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Charted: America’s Most Popular Baby Names in 2023

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Charted:America’s Most Popular Baby Names in 2023

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“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” — William Shakespeare

Most parents disagree with Shakespeare of course, and there are entire forums dedicated to baby name discussions. With concerns ranging from appropriateness, to “right fits”, to honoring heritage and legacies, what are the most popular baby names right now?

We chart the top 10 male and female names of 2023, according to the U.S. Social Security Administration. Data is based on Social Security card applications for births that occurred in the United States.

Ranked: America’s Top Baby Boy Names in 2023

“Liam” is not only America’s most popular baby boy name in 2023 (nearly 21,000 babies named) but has been America’s most popular baby boy name since 2017.

Here’s a list of America’s top 20 most popular male baby names in 2023.

Rank Male name Boys Named (2023)
1 Liam 20,802
2 Noah 18,995
3 Oliver 14,741
4 James 11,670
5 Elijah 11,452
6 Mateo 11,229
7 Theodore 11,041
8 Henry 10,941
9 Lucas 10,842
10 William 10,598
11 Benjamin 10,172
12 Levi 9,347
13 Sebastian 8,865
14 Jack 8,683
15 Ezra 8,437
16 Michael 8,383
17 Daniel 8,356
18 Leo 8,120
19 Owen 7,985
20 Samuel 7,973

Going back even further through the records however, there’s been a clear upward trend in “Liam’s” popularity since 1992. Between 2008 and 2012, it leapt from 75th to 6th most popular name in the country. As it happens, the massively popular Taken franchise was released in the same time period—starring Irish actor Liam Neeson.

Meanwhile, second place “Noah” has already enjoyed being the most popular name in the U.S. for a boy, reigning between 2013–2016.

Ranked: America’s Most Popular Baby Girl Names in 2023

For baby girls, “Olivia” is the most popular name in America in 2023. Like its male counterpart, “Olivia” has been the top pick for parents since 2019, and has been present in the top 10 since 2002.

Here’s a list of America’s top 20 most popular female baby names in 2023.

Rank Female name Girls Named (2023)
1 Olivia 15,270
2 Emma 13,527
3 Charlotte 12,596
4 Amelia 12,311
5 Sophia 11,944
6 Mia 11,359
7 Isabella 10,808
8 Ava 9,682
9 Evelyn 9,082
10 Luna 7,811
11 Harper 7,769
12 Sofia 7,641
13 Camila 7,565
14 Eleanor 6,739
15 Elizabeth 6,566
16 Violet 6,342
17 Scarlett 6,288
18 Emily 6,154
19 Hazel 6,154
20 Lily 6,146

Relatedly, hit makers One Direction released a song titled Olivia in 2015. Four years later, Olivia became the most popular name for girls in America.

Second place “Emma” has previously ranked at first place not once but twice, first in 2008 and then again between 2014-2018.

It broke into the top five in 2002, the same year where the character Rachel Greene from sitcom series Friends, has a baby—and names her Emma.

Learn More About Names from Visual Capitalist

If you liked this article, check out Charted: Gender-Neutral Names which examines the most popular names given to both boys and girls in America.

The post Charted: America’s Most Popular Baby Names in 2023 appeared first on Visual Capitalist.