Top boy Names For 2021

Names that reflect values and heritage.

Illustration: MomJunction Design Team

Most parents select baby names that stand for some admirable human qualities. The popular boy names of 2021 represent qualities such as strength, bravery, and nobility. These popular names blend traditional and modern influences, each representing admirable traits parents hope their sons will embrace. Many of these names come with a rich history, which adds to their charm. These names offer a sense of heritage and convey meaningful qualities that keep them relevant even after centuries.

Two of the top favorites, Liam (protector) and William (protector) signify protection and are also associated with bravery or fearlessness. Similarly, names like Ethan (strong) and Bryan (strong) convey strength, a highly valued trait in boys. On the modern side, names like Ryder (mounted warrior) and Xander (defender of people) bring to mind warriors with meanings that highlight their roles as defenders and protectors of their people. If you’re looking for popular and meaningful boy names in the US, check out the list below, compiled from official SSA data (1).

In This Article

Browse Top Baby Names by Gender

Girl Boy

Browse Top Baby Names by Year

Name		Gender	Meaning
Liam-Name-Origin,-Meaning-&-Variants:-A-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	Strong-willed warrior; Protector; Guardian; My nation; My people
Oliver		Boy	Olive; Olive tree planter; Ancestor's descendant; All cautious
Elijah		Boy	Yahweh is my God
William		Boy	Will; Protector
James-Name-Meaning,-History-&-Variations:-A-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	Supplanter
Benjamin-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-History-&-Global-Popularity		Boy	Son of the right hand; Son of the south
Lucas-Name-Meaning,-History-&-Popularity-In-2025		Boy	Bringer of light; From Lucania; Light
Henry-Name-Meaning:-Complete-Guide-To-Origins-And-Popularity		Boy	Home ruler
Alexander		Boy	Defender of mankind
Mason-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-Popularity:-A-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	Stone worker
Michael		Boy	Who is like God?
Ethan		Boy	Enduring; Firm; Strong
Daniel-Name-Meaning-&-Origin:-Complete-Guide-For-2025		Boy	God is my judge
Jacob:-Complete-Guide-To-Origin,-Meaning,-And-Popularity		Boy	May God protect; Holder of the heel; Supplanter
Jackson-Baby-Name-Meaning,-Origin-&-History:-Complete-Guide		Boy	Son of Jack
Levi		Boy	Joined; Attached; He will join
Sebastian		Boy	From Sebaste; Venerable; Exalted
Mateo:-A-Guide-To-Meaning,-Origin,-Popularity,-And-Variants		Boy	God's gift
Jack		Boy	God is gracious; Healthy; Supplanter
Owen		Boy	Well-born; Noble birth; Born from the yew tree
Theodore-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-History,-And-Key-Insights		Unisex	God's gift
Aiden		Unisex	Little fire
Samuel		Boy	Name of God; God has heard
Joseph-Complete-Guide:-Meaning,-Origin,-Variants-&-Popularity		Boy	He will add; Praise
John		Boy	God is gracious
David		Boy	Beloved; Uncle
Matthew-Name-Meaning,-Origin-&-Popularity:-A-Complete-Guide		Boy	God's gift
Luke-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-Your-Comprehensive-Guide-In-2025		Boy	Bringer of light; From Lucania; Light
Asher		Boy	Happy; Blessed; Someone who lived by an ash tree or ash grove
Carter-Name-Meaning-&-Origin:-Complete-Guide-For-Your-Baby		Boy	Tourist; Sojourner; Son of Carter; One who uses a cart
Julian-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-Expert-Guide-For-2025		Boy	Youthful; Bright; Juvenile; Downy-bearded
Grayson		Boy	Son of a gray-haired person
Leo-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-Variations:-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	Lion
Nova-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-Complete-Guide-For-Baby-Girls		Girl	New; New star
Gabriel-Baby-Name:-Meaning,-Origin-&-Comprehensive-Guide		Unisex	God is my strength
Isaac-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-Popularity:-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	He will laugh; He will rejoice; Laughter
Lincoln-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-History:-A-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	Pool or lake colony
Anthony-Meaning,-Origin,-And-Popularity:-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	Flower
Dylan-Name-Meaning-In-2025:-Origin,-Popularity-&-Variations		Boy	To tide; To flow
Hudson		Boy	Son of Hudde; Mind; Thought; Spirit
Ezra		Boy	Help
Thomas		Boy	Twin
Charles-Name-Origin,-Meaning-&-Popularity:-Complete-Guide-For-2025		Boy	Free man
Christopher		Boy	Bearer of Christ; One who carries Christ
Jaxon		Boy	Son of Jack; God is gracious
Josiah-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-History-&-Pop-Culture-Insights		Boy	Jehovah supports
Maverick-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-Popularity-&-Expert-Guide		Boy	Independent person who avoids conformity
Isaiah-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-A-Comprehensive-Guide-For-2025		Boy	Yahweh is salvation; God saves
Andrew		Boy	Man; Manly; Brave; Strength; Warrior
Joshua		Boy	God is salvation
Elias-Baby-Name:-Origin,-Meaning-&-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	My God is Yahweh
Nathan-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-Variants-&-Popularity-In-2025		Boy	Gift of God; God has given; He gave
Caleb-Name-Meaning-&-Origin-in-2025:-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	Dog; Brave; Devoted to God; Whole-hearted
Ryan-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-Comprehensive-Guide		Unisex	Little king
Adrian		Boy	Man from Hadria
Miles		Boy	Gracious; Merciful; Soldier
Eli		Boy	Ascension; My God; My God is an oath; Torch
Aaron		Boy	Exalted; High mountain
Ezekiel		Boy	God will strengthen
Colton		Boy	From a coal town
Luca-Name-Meaning-&-Origin:-Complete-Baby-Name-Guide		Boy	Bringer of light; From Lucania; Light
Landon-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-History-&-Popularity-Guide		Boy	Long hill
Jonathan		Boy	Gift of God
Santiago-Baby-Name:-Origin,-Meaning-&-Popularity-Guide		Unisex	Saint James; Holder of the heel; Supplanter
Axel		Boy	Father is peace
Easton		Boy	From the east town
Jeremiah-Name-Meaning-&-Origin:-A-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	Yahweh will exalt
Connor		Boy	Lover of wolves; Hunter; Desiring wolves
Jameson		Boy	Son of James; Supplanter
Robert-Name-Meaning-2025:-Complete-Guide-To-Origin-&-Nicknames		Boy	Bright fame; Shining glory; Bright in counsel
Greyson-Name-Meaning,-History-&-Popularity:-Complete-Guide		Boy	Son of the gray-haired man; Son of the steward
Ian		Boy	Yahweh is gracious
Carson		Boy	Son of marsh dwellers; Descendant of Carra
Jaxson-Name-Meaning,-History,-Popularity-&-More:-Complete-Guide		Boy	Son of Jack
Leonardo		Boy	Brave lion; Hard; Brave; Hardy
Nicholas		Boy	People's victory
Dominic		Boy	Belonging to God
Everett-Name-Meaning-And-History:-Complete-Guide		Boy	Brave boar
Austin-Baby-Name-Guide:-Meaning,-Origin,-And-Popularity		Boy	Grand; Majestic; To grow
Xavier-Baby-Name:-Origin,-Meaning-&-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	New house; Bright
Brooks		Boy	Stream; One who lived near a brook or stream
Jose		Boy	God will give; He will add
Jace-Baby-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-Popularity-in-2025		Boy	Healer; To heal
Adam-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-History,-Variations-&-Popularity		Boy	Son of the Earth; Formed of earth; Red; One from the soil
Wesley-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-Comprehensive-Guide-In-2025		Boy	West meadow
Kayden		Boy	Fighter; Companion
Silas		Boy	Of the forest; Of the woods; Asked for; Prayed for
Declan		Boy	Full of goodness
Waylon-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-Popularity:-Complete-Guide		Boy	Craft; Cunning
Weston-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-2025-Popularity-Trends		Boy	From the western town
Evan-Baby-Name:-Complete-Guide-To-Meaning,-History-&-Popularity		Boy	Yahweh is gracious; God is gracious; Youth; Born from the yew tree
Ryder-Name-Meaning,-Origin-And-Popularity:-Complete-2025-Guide		Boy	Mounted warrior; Knight; Messenger
Beau		Boy	Beautiful; Handsome
Brayden		Boy	Broad valley; Wise; Brave; Descendant of Bradán; Salmon
Harrison		Boy	House ruler; Son of Harry
Bryson		Boy	Freckled; Son of Brice; Speckled man's son
Amir-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-Variations-&-Popularity-Trends-2025		Boy	Ruler; Prince; Commander
Kingston-Name-Meaning-And-History:-A-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	King's town; Farmstead estate
Jason		Boy	To heal; Healer
Giovanni-Name-Meaning:-Comprehensive-Guide-For-Baby-Boy-Names		Boy	God is gracious

Infographic: Popular Boy Names Symbolizing Faith In God

For centuries, parents have chosen names for their children that reflect their faith in the Almighty. And despite the ever-changing trends, many parents still opt for baby names with deep spiritual meanings. The infographic below offers a look at the most trending boy names with spiritual meanings.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team