Ever walked into a preschool lately and felt like you were in a glitch in the matrix? You shout "Liam!" and four tiny humans turn around. It’s wild. If you’re looking at the most popular male names in the US, you’re probably either hunting for the perfect baby name or wondering why every second kid on the playground is named Oliver.
Naming a human is a lot of pressure. You want something that sounds strong but not "I'm trying too hard to be a Viking" strong. According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), which tracks every single birth certificate in the country, the data for the last few years—including the official 2024 and 2025 tallies—shows we are officially in the era of the "Soft Masculine" name.
The Heavy Hitters: Who’s Winning the Name Game?
Liam has been the undisputed king for years. Seriously. It has held the #1 spot since 2017. Before that, Noah had a solid four-year run. These two are basically the LeBron and Steph Curry of the baby name world.
But why?
Liam is short. It's punchy. It feels Irish but works everywhere. Honestly, it’s just a "safe" name that still feels slightly more modern than, say, Robert or Richard.
Here is what the top of the mountain looks like right now:
- Liam (The reigning champ)
- Noah (The perennial runner-up)
- Oliver (The vintage darling)
- Theodore (The "old man" name that's cool again)
- James (The unkillable classic)
- Henry
- Mateo
- Elijah
- Lucas
- William
Notice something? These names are mostly "vowel-heavy." They aren't harsh. They don't have that "G" or "K" sound that makes a name feel aggressive. We've moved away from the "tough guy" names of the 80s and 90s.
The Rise of Theodore and the "Grandpa" Trend
If you told someone in 1995 that Theodore would be a top 5 name, they’d think you were naming a chipmunk. But "Theo" is everywhere. It’s part of a massive shift toward what experts call "vintage revival."
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Parents are digging through the 1920s archives. They want names that feel like they belong to a guy who works with his hands but also writes poetry. Henry and Oliver fit this perfectly. They have history. They feel established.
There's also Mateo. This is a huge one. Its rise mirrors the growing Hispanic population in the US, but it’s also just a beautiful name that has crossed over into every demographic. It’s the Spanish version of Matthew, but let’s be real, it sounds way cooler.
The Names Falling Off the Map
Everything that goes up must come down.
Remember Jason? It was the #1 name for most of the 70s. Now? It's barely hanging on in the top 150.
Matthew and Michael are also sliding. Michael was #1 for almost half a century (from 1954 to 1998, with one tiny break), but it’s slowly being replaced by names like Asher and Ezra.
It’s not that people hate Michael. It’s just that everyone knows a Michael. Parents today are obsessed with being "unique," even if they all end up choosing the same "unique" name at the same time.
Why Geography Changes Everything
The most popular male names in the US aren't the same if you live in Texas versus Vermont.
In California and Arizona, Mateo and Santiago are absolute powerhouses. In the South—places like Alabama or Mississippi—you still see William and John dominating the charts. New England loves Oliver and Henry.
If you want to avoid a name that’s "too popular," don’t just look at the national list. Look at your state. A name might be #45 nationally but #2 in your specific zip code because of local trends or cultural pockets.
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The "Western" and "Nature" Explosion
While the top 10 is pretty stagnant, the middle of the pack is where the weird, cool stuff happens. There is a massive trend right now for "cowboy" names.
We’re talking about:
- Waylon
- Wyatt
- Walker
- Colter
- Stetson (Yes, like the hat)
These names feel rugged. They suggest a kid who’s going to grow up and own a ranch, even if he actually ends up working in software development in a city.
Then you have the nature names. River is huge. Forest is climbing. Even Sky and Ocean are starting to pop up on the boys' side. It’s a reaction to our digital lives. We spend all day looking at screens, so we name our kids after the things we wish we were looking at instead.
Does Popularity Actually Matter?
Here’s a secret: being #1 today isn't what it used to be.
Back in the 1950s, if your name was James or Mary, you shared that name with a huge percentage of the population. Today, parents are so fragmented in their choices that even the #1 name, Liam, accounts for less than 1% of all male births.
Your kid is much less likely to be "Liam B." in a class of three Liams than a "Michael" was in 1985. We have more variety now than at any point in American history.
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How to Choose Without Regret
If you're staring at the list of most popular male names in the US and feeling overwhelmed, take a breath.
Don't overthink the "popularity" thing too much. If you love the name Noah, use it. Who cares if there’s another one on the soccer team? There’s a reason these names are popular—they’re good names. They’re easy to spell, they sound nice, and they age well from a toddler to a CEO.
But if you really want to stand out, look at the names in the 200–500 range. These are names people recognize but haven't heard a thousand times this week. Think names like:
- Desmond
- Arthur
- Malcolm
- Gideon
They’re "real" names with history, but they aren't Liam.
Your Next Steps for Naming
If you’re ready to narrow it down, don't just look at the 2024 and 2025 lists. Look at the "Fastest Risers." The SSA publishes a list of names that jumped the most spots in a single year. These are the "trendy" names that might be #1 in five years. Names like Truce, Kylian, and Cassian are currently sprinting up the charts.
Check the Social Security Administration's official database for your specific state to see what's actually happening in your neighborhood. Then, say the name out loud with your last name. Does it sound like a person, or does it sound like a brand of artisanal pickles? If it’s the former, you’ve probably found a winner.
The goal isn't just to follow the trend—it's to find a name that fits the human you're about to meet. Whether that's a #1 Liam or a #991 Truce, the data is just a guide, not a rulebook.