Top 50 Baby Boy Names
1. James
The all-time top name for boys gives new meaning for the word “timeless,” as it’s been a favorite from Biblical times on through today (it currently ranks in the top 10). It means supplanter.
2. John
This name, which means God is gracious, reigned supreme for more than 400 years—but has fallen slightly out of fashion over the past few decades, which helped James beat it to the top spot.
3. Robert
This English name that means “famous,” ranked in the top 25 for an entire century, even if it’s fallen a bit from that peak.
4. Michael
I’d be shocked if you don’t have at least a half-dozen Mikes in your circle of acquaintance—this name has topped the boy charts for more than half a century. The name of a warrior archangel from the Bible, it means, “Who is like God?”
5. William
Today’s parents may opt for Will or Liam instead of the old school Billy as a nickname, but the name still ranks firmly in the top 10. It has a nice meaning, too—protector.
6. David
This Hebrew name, which means beloved, has been a top 25 standard throughout the past century.
7. Richard
The name of British kings and fallen U.S. presidents, it comes from the German and means ruler.
8. Joseph
Put this name in the timeless category—it means “God is gracious,” and it’s currently still in the top 30.
9. Charles
This French name means “free man,” and has been a royal favorite for centuries.
10. Thomas
No surprise why this name, which means twin, is so beloved—it’s been used for apostles, saints, Founding Fathers and more.
11. Christopher
Christopher means “bearer of Christ,” and it’s been a top 30 pick since the mid-1960s.
12. Daniel
Daniel has been a top 20 favorite for more than a half century, and currently resides in the top 10. Taken from a popular Biblical story, it means “God is my judge.”
13. Matthew
Matthew, which means gift of God, peaked in popularity in the 1980s and 1990s, but still retains a spot in the top 20 names.
14. Donald
This Scottish name means “proud chief,” and fell out of favor in the 1980s.
15. Anthony
An Italian classic, Anthony means priceless one.
16. Mark
This short-and-sweet moniker comes from the Latin word for war.
17. Paul
Thanks to the popular Apostle, Paul, which means rock, has never fallen out of vogue.
18. Steven
Both this variant spelling and the original Stephen ranked in the top 50 all-time names. They share the same meaning, crown.
19. George
Expect to see George rise a little higher on this chart, thanks to the popularity of the adorable Prince George of England. This Greek name means farmer.
20. Kenneth
A popular pick for baby boomers and their sons, Kenneth is an Irish name that means handsome.
21. Andrew
A regular top 25 contender, Andrew means strong and manly.
22. Edward
The popularity of Twilight seems to have steadied this name in the top 200—but it really reigned supreme in the early part of the 20th century. It means wealthy protector.
23. Joshua
Joshua, an Old Testament name that means “the Lord is my salvation,” has only recently dropped out of the top 10.
24. Brian
A Celtic classic that reached its peak in the 1970s, Brian means honorable.
25. Kevin Kevin, a Celtic favorite that means handsome, was a top 25 pick from the 1970s through the ’90s.
