When it comes to baby boy names, many parents tend to stick with the classics. For instance, according to the Social Security Administration, the name Michael was the most popular boy name from 1961 to 1998, and had been one of the most popular baby boy names in the 1950s, which is pretty impressive. For the most part, baby boy names don’t really tend to deviate, although there are quite a few popular baby boy names from this past decade that might surprise you.
Sure, some of the names are pretty well-known, but, for the past ten years, there have been a few boy names that have maintained their popularity. Whether they have biblical, historical, or just trendy backgrounds, each baby boy name that topped the popular list this past decade is pretty interesting. In fact, just about every name that was popular this past decade has a fascinating meaning. While trends come and go, these baby boy names have stood the test of time — well, at least for the last ten years.
Jayden
The baby boy name Jayden rose in popularity over the past decade, most likely due to its sweet sound. According to the Social Security Administration, there were 117,779 baby boys named Aiden born between 2010 and 2018. But that’s not the only measure of Jayden’s popularity. According to The Bump, “To date, Jayden is the only nontraditional boys’ name to enter the top 5 in a crowd that includes soundalike names Brayden and Kaden. It was at the height of its popularity from 2003 to 2013.”
Additionally, the site reported that the name means “thankful or God will judge,” and is of Hebrew origin. On the other hand, according to Behind the Name, Jayden is “an invented name, using the popular den suffix sound found in such names as Braden, Hayden and Aidan.” The site noted, “This name first became common in [America] in the 1990s when similar-sounding names were increasing in popularity.” Jayden is certainly unique, and, with celebrity counterparts like Jaden Smith and Britney Spears’ son Jayden James Federline, the popular baby name only seems to be getting more popular over the years. At least, that was definitely the case over the past decade, when Jayden really started to garner more and more attention.
Aiden
As time has gone on, there have been quite a few changes in what baby boy names are trendy and popular. In recent years, the name Aiden has gained a lot of attention from parents looking for a different baby boy name for their little one. According to the Social Security Administration, there were 119,935 boys named Aiden that were born between 2010 and 2018. Additionally, The Bump reported, “Aiden hit the top 20 in 2008, riding a wave of similar-sounding names such as Brayden, Caden, Jaden and Kaden. Variants Ayden and Aden are not as popular.”
The Bump also reported that the name Aiden is of Gaelic origin, and simply means “fire,” making it a mighty and dynamic name choice. Aiden has definitely been on the rise in terms of popularity, and this past decade was a big year for the name. Before 2008, Aiden was barely on the radar, and now it’s practically taking over.
Benjamin
Biblical, Hebrew names have really stayed strong over the past decade, and, if you need proof of that, Benjamin is the perfect example. The baby boy name, which was first used in the Bible, was one of the most popular boy names of the last ten years. According to the Social Security Administration, there were 121,134 boys named Benjamin born between 2010 and 2018.
The name Benjamin comes from the Bible, where Benjamin was the “twelfth and youngest son of Jacob and the founder of one of the southern tribes of the Hebrews,” according to Behind the Name. That said, the name has a few different meanings. As The Bump reported, Benjamin can mean “son of the right hand; son of the south; son of my old age,” all of which come from the Bible’s Benjamin. The moniker Benjamin is definitely a cute name for a baby boy, but it’s also a sweet one, as its meaning continuously means “son.”
Daniel
There are definitely plenty of biblical baby names out there for any parents who want to pay homage to one of their favorite figures from the Bible. And Daniel seems to be one such example. According to the Social Security Administration, there were 122,962 baby boy Daniels born between 2010 and 2018, making it one of the most popular baby boy names of the decade.
Per The Bump, the name Daniel means “God is my judge,” and it has been a super popular name since 1952. Additionally, the name likely comes from the character of Daniel in the Bible, one of the most prominent people. “Daniel was a Hebrew prophet whose story is told in the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament,” according to Behind the Name. “He lived during the Jewish captivity in Babylon, where he served in the court of the king, rising to prominence by interpreting the king’s dreams.” That said, Daniel is a compelling name for a baby boy, and its popularity makes total sense.
Elijah
While there are plenty of baby boy names that originate from the Bible, perhaps one of the most biblical-sounding names out there is Elijah. The name certainly resonates as religious, and that might be why so many parents seemingly love the name. According to the Social Security Administration, 123,151 babies were born with the name Elijah between 2010 and 2018.
As The Bump reported, the name Elijah means “the lord is my God,” but that’s not all the name entails. According to Behind the Name, the use of the name Elijah comes from the character in the Bible, who “was a Hebrew prophet and miracle worker, as told in the two Books of Kings in the Old Testament.” While Elijah is a great name no matter what your belief system, there’s no denying that it’s an especially biblical name, and it has a powerful, historical meaning, which is what a lot of parents may look for in a baby boy name.
James
James is definitely a great middle name, and it’s certainly a strong option for a boy’s first name — and even a girl’s name. Let’s not forget that Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively named their daughter James (via HelloGiggles), and it was a great, creative choice. That said, James remained a popular name choice for boys over the decade. According to the Social Security Administration, 126,060 boys were named James from 2010 to 2018.
As The Bump reported, the name James means “he who supplants,” and the baby boy name is definitely popular, as it’s found in the Bible and among plenty of notable historical figures. James is a classic name that definitely seems to insinuate a strong, powerful presence. More so, the name James has been around for centuries. Biblically speaking, there are two apostles in the New Testament with the name James, according to Behind the Name, which could definitely have something to do with the name’s popularity. There are also famous writers, inventors, and presidents with the name, making it a solid choice.
Alexander
A great, versatile name for a baby boy is Alexander, which can be shortened to Alex or even Xander, and the name definitely one of the most popular names out there. According to the Social Security Administration, there were 130,477 baby boys given the name Alexander from 2010 to 2018, which is no small number.
The popularity of the baby boy name Alexander might have something to do with its impressive meaning. According to The Bump, the name means “defender of mankind,” but there’s actually more to it than that. As Behind the Name reported, Alexander the Great, who was the king of Macedonia, is a big part of the name’s popularity. “In the 4th century BC he built a huge empire out of Greece, Egypt, Persia, and parts of India,” the site explained. “Due to his fame, and later medieval tales involving him, use of his name spread throughout Europe.” It’s definitely hard to think of the name Alexander without thinking of Alexander the Great, that much is true.
Michael
Given the historical relevance of the name Michael, it’s no wonder that the name was one of the most popular choices for parents to name their baby boys this past decade. Specifically, according to the Social Security Administration, there were 134,043 babies named Michael born between 2010 and 2018. Michael is definitely a popular name choice for boys, and there’s plenty of good reasons for that.
For instance, according to Behind the Name, the name Michael comes from the Hebrew Mikha’el, meaning “who is like God?” The site noted, “This is a rhetorical question, implying no person is like God.” Truly, it’s a pretty powerful name, and was even the most popular boy name from 1961 to 1998, per the Social Security Administration. In short, you really can’t go wrong when you pick the baby boy name Michael because the name is a total classic, and there are plenty of famous Michaels your little one can look up to — Michael Jordan is just a start.
Ethan
There were reportedly 137,512 baby Ethans born between 2010 and 2018, according to the Social Security Administration. The name Ethan, which was one of the most popular baby boy names in 2018, might not be as used as the baby boy names higher on the list from Social Security (over 8,000 less parents named their baby boy Ethan than the next highest name on Social Security’s list), but it’s still pretty interesting.
In fact, according to Behind the Name, Ethan comes from Hebrew and means “solid, enduring, firm.” Additionally, the name first started to get more popular and “common in America due to the fame of the revolutionary Ethan Allen.” Moreover, The Bump reported that Ethan is a “biblical name and a traditional pick for families that’s enduring, sturdy and sensitive.” Ethan is pretty different, despite its biblical history, and it is a great name for any parent wanting a meaningful, timeless name for their baby boy. Though there are plenty of great names for boys, Ethan definitely stands out.
William
The baby boy name William has been pretty popular over the past decade. The name is definitely a classic, and it’s quite old-fashioned. According to the Social Security Administration, there were 145,893 baby boys named William born between 2010 and 2018.
Though William is an old, pretty common name, there’s an interesting story as to how it first became really popular. According to Behind the Name, William “became extremely popular in England after William the Conqueror was recognized as the first Norman king of England in the 11th century.” Additionally, as The Bump reported, “There hasn’t been a year when William wasn’t popular.” The name is classic in the best way, and is a great go-to for parents who want their little one to have a name that is both storied and simple. William could make for a great first name to carry down through generations or even a nice middle name. William is a no-nonsense moniker that sounds great on anyone.
Mason
Perhaps one of the most unique baby boy names that was popular this decade is Mason. While the name might not sound unique, it kind of is. According to Behind the Name, the name Mason comes “from an English surname meaning ‘stoneworker.'” It might sound pretty strange that a name meaning “stoneworker” would be so popular, but, according to The Bump, Mason is actually super beloved in terms of “English occupational surnames.”
That said, Mason was definitely popular over the last decade. According to the Social Security Administration, there were a whopping 146,079 baby Masons born between 2010 and 2018. As The Bump reported, one pretty popular usage of the name Mason was by Kourtney Kardashian for her firstborn son. While there’s no way to know for sure if Kardashian’s son had anything to do with the rise in popularity of Mason, it wouldn’t be too surprising if that was the case. The Kardashians are definitely trendsetters, and Mason is a trendy, cute name.
Jacob
One of the most popular baby boy names of the past decade is Jacob. According to the Social Security Administration, from 2010 to 2018, there were 152,020 baby boys named Jacob, which is fairly impressive. There were so many baby boys named Jacob in the past decade that the name just barely missed out on being the second-most popular name for boys between the years 2010 and 2018. Notably, Jacob was also the most popular boy name from 1999 to 2012, per the Social Security Administration, so it makes sense that the name would make the list of most popular boy names this decade.
In addition to its popularity, Jacob also has an interesting meaning to it. According to Behind the Name, Jacob means “may God protect,” but the name also has a more biblical meaning as well. As the website reported, the book of Genesis in the bible defines Jacob as meaning “holder of the heel” or “supplanter,” because Jacob twice deprived his brother of his rights as the firstborn son.” Jacob is a pretty fascinating name, and it doesn’t seem like it’s going anywhere in the next decade.
Liam
The name Liam was the second-most popular baby boy name of the decade, with 152,994 baby Liams being born between 2010 and 2018, according to the Social Security Administration. The name’s popularity is relatively new, as Liam has only been a top-five name since 2013, per the Social Security Administration. Basically, as Liam hasn’t been popular for long, the years that it has been popular have been pretty outstanding for the name. More and more parents have used Liam as a baby boy name for a multitude of reasons, but the name’s meaning is what’s really interesting.
Really, Liam has risen in popularity pretty quickly, but the name has a fairly old-fashioned meaning and background. According to Behind the Name, Liam comes from William, which means “will helmet,” composed of the elements wil, meaning “will, desire” and helm, meaning “helmet, protection.” As the website reported, William has been a popular name for centuries, as plenty of royals and notable figures have shared the same name. Still, Liam is different than William, and, according to The Bump, is far more popular.
Noah
The most popular baby boy name ever from the 2010s was easily Noah. According to the Social Security Administration, between 2010 and 2018, 163,657 babies were named Noah. To put it into perspective, there were over 10,000 more Noahs than there were the kiddos with the second-most-popular baby boy name, so Noah was clearly a hit over the past decade.
To be fair, Noah is a pretty cool name. While the name certainly has a biblical background — the story of Noah’s ark might just be enough reason for many parents to choose such a powerful, steadfast name — that isn’t all that the moniker means. According to The Bump, Noah means “peaceful,” and comes from Hebrew origin. Additionally, the site reports that Noah has been in the top 15 names for baby boys since 2009, meaning that it’s been super popular for quite some time. Noah might mean “peaceful,” but the name is also pretty powerful for holding its spot as one of the most popular names for so long. And there’s no denying that it’s one of the many baby names with great meanings out there.
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