- Parents
Choosing from thousands of boy names is easier with a shortlist. Start with the latest Social Security Administration list, then browse classic, biblical, strong, short and nature names. Each table gives an origin or meaning where it is well documented, and the how-to section helps you test your favorites.
Liam, Noah and Oliver top the Social Security Administration list for 2025, the latest year available. Liam has held first place for seven straight years.
Already have a shortlist? These guides go deeper.
Name trend
Name meaning
Companion guide
Family reading
These are the top 10 popular boy names for 2025, in the order the Social Security Administration published them on May 8, 2026. The rank comes from SSA, and 2025 is the latest year available. Origins and meanings in every table on this page come from Behind the Name.
| SSA rank, 2025 | Name | Origin or meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liam | Irish short form of William |
| 2 | Noah | Hebrew, “rest, repose” |
| 3 | Oliver | From Old French Olivier, possibly linked to Latin oliva, “olive tree” |
| 4 | Theodore | Greek, “gift of god” |
| 5 | Henry | Germanic, “home ruler” |
| 6 | James | English form of Late Latin Iacomus, from the Hebrew name Yaakov |
| 7 | Elijah | Hebrew, “my God is Yahweh” |
| 8 | Mateo | Spanish form of Matthew |
| 9 | William | Germanic, “will helmet” |
| 10 | Lucas | Latin form of Greek Loukas, probably “from Lucania” |
SSA also publishes a running list for 2020 to 2025. Other names in its top 20 include Benjamin, Levi, Sebastian, Jack, Daniel, Michael, Alexander, Ethan, Samuel and Owen. SSA calls that list a rough indication of the final decade ranking, because it covers six of the ten years.
These classic boy names come from SSA’s list of top names over the last 100 years, covering 1926 to 2025. James and William, from the table above, also rank first and sixth on that list. These are long-established names, so most people already know how to spell them.
| SSA rank, 1926 to 2025 | Name | Origin or meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Michael | Hebrew, “who is like God?” |
| 3 | John | English form of Iohannes, from the Hebrew name Yochanan |
| 4 | Robert | Germanic, “bright fame” |
| 5 | David | Hebrew, “beloved,” or possibly “uncle” |
| 7 | Richard | Old German, “brave ruler” |
| 8 | Joseph | Hebrew name of the eleventh son of Jacob in the Old Testament |
| 9 | Thomas | Greek form of an Aramaic name meaning “twin” |
| 11 | Charles | From Germanic Karl, believed to come from a root meaning “man” |
Many biblical boy names are also everyday names. Most of these come from Hebrew. Some meanings are debated, and the table says so where our source does. If faith is part of your decision, ask your family or clergy how the name is used in your tradition.
| Name | Origin or meaning |
|---|---|
| Samuel | Hebrew, “name of God,” or possibly “God has heard” |
| Isaac | Hebrew, “he will laugh, he will rejoice” |
| Josiah | Hebrew, “Yahweh supports” |
| Ezra | Hebrew, “help” |
| Asher | Hebrew, “happy, blessed” |
| Eli | Hebrew, “ascension” |
| Micah | Contracted form of the Hebrew name Micaiah |
| Caleb | Possibly from the Hebrew word for “dog.” Another theory links it to words for “whole” and “heart” |
Strong boy names can mean different things to different parents. This group sticks to names whose origins point to strength, bravery or firmness. How a name sounds to you is a separate question, so say each one out loud.
| Name | Origin or meaning |
|---|---|
| Ethan | Hebrew, “solid, enduring, firm” |
| Ezekiel | Hebrew, “God will strengthen” |
| Gabriel | Hebrew, “God is my strong man” |
| Alexander | Greek, “defender of men” |
| Andrew | From Greek andreios, “manly, masculine” |
| Leonard | Old German, “brave lion” |
| Bernard | Old German elements for “bear” and “brave, hardy” |
| Conrad | Germanic, “brave counsel” |
Old fashioned boy names, often called vintage names, have long histories in English. “Old fashioned” and “vintage” are style labels, not official categories. Treat this group as a starting point. You can pair a name you like with a modern middle name for balance.
| Name | Origin or meaning |
|---|---|
| Walter | Germanic, “power of the army” |
| Harold | Old English elements for “army” and “powerful, mighty” |
| Arthur | Meaning unknown. Possibly Celtic, with an element for “bear,” or from the Roman family name Artorius |
| Albert | Germanic, “noble and bright” |
| Arnold | Germanic, “eagle power” |
| Frank | From an Old German name referring to the Franks |
| Franklin | English surname meaning “freeman” |
One syllable boy names are quick to say and easy to call across a playground. They can also balance a long last name. Several began as short forms of longer names, so you could use the long version on paper and the short one at home.
| Name | Origin or meaning |
|---|---|
| Jack | Medieval pet form of John |
| Luke | English form of Latin Lucas |
| Cole | English surname, from a medieval short form of Nicholas or the byname Cola |
| Max | Short form of Maximilian or Maxim, and sometimes Maxwell |
| Jude | Variant of Judas, used in English Bibles for the apostle Jude |
| Finn | Old Irish form of Fionn |
| Dean | From an English surname |
| Chase | English surname, first a nickname for a huntsman |
Cute boy names are a matter of taste. These picks are short and soft-sounding, and several work as nicknames for longer names on this page. That gives you a sweet name for the baby years and a formal option for later.
| Name | Origin or meaning |
|---|---|
| Felix | Latin, “lucky, successful” |
| Leo | Latin, “lion” |
| Milo | One origin is the Greek name Milon, possibly from a word for “yew tree” |
| Theo | Short form of Theodore and other names starting with “Theo” |
| Ollie | Diminutive of Oliver |
| Teddie | Diminutive of Edward or Theodore |
Nature names are a good fit for families who love the outdoors. Most of these come straight from English words, so they are simple to spell. A few also have older roots as surnames or given names.
| Name | Origin or meaning |
|---|---|
| River | From the English word for a flowing body of water |
| Forest | From the English word for a wooded area, or a variant of Forrest |
| Rowan | Anglicized form of the Irish name Ruadhán. It can also refer to the rowan tree |
| Ash | Short form of Ashley, or from the English word for the tree |
| Clay | English surname for someone who lived near or worked with clay |
| Ridge | From the English word for a mountain crest, or from a surname |
| Jasper | From Latin Gaspar, perhaps from a Hebrew word for “treasurer.” It is also a gemstone |
| If you want | Start with | Names to try |
|---|---|---|
| A name people know right now | Popular boy names | Liam, Henry, Mateo |
| A name that has lasted for generations | Classic boy names | Robert, Thomas, Charles |
| A name tied to faith | Biblical boy names | Samuel, Isaac, Josiah |
| A meaning linked to courage | Strong boy names | Ethan, Gabriel, Leonard |
| A short name for a long last name | One syllable boy names | Jack, Luke, Finn |
| A link to the outdoors | Nature-inspired boy names | River, Rowan, Jasper |
Check the meaning yourself: Name meanings are often debated, and some names have more than one origin. Arthur and Caleb are two examples on this page. Look up the name in a reliable reference before you order anything engraved.
Baby boy names are easier to compare when you agree on what matters first. Some families want to honor a relative. Others care most about meaning, sound or faith. Pick your top two priorities, then run each favorite through these checks.
Still deciding? See our girl names guide if you want options for both, or browse more family advice in our Parents section.
Liam. It ranked first on the Social Security Administration list for 2025, for the seventh straight year. Noah and Oliver came second and third.
The Social Security Administration publishes it, using data from Social Security card applications. The latest list covers 2025 and was released on May 8, 2026.
It depends on what your family values. Start with the top 10 for familiar names, classic names for lasting ones, or one syllable names for something short. Then test your favorites with the checks above.
Ezekiel means “God will strengthen” and Gabriel means “God is my strong man.” Ethan means “solid, enduring, firm.” Each comes from Hebrew.
Yes. Noah, James and Elijah are all in the Social Security Administration top 10 for 2025. All three have roots in the Bible.
Written by Olivia Mercer. Edited by Abdullah Muneef. Sources: Social Security Administration. Corrections: info@elitsmedia.com.
