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Top Baby Names In USA For 2021

Naming trends in the US show slight changes every year. Top US baby names in 2021 showed that parents prefer names that are not just meaningful and traditional but relevant in modern times. They preferred names with a rich background but also a contemporary sound. Owing to this change in preference, unconventional names saw a pique in interest and rose in the popularity charts.

The classic favorites Olivia (peace) and Emma (universal) stayed at the top of the list as parents continued to shower love on these timeless names. Alongside them, the popularity list also highlighted unique and trendy choices like Nora (light) and Scarlett (the color scarlet), which also gained significant attention. For boys, Liam (protector) and Noah (to rest) stayed right up at the top of the list, while more unconventional choices like Grayson (son of a gray-haired person) and Connor (lover of wolves) also won the affection of parents. Below is a list of the most popular names in the US, based on the official SSA data (1). Look for a stylish and trendy name for your little one.

In This Article

Browse Top Baby Names by Gender


Browse Top Baby Names by Year

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NameGenderMeaning
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Maurice
Baby Boy Sign Boy Moorish
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Promise
Baby Girl Sign Girl Promise; Pledge; Vow
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Keily
Baby Girl Sign Girl Slender; Graceful
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Alvaro
Baby Boy Sign Boy Elf army; All guard
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Tristen
Baby Boy Sign Boy Sadness
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Demetrius
Baby Girl Sign Girl Earth mother; Devoted to goddess Demeter
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Azariah
Baby Girl Sign Girl God helps; Yahweh has helped
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Brayan
Baby Boy Sign Boy Hill; Noble; Power
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Hadlee
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Field of heather
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Zaria
Baby Girl Sign Girl Blooming flower
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Simone-Name-Meaning:-A-Complete-Guide-For-Expecting-Moms
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex He who hears; Listener
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Rudy
Baby Boy Sign Boy Famous wolf
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Randy-Name:-Origin,-Meaning,-History-&-Popularity-Guide
Baby Boy Sign Boy Strong Defender; Son of the Shield; Wolf on shield rim; Admirable; Wonderful
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Arian
Baby Boy Sign Boy Noble; Educated; Golden life; Ram
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Crystal
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Crystal; Ice
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Rocky
Baby Boy Sign Boy Rest; Crow; Rook
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Halle-Name-Meaning,-Origin-&-Popularity:-Ultimate-Guide
Baby Girl Sign Girl Rock; Army ruler; Manor; Hall
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Kabir-Name-Meaning:-Comprehensive-Guide-To-Origin-&-Popularity
Baby Boy Sign Boy Great; Powerful; Leader
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Oakleigh-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-Comprehensive-Guide-For-2025
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex From the oak meadow; Meadow of oak trees
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Yousef
Baby Boy Sign Boy Jehovah increases
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Fallon
Baby Boy Sign Boy Supreme; Descended from a ruler
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Aliya-Name-Origin-And-Meaning-In-2025:-A-Complete-Guide
Baby Girl Sign Girl Highborn; Exalted; Ascent
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Ila
Baby Girl Sign Girl Earth; Speech; Companion; Associate; Torch; Island
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Rodney
Baby Boy Sign Boy Roda's island; Island near the clearing
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Jaylin
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Beautiful jaybird; Lake
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Paisleigh
Baby Girl Sign Girl Church
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Aydin
Baby Boy Sign Boy Fire; Enlightened; Illuminating; Clear
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Giana-Name-Meaning-And-Origin-In-2025:-Comprehensive-Guide
Baby Girl Sign Girl God is gracious
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Van
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Marsh; Fen
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Scout
Baby Girl Sign Girl To listen; One who gathers information covertly
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Felipe
Baby Boy Sign Boy Horse lover
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Cynthia
Baby Girl Sign Girl Moon; Woman from Cynthus
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Kaiser
Baby Boy Sign Boy Emperor; Hairy
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Emmeline-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-History:-Comprehensive-Guide
Baby Girl Sign Girl Work
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Eithan
Baby Boy Sign Boy Solid; Enduring; Firm
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Maleah
Baby Girl Sign Girl A wished for child
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Brodie
Baby Boy Sign Boy Mire; Muddy place; Ditch; Second son
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Denise
Baby Girl Sign Girl Alternate name of Dionysius
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Camilo
Baby Boy Sign Boy Religious attendant; Priest's helper; Noble
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Ulises
Baby Boy Sign Boy To hate
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Robin
Baby Boy Sign Boy Bright fame; Shining fame; Fame-bright
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Zora
Baby Girl Sign Girl Dawn; Aurora; Hornet; Strength
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Branson-Name-Meaning:-History,-Pronunciation-&-Popularity-Guide
Baby Boy Sign Boy Burning sword; Son of Brandr
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Aniya
Baby Girl Sign Girl God is gracious; God has shown meaning
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Judson-Name-Meaning:-Ultimate-Guide-To-Origin-&-Popularity
Baby Boy Sign Boy Son of Jud; Son of the one who descends; Son of Judah; Son of the praised one
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Ainhoa
Baby Girl Sign Girl Town of Virgin Mary
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Mordechai
Baby Boy Sign Boy A great soldier; One who worships Marduk; Servant of Marduk
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Lilyana-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-16-Cultural-Variants
Baby Girl Sign Girl From the flower name Lily; My God is an oath; Purity
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Stefan
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Crown; Wreath
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Meghan
Baby Girl Sign Girl Pearl
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Cleo
Baby Girl Sign Girl Fame; Glory; Glory of the father
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Jakari
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Supplanter; Cauldron; Hollow
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Jaxx
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Son of Jack
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Landry
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Land ruler
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Belen
Baby Girl Sign Girl Derived from Bethlehem; House of bread
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Jakob
Baby Boy Sign Boy Holder of the heel; Supplanter; May God protect
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Rey
Baby Boy Sign Boy King; Female roe deer
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Noor-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-History:-A-Comprehensive-Guide
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Divine light
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Brynleigh-Name:-Comprehensive-Guide-To-Meaning-And-History
Baby Girl Sign Girl Hill; Mound; Burnt meadow
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Damari-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-Popularity:-Ultimate-Guide
Baby Girl Sign Girl Gentle; Goddess of fertility; Eternal; Strength; Long lived; One who builds
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Meilani
Baby Girl Sign Girl Heavenly flower; Dark; Heavenly May
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Castiel
Baby Boy Sign Boy God's shield
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Frida
Baby Girl Sign Girl Peace; Beautiful; Beloved
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Yahir
Baby Boy Sign Boy He will enlighten
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Iliana
Baby Girl Sign Girl From Ilium or Troy; God is Yahweh
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Zavier
Baby Boy Sign Boy The new house
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Aries
Baby Boy Sign Boy Ram
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Bentlee
Baby Girl Sign Girl Grass clearing; Meadow
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Leanna
Baby Girl Sign Girl Light; To twine around; Bright
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Violeta
Baby Girl Sign Girl Violet; The violet flower
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Cain-Name-Meaning:-Comprehensive-Guide-To-Origin-And-Popularity
Baby Boy Sign Boy Acquired; To get; Clear water; Beautiful
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Barbara
Baby Girl Sign Girl Stranger; Foreigner
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Addisyn
Baby Boy Sign Boy Son of Adam; God's image
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Henrik-Name-Meaning-&-Origins:-A-Comprehensive-2025-Guide
Baby Boy Sign Boy Lord of the house; Estate ruler 80
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Joey
Baby Boy Sign Boy God will increase; God will add; God is gracious
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Kyng
Baby Boy Sign Boy Sovereign ruler
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Amaris
Baby Boy Sign Boy Pledged by God; God has said; Bitter
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Niklaus-Name-Meaning-&-Origin:-Complete-2025-Guide
Baby Boy Sign Boy Victory of the people; Conqueror of the people; People's champion
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Wrenley
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Songbird
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Zahir
Baby Boy Sign Boy Clear; Manifest; To shine; Helper; Supporter
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Kylen-Name-Meaning:-Guide-To-Origin,-History,-And-Variations
Baby Boy Sign Boy Boomerang; Narrows; Channel; Strait
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Nancy-Name-Meaning-And-History:-Essential-Guide
Baby Girl Sign Girl Grace; Favor; Beautiful; Chaste
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Bear
Baby Boy Sign Boy Produce; To give birth; Brown; Bear
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Kiana
Baby Girl Sign Girl Ancient; Divine; Goddesslike; Essence
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Khalid
Baby Boy Sign Boy Eternal; Immortal; To last forever
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Khalani
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Sea and sky; Earth
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Aila
Baby Girl Sign Girl Noble; Holy; Blessed; Halo; Moonlight; Terebinth tree
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Alfred-Name-Meaning:-Complete-Guide-To-History-&-Variations
Baby Boy Sign Boy Elf counsel
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Graysen
Baby Boy Sign Boy Son of the steward
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Aspyn
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Deciduous trees
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Jair
Baby Boy Sign Boy He shines
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Braylee
Baby Girl Sign Girl Brier clearing; Meadow clearing
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Zev
Baby Boy Sign Boy Wolf
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Darwin
Baby Boy Sign Boy Dear friend
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Valery
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Strong
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Zakai
Baby Boy Sign Boy Pure; Clear; Spotless; Free from blemishes
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Deborah
Baby Girl Sign Girl Bee
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Ayan
Baby Boy Sign Boy God's gift; Manifest; Clear; Watchful
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Anais-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-A-Comprehensive-Guide-For-2025
Baby Girl Sign Girl Highly gracious; Merciful; Immaculate; Undefiled; Goddess of fertility, healing, wisdom, and water
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Harlem
Baby Boy Sign Boy A vibrant neighborhood in New York city; Home on a forested dune
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This list of top US baby names in 2021 offers several name choices. It includes everything from well-loved classics and trendy modern names to unique imports. Explore the list to discover a potential gem for your little one that might perfectly align with your desired qualities. While it’s tempting to choose a name just because it’s popular, aim for a name that resonates with you and would make your child stand out for a unique name.

Infographic: Nature-related Names Popular In 2021

Nature-inspired names carry a refreshing simplicity that ties individuals to the natural world, evoking a sense of peace and calm. These names often symbolize growth and strength. The infographic below highlights some of the most popular nature-related names that parents in the US have cherished over the years.

Nature-related Names Popular In 2021 (infographic)

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.
  1. Popular Names in 2020.
    https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
Shikha is a writer-turned-editor at MomJunction, with over seven years of experience in the field of content. Having done a certification in Relationship Coaching, her core interest lies in writing articles that guide couples through their courtship to marriage and parenthood.

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Siddharth Kesiraju
Siddharth KesirajuMA, Certification in Relationship Coaching
Siddharth holds a certification in Relationship Coaching and a masters degree in communication and journalism from the University of Hyderabad. He has around seven years of experience in various fields of writing and editing.

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Praggya Joshi holds a bachelor's degree in Education and a master's in Ancient Indian History from University of Delhi. She has a robust knowledge of literature, society, and ethics. Praggya has been a content writer since 2021, researching and writing on education, health and wellness, and travel.

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