Fastest Rising Boy Names 2024: Classic Miles to Strong Stetson

These are the fastest rising boy names 2024!

This list will look a little different than many others. That’s because it’s based on count – the actual increase in numbers of newborns given the name, from calendar year 2022 to calendar year 2023.

What’s the difference?

Rank tells us about the present moment. Count helps us predict future trends.

Theodore ranked #10 in 2021 and 2022. But it rose significantly based on actual births going into 2022. That helped predict the name’s leap to #7 in 2023. Likewise, Mateo was a fast-rising name in terms of actual births from 2021 to 2022. It clearly had momentum – enough to propel it from #11 straight up to #6.

Keeping an eye on the names that gain in use, year over year, can help us predict the future. (Or at least take slightly better guesses!)

So let’s take a closer look at the boys’ names that might be the next big thing.

25. SANTIAGO (+295 births; #4 on last year’s list)

A favorite across the Spanish-speaking world, Santiago is rising in the US – with our large share of Spanish-speaking families – too.

24. EMILIANO (+295 births; unranked on last year’s list)

Could it be that boys’ names are getting longer? It’s still the age of Jack and Kai, but at five syllables – maybe four, if you say it fast – Emiliano is succeeding, too.

23. CASSIAN (+309 births; unranked on last year’s list)

A boy’s name in the key of Sebastian, boosted by unlikely Star Wars hero Cassian Andor.

22. COLTER (+311; unranked on last year’s list)

Colter sounds like a Yellowstone name, but Colter stepped right out of the history books. It’s the surname of John Colter, a member of the Lewis & Clark Expedition who went on to become a legendary frontiersman.

21. BENNETT (+313 births; unranked on last year’s list)

Polished, buttoned-up Bennett feels as classic as Benjamin and Benedict, but as fresh as Everett and Emmett, too – though Bennett is the most popular of them all.

20. DYLAN (+330 births; unranked on last year’s list)

A Top 100 name since 1990, Dylan has become a modern traditional choice for a son. But just because it’s a twenty-first century staple doesn’t mean it’s not still gaining in use.

19. ISMAEL (+345 births; unranked on last year’s list)

The Spanish equivalent of Ishmael, far more popular than the English form.

18. LUKA (+350 births; unranked on last year’s list)

For years, Luca appeared on this list, steadily climbing the charts. And Luca has made it all the way to the US Top 25. Now it’s Luka catching fire, breaking into the Top 100 on the strength of these gains.

17. ELIAN (+356 births; unranked on last year’s list)

Elijah, Elias, Eli … Eli names for boys are everywhere, current and classic at the same time. Now Elian is rising in use, too.

16. TATE (+357 births; #17 on last year’s list)

Cheerful and bright, polished and modern, Tate is a rising favorite that bridges surnames like Mason and short favorites like Chase.

15. KYLIAN (+382 births; unranked on last year’s list)

The French equivalent of Irish Killian, boosted by soccer star Kylian Mbappe – and the way it sidesteps a problematic nickname, trading Ky for Kil.

14. DAWSON (+394 births; unranked on last year’s list)

Dawson’s Creek was a late 1990s sensation; the name spiked in use the year the series debuted. What explains the 2023 leap? It’s not clear, and yet, post-Creek, the common surname has become a familiar given name, too – could this be a generation of Dawson Jr.s?

13. TATUM (+438 births; unranked on last year’s list)

Along with Tate, Tatum is rising fast. While Tate is more solidly masculine, Tatum is a unisex style star.

12. EZRA (+440 births; #11 on last year’s list)

Ezra isn’t the fastest rising name, but it’s #12 this year, #11 the year before, and #14 the year before that. Add it up, and it’s easy to imagine Ezra taking Noah’s place in the US Top Ten – and soon.

11. ROWAN (+441 births; unranked on last year’s list)

A nature name like River, a vibrant red color name like Scarlett, an Irish name like Aiden – all the ingredients of a smash hit name are present in Rowan.

10. MATTEO (+460 births; unranked on last year’s list)

Romance language names are enjoying a moment. The Italian Matteo – spelled with two Ts – lags far behind the Spanish Mateo, but it’s also gaining in use.

9. MILAN (+480 births; unranked on last year’s list)

An Italian city name, and a Slavic name meaning dear, Milan is effortlessly international and broadly appealing.

8. ADONIS (+484 births; unranked on last year’s list)

The latest name from Greek mythology to race up the popularity charts, Adonis has been boosted by the Creed trilogy in the Rocky universe. The third installment came out in 2023; Adonis Creed’s first and last names have become staples for boys.

7. THEO (+493 births; #7 on last year’s list)

Theodore is a top ten classic for our sons. Most of those Theodores are probably Theo; but now more and more of them are just Theo.

6. ADRIEL (+497 births; unranked on last year’s list)

An Old Testament name combining the sounds of recent favorites Adrian and Gabriel. If it didn’t exist, we’d surely invent it.

5. STETSON (+522 births; #10 on last year’s list)

Yellowstone has boosted a whole class of names with plenty of Western swagger. And while the iconic cowboy hat is often called a Stetson, it turns out the main characters don’t actually wear that exact brand. (Really! This post breaks the character’s go-to hats down.) Nevertheless, Stetson is on the upswing.

4. ENZO (+710 births; #20 on last year’s list)

Another romance language name, Enzo has more that one possible origin. It’s normally considered short for Lorenzo, the Italian form of Lawrence. It’s sound though that’s boosting this cool, short name. Not only is the fourth fastest-rising name this year, but it was #20 last year; #18 the year before that, and #5 the prior year. It feels unstoppable.

3. MATEO (+850 births; #3 on last year’s list)

Mateo proves why this list is so powerful. In order for new names to enter the US Top Ten, some names need to fall in use and others need to rise. Mateo has been white hot for the past two years, fueling the name’s rise into the Top Ten. It feels unexpected … but these numbers make it plain that Mateo was headed for the very top all along.

2. MILES (+996 births; unranked on last year’s list)

There’s always a name that we call classic … but would have been unusual in an earlier generation or three. File Miles with Oliver and Sebastian, the latest name that feels traditional – now.

1. THIAGO (+1041 births; #8 on last year’s list)

Portuguese names are a little different than Spanish, and yet it’s a fuzzy line with plenty of crossover. Strictly speaking, Thiago is a Portuguese form of Santiago, ultimately a cousin to Diego and James. (And Jacob, come to that.) It’s also a white hot favorite in the US, crashing into the US Top 100 this year.

FUTURE TOP TEN CONTENDERS

Looking at the list of fastest rising boy names always raises the inevitable question: are any of these headed for the US Top Ten?

Last year’s predictions were as follows:

1. MAVERICK (#40) – Last year’s comment: “Can anything stop this high-flying favorite?” The answer is … maybe not stop, but Maverick did stall out a bit, reaching just #37.
2. LUCA (#28) – From 2023’s column: “With Lucas in the US Top Ten, Luca feels like a logical successor.” It has since reached #24, but Luka now ranks in the Top 100. When a popular name comes in two flavors, it can be tough to gauge the name’s true popularity.
3. LEO (#22) – Last year’s take: “It’s just a short climb from #22 to #10.” Still very true, and Leo made it to #18.
4. MATEO (#11) – Last year’s read? “This feels like an inevitability.” Sure enough, Mateo now stands at #6, a big leap!
5. SEBASTIAN (#13) – The prediction? “Longer, but still traditional, Sebastian could be the next Alexander/Benjamin/Theodore.” That’s still possible, but for now, Sebastian is holding steady at #13.

Mateo has reached the Top Ten; Maverick, Luca, Leo, and Sebastian could still join the list.

Looking forward from the fastest rising boy names 2024 to next year and beyond?

1. ENZO (#90) – It’s a longshot, style-wise, but with Mateo paving the way and Luca not far behind, let’s not count out any romance language name for a boy – especially one with so much style.
2. EZRA (#15) – Joshua, Noah, Elijah. Ezra fits with current and recent boys’ names at the very top of the popularity charts.
3. MILES (#43) – A name in the key of Henry, Theodore, and Oliver – a little bit classic, plenty stylish, and maybe, possibly a future Top Ten contender.

Do any of the fastest rising boy names 2024 surprise you? Any favorites on this list?