Special Report
The 50 Most Popular Baby Names of the Last Decade
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If you were born in the ’80s or ’90s, then there’s a good chance your name is — or you know someone whose name is — Jessica, Jennifer, Michael, or Christopher. In the two decades since, there has been a much greater variety of names for parents to choose from.
24/7 Tempo identified the top 50 names in the nine years from 2010 through 2018 using data from the Social Security Administration.
Nearly 17 million boys and 16 million girls were born and given names in the United States between 2010 and 2018. Many of them were given names that have been historically popular — such as James, William, Elizabeth — while others were given names that have just recently become more common.
In the age of social media, name trends are often started by celebrities. Some celebrities are responsible for the skyrocketing popularity of some names — these are the 50 fastest-growing first names in America.
The lifespan of the most popular names has shortened. Unlike names like Michael and Mary, which each held the top position for decades, the most popular names of the last decade have been highly popular for much less time. Breaking down the yearly popularity of the 50 most frequently used names this decade, many of the names have been most popular in 2010 or 2011, and declined in popularity every year after that.
Perhaps in a few years from now there will rarely be any more Jessicas, Marys, or Noahs. They may join other names that will become rarely used — just like these 25 names that are going extinct.
Click here to see the 50 most popular baby names of the last decade.
Click here to read our methodology.
50. Wyatt
> Babies named Wyatt 2010-2018: 78,727 (0.46% of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2017 (9,688 births)
> Origin: Wyatt is of English origin and it means “brave in war.”
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49. Caleb
> Babies named Caleb 2010-2018: 80,104 (0.47% of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2010 (10,029 births)
> Origin: Caleb is a Hebrew name that means “a dog” or “faithful.”
48. Amelia
> Babies named Amelia 2010-2018: 80,666 (0.51% of all female births)
> Most popular in: 2018 (12,301 births)
> Origin: Amelia has Latin origins and it means “work.”
47. Owen
> Babies named Owen 2010-2018: 81,619 (0.48 of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2016 (10,294 births)
> Origin: Owen is a Welsh name that means “young warrior” or “well-born”.
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46. Henry
> Babies named Henry 2010-2018: 81,660 (0.48% of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2018 (10,649 births)
> Origin: Henry is of German origin and it means “estate ruler.”
45. Nathan
> Babies named Nathan 2010-2018: 81,762 (0.48% of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2010 (11,373 births)
> Origin: The name is of Hebrew origin and it means “gift.”
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44. Oliver
> Babies named Oliver 2010-2018: 83,971 (0.50% of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2018 (13,389 births)
> Origin: Oliver if the male version of Olivia, which means “olive tree.”
43. Luke
> Babies named Luke 2010-2018: 84,664 (0.50% of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2014 (10,506 births)
> Origin: Luke is the English form of the Latin name Lucas, which itself is the Greek version of the name Loukas, meaning “from Lucania,” a region in southern Italy.
42. Ryan
> Babies named Ryan 2010-2018: 84,706 (0.50% of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2010 (11,969 births)
> Origin: Ryan is an Irish name that means “descendent of the king” or even “little king.”
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41. Elizabeth
> Babies named Elizabeth 2010-2018: 85,832 (0.54% of all female births)
> Most popular in: 2010 (10,262 births)
> Origin: Elizabet is the Greek version of the Hebrew name Elisheva, which means “my God is an oath.”
40. Isaac
> Babies named Isaac 2010-2018: 86,078 (0.51 of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2013 (10,119 births)
> Origin: Isaac if of Hebrew origin. It was derived from the name Yitzchaq, which means “he will laugh, he will rejoice.”
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39. Carter
> Babies named Carter 2010-2018: 86,328 (0.51% of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2015 (10,780 births)
> Origin: Carter is of English origin and it means “transporter of goods by cart.”
38. Dylan
> Babies named Dylan 2010-2018: 88,619 (0.52% of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2010 (10,512 births)
> Origin:Dylan has Welsh roots. It’s a combination of “dy”, meaning “great,” and “llanw,” meaning “tide, flow.”
37. Charlotte
> Babies named Charlotte 2010-2018: 89,043 (0.56% of all female births)
> Most popular in: 2016 (13,090 births)
> Origin: Charlotte has a French origin and it means “free man.” It comes from the name Charlot.
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36. Madison
> Babies named Madison 2010-2018: 91,914 (0.58% of all female births)
> Most popular in: 2010 (11,556 births)
> Origin: Madison comes from the English last name meaning “son of maud.” It used to be more popular as a boy’s name.
35. John
> Babies named John 2010-2018: 96,634 (0.55% of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2010 (11,556 births)
> Origin: John is a derivative of the Hebrew name Yochanan and it means “God is gracious.”
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34. Christopher
> Babies named Christopher 2010-2018: 94,815 (0.56% of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2010 (14,279 births)
> Origin: The origin of the name Christopher is Greek and it means “bearer of Christ.”
33. Gabriel
> Babies named Gabriel 2010-2018: 97,485 (0.58% of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2010 (12,877 births)
> Origin: Gabriel is derived from the Hebrew name Gavri’el, which means “God is my strong man.”
32. Andrew
> Babies named Andrew 2010-2018: 97,948 (0.58% of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2010 (14,248 births)
> Origin: Andrew is the English form of the Greek name Andreas, which means “manly” or “masculine.”
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31. Samuel
> Babies named Samuel 2010-2018: 98,448 (0.58% of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2010 (11,963 births)
> Origin: Samuel has Hebrew origin and it means “heard God” or “asked of God.”
30. Joshua
> Babies named Joshua 2010-2018: 99,254 (0.59% of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2010 (15,442 births)
> Origin: Joshua is of Hebrew origin and it means “salvation.”
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29. Anthony
> Babies named Anthony 2010-2018: 104,144 (0.61% of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2010 (15,493 births)
> Origin: Anthony is derived from the Latin Antonius, the origin of which is unknown. Some say it means “priceless” and “of inestimable worth.”
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28. Jackson
> Babies named Jackson 2010-2018: 105,784 (0.62% of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2013 (12,591 births)
> Origin: The name is of English origin and it means “the son of Jack.”
27. Lucas
> Babies named Lucas 2010-2018: 105,956 (0.63% of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2017 (12,996 births)
> Origin: Lucas is a form of Luke or Lucius, which means “light-giving” or “illumination.”
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26. Joseph
> Babies named Joseph 2010-2018: 106,125 (0.63% of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2010 (13,830 births)
> Origin: Joseph has a Hebrew origin and it means “may he add, God shall add.”
25. David
> Babies named David 2010-2018: 107,325 (0.63% of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2010 (14,199 births)
> Origin: David comes from the Hebrew name Dawid, which was derived from the Hebrew “dod,” meaning “beloved” or “uncle.”
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24. Emily
> Babies named Emily 2010-2018: 109,149 (0.69% of all female births)
> Most popular in: 2010 (14,274 births)
> Origin: Emily is derived from the Latin name Aemilia, meaning “striving,” “eager.”
23. Abigail
> Babies named Abigail 2010-2018: 109,253 (0.69% of all female births)
> Most popular in: 2010 (14,247 births)
> Origin: Abigail is a Hebrew name derived from Avigayil, which means “my father is joy.”
22. Matthew
> Babies named Matthew 2010-2018: 115,486 (0.68% of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2012 (14,166 births)
> Origin: The name is of Hebrew origin, derived from Matityahu, meaning “Gift from God.”
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21. Logan
> Babies named Logan 2010-2018: 116,013 (0.67% of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2010 (14,022 births)
> Origin: The name is of Irish origin. It comes from a surname, which is from the Gaelic “lagan,” meaning “a little hollow; hence, “dweller at a little hollow.”
20. Mia
> Babies named Mia 2010-2018: 116,301 (0.74 of all female births)
> Most popular in: 2015 (14,905 births)
> Origin: Short for Maria, Mia is of Latin origin and it means “mine” or “wished-for child.”
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19. Jayden
> Babies named Jayden 2010-2018: 117,779 (0.70% of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2010 (17,179 births)
> Origin: Jayden means “thankful” and is sometimes used for girls.
18. Aiden
> Babies named Aiden 2010-2018: 119,935 (0.70% of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2010 (15,538 births)
> Origin: Aiden is an Irish name and it means “little fire.”
17. Benjamin
> Babies named Benjamin 2010-2018: 121,134 (0.71% of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2016 (14,641 births)
> Origin: Benjamin is of Hebrew origin meaning “son of the right hand.”
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16. Daniel
> Babies named Emma 2010-2018: 122,962 (0.73% of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2010 (15,843 births)
> Origin: Daniel comes from the Hebrew name Daniyyel, which means “God is my judge.”
15. Elijah
> Babies named Elijah 2010-2018: 123,151 (0.73% of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2011 (13,967 births)
> Origin: Elijah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning “Yahweh is God.”
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14. James
> Babies named James 2010-2018: 126,060 (0.74% of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2016 (14,862 births)
> Origin: James is derived from the Hebrew name Jacob, meaning “one who follows.”
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13. Alexander
> Babies named Alexander 2010-2018: 130,477 (0.77% of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2010 (16,756 births)
> Origin: The name is of Greek origin. It’s a combination of alexein, meaning “to defend, to help” and andros, meaning “man,” hence, “defender or helper of mankind.”
12. Michael
> Babies named Michael 2010-2018: 134,043 (0.79% of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2010 (17,350 births)
> Origin: The name comes from the Hebrew name Mikha’el, which means the rhetorical question “who is like God?” implying that no one is like God.
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11. Ethan
> Babies named Ethan 2010-2018: 137,512 (0.81% of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2010 (18,002 births)
> Origin: Ethan is a Hebrew name for “strong,” “safe,” “firm.”
10. Ava
> Babies named Ava 2010-2018: 140,979 (0.89% of all female births)
> Most popular in: 2015 (16,378 births)
> Origin: Ava is of Latin origin meaning “life.”
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9. William
> Babies named William 2010-2018: 145,893 (0.86% of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2011 (17,343 births)
> Origin: The name is derived from the Germanic name Willahelm, which was composed of wil, meaning “will, desire” and helm, meaning “helmet, protection.”
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8. Mason
> Babies named Mason 2010-2018: 146,079 (0.86% of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2011 (19,510 births)
> Origin: The name is of English origin, meaning “worker in stone.”
7. Jacob
> Babies named Jacob 2010-2018: 152,020 (0.90% of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2010 (22,127 births)
> Origin: Jacob comes from the Latin Iacobus, which is derived from the Greek Iakobos, which itself comes from the Hebrew Ya’aqov, meaning “may God protect.”
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6. Liam
> Babies named Liam 2010-2018: 152,994 (0.90% of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2018 (19,837 births)
> Origin: Liam is an Irish name and it means a strong-willed warrior and protector.
5. Isabella
> Babies named Isabella 2010-2018: 156,709 (0.99% of all female births)
> Most popular in: 2010 (22,913 births)
> Origin: The name, a variation of Elizabeth, is of Hebrew, Spanish, Italian origin meaning “pledged to God.”
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4. Noah
> Babies named Noah 2010-2018: 163,657 (0.97% of all male births)
> Most popular in: 2015 (19,635 births)
> Origin: Noah is derived from the Hebrew name Noach, which means “rest, repose.”
3. Olivia
> Babies named Olivia 2010-2018: 165,581 (1.05% of all female births)
> Most popular in: 2014 (19,807 births)
> Origin: The name has a Latin origin and means “olive tree.”
2. Sophia
> Babies named Sophia 2010-2018: 166,986 (1.06% of all female births)
> Most popular in: 2012 (22,313 births)
> Origin: The name is of Greek origin, and it means “wisdom.”
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1. Emma
> Babies named Emma 2010-2018: 177,410 (1.13% of all female births)
> Most popular in: 2012 (20,945 births)
> Origin: It’s a short form of Germanic names that start with “ermen,” meaning “whole” or “universal.”
Methodology
To identify the most popular names since 2010, 24/7 Tempo reviewed all girl and boy names from The Social Security Administration (SSA), which has been tracking the most popular names each year beginning in 1880. The government recorded 16,957,949 female births, and 15,776,542 male births between 2010 and 2018, the latest year for which data is available.
The following list is of the 50 most popular names, regardless of gender, based off of how many times the name occurred.
Information about the origin of each name comes from sites specializing in baby names such as Nameberry, Behind the Name, Baby Center, and others.
The photos in the slideshow are of celebrities such as actors and musicians, but also famous athletes, writers, and historical figures with that name.
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