Top boy Names For 2021

Names that reflect values and heritage.

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
Nikolay		Boy	Victory; The triumph of the public
Osbaldo-Name-Meaning:-Comprehensive-Guide-To-Origin-&-History		Boy	Mighty God
Owais		Boy	A wolf
Raekwon-Baby-Name-Guide:-Meaning,-Pronunciation,-And-Popularity		Boy	Great army
Rajah		Boy	Prince
Redford		Boy	An English habitational name; To ride; Ford that can be crossed on horseback
Reuel-Name-Meaning:-A-Comprehensive-Guide-For-Parents		Boy	God's friend
Quan		Boy	Spring; Fountain; Power; Whole; Fine cloth; Army
Rigel-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-A-Comprehensive-Guide-In-2025		Boy	Foot
Rodger		Boy	Renowned warrior; Spear; Glory; Launches; Fame
Russ		Boy	A little red one
Sachin-Name-Meaning:-Ultimate-Guide-To-Origin-&-History		Boy	True; Real
Sanford		Boy	From sand ford
Rishiv		Boy	Knowledgeable; Saintly
Saud-Name-Meaning:-Guide-To-Origin,-Variations-&-Popularity		Boy	Fortunate; Good luck
Seneca		Boy	An old man; Place of stones
Simba-Name-Origin,-Meaning-&-History:-What-You-Need-To-Know		Boy	Power; Strength; Lion
Sekou		Boy	Leader of a tribe; An elderly man; Islamic scholar
Terron		Boy	Man of the earth
Timofey		Boy	Honoring God
Shon		Girl	God is gracious
Tommaso		Boy	Twin
Taika		Girl	Thunder
Syris		Unisex	Sun
Yordan		Boy	Descent; Flow down
Uhtred		Boy	Pre-dawn; Advice; Earl
Umair		Boy	Long-lived; Prosperous; Populous
Zayed		Boy	To grow; To increase; Abundance; Progress
Valerio		Boy	To be strong
Zoran		Boy	Dawn; Aurora
Abdulahi		Boy	God's servant
Yohannes:-Complete-Guide-To-Pronunciation,-Meaning-&-Popularity		Boy	Yahweh is gracious
Abran-Baby-Name-Guide:-Meaning,-Pronunciation-&-Popularity		Boy	High father
Zaheer		Boy	Helper; Supporter; Shining; Brilliant; Radiant; Booming
Achilleus		Boy	Pain
Vishruth-Name:-Guide-To-Pronunciation,-Meaning-&-Trends		Unisex	Famous; Renowned; Well-known; Widespread
Wheeler		Unisex	Someone who makes or repairs wheels; Wheels
Zorian-Baby-Name-Guide:-Pronunciation,-Popularity-&-Meaning		Boy	Star; Dawn
Adrik		Boy	One who is from Hadria; Dark; Small mountain
Aleck		Boy	Defender of mankind
Alric		Boy	Ruler of all; Noble ruler
Amaar		Boy	Immortality; Long-lived; Virtuous
Amogh		Boy	Lord Ganesh; Unerring; Invincible; That which has no alternative
Angelino		Boy	Messenger of God; Angel
Acre		Unisex	The amount of land a yoke of oxen can plow in a day; Field
Arnaldo		Boy	Powerful as an Eagle
Ashraf		Boy	Honorable; Nobler; Noble; Kind; Excellent
Avinash		Boy	Indestructible; Invincible; Cannot be conquered; Undefeatable
Azar		Boy	Scarlet; Fire; Ninth month in Persian solar year
Azarel		Boy	One who is helped by God
Bladen		Boy	From Blaydon
Blas		Boy	Stutters; Lisping
Bostyn		Boy	From the city of Boston, Massachusetts; Botwulf's stone
Brannon		Boy	Descendant of Braonán; Rain; Moisture; Drop
Canton		Boy	One who lived on a street corner; From place names
Caron		Boy	Name of a town; Beloved; Friend
Celestino-Baby-Name:-Meaning,-Pronunciation-&-Popularity-Guide		Boy	A heavenly person
Adhya		Boy	First; Today; Unparalleled
Chapman		Boy	Name of a merchant; Trader
Coleton		Boy	Charcoal town
Corbett		Boy	Raven; Little crow
Damiano		Boy	One who tames
Braxon		Unisex	Bracca's town; Badger; Brock's town
Danyal-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-Variants-&-Popularity-Guide		Boy	God is my judge
Daviel		Boy	Beloved; Uncle
Demetrios		Boy	Earth mother
Blaze		Girl	Stutters; Lisping; Fire
Dj		Boy	A believer in truth
Donavon		Boy	Descendent of Donndubhan; Dark; Brown
Berlyn		Boy	Son of Berl
Eldin-Name-Meaning:-Pronunciation,-Popularity-&-Variations		Boy	Wise guardian; Faith; Religion
Elgin-Name-Meaning-&-History:-A-Complete-Parent-Guide		Boy	High-minded; Intelligent
Elson-Name-Meaning,-Origin-&-6-Charming-Nicknames		Boy	Son of Ellis; Name of a town
Emmerich-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-Variations-&-Popularity-Guide		Boy	Whole; Great; Unceasing; Brave; Home; Ruler; King
Erich-Name:-Pronunciation,-Popularity-&-Complete-Guide		Boy	Eternal ruler
Erion		Boy	The wind from Ion sea; Our wind; Elderly
Faheem		Boy	Intelligent; Scholar
Filippo		Boy	Horse lover
Frazier		Boy	Nobility; Name of a place in France
Gautam		Boy	Lord Buddha; A name of Lord Buddha; One who dispels darkness
Gianmarco		Boy	God is gracious; Warlike; Male
Gryphon		Boy	Fighting chief; Fierceful
Hamish		Boy	Supplanter
Helix		Boy	A curve in three-dimensional space; Twisted
Iyad:-Complete-Guide-To-Meaning,-History,-And-Variations		Boy	To support; To reinforce
Jacksen		Boy	Son of Jack
Jahiem		Boy	Raised Up; Dignified
Hajar		Boy	Flight
Irfan		Girl	Knowledge; Awareness; Learning
Jasim		Boy	Strong; Great; Famous
Jerrod		Boy	Descent
Jove		Boy	Jupiter; Father of the sky; God is gracious
Jubal-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-History,-Popularity-&-Key-Insights		Boy	Stream; Father of music
Justis		Boy	Upright, righteous
Juventino		Boy	Youth
Kalino		Boy	The brilliant one
Kalman		Boy	Remainder; Dove; Beautiful name
Kannan-Name:-Complete-Guide-To-Pronunciation-&-Popularity		Boy	Black; Dark; Lord Krishna; The one who is to be seen
Kavan		Boy	Poem and water; Handsome
Kenson		Boy	Royal king

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