“Nomen est omen” is a famous Latin phrase meaning “the name is a sign” — that is a portent of a person’s destiny. If that’s true then you should be careful if you ever have to choose a name for a child.
Of course there’s an almost endless number of names to choose from. Some people simply give their children their own names. Others borrow names from their favorite books, movies, or television shows. The more creative types even make them up. (Click here for 30 uncommon baby names of the last 30 years.)
24/7 Tempo has compiled lists of the fastest-growing first names for boys and girls in the United States by comparing the 1,000 most common male and female baby names in 2016 and 2020 from the records of the Social Security Administration (SSA), and computing the percentage of change between the two years.
The names are a remarkable mix of the traditional and the modern, including names from the Bible, classical mythology, the plant kingdom, and popular culture. (These are the 20 most popular literary-inspired baby names.)
Click here to see the fastest growing first names in the past five years.
The fastest-growing boy’s name is Theodore, which comes from Ancient Greek and means “gift of God.” It’s easy enough to see why that name might be so popular. (Interestingly, a shortened form of the name, Theo, also places in the top 25.) The second fastest-growing is Maverick, which might come as a surprise to some. Perhaps not coincidentally, Maverick was the call sign for Tom Cruise’s character in the 1986 blockbuster “Top Gun.” It also features in the title of the sequel that will be released later this year. Next up is Liam, which has Irish roots and which has become popular as a shortened version of William.
The fastest-growing girl’s name is Gianna, a diminutive form of the Italian name Giovanna. It means “God is gracious,” so it complements the popular boy’s name Theodore nicely. The second fastest-growing is Luna, which is Latin for moon. Luna Lovegood is also a popular character in the “Harry Potter” books and movies, which may have something to do with it. Plant names are also popular for girls, and not just flowers: our list includes Willow, Ivy, Hazel, and Magnolia.
25. Henry
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.071%
> Popularity in 2020: #9 with 0.585% of baby boys
> Popularity in 2016: #22 with 0.513% of baby boys
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24. Atlas
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.071%
> Popularity in 2020: #189 with 0.111% of baby boys
> Popularity in 2016: #397 with 0.040% of baby boys
23. Theo
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.073%
> Popularity in 2020: #172 with 0.121% of baby boys
> Popularity in 2016: #354 with 0.047% of baby boys
22. Milo
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.075%
> Popularity in 2020: #134 with 0.150% of baby boys
> Popularity in 2016: #247 with 0.075% of baby boys
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21. Myles
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.076%
> Popularity in 2020: #124 with 0.160% of baby boys
> Popularity in 2016: #229 with 0.084% of baby boys
20. Beau
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.076%
> Popularity in 2020: #109 with 0.181% of baby boys
> Popularity in 2016: #187 with 0.105% of baby boys
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19. Jameson
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.077%
> Popularity in 2020: #79 with 0.239% of baby boys
> Popularity in 2016: #128 with 0.162% of baby boys
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18. Axel
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.082%
> Popularity in 2020: #72 with 0.253% of baby boys
> Popularity in 2016: #116 with 0.171% of baby boys
17. Levi
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.091%
> Popularity in 2020: #18 with 0.492% of baby boys
> Popularity in 2016: #42 with 0.400% of baby boys
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16. Waylon
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.092%
> Popularity in 2020: #103 with 0.194% of baby boys
> Popularity in 2016: #196 with 0.102% of baby boys
15. Luka
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.095%
> Popularity in 2020: #162 with 0.127% of baby boys
> Popularity in 2016: #470 with 0.032% of baby boys
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14. Legend
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.097%
> Popularity in 2020: #127 with 0.154% of baby boys
> Popularity in 2016: #311 with 0.056% of baby boys
13. Miles
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.102%
> Popularity in 2020: #58 with 0.287% of baby boys
> Popularity in 2016: #105 with 0.185% of baby boys
12. Elias
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.102%
> Popularity in 2020: #53 with 0.324% of baby boys
> Popularity in 2016: #93 with 0.221% of baby boys
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11. Ezekiel
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.106%
> Popularity in 2020: #65 with 0.274% of baby boys
> Popularity in 2016: #121 with 0.168% of baby boys
10. Luca
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.125%
> Popularity in 2020: #67 with 0.261% of baby boys
> Popularity in 2016: #151 with 0.136% of baby boys
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9. Oliver
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.127%
> Popularity in 2020: #3 with 0.773% of baby boys
> Popularity in 2016: #12 with 0.645% of baby boys
8. Ezra
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.127%
> Popularity in 2020: #44 with 0.368% of baby boys
> Popularity in 2016: #85 with 0.241% of baby boys
7. Brooks
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.128%
> Popularity in 2020: #91 with 0.210% of baby boys
> Popularity in 2016: #233 with 0.083% of baby boys
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6. Leo
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.129%
> Popularity in 2020: #36 with 0.391% of baby boys
> Popularity in 2016: #74 with 0.262% of baby boys
5. Asher
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.143%
> Popularity in 2020: #32 with 0.415% of baby boys
> Popularity in 2016: #71 with 0.273% of baby boys
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4. Mateo
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.162%
> Popularity in 2020: #20 with 0.486% of baby boys
> Popularity in 2016: #59 with 0.324% of baby boys
3. Liam
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.172%
> Popularity in 2020: #1 with 1.073% of baby boys
> Popularity in 2016: #2 with 0.901% of baby boys
2. Maverick
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.186%
> Popularity in 2020: #49 with 0.332% of baby boys
> Popularity in 2016: #139 with 0.146% of baby boys
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1. Theodore
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.225%
> Popularity in 2020: #23 with 0.467% of baby boys
> Popularity in 2016: #83 with 0.242% of baby boys
25. Amara
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.053%
> Popularity in 2020: #142 with 0.109% of baby girls
> Popularity in 2016: #301 with 0.056% of baby girls
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24. Ellie
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.055%
> Popularity in 2020: #29 with 0.318% of baby girls
> Popularity in 2016: #43 with 0.262% of baby girls
23. Elena
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.058%
> Popularity in 2020: #55 with 0.223% of baby girls
> Popularity in 2016: #94 with 0.165% of baby girls
22. Magnolia
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.059%
> Popularity in 2020: #177 with 0.091% of baby girls
> Popularity in 2016: #504 with 0.032% of baby girls
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21. Leilani
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.062%
> Popularity in 2020: #92 with 0.163% of baby girls
> Popularity in 2016: #159 with 0.102% of baby girls
20. Eliana
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.065%
> Popularity in 2020: #53 with 0.231% of baby girls
> Popularity in 2016: #93 with 0.166% of baby girls
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19. Charlotte
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.065%
> Popularity in 2020: #4 with 0.743% of baby girls
> Popularity in 2016: #7 with 0.678% of baby girls
18. Remi
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.068%
> Popularity in 2020: #125 with 0.125% of baby girls
> Popularity in 2016: #295 with 0.057% of baby girls
17. Hazel
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.070%
> Popularity in 2020: #31 with 0.312% of baby girls
> Popularity in 2016: #52 with 0.242% of baby girls
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16. Ivy
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.071%
> Popularity in 2020: #58 with 0.217% of baby girls
> Popularity in 2016: #112 with 0.146% of baby girls
15. Kehlani
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.080%
> Popularity in 2020: #168 with 0.097% of baby girls
> Popularity in 2016: #811 with 0.017% of baby girls
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14. Willow
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.087%
> Popularity in 2020: #48 with 0.248% of baby girls
> Popularity in 2016: #96 with 0.161% of baby girls
13. Aurora
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.090%
> Popularity in 2020: #36 with 0.296% of baby girls
> Popularity in 2016: #66 with 0.207% of baby girls
12. Eleanor
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.096%
> Popularity in 2020: #22 with 0.362% of baby girls
> Popularity in 2016: #41 with 0.266% of baby girls
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11. Alaia
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.103%
> Popularity in 2020: #120 with 0.129% of baby girls
> Popularity in 2016: #612 with 0.025% of baby girls
10. Everly
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.112%
> Popularity in 2020: #43 with 0.262% of baby girls
> Popularity in 2016: #107 with 0.150% of baby girls
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9. Emilia
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.115%
> Popularity in 2020: #40 with 0.271% of baby girls
> Popularity in 2016: #103 with 0.157% of baby girls
8. Mila
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.128%
> Popularity in 2020: #20 with 0.377% of baby girls
> Popularity in 2016: #48 with 0.249% of baby girls
7. Isla
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.129%
> Popularity in 2020: #44 with 0.259% of baby girls
> Popularity in 2016: #127 with 0.130% of baby girls
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6. Everleigh
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.132%
> Popularity in 2020: #94 with 0.160% of baby girls
> Popularity in 2016: #568 with 0.028% of baby girls
5. Camila
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.149%
> Popularity in 2020: #11 with 0.462% of baby girls
> Popularity in 2016: #32 with 0.313% of baby girls
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4. Nova
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.164%
> Popularity in 2020: #38 with 0.282% of baby girls
> Popularity in 2016: #136 with 0.118% of baby girls
3. Amelia
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.168%
> Popularity in 2020: #6 with 0.726% of baby girls
> Popularity in 2016: #11 with 0.558% of baby girls
2. Luna
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.254%
> Popularity in 2020: #14 with 0.444% of baby girls
> Popularity in 2016: #77 with 0.190% of baby girls
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1. Gianna
> Percentage point change in share of all births: 0.280%
> Popularity in 2020: #12 with 0.447% of baby girls
> Popularity in 2016: #92 with 0.167% of baby girls
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