The 50 most popular baby boy names
What are the most popular baby boy names in America?
Thanks to the Social Security Administration's most recent data, we have the answer. Here, we've ranked the 50 most selected boy names in the U.S. in 2019. Let's start with No. 50.
(By the way, if you're curious: Here are the most popular baby girl names.)
50. Hudson
HGTV star Christina Anstead and British TV host Ant Anstead ("Wheelers Dealers") welcomed a son, Hudson, in 2019. The same year, the name Hudson became a Top 50 most popular boy name for the first time since at least 1900. In 2000, the name stood in 588th place.
49. Ezra
Since the animated series "Star Wars Rebels," featuring protagonist Ezra Bridger, debuted in 2014, the name Ezra has gone from 119th on the Social Security Administration chart to 49. This is its best-ever showing.
48. Joshua
Joshua has dipped in popularity in recent years. That's Joshua Kelley, the Los Angeles Chargers running back, in the picture. Kelley was born in 1997, back when Joshua was the No. 5 most popular baby boy name.
47. Thomas
This is Thomas' best showing in the Social Security Administration rankings since 2005. Pictured is actor Tom Cruise, born Thomas Cruise Mapother IV.
46. Andrew
When now-retired NBA star Andrew Bynum (pictured) was born in 1987, the name Andrew was enjoying a run as one of the top 10 most popular baby boy names. But it has dropped 36 spots in popularity since 2007.
45. Josiah
Josiah has been making appearances in the Social Security Administration's rankings since 1903. This is the first time it's cracked the Top 50. Josiah Duggar, pictured with wife Lauren Duggar, has been featured on TLC reality series and specials with his super-sized family since the early 2000s.
44. Christopher
This is the lowest Christopher has been in popularity since 1956. Pictured is Chris Hemsworth, known for playing Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
43. Asher
After breaking into the Top 100 for the first time in 2014, the name Asher has surged in popularity. Pictured is Asher Angel, who portrayed Billy Batson in "Shazam!"
42. Jaxon
Jaxon (not Jackson) slips three slots in 2019. Pictured is the character Jax Teller, played by Charlie Hunnam in "Sons of Anarchy."
41. Lincoln
Lincoln has held down this spot three straight years, from 2017-2019. Pictured is Alfonso Ribeiro with his family, including son Alfonso Lincoln Ribeiro, Jr.
40. Leo
The name Leo has never been more popular. The name jumps 10 spots from 2018. Pictured is Oscar-winner Leonardo DiCaprio.
39. Dylan
The name Dylan drops nine slots in the 2019 rankings. In the photo is Dylan O'Brien, the star of the Maze Runner franchise.
38. Anthony
Anthony maintains its spot from the 2018 popularity rankings. Pictured is the Lakers star Anthony Davis.
37. Gabriel
This is the lowest Gabriel has ranked since 2001. Actor Richard Speight Jr. played the archangel Gabriel on "Supernatural" (pictured).
36. Theodore
This is the most popular Theodore has been since 1907. Pictured is Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner with their son, Theodore Kushner.
35. Jayden
The fourth most popular boy name in 2010 and 2011, Jayden has dropped to its lowest mark since 2006. Pictured is the Arizona State quarterback Jayden Daniels.
34. Isaac
Isaac holds its spot from the 2018 rankings. Pictured is Isaac Hempstead Wright, who played Bran Stark in "Game of Thrones."
33. Grayson
Grayson slips one spot from 2018. Pictured is former Duke basketball star Grayson Allen.
32. Luke
Here's one of the stars of the Fast and Furious franchise, Luke Evans. Luke slips three spots from the 2018 popularity rankings.
31. Julian
Julian jumps five spots from 2018, the highest the name has ever ranked. That's Super Bowl LIII MVP Julian Edelman in the photo.
30. Carter
Carter falls to 30th after a two-year run as the 24th most popular boy name. Pictured is HGTV's Carter Oosterhouse.
29. Wyatt
The name Wyatt continues to cool after reaching an all-time high in 2017, when it stood in 25th place. Pictured is Wyatt Oleff, who plays Stanley Uris in the "It" horror movie saga.
28. John
The most popular boy name of the early 20th century, from 1900-1923, John dips to 28th in popularity in the 2019 rankings. The name's been that low only once before, in 2016. Pictured is EGOT winner John Legend, one of the star judges on "The Voice."
27. David
This is the lowest David has ranked since 1919. Pictured is comedian Dave Chappelle.
26. Mateo
The name Mateo has surged in popularity this decade, rising from No. 222 in 2010 to No. 26 in 2019. Pictured (left) is Elias Janssen, who played Mateo in "Jane the Virgin."
25. Levi
Here's Levi Miller, the star of "Peter Pan" and "A Wrinkle in Time." This is the highest the name Levi has ever ranked. In 2008, it was the 116th most popular boy name.
24. Joseph
The name Joseph is at its lowest ranking ever. In the picture is Joe Jonas of the Jonas Brothers.
23. Matthew
Matthew has not made the Top 10 since 2008. In the picture is Academy Award-winner Matt Damon.
22. Samuel
Here's Samuel L. Jackson. Samuel was the 21st most popular boy name for three years in a row, from 2016-2018.
21. Owen
Since 2008, when the character Dr. Owen Hunt (as played by Kevin McKidd, pictured) debuted on "Grey's Anatomy," Owen has jumped from the 58th most popular boy name to the 21st.
20. Aiden
The name Aiden has dropped in popularity since its peak of No. 9 in 2010 and 2011. This is stand-up comic Aidan Park. The variation Aidan is the 243th most popular boy name.
19. Jack
This is the highest the name Jack has ranked since 1935. Pictured is Chris Pratt with his son, Jack Pratt.
18. Sebastian
The 152nd most popular boy name in 1999, Sebastian broke into the Top 20 for the first time ever in 2018. Marvel fans should recognize Sebastian Stan (pictured) as Bucky Barnes, aka the Winter Soldier.
17. Jackson
Jackson has been the 17th most popular boy name four out of the last five years. Oscar-winning filmmaker Spike Lee is pictured with his son Jackson at the 2020 NBA All-Star Game.
16. Logan
After leaping to No. 5 in 2017, Logan dropped out of the Top 10 in 2019. That's actor Logan Lerman in the picture.
15. Daniel
For the third straight year, Daniel is the 15th most popular boy name. Harry Potter fans should know the man pictured is Daniel Radcliffe.
14. Michael
From 1953-2010, Michael ranked as a Top 3 baby boy name before slipping to its current spot. Pictured is "Black Panther" co-star Michael B. Jordan.
13. Jacob
Here's UFC great Tito Oritz with his son Jacob in 2005. The name Jacob was the most popular baby boy name from 1999-2012.
12. Henry
The name Henry hasn't been this popular since the early 20th century. This is its best showing since 1914. In the picture is actor Matt Bomer with his son Henry at the 2019 Tony Awards.
11. Alexander
Did "Hamilton" make Alexander too trendy? Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical, starring Miranda as U.S. founding father Alexander Hamilton, became a Broadway sensation in 2015. But since then, the name's gone from being the eighth most popular baby boy name to the 11th.
10. Ethan
The second most popular baby boy name from 2009-2010, Ethan returns to the Top 10 after dropping out in 2017. In the photo is Oscar-nominated actor Ethan Hawke.
9. Mason
Kim Kardashian West is seen in 2019 with her nephew Mason Disick. The name Mason has skyrocketed in popularity since Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick welcomed their first child in 2009. In that time, the name has gone from the 34th most popular boy name to a Top 10 perennial.
8. Lucas
Lucas jumped to No. 8 in 2018; it maintains the position in 2019. This is the most popular the name has been on record. Pictured is actor Chad Michael Murray, who played Lucas Scott on "One Tree Hill." The name Lucas steadily gained popularity during Murray's character's 2003-2012 run on the TV show.
7. Benjamin
Benjamin slips one spot, to seventh. The name has been in the Top 10 since 2015. Pictured is actor Benjamin Bratt, who's seen appearing in a 2020 episode of "Modern Family."
6. James
A 20th century mainstay in the Top 10 from 1900-1993, James slumped in the aughts. It returned to the Top 10 in 2014. In 2019, James fell one spot, to sixth. That's NBA star James Harden in the picture.
5. Elijah
Football defensive back Elijah Riley, who played for Army from 2016-2019, was born in 1998 as the name Elijah was storming up the popularity chart. The name cracked the Top 10 for the first time in 2016. This is Elijah's best showing in the Social Security Administration rankings since at least 1900.
4. William
William had a long run as a Top 10 name from 1880-1973. (1880 is as far back as the Social Security Administration's publicly available data goes.) The name returned to the Top 10 in 2004, dropped out for a couple of years, returned in 2007, and has been there ever since. Pictured is actor Will Smith.
3. Oliver
Here's the fictional Oliver Queen, aka the Green Arrow, from the CW superhero show. The name Oliver has seen a meteoric rise this decade. From 2010 to 2019, Oliver has risen from 88th overall to third.
2. Noah
The baby girl name Olivia has boomed alongside the "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" character Olivia Benson (portrayed by Mariska Hargitay). And the baby boy name Elijah has boomed alongside the "SVU" character Noah Porter-Benson (portrayed most recently by Ryan Buggle). The latter character was introduced in 2014, when Elijah was the No. 1 baby boy name.
Noah has been the second most selected baby boy name for the last three years on record.
1. Liam
In 1994, when Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher and his band released their first studio album, the name Liam, a longtime British favorite, was the 360th most popular baby boy name in the United States. Within a few years (and a few Oasis hits) the name cracked the Top 200 – and kept right on climbing. This is the third straight year Liam is the most selected U.S. baby boy name.