The Social Security Administration keeps track of the most popular baby names by decade, and sometimes looking at previous decades can provide a lot of inspiration for moms-to-be in search of the perfect name for their little ones. For families that are expecting a boy, there are tons of classic options that were really popular in the 2000s — and are still pretty great options today. Many of the top names from the previous decade are still commonly used and they may be exactly what the new parents are looking for.
One common theme of the top names from the 2000s is that many of them were biblical names, so for families who are particularly spiritual, that may be especially meaningful. Many of these names are also easy to spell and pronounce because of their level of popularity, so parents might enjoy that aspect as well. Names such as Michael, Jacob, Matthew, Daniel, and more are all traditional boy names that are strong and handsome. Parents loved them throughout the 2000s and still love them today. There are also tons of famous namesakes for each of these names — just think about the number of Christophers in Hollywood alone. So for moms who want a boy name that is fairly common, but nonetheless special, the 2000s can provide a lot of great ideas. Here are the top 20 baby boy names from the peak of the new millennium.
JACOB
The name Jacob is ranked as the number one most popular name from the 2000s. Jacob is a biblical name and it is still used often today.
MICHAEL
Michael is another biblical name. There are a some famous Michaels in history, including Michael Jackson and Michael Jordan.
JOSHUA
The third most popular name of the 2000s was Joshua. Clearly there was a trend of biblical names during that time because this is another one.
MATTHEW
Matthew is of Hebrew origin and is another name that is still common. Celebrities with this name include actors Matthew Perry (from the hit show Friends) and Matthew McConaughey.
DANIEL
Daniel is yet another Hebrew name. Some famous men with this name include Daniel Craig and Daniel Radcliffe, who both starred in popular movie franchises during the 2000s.
CHRISTOPHER
The sixth most popular name, Christopher, is of Greek origin. Christopher, or Chris, is a common name but the nonetheless cute! There are tons of famous men named Chris (and many of them happen to be superheroes).
ANDREW
Following the trend of biblical names, Andrew was the seventh most popular name of the 2000s. This name is also Greek and still pretty popular today.
ETHAN
The name Ethan didn't gain popularity until around 2005. Ethan means "strength, firmness, long-lived." It was also the name of the love interest in the hit Disney show Lizzie McGuire, which aired from 2001-2004.
JOSEPH
The name Jospeh is a classic, and has been commonly used since the 1910s. The name is of Hebrew origin and means "God shall add."
WILLIAM
According to Baby Name Wizard, "William is the most popular name introduced to England by the Normans." So it only make sense that as Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, gained more fame, and his name continued to be an influence — even in the US.
ANTHONY
Anthony is still a great name for a baby boy today. The name means “priceless” and “of inestimable worth." So precious!
DAVID
David is a Hebrew name that means "beloved." Another classic biblical name that still makes a great choice for a little man.
ALEXANDER
In Greek the meaning of the name Alexander is "defender of men." It's a strong and handsome name. And the nickname Alex is great as well!
NICHOLAS
Nicholas is another Greek name. It means "people's victory." The name is also associated with Saint Nicholas, a fourth-century bishop regarded as the patron saint of children and sailors (the inspiration for Santa Claus).
RYAN
Ryan is an Irish name meaning "little king." It was the 15th most popular name in the 2000s, which is probably thanks to actors like Ryan Gosling, Ryan Reynolds, and Ryan Phillippe.
TYLER
The name Tyler originated as an occupational name for a tile or brick maker or layer. It gained a lot of popularity in the '90s and '00s and is still common today.
JAMES
James is another classic. The name is derived from the Hebrew name Jacob and it means "supplanter."
JOHN
The 18th name on the list, John, is the most enduring of the biblical names and remains one of the most popular names in the US, according to BNW.
JONATHAN
And Jonathan, yet another biblical name, didn't peak in popularity until the '80s. However it has remained popular since then.
NOAH
Noah, the 20th most popular name in the 2000s, is a Hebrew name meaning "rest" and "comfort." Following the trend of biblical names, most are familiar with the story of Noah's ark.
