The Social Security Administration tracks and releases baby naming data and has since 1865. Every year, we wait eagerly for the latest trends in naming. The SSA has finally released its findings for 2019! And, we can report, that Liam and Noah remain in the top two spots for boys, while Oliver rose from Number 5 to Number 3, and William dropped to Number 4. Newcomer to the Top 5 for boys in Elijah is up two spots from 2018.
In 2019, Ethan returned to the Top 10 for boys, superseding Logan, which now ranks at Number 16. So, there’s a little bit of shakeup with these baby names for boys, but there were no huge surprises or upsets. We realize we’re writing about this like a horserace or play-by-play. Please forgive! It’s just like the Superbowl for any outlet who analyzes baby names and trends. So, let’s take a look at the most popular names for boys in the US from 2019 to get a better sense of how parents are moving and shaking. Here are the official top 25 baby boy names of 2019.
25. Levi
Levi, brighter and more dynamic than most biblical names, with its up vowel ending, combines Old Testament gravitas with the casual style of your favorite pair of blue jeans. Levi is a name with Hebrew origins that means “joined” or “attached.” Celebrities like Matthew McConaughey, Sheryl Crow, and Sara Gilbert all chose this name for their sons.
24. Joseph
Joseph evolved from the Hebrew name Yosef, which was derived from the verb yasaf, meaning “to increase.” Of all the classic names, American parents turn to Joseph again and again. Joe and Joey are common nicknames and chances are, you’ve probably met one or two of them.
23. Matthew
Matthew is the English derivative of Matthaios, the Greek form of the Hebrew Mattiyahu, composed of mattan, meaning “gift” and yah, in reference to “God.” The name peaked in the 1980s and 90s with it reaching the top 3. The name clearly has staying power and continues to be a favorite today.
22. Samuel
Samuel has long been a popular biblical classic and is still a highly popular choice for boys. Its continued use is somewhat driven by the likability of the friendly nickname Sam. The name has Hebrew origins and means “told by God.” Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck, Jack Black, and Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber all have sons with this handsome name.
21. Owen
We finally get to a name with a different origin, Owen has Welsh roots and means “young warrior” or “well-born.” This name barely made the popularity list in the 1980s but has slowly climbed the charts over the last two decades.
20. Aiden
The attractive name, Aiden has Irish origins and means “little and fiery.” It is related to the Celtic god of sun and fire. For Christian, the name has special meaning in that it belonged to St. Aidan a famous Irish saint who spread kindness and Christianity across the land.
19. Jack
Jack is a derivative of John that began in medieval England. The name went from John to Johnkin to Jankin to Jackin to Jack. The name was so prevalent in the Middle Ages that Jack became a generic term for a man. This English name means “God is gracious.”
18. Sebastian
Sebastian is derived from the Greek Sebastianos, meaning “from Sebastia.” Sebastia was a city in Asia Minor in modern-day Sivas, Turkey. The name isn’t just popular in the states, you’ll also find it high on the charts in Austria, Denmark, Romania, Australia, and Chile.
17. Jackson
Jackson is an “it-name” for many celebrity parents. Spike Lee, Poppy Montgomery, Carson Daly, Maria Bello, Natalie Maines, Scott Wolf, Maya Rudolph, and Katey Sagal all chose the name for their sons. The name has English origins and means exactly what you think it does: “son of Jack.”
16. Logan
Logan originated as a Scottish surname which was derived from a place of that name in Ayrshire. The place-name came from lagan, a Scottish Gaelic diminutive of lag, meaning “hollow.” The name peaked in 2017 when it made the top 5. It’s fallen slightly, but parents are still loving this beautiful name.
15. Daniel
Daniel continues its reign. It’s been in the top 15 for boys since 1972. There are more than 10,000 Daniels named each year! The name has Hebrew origins and means “God is my judge.” This is another name with international appeal and you’ll find it everywhere from Israel to Spain.
14. Michael
Michael was derived from the name Mikha’el, which comes from the rhetorical question mī kā’ēl, meaning “who is like God?” in Hebrew. Michael was the number 1 name for boys for nearly five decades in the US. It’s fallen a bit in popularity but still remains a favorite for a diverse array of families.
13. Jacob
Jacob was the most popular name for boys in the US from 1999-2013. It’s now the second most popular name for boys that starts with “J.” This name has Hebrew origins and means “supplanter.”
12. Henry
Henry is the English form of the German name Heimrich which means “estate ruler.” There are tons of celebrities who have chosen this name from Julia Roberts to Minnie Driver to Heidi Klum to Colin Farrell. The storied name has belonged to kings, novelists, and titans of industry. An excellent choice, indeed.
11. Alexander
Alexander is a name with Greek origins that means “defender of man.” Alexander has been in the Top 25 since 1991. The name also lends itself to adorable nicknames like Xander, Xan, Alex, Lex, and Lexi. In Russia and Slavic countries, Sasha is the preferred form.
10. Ethan
Ethan derives from the Hebrew name Eitan. It means “strong” or “firm.” The name is not only popular in the US, it enjoys favor all around the UK. This name peaked in the US in 2012, but it is, indeed, still going strong.
9. Mason
For decades, Jason was the hot ticket. Now, Mason has taken over that mantle and has remained in the top 10 since 2011. This English occupational name means “worker in stone.” While the name is most popular for boys, it’s becoming a popular choice for girls. We think Mason is an excellent gender-neutral name.
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8. Lucas
Lucas is the Latin derivation of the Greek name Loukas. The meaning of the name references Lucania, an ancient region in Southern Italy. The name has outpaced Luke, which once was a more popular choice. However, this “L” name is not the most popular one to top the charts.
7. Benjamin
Benjamin is a biblical name that has enjoyed widespread favor for decades and is appealing enough for it to break into the top 10 for the first time ever in 2015. The name has Hebrew origins and means “son of the right hand.”
6. James
James is an English form of the Hebrew favorite, Jacob. The name, like Jacob, means “supplanter.” James, which reentered the Top 5 in 2016, for the first time since 1980, has long been a popular choice with mass appeal.
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5. Elijah
Yet another name with Hebrew roots, Elijah means “Yahweh is God.” You’ll find Elijah figures in the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim religions. The name had fallen out of favor until the mid-70s when it had a resurgence after Cher chose the name for her child in 1976.
4. William
William is the English form of the German name, Wilhelm. The name means “resolute protector.” The name found its way to English shores by way of William the Conqueror. It’s been the most popular name to start with “W” since records began in the mid-nineteenth century.
3. Oliver
Energetic and attractive, Oliver has come to dominate the popularity charts. The name only entered the top 100 in the US in 2009, but it’s had a meteoric rise since then. The name has Latin origins, and of course, means “olive tree.” The name isn’t only surging in the US, it’s also enjoying favor across Scandinavia.
2. Noah
Noah is a beloved name with Hebrew origins that means “rest” or “wandering.” In 2009, Noah made it into the Top 10 for the first time in US history. It’s been in the top 3 since 2013. The name left the old testament and rebranded for a new generation and is an obvious favorite.
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1. Liam
Liam originated as a nickname for Uilliam, the Irish variation of William. The name shares the same means, “resolute protector.” This unexpected favorite has taken the baby name world by storm. The name has been in the top 10 since 2012 and it seems like it will stick around for years to come. Celebrity parents like Tori Spelling, Calista Flockhart, Rod Stewart, Kevin Costner, and Craig Ferguson all gave the name to their sons.
There you go! The top 25 baby names for boys from 2019. We had to wait almost an entire year, but we’re glad the data has finally arrived. We hope you enjoyed this list of names and will consider one of these amazing choices for your child.