Naming a human is terrifying. You’re basically picking the first word of their autobiography before they’ve even taken a breath. For decades, we just defaulted to the "Michael" or "Christopher" pile and called it a day. But lately? Things have gone off the rails in the best way possible.
If you look at the Social Security Administration (SSA) data from the last couple of years, you’ll notice something wild. The "diversity" of names is exploding. In the 1950s, the top five baby boy names accounted for a massive chunk of all boys born. Now? The top names like Liam or Noah represent a tiny fraction of the total. We’re all individualists now. Or at least, we're trying to be.
Parents are moving away from "classic" and sprinting toward "vibe."
The Rise of the "O" Ending and Why It Won't Stop
Have you noticed how many baby boy names end in "o" lately? It’s everywhere. Arlo, Leo, Milo, Otto, Hugo. It’s the "O" era. There’s something about that vowel—it sounds friendly but sturdy. It doesn’t feel as stuffy as "Robert" but it’s not as ephemeral as some of the more "creative" spellings we saw in the early 2010s.
Social researchers often point to the "Hundred-Year Rule." Basically, names that were popular with our great-grandparents start sounding fresh again after a century. That’s why Theodore (and the inevitable nickname Theo) has rocketed back into the top ten. It’s a name that feels like it belongs to a kid who reads books under a tree but could also be a high-powered attorney.
Wait. Let's talk about Ezra for a second.
Ezra was a "dusty" name for a long time. Now? It’s the quintessential cool-guy name. It’s short. It’s got that "z" which adds a bit of edge. It’s biblical but doesn’t feel overly religious. It’s a perfect example of how baby boy names shift from "old man" to "toddler in a denim jacket" in a single generation.
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Nature Names and the "Yellowstone" Effect
Pop culture ruins—or makes—everything. It’s just a fact. You can’t look at the rise of names like Dutton, Kayce, or Wilder without acknowledging the massive influence of Western-themed media and the general "outdoor" aesthetic. People want their sons to sound like they can start a fire with two sticks.
River, Forest, and Atlas are no longer just for the crunchy-granola crowd in Portland. They’ve gone mainstream. According to Nameberry, search interest in "Earth-inspired" names has seen a triple-digit increase over the last five years. Why? Honestly, it’s probably a reaction to our hyper-digital lives. If we’re going to be staring at screens all day, maybe we want our kids to have names that sound like a hiking trail.
Then there’s the "Grandpa-Chic" movement.
Names like Arthur, Walter, and Harvey are clawing their way back. It’s a bit ironic. We spent twenty years trying to find the most unique, modern names possible, and now the most "unique" thing you can do is name your kid Harold. It’s a power move. It says, "My son is an eighty-year-old man in a three-year-old’s body."
The "S" Suffix and the Soft Boy Aesthetic
There is a massive shift toward "softer" sounding baby boy names. For a long time, boy names had to be hard. Jack. Grant. Kurt. They sounded like a punch to the jaw. But now, we’re seeing a surge in names that end in "s" or have softer consonants.
- Silas
- Brooks
- Miles
- Ames
- Rhys
These names have a melodic quality. They feel sophisticated. They reflect a change in how we view masculinity—less "lumberjack" and more "thoughtful creative."
But let’s be real: sometimes we just like how a name looks on Instagram.
The visual symmetry of a name matters more now than it did in 1985. Parents are literally "testing" names by typing them out in different fonts to see if they look balanced. Finn looks great. It’s snappy. It’s symmetrical. It’s hard to mess up.
What People Get Wrong About "Unique" Names
A lot of parents think they’re being unique by picking a name like Maverick or Jaxson. Here’s the reality: if you think it’s unique, three other people in your yoga class probably think so too.
In fact, Maverick has been one of the fastest-climbing baby boy names in the US for several years. It’s no longer the name of a rebel; it’s the name of the kid who’s going to be in a kindergarten class with three other Mavericks.
If you actually want something unique, you have to look at the data inversely. Look for names that were popular in the 1980s but haven’t come back yet. Scott, Brian, Jeffrey. These names are actually rarer for babies born in 2026 than "unique" names like Kylo or Zion. It’s a weird paradox. The "boring" names are becoming the new "unique" names because nobody is using them.
The Influence of Globalism and Surname-Names
We’re seeing a beautiful blending of cultures in the charts. Names like Luca, Kai, and Mateo are massive right now because they work across multiple languages. Mateo specifically has surged, cracking the top ten in many states. It’s easy to pronounce, sounds classic but energetic, and has deep roots.
Also, we need to address the "Surname as a First Name" trend. It’s not just Jackson anymore.
- Sullivan
- Callahan
- Hayes
- Lincoln
- Miller
This is the "prep school" aesthetic. It gives a kid a sense of history even if it's not a family name. It sounds established. It sounds like someone who owns a boat or at least knows how to tie a very complicated knot.
Actionable Advice for Picking the Right Name
Don't just look at the top 10 list and pick something. That's how you end up with a kid who is "Aiden B." for his entire school career.
First, check the Social Security Administration’s regional data. National trends are one thing, but naming trends vary wildly by state. Wyatt might be number one in Wyoming but much rarer in New Jersey. If you want to avoid popularity, check your specific state's rankings from the previous year.
Second, shout it out the back door. Seriously. This is the oldest trick in the book for a reason. If you feel ridiculous yelling "Bartholomew, dinner's ready!" then it’s probably not the name for you. You’re going to be saying this name roughly 400,000 times in the next decade. Make sure it doesn't tire out your tongue.
Third, consider the "Starbucks Test." Go to a coffee shop, give the name to the barista, and see how they spell it or react. If they look at you like you’ve just spoken an ancient elvish dialect, your kid is going to spend his whole life correcting people. Some people like that. Most people find it exhausting.
Lastly, don't stress the "meaning" too much. Very few people care that a name means "dweller by the small stream" in Old High German. They care how it sounds and how it makes them feel. Trust your gut. If a name feels like it fits the little human you’re about to meet, that’s usually the only data point that actually matters.