Naming a child is kind of a momentous and monumental experience. You want to pick a name that your child can be proud of—or at least not be ashamed of, right? You also want to pick a name that you love. Inspiration for names can come from nature, the Bible, friends, family, location, or just about anywhere. But have you ever considered using the Social Security Administration (SSA) as a resource for baby names to consider? Believe it or not, it's actually a great place to look for baby name inspiration.
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Every year when the SSA releases its most current list of popular baby names, we like to take a look and share the information with you for two reasons—the first being that you may very well find a name that you fall in love with and the second being that maybe you want to stay away from names that are too popular. The SSA information is based on "Social Security card applications for births that occurred in the United States." It's a great way to see which names are on the rise, which names are always popular, and everything in between. Check out the current 20 most popular boy names.
First place goes to Liam.
Liam is the short version of Uiliam and a sort of version of the name William. It means “resolute protector.” Famous Liams include actors Liam Neeson and Liam Hemsworth. And William Levy if you call him 'liam for short.
Second place goes to Noah.
You might be familiar with the name as there's this story in the Bible about a man named Noah who was told by God to build an ark. The name means "rest and comfort." The name is also used for girls.
Third place goes to Oliver.
There are different theories on where this name originated, but if you go with the theory that it comes from the French name Olivier, then it means "olive." Famous Olivers include director Oliver Stone and actor Oliver Platt.
Fourth place goes to William.
According to Baby Name Wizard, the name is "from the Old Norman French Willaume, which is derived from the Old High German Willehelm, a compound name composed from the elements willeo (will, determination) and helm (protection, helmet): hence, 'resolute protector.'"
Fifth place goes to Elijah.
The name means "Jehovah is God" and comes from a ninth-century BC prophet, who was taken to heaven in a chariot made of fire as a reward for many years of service. Famous Elijahs include the actor Elijah Wood.
Sixth place goes to James.
The name is derived from "the Ecclesiastic Iakōbos, a cognate of the Hebrew Yaakov." It means "supplanting, seizing by the heel." Celebrities with the name include the legendary James Brown.
Seventh place goes to Benjamin.
Derived from Hebrew, the name means "son of the right hand." People with the name often get called Ben or Benny. Famous Bens include actor Benjamin Bratt and American Founding Father Benjamin Franklin.
Eighth place goes to Lucas.
This is one of those names that sounds great regardless of whether you pronounce it in English or in Spanish—we love those bilingual-friendly baby names. It means "light" or "man from Lucania." Guess which celebrity has the name? Pato Lucas aka Daffy Duck!
Ninth place goes to Mason.
Mason is a gender-neutral name, but it does most often go to boys. It means "stone worker, brick worker" and is of English origin. Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick have a son named Mason.
Tenth place goes to Ethan.
Ethan is derived from the Hebrew ēthān, which means "strength, firmness, long-lived." The name is featured in the Bible. Ethen is another variation of the name. Famous Ethans include actor Ethan Hawke.
Eleventh place goes to Alexander.
The name has Greek origins and means “defender or helper of mankind.” It was the name of Alexander the Great, who lived from 356 to 323 BC. He was a Macedonian king and military figure who helped spread Greek culture far and wide. Alejandro is a nice variation of the name.
Twelfth place goes to Henry.
It's from the French Henri, which is from the German Heinrich, which is from the Old High German Haganrih, which means "ruler of an enclosure." It's a compound name made up of the elements, which come together to kinda, sorta mean "ruler of the home."
Thirteenth place goes to Jacob.
Jacob has the same meaning as the name James, which is "seizing by the heel, supplanting." Even though Jacob and James sound nothing alike, they have the same linguistic roots. Fascinating.
Fourteenth place goes to Michael.
Is Michael ever not a popular boy name? We don't think so. It means "Who is like God?" and is of Hebrew origin. The meaning is in the form of a question because the answer to that particular question is supposed to be: No one is like God.
Fifteenth place goes to Daniel.
The name is derived from Hebrew and means "God is my judge." There is a Hebrew prophet in the Bible named Daniel whose faith kept him safe from a den of hungry lions. Daniels often get called Dan or Danny.
Sixteenth place goes to Logan.
Logan, like Mason, is another gender-neutral name. It is derived from Gaelic and means "dweller at a little hollow." It's also a last name of Irish origins. There's a book called Logan's Run that features a whole lot of men named Logan.
Seventeenth place goes to Jackson.
Jackson is a last name that started being used as a first name. It means "son of Jack." It often gets shortened to Jack, Jackie, or Jacky. Famous people with the name include the artist Jackson Pollock.
Eighteenth place goes to Sebastian.
Sebastian is of Greek origin and means "venerable." And what the heck does "venerable" mean? Venerable means "commanding respect." If you want your baby to grow up to be someone who commands respect, you might want to consider this lovely name.
Nineteenth place goes to Jack.
Originally Jack was a nickname for the name John, which means "God is gracious," or Jackson, which means "son of Jack." Now Jack is a popular name in and of itself. Famous people with the name include writers Jack London and Jack Kerouac.
Twentieth place goes to Aiden.
Aiden is another gender-neutral name to consider. It is the anglicized form of the Irish name Aodhan, which means "little fiery one." It can also be spelled Aidan. It's been a popular name since 2000.
