These are 300 of the most-used baby names in the United States today, 150 for girls and 150 for boys, each with its meaning, where it comes from, how to say it and the nicknames that go with it. Every name is in the official US top 200 for 2025, so you have plenty of familiar choices beyond the top 10. We checked every meaning against Behind the Name, an etymology reference, and every rank against the US Social Security Administration (SSA). Where scholars are not sure what a name means, we say so instead of guessing.
Jump to: girl names · boy names · nicknames · how popular is popular? · how to choose · pronunciation · how we chose · questions · sources
Girls by rank: No. 1–54 · No. 55–118 · No. 119–190
Boys by rank: No. 1–51 · No. 52–107 · No. 108–178
Top 10 US baby names, 2025
Girls: Olivia, Charlotte, Emma, Amelia, Sophia, Mia, Isabella, Evelyn, Sofia, Eliana
Boys: Liam, Noah, Oliver, Theodore, Henry, James, Elijah, Mateo, William, Lucas
Source: US Social Security Administration, 2025 births, published May 2026. Olivia and Liam have been No. 1 for seven years in a row.
Want to shortlist? Our free Baby Name Finder lets you filter these names by girl or boy, first letter or meaning (try “light” or “gift”), save favourites on your phone and share a shortlist with your partner.
American girl names with meanings
Listed in order of 2025 popularity. The number is the name’s US rank for girls in 2025; “say” is a simple sound-it-out guide, with the stressed part in capitals. Tap “source” to read the full history of a name.
For scale: in 2025 the No. 1 girls’ name, Olivia, was given to 13,544 babies born in the US. Fashions do turn over: Emily was the top girls’ name from 1996 to 2007 and Isabella in 2009 and 2010, and both are still in the top 40.
| Name, rank and nicknames | Meaning and origin |
|---|---|
| Olivia | “olive” (from Latin oliva, or from the name Oliver). Latin, via English. Shakespeare used it in Twelfth Night. source |
| Charlotte | “man” (feminine pet form of Charles). French, from Germanic. source |
| Emma | “whole” or “great”. Germanic. source |
| Amelia | From Amalia, from a word meaning “unceasing, vigorous, brave”. Germanic. Pilot Amelia Earhart is a famous bearer. source |
| Sophia | “wisdom”. Greek. Sofia (#9) is the same name, counted separately by SSA. source |
| Mia | A pet form of Maria, whose meaning is uncertain (perhaps “beloved”); also Italian for “mine”. Latin / Scandinavian. source |
| Isabella | “my God is an oath” (a form of Elizabeth, via Isabel). Hebrew, via Spanish and Italian. source |
| Evelyn | Uncertain: an English surname from Aveline, whose root is of unknown meaning. English, from Germanic. Once a boy’s name; now almost always a girl’s. source |
| Eliana | “my God has answered” (Hebrew); also a Romance form of Éliane. Hebrew / Latin. Two separate origins share one spelling. source |
| Ava | A form of Eve, from Hebrew for “to breathe” or “to live”. Hebrew. Also a Persian name meaning “voice, sound”. source |
| Eleanor | Uncertain: possibly from Latin alia Aenor, “the other Aenor”. Occitan, via Old French. Eleanor of Aquitaine was a medieval queen of France and England. source |
| Violet | The purple flower. English, from Latin viola. source |
| Aurora | “dawn”. Latin. The Roman goddess of the morning. source |
| Harper | “harp player or harp maker”. English surname. Author Harper Lee wrote To Kill a Mockingbird. source |
| Elizabeth | “my God is an oath”. Hebrew, via Greek. Has more nicknames than almost any other name. source |
| Lily | The lily flower, a symbol of purity. English, from Latin lilium. source |
| Camila | From the Roman name Camillus, probably Etruscan, meaning unknown. Latin, via Spanish. source |
| Nora | “honour” (short form of Honora); also a short form of Eleanor. Latin / Irish. source |
| Hazel | The hazel tree, or the light brown colour. English. 18th in the US in 1897, faded, and is back at 21st in 2025. source |
| Penelope | Uncertain: probably from a Greek word for a kind of duck, or “threads” + “face”. Greek. The faithful wife of Odysseus in Homer’s Odyssey. source |
| Chloe | “green shoot” (new spring growth). Greek. source |
| Ellie | A pet form of Eleanor, Elizabeth and other names beginning with El. English. source |
| Lucy | “light” (English form of Lucia, from Lucius). Latin. source |
| Aria | “song, melody” (literally “air”). Italian. An aria is a solo song in an opera. source |
| Luna | “the moon”. Latin. The Roman goddess of the moon. source |
| Isla | From Islay, an island off the west coast of Scotland. Scottish. The s is silent. source |
| Ella | “other” (from a Germanic word), or a short form of Eleanor. Germanic / English. Singer Ella Fitzgerald is a famous bearer. source |
| Zoe | “life”. Greek. Zoey (#69) is the same name, counted separately. source |
| Scarlett | A surname for someone who made or sold scarlet cloth. English surname. The heroine of Gone with the Wind. source |
| Gianna | “God is gracious” (an Italian short form of Giovanna). Hebrew, via Italian. source |
| Emily | From the Roman family name Aemilius, from Latin for “rival”. Latin. The No. 1 US girls’ name from 1996 to 2007. source |
| Valentina | “strong, vigorous, healthy” (from Valentinus). Latin. Valentina Tereshkova was the first woman in space. source |
| Layla | “night”. Arabic. The heroine of the old love story Layla and Majnun. source |
| Avery | A surname from Norman forms of Alberich (“elf ruler”) or Alfred (“elf counsel”). English surname. Used for girls and boys. source |
| Grace | “grace” (from Latin gratia). English. A virtue name first used by the Puritans. source |
| Ivy | The climbing plant. English. source |
| Madison | “son of Matthew” or “son of Maud”, from an English surname. English. source |
| Abigail | “my father is joy”. Hebrew. source |
| Elena | Probably “torch” (a form of Helen). Greek. Also said eh-LAY-nuh. source |
| Mila | “gracious, dear”. Slavic. source |
| Willow | The willow tree. English. source |
| Emilia | “rival” (from the Roman family name Aemilius). Latin. source |
| Nova | “new”. Latin. source |
| Naomi | “my pleasantness”. Hebrew. Ruth’s mother-in-law in the Old Testament. source |
| Riley | “rye clearing” (an English place name), or from an Irish surname. English and Irish. source |
| Eloise | Probably from Germanic words for “healthy, whole” and “wide”. Germanic, via Old French. Meaning debated. source |
| Sadie | “lady, princess” (a pet form of Sarah). Hebrew. source |
| Stella | “star”. Latin. source |
| Josephine | “he will add” (feminine of Joseph). Hebrew, via French. Josie (#82) also ranks on its own. source |
| Victoria | “victory”. Latin. The Roman goddess of victory. source |
| Sophie | “wisdom” (the French form of Sophia). Greek, via French. source |
| Hannah | “favour, grace”. Hebrew. Reads the same backwards. source |
| Lillian | Probably a pet form of Elizabeth, and linked with the lily. English. Meaning debated. source |
| Adeline | “noble” (from Adelina). Germanic, via French. source |
| Leilani | “heavenly flowers” or “royal child”. Hawaiian. source |
| Iris | “rainbow”. Greek. Also a flower and the coloured part of the eye. source |
| Maya | Several origins: a form of Maia (Greek, “good mother”), Sanskrit “illusion, magic”, or Hebrew “water”. Greek / Sanskrit / Hebrew. Works across cultures, including Indian families. source |
| Clara | “clear, bright, famous”. Latin. Claire is the French form. source |
| Ruby | The red gemstone (from Latin for “red”). English. July’s birthstone. source |
| Alice | “nobleness, nobility” (via Adelaide). Germanic, via Old French. The heroine of Alice in Wonderland. source |
| Genesis | “birth, origin”. Greek. source |
| Claire | “clear, bright, famous” (the French form of Clara). Latin, via French. source |
| Eden | Possibly “pleasure, delight”, from the garden in the Bible. Hebrew. Meaning debated. source |
| Vivian | “alive”. Latin. source |
| Millie | A pet form of Mildred (“gentle strength”), Millicent and similar names. English. source |
| Emery | “ruler”, with an uncertain first part (a Norman form of Emmerich). Germanic, via Norman French. source |
| Daisy | The white flower, from Old English for “day’s eye”. English. source |
| Maeve | “intoxicating”, the name of a legendary Irish queen. Irish. source |
| Liliana | A Latin-style form of Lillian, linked with the lily. English. Meaning debated. source |
| Melody | “song” (the English word). Greek, via English. source |
| Madeline | “of Magdala”, a village in Galilee (the English form of Madeleine). Hebrew, via French. source |
| Josie | “he will add” (a pet form of Josephine). Hebrew, via English. source |
| Lucia | “light” (the feminine of Lucius). Latin. source |
| Addison | “son of Adam”, from an English surname. English. source |
| Audrey | “noble strength” (from Old English Æðelþryð). English. Actress Audrey Hepburn is a famous bearer. source |
| Maria | The Latin form of Mary; the meaning is debated (possibly “beloved” or “bitter”). Hebrew, via Latin. source |
| Autumn | The season. English. source |
| Natalie | “birthday”, meaning Christmas Day. Latin. source |
| Sarah | “lady, princess, noblewoman”. Hebrew. source |
| Lydia | “from Lydia”, a region of ancient Asia Minor. Greek. source |
| Sienna | “orange-red”, the colour of the clay of Siena in Italy. English, from Italian. source |
| Jade | The green precious stone. English, from Spanish. source |
| Caroline | “man” (a French feminine form of Charles). Germanic, via French. source |
| Quinn | From an Irish surname, from the name Conn, possibly “chief”. Irish. Meaning debated. source |
| Amara | “grace”. Igbo. source |
| Georgia | “farmer” (a feminine form of George). Greek. source |
| Juniper | The evergreen tree. English, from Latin. source |
| Aaliyah | “high, exalted” (the feminine of Aali). Arabic. source |
| Margot | “pearl” (a French short form of Marguerite, the French Margaret). Greek, via French. source |
| Allison | “noble type” (originally a medieval pet form of Alice). Germanic, via French. source |
| Gabriella | “God is my strong man” (a feminine form of Gabriel). Hebrew. source |
| Anna | “favour, grace” (a form of Hannah). Hebrew, via Greek and Latin. source |
| Athena | Meaning unknown; the Greek goddess of wisdom. Greek. source |
| Juliette | A French pet form of Julie, from the Roman family name Julius. Latin, via French. Meaning debated. source |
| Catalina | The Spanish form of Katherine; the meaning is debated (often linked with “pure”). Greek, via Spanish. source |
| Margaret | “pearl”. Greek, via Latin. source |
| Cora | “maiden” (from Kore, a name of the Greek goddess Persephone). Greek. source |
| Rose | The flower (originally a Germanic name from “fame” + “type”). English and Germanic. source |
| Eliza | “my God is an oath” (a short form of Elizabeth). Hebrew, via English. source |
| Brooklyn | From the New York borough, named after Breukelen in the Netherlands. English, from Dutch. source |
| Esther | Possibly “star” in Persian. Persian, via Hebrew. Meaning debated. source |
| Hallie | A pet form of Harriet, “home ruler”. English. source |
| Hadley | “heather field”, from an English surname. English. source |
| Emerson | “son of Emery”, from an English surname. English. source |
| Elsie | “my God is an oath” (a pet form of Elizabeth). Hebrew, via English and Scottish. source |
| Magnolia | The flowering tree, named after the botanist Pierre Magnol. English. source |
| Mary | The English form of Maria; the meaning is debated (possibly “beloved” or “bitter”). Hebrew, via Latin. source |
| Valerie | “to be strong” (from Valeria). Latin, via French. source |
| Ariana | “most holy” (a Portuguese form of Ariadne). Greek. source |
| Serenity | “calm, peaceful” (the English word). English, from Latin. source |
| Alina | A short form of Adelina, “noble”. Germanic. source |
| Julia | The feminine of the Roman family name Julius, possibly from Greek for “downy-bearded”. Latin. Meaning debated. source |
| Amira | “princess, commander” (the feminine of Amir). Arabic. source |
| Charlie | “man” (a pet form of Charles, also used for girls). English. source |
| Eva | “to breathe” or “to live” (a form of Eve). Hebrew. source |
| Savannah | The grassy plain. English, from Taíno. source |
| Bella | “beautiful” in Italian, and a short form of Isabella. Italian. source |
| Alana | A feminine form of Alan, whose meaning is uncertain (possibly “little rock”). Breton. source |
| Brielle | A short form of Gabrielle, “God is my strong man”. Hebrew, via French. source |
| Natalia | “birthday”, referring to Christmas (a form of Natalie). Latin. source |
| Remi | “oarsman” (from the Latin name Remigius). Latin, via French. source |
| Aubrey | “elf power” (an Old French form of Alberich). Germanic, via Old French. source |
| Evangeline | “good news”. Greek. source |
| Genevieve | Meaning debated, possibly “tribe woman”. Germanic or Celtic, via French. source |
| June | The month, named after the Roman goddess Juno. English. source |
| Samantha | Perhaps a feminine form of Samuel, “name of God”. English. Meaning debated. source |
| Summer | The season. English. source |
| Ember | A glowing coal (the English word). English. source |
| Piper | “flute player”, from an English surname. English. source |
| Oakley | “oak clearing”, from an English place name. English. source |
| Phoebe | “bright, pure”. Greek. source |
| Sage | The herb, or a wise person. English. source |
| Valeria | “to be strong” (the feminine of Valerius). Latin. source |
| Anastasia | “resurrection”. Greek. source |
| Ashley | “ash tree clearing”, from an English place name. English. source |
| Blair | “plain, field”, from a Scottish surname. Scottish Gaelic. source |
| Gemma | “gem, precious stone”. Italian. source |
| Rosalie | From Rosalia, from Latin rosa, “rose”. Latin, via French. source |
| Vivienne | “alive” (the French form of Viviana). Latin, via French. source |
| Ruth | Probably “female friend”. Hebrew. Meaning debated. source |
| Ariella | “lion of God” (a feminine form of Ariel). Hebrew. source |
| Callie | A pet form of Caroline (“man”) or of names beginning with Cal. English. source |
| Freya | “lady”. Old Norse. source |
| Isabel | “my God is an oath” (a medieval form of Elizabeth). Hebrew, via Occitan. source |
| Daphne | “laurel”. Greek. source |
| Annie | “favour, grace” (a pet form of Anne). Hebrew, via English. source |
| Katherine | Meaning debated; long linked with Greek katharos, “pure”. Greek. source |
| Lila | “night” (a form of Leila), or a short form of Delilah. Arabic. Meaning debated. source |
| Celeste | “heavenly”. Latin. source |
| Haven | A safe place (the English word). English. source |
Sofia (No. 9), Zoey (No. 69) and other spellings are counted by the SSA as separate names, so we list one spelling and mention the other.
American boy names with meanings
Many of the most popular boys’ names in America are centuries old. Hebrew names from the Bible (Noah, Elijah, Levi, Ezra, Asher) sit alongside English royal names (Henry, William, James) and Latin names (Lucas, Leo, Julian). Newer favourites tend to be English surnames, like Hudson, Wyatt and Wesley.
| Name, rank and nicknames | Meaning and origin |
|---|---|
| Liam | “will helmet” (desire + protection), as a short form of William. Irish. Began as the Irish short form of William. source |
| Noah | “rest, repose”. Hebrew. The builder of the Ark in the Old Testament. source |
| Oliver | Possibly “olive tree”, though the origin is debated. Latin, via Old French. Some scholars see an older Germanic name behind it. source |
| Theodore | “gift of god”. Greek. Theo alone ranked in the US top 100 in 2025 too. source |
| Henry | “home ruler”. Germanic. The name of eight English kings. source |
| James | From the same Hebrew name as Jacob, explained in the Bible as “holder of the heel”; another theory is “may God protect”. Hebrew, via Latin. Meaning debated. The name of two apostles. source |
| Elijah | “my God is Yahweh”. Hebrew. A prophet in the Old Testament. source |
| Mateo | “gift of Yahweh” (Spanish form of Matthew). Hebrew, via Spanish. Popular with Spanish-speaking and English-speaking families alike. source |
| William | “will helmet”: will, desire + helmet, protection. Germanic. One of the most-used English names for 900 years. source |
| Lucas | “from Lucania”, a region of southern Italy (Latin form of Luke). Greek, via Latin. source |
| Benjamin | “son of the right hand” or “son of the south”. Hebrew. The youngest son of Jacob in the Old Testament. source |
| Levi | Possibly “joined, attached”. Hebrew. Meaning debated. Third son of Jacob and Leah in the Old Testament. source |
| Elias | “my God is Yahweh” (a form of Elijah). Hebrew, via Greek. Climbed 12 places in 2025. source |
| Luca | “from Lucania” (Italian form of Lucas). Greek, via Italian. source |
| Jack | “Yahweh is gracious”, as a medieval pet form of John. English. Long used as a name in its own right. source |
| Sebastian | “from Sebaste”, a city whose name comes from Greek for “venerable”. Greek, via Latin. source |
| Hudson | “son of Hudde” (Hudde was a medieval pet form of Hugh, or possibly Richard). English surname. Explorer Henry Hudson gave his name to the Hudson River. source |
| Samuel | “name of God”, or possibly “God has heard”. Hebrew. source |
| Leo | “lion”. Latin. Also a star sign and the name of 14 popes. source |
| Ezra | “help”. Hebrew. A prophet and scribe in the Old Testament. source |
| Michael | “who is like God?”. Hebrew. An archangel in the Bible. source |
| Daniel | “God is my judge”. Hebrew. source |
| John | “Yahweh is gracious”. Hebrew, via Greek and Latin. source |
| Ethan | “solid, enduring, firm”. Hebrew. source |
| Julian | From the Roman family name Julius, possibly “downy-bearded” (youthful). Latin. Meaning debated. The meaning of Julius is not certain. source |
| Santiago | “Saint James”. Spanish. source |
| Cooper | “barrel maker”, from an English surname. English. source |
| Asher | “happy, blessed”. Hebrew. A son of Jacob in the Old Testament. source |
| Joseph | “he will add”. Hebrew. source |
| Alexander | “defending men”. Greek. source |
| Owen | Uncertain: from Welsh Owain (possibly from Eugene, “well born”) or Irish Eoghan (possibly “born from the yew tree”). Welsh / Irish. source |
| Matthew | “gift of Yahweh”. Hebrew, via Greek. One of the twelve apostles. source |
| Luke | Probably “from Lucania”, a region of southern Italy. Greek, via Latin. Some link it to the Latin name Lucius (“light”) instead. source |
| Thomas | “twin”. Aramaic, via Greek. The h is silent. source |
| David | “beloved”. Hebrew. The second king of Israel. source |
| Jackson | “son of Jack”, from an English surname. English. source |
| Gabriel | “God is my strong man”. Hebrew. An archangel and messenger of God. source |
| Wyatt | From Old English Wigheard: “battle” + “brave, hardy”. English surname. source |
| Mason | “stoneworker”. English, from Old French. source |
| Bennett | “blessed” (a medieval form of Benedict). Latin, via English. source |
| Dylan | From Welsh words meaning “to, toward” + “tide, flow”. Welsh. source |
| Roman | “Roman”. Latin. source |
| Miles | Meaning not known for certain. Germanic, via Norman French. source |
| Carter | “one who uses a cart”, from an English surname. English. source |
| Anthony | From the Roman family name Antonius, of unknown meaning. Latin. source |
| Isaac | “he will laugh, he will rejoice”. Hebrew. Son of Abraham and Sarah in the Old Testament. source |
| Charles | “man” (one theory says “army”). Germanic. source |
| Maverick | “independent” (the English word). English. source |
| Thiago | A form of Tiago, from Santiago, “Saint James”. Portuguese. source |
| Grayson | “son of the steward”, from an English surname. English. source |
| Wesley | “west meadow”. English surname. source |
| Logan | “little hollow”, from a Scottish place name. Scottish. source |
| Josiah | “Yahweh supports”. Hebrew. A king of Judah in the Old Testament. source |
| Weston | “west town”, from an English place name. English. source |
| Waylon | A form of Wayland, probably “craft, cunning”; the smith of Germanic legend. English. Meaning debated. source |
| Isaiah | “Yahweh is salvation”. Hebrew. source |
| Rowan | “little red one” (Irish Ruadhán); also the rowan tree. Irish. Used for girls and boys. source |
| Beau | “beautiful, handsome”. French. source |
| Ezekiel | “God will strengthen”. Hebrew. source |
| Aiden | “little fire” (a form of Aidan). Irish. source |
| Nathan | “he gave”. Hebrew. A prophet in the time of King David. source |
| Brooks | From an English surname for someone who lived near a brook. English. source |
| Nolan | From the Irish byname Nuallán, from a word meaning “famous” (also “loud”). Irish surname. source |
| Joshua | “Yahweh is salvation”. Hebrew. source |
| Angel | “messenger” (from the Greek word for an angel). Greek, via Latin. source |
| Christopher | “bearing Christ”. Greek. source |
| Lincoln | From the English city of Lincoln, from Celtic “lake” + Latin “colony”. English. source |
| Silas | Probably a short form of Silvanus, “of the woods”. Latin / Greek. A companion of Saint Paul. source |
| Andrew | “manly, masculine”. Greek. Patron saint of Scotland. source |
| Adrian | “from Hadria”, a Roman town. Latin. source |
| Atlas | Possibly “enduring”, the Titan who held up the sky. Greek. Meaning debated. source |
| Everett | “brave boar” (from the name Everard). English, from Germanic. source |
| Walker | A medieval cloth worker, from an English surname. English. source |
| Axel | “my father is peace” (a medieval Danish form of Absalom). Hebrew, via Danish. source |
| Aaron | Meaning unknown, probably Egyptian. Hebrew. source |
| August | “exalted, venerable” (from Augustus); also the month. Latin. source |
| Theo | “gift of God” (a short form of Theodore). Greek. source |
| Ian | “Yahweh is gracious” (a Scottish form of John). Scottish Gaelic. source |
| Adriel | “flock of God”. Hebrew. source |
| Luka | “from Lucania” (a form of Luke). Greek. source |
| Gael | From the word Gael, a speaker of Gaelic. Irish and Scottish. source |
| Arthur | Unknown; possibly from Celtic words for “bear” and “man” or “king”. Celtic (uncertain). Name of the legendary King Arthur. source |
| Jeremiah | “Yahweh will exalt”. Hebrew. source |
| Jonathan | “Yahweh has given”. Hebrew. source |
| Micah | “who is like Yahweh?” (a short form of Micaiah). Hebrew. source |
| Leonardo | “brave lion” (a form of Leonard). Germanic, via Italian. source |
| Robert | “bright fame”. Germanic. source |
| Kai | Meaning uncertain; possibly a Frisian pet form of several names. Frisian. source |
| Emiliano | From the Roman name Aemilianus, from Aemilius, “rival”. Latin, via Spanish. source |
| Jose | “he will add” (the Spanish form of Joseph). Hebrew, via Spanish. source |
| Christian | “a Christian”. Latin. source |
| Archer | “bowman, archer”. English, from Old French. source |
| Ryan | From an Irish surname; the meaning is uncertain (traditionally “little king”). Irish. source |
| Adam | “man”, possibly from a Hebrew word for “red” or “earth”. Hebrew. source |
| Parker | “keeper of the park”, from an English surname. English. source |
| Colton | “Cola’s town”, from an English place name. English. source |
| Eli | “ascension”. Hebrew. source |
| Amir | “commander, prince”. Arabic. source |
| Dominic | “of the Lord”. Latin. source |
| Vincent | “to conquer”. Latin. source |
| Xavier | “the new house”, from a Basque place name. Basque. source |
| Damian | “to tame”. Greek. source |
| Easton | “east town”, from an English place name. English. source |
| River | A flowing body of water (the English word). English. source |
| Nicholas | “victory of the people”. Greek. source |
| Austin | “great, venerable” (a medieval form of Augustine). Latin, via English. source |
| Jace | “healer” (a short form of Jason). English. source |
| Harrison | “son of Harry”. English surname. source |
| Lorenzo | “from Laurentum” (an Italian and Spanish form of Laurence). Latin. source |
| Callum | “dove” (a form of Calum, from Latin Columba). Scottish Gaelic. source |
| Milo | An old form of Miles, whose meaning is uncertain. Germanic. source |
| Graham | Probably “gravelly homestead”, from the place name Grantham. Scottish, from English. Meaning debated. source |
| Emmett | From an English surname, from a pet form of Emma, “whole, great”. English. source |
| Sawyer | “sawer of wood”, from an English surname. English. source |
| Giovanni | “Yahweh is gracious” (the Italian form of John). Hebrew, via Italian. source |
| Dean | From an English surname, “valley” or “dean” (a church official). English. source |
| George | “farmer, earthworker”. Greek. Saint George is the patron saint of England. source |
| Landon | “long hill”, from an English place name. English. source |
| Jonah | “dove”. Hebrew. source |
| Jasper | Perhaps “treasurer” (from Gaspar, one of the three wise men). Persian, via Latin. source |
| Hunter | “hunter”, from an English surname. English. source |
| Jordan | From the River Jordan, “descend” or “flow down”. Hebrew. source |
| Ryder | “mounted warrior” or “messenger”. English. source |
| Malachi | “my messenger” or “my angel”. Hebrew. source |
| Jameson | “son of James”, from an English surname. English. source |
| Leon | “lion”. Greek. source |
| Declan | Meaning unknown, probably starting with Old Irish dag, “good”. Irish. source |
| Nathaniel | “God has given” (from Nathanael). Hebrew. source |
| Beckett | From an English surname, “stream” or “beak”. English. Meaning debated. source |
| Zion | A hill in Jerusalem; also a name for heaven. Hebrew. source |
| Dawson | “son of David”, from an English surname. English. source |
| Luis | “famous battle” (the Spanish form of Louis). Germanic, via Spanish. source |
| Charlie | “man” (a pet form of Charles). English. source |
| Arlo | Uncertain; perhaps from Arlo Hill in Spenser’s poem The Faerie Queene. English. source |
| Carlos | “man” (the Spanish form of Charles). Germanic, via Spanish. source |
| Elliot | From an English surname that came from a medieval pet form of Elias. English, from Hebrew. source |
| Bryson | “son of Brice”, from an English surname. English. source |
| Evan | “Yahweh is gracious” (a Welsh form of John). Welsh. source |
| Emilio | From the Roman family name Aemilius, “rival”. Latin, via Italian and Spanish. source |
| Jude | “praised” (from Judah, via Judas). Hebrew. source |
| Juan | “Yahweh is gracious” (the Spanish form of John). Hebrew, via Spanish. source |
| Hayden | “hay valley” or “hay hill”, from an English place name. English. source |
| Ivan | “Yahweh is gracious” (a Slavic form of John). Hebrew, via Slavic. source |
| Jason | “healer”. Greek. source |
| Connor | Possibly “lover of hounds” (a form of Conor). Irish. Meaning debated. source |
| Matias | “gift of Yahweh” (a form of Matthias). Hebrew. source |
| Nico | “victory of the people” (a short form of Nicholas). Greek, via Italian. source |
| Felix | “lucky, successful”. Latin. source |
| Antonio | From the Roman family name Antonius, of unknown meaning. Latin, via Spanish and Italian. source |
| Judah | Probably “praised”. Hebrew. source |
Arthur (No. 87), Jonathan (No. 89) and Vincent (No. 107) climbed in 2025; George (No. 126) is included as a classic that is easy to spell and say everywhere.
American nicknames: from Lottie to Theo
In America, a nickname often does the everyday work while the full name goes on the birth certificate. A Theodore is “Theo” at home and “Teddy” to his grandparents; an Elizabeth can be Eliza, Libby, Lizzie or Beth, depending on her mood and age. Many parents now pick the full name partly for the nickname options it gives their child later.
Some nicknames have become names in their own right. In the 2025 SSA data, Ellie ranked No. 24, Sadie (traditionally a pet form of Sarah) No. 50, Millie No. 73, Josie No. 82 and Theo No. 82 for boys. Jack started out as a medieval pet form of John and is now No. 15. If you love the nickname, you can give the longer name for flexibility, or give the nickname on its own; both are common.
Classic nickname pairs
| Full name | Common nicknames |
|---|---|
| Elizabeth | Eliza, Libby, Lizzie, Beth, Betsy |
| Margaret | Maggie, Meg, Peggy |
| Charlotte | Charlie, Lottie |
| Josephine | Josie, Jo |
| Victoria | Tori, Vicky |
| Abigail | Abby, Abi |
| William | Will, Liam, Billy |
| Alexander | Alex, Xander, Alec |
| Benjamin | Ben, Benji, Benny |
| Theodore | Theo, Teddy |
| Robert | Rob, Robbie, Bobby |
| Henry | Hank, Harry |
Every nickname here and in the tables above is listed as a pet form or short form of that name by Behind the Name.
Tips for a nickname that grows up well
- Say the full name and the nickname to a toddler and to a 30-year-old. “Benji” is sweet at three; make sure the full name gives your child something more formal when they want it.
- Think about the nickname other people will choose. Classmates usually shorten a long name in the most obvious way, so check that the obvious short form is one you like.
- Check both languages if your family speaks more than one. A nickname that is harmless in English can sound like a different word in Hindi, Spanish or Tagalog. Say it out loud to the grandparents before you commit.
- Keep a “home name” if you like. Many Indian-American families use a pet name at home and the given name at school. That is a lovely tradition, but teach your child to recognise and write their official name before school starts.
Looking for nicknames by letter? See our nicknames A to Z, with separate lists for A, J and M.
How popular is “popular”? What the 2025 data says
The US rankings come from the Social Security Administration, which counts the first names on Social Security card applications for babies born in the 50 states and Washington, DC. Most parents apply for the card at the hospital, so the list covers the great majority of babies born in the country. The SSA publishes the top 1,000 names for girls and boys every year around Mother’s Day; the 2025 list came out on 8 May 2026, using records as of March 2026.
Five things the 2025 list tells you
- The top is very stable. Olivia and Liam have been No. 1 for seven straight years, and the top four boys’ names (Liam, Noah, Oliver, Theodore) did not move at all.
- Charlotte moved up to No. 2 for girls, ending Emma’s six-year run in second place. Ava, a top-10 name for years, slipped to No. 11, and Eliana entered the top 10 for the first time.
- Spelling splits a name’s true popularity. Sophia (No. 5, 12,561 girls) and Sofia (No. 9, 8,252 girls) are the same name. Added together, 20,813 girls got it, more than Olivia’s 13,544.
- Old names are coming back. Among the names on this page, Arthur rose 18 places, Clara 15, Elias and Valentina 12, Iris 11 and Lucy 9 compared with 2024.
- Some recent favourites are cooling. Luna fell from No. 13 to No. 27, Maya from No. 51 to No. 62 and Camila from No. 11 to No. 19. They are still very popular, just less of a “new” choice.
Rank changes calculated by Parent Oven from the SSA top 1,000 lists for 2024 and 2025.
A top-10 name is common, but probably less common than you expect. Liam, the No. 1 boys’ name, went to about 1.5% of the boys whose names made the 2025 top 1,000, and Olivia to about 1.1% of the girls. Still, if you want your child to be the only Olivia in class, look further down the list: names ranked 60 to 100, such as Iris, Clara, Audrey, Natalie, Silas or Arthur, are well known without being everywhere.
Popularity also differs by state. The SSA publishes separate top-100 lists for each state, so a name that is ordinary in one part of the country can be rarer in another. If you want local context, look up your state on the SSA’s Popular Names by State page.
How to choose a baby name: a practical checklist
There is no wrong way to choose a name, but parents who are happiest with their choice usually tested it in real life before the birth. Work through these together:
- Say the full name out loud, first name, middle name and surname together. Listen for awkward rhymes or a run of the same sound (Liam Lee Lyons).
- Write the initials. Check that the initials, and the first name plus surname initial, do not spell anything you would not want on a backpack.
- Shout it across a park. Two-syllable names with a clear vowel (Leo, Nora, Ezra) carry well; very long names tend to get shortened anyway.
- Spell it once over the phone. If you need to spell it every time, decide whether you are happy for your child to do that for life. Classic spellings, like the ones on this page, save a lot of repetition.
- Look up the meaning in a proper source. Many websites copy meanings from each other. Some popular names have surprising literal meanings (Thomas means “twin”), so it is worth knowing before a grandparent asks.
- Check the popularity, then decide how much it matters. Some parents want a name everyone knows; others want something less common. Both are fine. Just choose knowingly.
- Think about family and heritage. A middle name is a good place for a grandparent’s name, a name from your family’s language, or a name you love but feel is too unusual as a first name.
- Test it in both languages your family speaks. Say the name to relatives who speak Hindi, Spanish, Tagalog or another language at home, and ask honestly how it sounds to them.
- Sleep on it. Live with your top two names for a week or two, using them when you talk about the baby. One usually starts to feel right.
Choosing between American and Indian names? Many families pick a name that works in both worlds, such as Maya, which has a Sanskrit meaning (“illusion, magic”) as well as Greek and Hebrew roots. For Sanskrit, Punjabi and Arabic names used in India, see our Indian baby names with meanings, and for names from many cultures, baby names from around the world.
How to say these names
The “say” guide in each table is a simple respelling for English speakers, with the stressed part in capitals. It follows the usual American pronunciation recorded by Behind the Name. Some names are said in more than one way, and families are always right about their own name.
- Isla is EYE-luh. The s is silent, as in the word “island”.
- Thomas starts with a plain T: TOM-us. The h is silent.
- Chloe and Zoe have two syllables: KLOH-ee, ZOH-ee.
- Naomi is nay-OH-mee.
- Elena is EL-uh-nuh in American English; in Spanish and Italian it is eh-LEH-nah.
- Eliana is el-ee-AH-nuh or el-ee-AN-uh.
- Mateo is mah-TAY-oh, the Spanish way; Luca is LOO-kuh.
- Levi is LEE-vy, with a long “eye” sound at the end.
- Penelope has four syllables: puh-NEL-uh-pee.
Teaching your child to say and write their own name is one of the first big reading wins. When they are ready, print a free name practice sheet with our name tracing worksheet maker.
How we chose these names
- Popular and in real use. Every name is in the SSA’s 2025 top 200. The tables run from No. 1 down to No. 190 for girls and No. 178 for boys.
- One spelling per name. Where two spellings are both common (Sophia and Sofia), we list one and mention the other.
- Meanings checked, not copied. Each meaning is summarised from the main Behind the Name entry for that name (and the root name it comes from). Where the meaning is unknown or disputed, as with Arthur, Evelyn, Eleanor, Owen and Camila, we say so.
- Nicknames checked too. Every nickname listed is recorded by Behind the Name as a pet form or short form of that name.
Questions about American baby names
What is the most popular baby name in the US?
For babies born in 2025, the most popular names were Olivia for girls and Liam for boys, according to the US Social Security Administration. It is the seventh year in a row that both have been No. 1.
Where do US baby name rankings come from?
From the Social Security Administration, which counts the first names on Social Security card applications for babies born in the 50 states and Washington, DC. It publishes the top 1,000 names for girls and boys every year in May, plus lists for each state.
Why are Sophia and Sofia ranked separately?
The SSA counts every spelling as a separate name. Sophia was No. 5 and Sofia No. 9 for girls in 2025. Added together, they were given to more girls than Olivia.
Are the name meanings on this page reliable?
Each meaning is a short summary of the etymology given by Behind the Name, which traces names back to their original languages and cites its sources. When experts disagree or the meaning is unknown, we say so instead of printing a guess.
When will the 2026 baby names list come out?
The SSA usually publishes the new list in early May, just before Mother’s Day. The 2025 list came out on 8 May 2026, so the 2026 list is expected around May 2027.
Should I avoid a top 10 name?
Not necessarily. Even Liam, the No. 1 boys’ name in 2025, went to only about 1.5% of the boys whose names made the top 1,000. If you would rather your child did not share a name with classmates, consider names ranked from about 60 to 200, which are familiar but less common.
Can I give my baby a nickname as their full name?
Many families do. In 2025 Ellie, Sadie, Millie and Josie were all top 100 girls’ names in their own right, and Theo was in the top 100 for boys.
How can I see if a name is getting more or less popular?
Use the Popularity of a Name search on the SSA baby names website. It shows the rank of any name for each year back to 1880.
Sources
- US Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names (top 1,000 names for 2025 and 2024, retrieved 1 November 2026). Used for every rank and birth count.
- SSA press release, 8 May 2026: Olivia and Liam Top America’s Most Popular Baby Names for the Seventh Straight Year. Used for the 2025 top 10, Charlotte, Ava and Eliana, and the fastest-rising names.
- SSA: Background information for popular names. Used for how the data are collected and why spellings are counted separately.
- Behind the Name (main entries for each name and its root name, read 1 November 2026). Used for every meaning, origin, American pronunciation and nickname. Each name in the tables links to its entry.
A note on meanings. Name meanings are a guide to a name’s history, not a promise about a child. Many names have more than one possible origin, and meanings can differ between languages, faiths and families. We have summarised the most reliable explanation we could find and marked names whose meaning is uncertain. If a meaning matters for religious or family reasons, please check it with your own trusted source. Rankings are for the United States only and change every year. Last checked: 1 November 2026.
More name ideas: British baby names with meanings · Indian baby names with meanings · baby names from around the world · nicknames A to Z · Baby Name Finder