Every year, parents who are expecting a baby check out the popular baby names list to find the one for their baby to be – or know which names to avoid if they don't want something that's too trendy. These popular baby name lists are curated from the Social Security Administration through the names filed for new babies born within the year.
The list often has many of the same names from years before – it takes a while for a name to make its way into the top 20 and they often stay for several years. These names are considered the "it" monikers in the United States, and they often come with sweet meanings and a strong vibe.
The top baby boy names for 2019 didn't stray too much from what we typically see with these baby lists. There is only one new baby name on this year's list that didn't make the top 20 in 2018 and one that was on the list that no longer made the cut.
This year's list is a good one, and we're counting down from 20 to the top baby name for 2019.
20: AIDEN
The baby boy name Aiden has been popular for several years, and although it's bumped down from spot 19 last year, it's been rising for a long time. According to BabyNameWizard, the name means "fiery one," and it's been a favorite choice for quite a long run.
19: JACK
Surprise! Jack is a new addition to the top 20 list for 2019, but the name itself has been around for a long time. Its meaning is "God is gracious," and its most popular year was in the 1920s. It had a dip in the middle before going back on an upward climb.
18: SEBASTIAN
Hearing the baby name Sebastian, it has a really pretty ring. In addition, it's elegant, and that's what makes it special. The name's meaning is "person from ancient city of Sebastia" which probably doesn't mean too much to many parents. It's unchanged in this spot from last year.
17: JACKSON
Jackson works for parents who love Jack but want something subtly more popular. This name literally means "son of Jack" so maybe it would be a cute twist to Jack Jr. for a parent who has the name Jack. We love the formal sound to this name or the fact that it's also a last name, which is one of our favorites.
16: LOGAN
Logan took a huge slide this year from last year. This year it landed at spot number 16, and last year it was sitting pretty at the 10th spot. It could be a great option for parents who love the name but prefer names that aren't in the top 10 list. Its meaning is "little hollow."
15: DANIEL
The baby name Daniel seems to be a strong one that has been around for a very long while. According to BabyNameWizard, it peeked in 1880s and has pretty much been in the top list for quite some time. The name means "God is my judge," which is likely a strong name for many parents.
14: MICHAEL
A top baby name list for boys likely won’t be complete without the name Michael. It's been popular for a really long time – it peaked in the 1960s but has been up ever since, really. Its meaning is "Who is like God," which is likely popular among parents who love strong-sounding names.
13: JACOB
This is another strong option that's been around the baby name game several thousand times before. The name Jacob means "seizing by the heel, supplanting," which honestly doesn’t mean a whole lot these days, but the name has been around since biblical times and has been popular since the 1990s, so it's obviously a good choice.
12: HENRY
Another name that's got that strong old school yet never dies out from being popular feel, Henry being on this list isn't surprising. The name is German and means "ruler of an enclosure." It's taken a big jump from spot 16 last year to 12 this year.
11: ALEXANDER
Alexander is one of the strongest baby names that exists, so it's not a surprise it's on this list. The name means "to defend, to help" and that's one of the best meanings for parents who want a name that stands the test of time. It can be shortened or left full – either way it's a wonderful choice.
10: ETHAN
Ethan has made a jump into the top 10 baby name list in 2019, where last year it sat at spot number 12, just outside the top spots. The name means "strength, firmness, long-lived," and it's hard to compete with those stand-up words to describe the qualities in a person.
9: MASON
Mason is a gender-neutral name but in this case, it's landed at the top 10 spot for baby boys in 2019. The name comes from mason workers, so the meaning isn't super exciting, but this short name sounds strong.
8: LUCAS
This is another shorter name if that's something parents are looking for (which can be a perk, especially if the last name is long). The name translates to "light." Lucas has held on to this eighth spot for a few years and seems comfortable there.
7: BENJAMIN
We love the name Benjamin, and one of the biggest reasons is the flexibility in using the full name or taking it down to just Ben. The name means "son of the right hand," which is a noble meaning for a sweet little boy. It's down one spot from number 6, where it had stayed for a few years.
6: JAMES
To our surprise, James has pretty much the identical baby name meaning to Jacob, so with that in mind, it's not surprising to see both of these names make the top baby list for boys for 2019. James is another classic name we hear often, and it doesn't seem like it's going anywhere.
5: ELIJAH
In 2018, Elijah had moved up one spot from eighth to seventh top baby boy name. For 2019, it's up another couple of spots, rounding out the top five names of the year. It's still rising in popularity, to it will be really interesting to see what happens to it in the next year. Will it hold in the top five or slip back?
4: WILLIAM
We're firm believers that the name William is going to be popular forever. It's such a strong, common, and classic name. Because it's paired with the meaning "will, determination" it's understandable why so many parents are choosing this name for their baby boy.
3: OLIVER
Oliver, which comes from the olive branch – an honest and kind gesture – has been in the top five for several years. The name has been hovering in the top 10 most popular list for a few years, but this is the highest it has landed, so its popularity is still on the rise.
2: NOAH
Back in 2016, Noah found itself at the top of the baby name list for boys, but it has been in the second spot since. We're guessing its popularity has something to do with the Netflix movie The Kissing Booth or maybe the meaning of "rest, comfort" that makes it a top contender for parents.
1: LIAM
Once again, Liam has landed in the top baby name spot for 2019. It shouldn't come as a surprise, given it's been at the top spot since 2017 and likely isn't going anywhere for a while. The name is strong, short, and has a very strong-sounding meaning of "resolute protector."
