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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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Melanie
Baby Girl Sign Girl Black; Dark; Dark-skinned
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Evan-Baby-Name:-Complete-Guide-To-Meaning,-History-&-Popularity
Baby Boy Sign Boy Yahweh is gracious; God is gracious; Youth; Born from the yew tree
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Melody
Baby Girl Sign Girl Melody; Song
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Emmett-Name-Meaning:-Comprehensive-Guide
Baby Boy Sign Boy Truth; Universal; Whole; Great
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Julia
Baby Girl Sign Girl Downy-bearded; Youthful; Descended from Jove or Jupiter; Supreme God; God's peace for the weary
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Micah-Name-Meaning,-Origin-&-Popularity:-2025-Complete-Guide
Baby Boy Sign Boy Who is like Yahweh?
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Athena-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-History:-A-Comprehensive-Guide
Baby Girl Sign Girl Of Athens; Wise; Goddess of war and wisdom
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Ryder-Name-Meaning,-Origin-And-Popularity:-Complete-2025-Guide
Baby Boy Sign Boy Mounted warrior; Knight; Messenger
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Maria
Baby Girl Sign Girl Bitter; Beloved; Of the sea
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Beau
Baby Boy Sign Boy Beautiful; Handsome
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Damian-Name-Meaning-&-Popularity-In-2025:-Complete-Guide
Baby Girl Sign Girl Master; To tame; Divine power
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Liliana
Baby Girl Sign Girl Lily; Purity; Innocence
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Hadley
Baby Boy Sign Boy Heather field
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Brayden
Baby Boy Sign Boy Broad valley; Wise; Brave; Descendant of Bradán; Salmon
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Rose
Baby Girl Sign Girl Rose; Flower; Famous type
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Gael-Name:-Comprehensive-Guide-To-Origin,-Meaning-&-Popularity
Baby Girl Sign Girl My father is joy
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Rowan-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-A-2025-Comprehensive-Guide
Baby Boy Sign Boy Red-haired; Little redhead; Descendant of Ruadhán; River in paradise
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Arya
Baby Boy Sign Boy Noble; Aryan; Song; Melody
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Harrison
Baby Boy Sign Boy House ruler; Son of Harry
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Bryson
Baby Boy Sign Boy Freckled; Son of Brice; Speckled man's son
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Eliza-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-A-Complete-Guide
Baby Girl Sign Girl My God is an oath; Pledged to God; Joyful
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Adalynn
Baby Girl Sign Girl Noble; Of a noble kind
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Sawyer
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Who saws wood
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Amir-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-Variations-&-Popularity-Trends-2025
Baby Boy Sign Boy Ruler; Prince; Commander
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Kaylee-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-&-Popularity:-Comprehensive-Guide
Baby Girl Sign Girl Laurel; Crown
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Kingston-Name-Meaning-And-History:-A-Comprehensive-Guide
Baby Boy Sign Boy King's town; Farmstead estate
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Lyla
Baby Girl Sign Girl Night; Night beauty; Delicate; Sport; Drama; From the island
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Jason
Baby Boy Sign Boy To heal; Healer
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Mackenzie-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-History:-Comprehensive-Guide
Baby Boy Sign Boy Son of Coinnich; Fair; Handsome; Beautiful
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Giovanni-Name-Meaning:-Comprehensive-Guide-For-Baby-Boy-Names
Baby Boy Sign Boy God is gracious
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Alaia
Baby Girl Sign Girl Joyful; Happy; Lofty
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Vincent-Name-Meaning:-Guide-To-Origin-&-Popularity
Baby Boy Sign Boy Conquering
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Isabelle
Baby Girl Sign Girl My God is an oath; Devoted to God
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Ayden-Baby-Name:-Origin,-Meaning,-History-&-Popularity-In-2025
Baby Boy Sign Boy Little fire
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Charlie-Name-Meaning-In-2025:-A-Comprehensive-Guide
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Free man; Army
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Chase
Baby Boy Sign Boy To hunt; Capture; Huntsmen; Chase
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Mary
Baby Girl Sign Girl Beloved; Exalted; Sea of bitterness; Wished-for child
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Myles
Baby Boy Sign Boy Peaceful; Gracious; Soldier; Mill
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Arianna-Baby-Name-Meaning-&-Origin:-A-Comprehensive-Guide
Baby Girl Sign Girl Most holy; Silver; Melody
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Nathaniel
Baby Boy Sign Boy Gift of God; God has given
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Diego
Baby Boy Sign Boy Teacher; Saint; Supplanter
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Margaret-Name-Meaning-&-Origin:-7-Essential-Facts
Baby Girl Sign Girl Pearl
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Iris
Baby Girl Sign Girl Rainbow; Bringer of Joy; Irish flower; Colored part of the eye
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Legend-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-History-&-Comprehensive-Guide
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Story; Myth; To read; A very famous person
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Jonah
Baby Boy Sign Boy Dove; Peaceful
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Ximena
Baby Girl Sign Girl He has heard; Listening; Son
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River-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-History:-A-Comprehensive-Guide
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Someone who is like a river
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Tyler-Name-Origin,-Meaning,-And-History:-What-You-Need-To-Know
Baby Boy Sign Boy The tile maker
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Eden-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-History,-Popularity-Complete-Guide
Baby Girl Sign Girl A place of delight; Pleasure; Plain; Wealthy bear
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Braxton
Baby Boy Sign Boy Bracca's settlement
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Ayla
Baby Girl Sign Girl Oak tree; Halo; With the moon
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Milo-Baby-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-Complete-Guide
Baby Boy Sign Boy Soldier; Peaceful; Favored
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Kylie
Baby Girl Sign Girl Boomerang; Narrows; Channel; Strait
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Cole
Baby Boy Sign Boy Charcoal; Victory of the people
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Elliana
Baby Girl Sign Girl My God has answered; Sun; Light of favor
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George
Baby Boy Sign Boy Farmer; Earth worker
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Josie
Baby Girl Sign Girl God will give; God is gracious
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Zachary
Baby Boy Sign Boy Yahweh has remembered; To remember
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Katherine
Baby Girl Sign Girl Pure; Each of the two
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Faith
Baby Girl Sign Girl Trust; Belief
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Ashton
Baby Boy Sign Boy Ash tree town; From the ash tree farm
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Luis
Baby Boy Sign Boy Famous in battle
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Eloise
Baby Girl Sign Girl Healthy; Wide; Whole; Sun; Famous warrior
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Alexandra
Baby Girl Sign Girl Defender or helper of the people
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Jasper
Baby Boy Sign Boy One who brings treasure; Treasurer
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Kaiden-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-History:-A-Complete-Guide
Baby Boy Sign Boy Loving companion; From the wetlands; Warrior
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Adalyn-Name-Meaning:-Guide-To-Origin,-Popularity-&-More
Baby Girl Sign Girl Noble; Of a noble kind
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Adriel
Baby Boy Sign Boy Flock of God
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Amaya-Baby-Name:-Meaning,-Origin,-And-Popularity-Guide
Baby Girl Sign Girl Heavenly valley; Elevated place; Mother capital; Night rain; End
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Jasmine-Name:-Origin,-Meaning,-&-Popularity-Trends-For-2025
Baby Girl Sign Girl Jasmine flower
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Gavin
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Son of the smith; White hawk; Hawk field
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Bentley-Name-Meaning,-Origin-and-Popularity-in-2025:-A-Guide
Baby Boy Sign Boy Bent grass clearing; Bent grass woodland
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Calvin
Baby Boy Sign Boy Bald
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Daisy
Baby Girl Sign Girl Daisy flower; Day eye
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Valerie
Baby Girl Sign Girl To be strong, brave, and healthy
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Zion-Baby-Name:-Comprehensive-Guide-On-Meaning-And-Popularity
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Holy place; Utopia
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Juan
Baby Boy Sign Boy God is gracious; God is merciful; Yahweh is gracious
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Reese-Name-Meaning:-History,-Origin-&-Popularity-Trends
Baby Girl Sign Girl Enthusiasm; Ardor
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Maxwell
Baby Boy Sign Boy Dweller by the great stream
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Brianna
Baby Girl Sign Girl High; Power; Hill
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Max-Name-Meaning-in-2025:-Origin,-History-&-Popularity-Guide
Baby Boy Sign Boy The greatest
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Cecilia-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-Popularity:-Complete-Guide
Baby Girl Sign Girl Blind
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Ryker
Baby Boy Sign Boy Rich; Wealthy; Ruler
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Esther
Baby Girl Sign Girl Star; Hidden
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Carlos
Baby Boy Sign Boy Free man; Army
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Valeria
Baby Girl Sign Girl To be strong or brave
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Andrea
Baby Girl Sign Girl Strong; Manly
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Emmanuel-Guide:-Meaning,-Origin,-Pronunciation-&-Variations
Baby Boy Sign Boy God is with us
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Jayce
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Healer; To cure
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Summer-Name-Meaning:-Complete-Guide-To-Origin-&-Popularity
Baby Girl Sign Girl Summertime
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Lorenzo-Name-Meaning-And-History:-Complete-Guide
Baby Boy Sign Boy From Laurentum; Laurel
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Norah
Baby Girl Sign Girl Light; Bright; Honor; Dignity
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Ariella
Baby Girl Sign Girl Lioness of God
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Ashley
Baby Boy Sign Boy Ash tree meadow; Meadow of Ash trees; Of the Ash tree meadow
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August-Name-Meaning:-Origins,-History-&-Popularity-In-2025
Baby Boy Sign Boy Respected; Esteemed; Venerable; Exalted
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Malachi-Name-Meaning-&-Popularity:-Complete-Guide-For-2025
Baby Boy Sign Boy My angel; Messenger of God
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Aubree
Baby Girl Sign Girl Elf ruler; King of the elves
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Kevin
Baby Boy Sign Boy Handsome by birth; Gentle; Lovable; Fair; Peace
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Isabel
Baby Girl Sign Girl God is my oath
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Elliott-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-Everything-You-Need-To-Know
Baby Boy Sign Boy The Lord is my God
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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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