number 8 spot last year!
10. Ethan
Ethan, a Latin name derived from the Hebrew ēthān, means "strength, firmness, long-lived."
9. Elijah
Elijah, derived from the Hebrew 'ēlīyāhū (Jehovah is God), climbed two spots up the list from last year, when it was number 11.
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8. Michael
Michael — from the Hebrew mīkhā’ē‘l, which means "Who is like God?" — is just a tiny bit more popular than last year, when it came in at number 9.
7. Jacob
Jacob was more popular last year (coming in at #4), but it's still a favorite. It comes from the Hebrew Yaakov, which means "seizing by the heel, supplanting."
6. Benjamin
Another Hebrew-derived name, Benjamin means "son of the right hand."
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5. James
Chances are you know at least one person named James (or Jamie, or Jimmy, or Jim). This is another derivitave of the Hebrew Yaakov (supplanting, seizing by the heel).
4. Mason
Down one spot from last year, Mason has a very down-to-earth origin: It comes from an English surname meaning "stoneworker."
3. William
Number 5 last year, William comes from the Old High German Willehelm, "composed from the elements willeo (will, determination) and helm (protection, helmet)."
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2. Liam
Always popular, the Irish form of William means "resolute protector" (sort of like a lot of the characters Liam Neeson plays!).
1. Noah
Taking first place for the second year in a row, this biblical name is "derived from the Hebrew nōach (rest, comfort)."
