Top Baby Names In USA For 2023

Honoring traditions with a modern twist.

Illustration: MomJunction Design Team

Each year, parental preferences for baby names shift, pushing new names up the chart while appreciating classic ones with a strong position as the leads of the list. The top US baby names of 2023 are the perfect examples of this evolving trend, reflecting the ever-changing choices of parents. This year, parents seemed to gravitate towards shorter names that are as cute and endearing as nicknames. The list also contains traditional names that continue to rule the hearts of parents.

For girls, the usual favorites Olivia (peace), Emma (whole), and Charlotte (free man) remained the top choices in the US. Alongside these beloved names, short and sweet options such as Ava (guarantee), Mia (mine), Zoe (life) also captured the hearts of parents. A similar pattern emerged in boys’ names, with enduring favorites like Liam (protector), Noah (to rest), and Oliver (peace) maintaining their top positions. At the same time, shorter names such as Levi (unite), Jack (God is gracious), and Owen (of noble birth) also made their presence felt on the list. If you’re interested in trending names, check out this list compiled using official SSA data (1). You can trust it to give you some cool and popular name options.

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
Olivia		Girl	Peace; Olive tree
Emma-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-History-&-Popularity-Guide-For-2025		Girl	Whole; Universal
Noah:-A-Comprehensive-Guide-To-Meaning,-Origin,-And-Popularity		Unisex	Rest; Comfort
Oliver		Boy	Olive; Olive tree planter; Ancestor's descendant; All cautious
Charlotte		Girl	Free person; Petite
James-Name-Meaning,-History-&-Variations:-A-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	Supplanter
Amelia-Name-Meaning-&-History:-Popularity-Trends-Guide-2025		Girl	Hard working; Industrious
Elijah		Boy	Yahweh is my God
Sophia-Baby-Name-Meaning:-A-Complete-Guide-For-2025		Girl	She who possesses great knowledge and wisdom
Isabella		Girl	God is my oath
William		Boy	Will; Protector
Henry-Name-Meaning:-Complete-Guide-To-Origins-And-Popularity		Boy	Home ruler
Ava		Girl	Desire; Life; Bird-like; Voice; Sound
Lucas-Name-Meaning,-History-&-Popularity-In-2025		Boy	Bringer of light; From Lucania; Light
Mia-Name-Meaning:-Key-Insights-On-Origin-&-Popularity		Girl	Mine; Dear; Darling; Wished-for child; Sea of bitterness; Beloved; Rebelliousness
Benjamin-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-History-&-Global-Popularity		Boy	Son of the right hand; Son of the south
Evelyn-Name-Meaning-&-History:-Complete-Guide		Girl	Life; Hazelnut; Lake; Beauty
Luna-Name-Meaning:-A-Complete-Guide-For-Parents-In-2025		Girl	Moon
Theodore-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-History,-And-Key-Insights		Unisex	God's gift
Harper-Name-Origin,-Meaning,-And-History:-Key-Insights		Unisex	Someone who plays the harp
Mateo:-A-Guide-To-Meaning,-Origin,-Popularity,-And-Variants		Boy	God's gift
Camila:-Complete-Guide-To-Origin,-Meaning-&-Popularity-In-2025		Girl	Religious attendant; Priest's helper
Levi		Boy	Joined; Attached; He will join
Sofia		Girl	Wisdom
Sebastian		Boy	From Sebaste; Venerable; Exalted
Scarlett-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-History:-Complete-Guide		Girl	The color scarlet; Bright red; A person who sold or made clothes made of scarlet
Daniel-Name-Meaning-&-Origin:-Complete-Guide-For-2025		Boy	God is my judge
Elizabeth-Name-Meaning-And-History:-Complete-Guide-In-2025		Girl	My God is an oath
Jack		Boy	God is gracious; Healthy; Supplanter
Eleanor		Girl	The other Aenor; Shining light; Riches; Fame
Michael		Boy	Who is like God?
Emily		Girl	To strive; To excel; Hardworking; Rival
Alexander		Boy	Defender of mankind
Mila-Name-Meaning:-2025-Guide-To-Origin,-History-&-Popularity		Girl	Gracious; Dear; Soldier; Miracles
Owen		Boy	Well-born; Noble birth; Born from the yew tree
Samuel		Boy	Name of God; God has heard
Chloe		Girl	Fresh blooming; Ripe green shoot; Yellow
Asher		Boy	Happy; Blessed; Someone who lived by an ash tree or ash grove
Violet-Baby-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-History-&-Complete-Guide		Girl	Purple; Purple flower
Penelope-Name-Meaning:-Complete-Guide-To-Origin-&-Popularity		Girl	Weaver; Duck
Ethan		Boy	Enduring; Firm; Strong
Gianna		Girl	God is gracious
Leo-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-Variations:-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	Lion
Aria		Girl	Song; Air; Melody
Jackson-Baby-Name-Meaning,-Origin-&-History:-Complete-Guide		Boy	Son of Jack
Abigail		Girl	My father is joy; Cause of joy
Mason-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-Popularity:-A-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	Stone worker
Ezra		Boy	Help
Ella-Baby-Name:-Complete-Guide-To-Meaning,-Origin-&-Popularity		Girl	Beautiful; Goddess; Other
Avery-Name-Meaning-&-Origin:-Your-Complete-Guide		Unisex	Ruler of elves; Elf counsel
John		Boy	God is gracious
Hudson		Boy	Son of Hudde; Mind; Thought; Spirit
Hazel-Name-Meaning-And-History:-Comprehensive-Guide-For-2025		Girl	The hazel tree
Luca-Name-Meaning-&-Origin:-Complete-Baby-Name-Guide		Boy	Bringer of light; From Lucania; Light
Nora-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-6-Variations-And-Popularity		Girl	Light; Bright; Honor; Dignity; Victorious
Layla		Girl	Night; Dark
Aiden		Unisex	Little fire
Joseph-Complete-Guide:-Meaning,-Origin,-Variants-&-Popularity		Boy	He will add; Praise
Lily		Girl	Name of a flower; Purity; Innocence
David		Boy	Beloved; Uncle
Aurora-Baby-Name:-Origin,-Meaning,-Popularity-&-Nicknames		Girl	Dawn
Jacob:-Complete-Guide-To-Origin,-Meaning,-And-Popularity		Boy	May God protect; Holder of the heel; Supplanter
Nova-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-Complete-Guide-For-Baby-Girls		Girl	New; New star
Ellie		Girl	God is my light; My God is an oath; Torch
Logan		Boy	Little hollow
Luke-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-Your-Comprehensive-Guide-In-2025		Boy	Bringer of light; From Lucania; Light
Isla-Baby-Name:-Complete-Guide-To-Origin,-Meaning-&-Popularity		Girl	Island
Julian-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-Expert-Guide-For-2025		Boy	Youthful; Bright; Juvenile; Downy-bearded
Grace		Girl	Goodness; Generosity
Gabriel-Baby-Name:-Meaning,-Origin-&-Comprehensive-Guide		Unisex	God is my strength
Willow		Girl	Willow tree; Freedom
Grayson		Boy	Son of a gray-haired person
Zoe-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-Complete-Guide		Girl	Life
Wyatt-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-History,-And-Key-Insights		Boy	Brave at war; War strength
Matthew-Name-Meaning,-Origin-&-Popularity:-A-Complete-Guide		Boy	God's gift
Maverick-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-Popularity-&-Expert-Guide		Boy	Independent person who avoids conformity
Stella		Unisex	Star; Pillar
Isaac-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-Popularity:-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	He will laugh; He will rejoice; Laughter
Ivy-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-History:-Complete-Guide		Girl	Climber plant; Fig
Dylan-Name-Meaning-In-2025:-Origin,-Popularity-&-Variations		Boy	To tide; To flow
Eliana-Name-Meaning-And-History:-A-Comprehensive-Guide-For-2025		Girl	God has given the answer; Sun
Elias-Baby-Name:-Origin,-Meaning-&-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	My God is Yahweh
Victoria		Girl	Victory; Roman goddess of victory
Anthony-Meaning,-Origin,-And-Popularity:-Comprehensive-Guide		Boy	Flower
Emilia		Girl	Rival; Laborious; Eager
Thomas		Boy	Twin
Zoey		Girl	Eternal Life; Life; To breathe; Alive; To live
Jayden		Unisex	God will judge; Thankful
Naomi-Baby-Name-Meaning:-A-Comprehensive-Guide		Girl	Pleasantness; Beautiful; Straight; Direct
Carter-Name-Meaning-&-Origin:-Complete-Guide-For-Your-Baby		Boy	Tourist; Sojourner; Son of Carter; One who uses a cart
Hannah		Girl	Grace; Favor; God has favored me
Lucy		Girl	Light
Santiago-Baby-Name:-Origin,-Meaning-&-Popularity-Guide		Unisex	Saint James; Holder of the heel; Supplanter
Elena-Name-Meaning-And-Origin:-A-Comprehensive-Guide-For-2025		Girl	Torch; Shining light
Ezekiel		Boy	God will strengthen
Lillian		Girl	My god is an oath; Lily flower; Purity
Charles-Name-Origin,-Meaning-&-Popularity:-Complete-Guide-For-2025		Boy	Free man
Maya		Girl	Illusion; Magic; Sea of bitterness; Beloved; Good mother; Dame
Josiah-Name-Meaning:-Origin,-History-&-Pop-Culture-Insights		Boy	Jehovah supports

Infographic: Short Names Popular In The US

Parents love short names for their simplicity and adorability. They have a charming and approachable vibe that makes them so endearing. To find the perfect short name for your little one, check out the infographic below featuring the most popular short names in the US.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team