Popular Boy Names: What’s Next for the US Top 1000?

Time to look back on those predictions!

Every year, as the calendar draws to a close, we start thinking about the year ahead.

We don’t get updated name popularity data until May. But that never stops me from guessing the future Top 1000 boy names.

When it comes to boy names, we can all think of the most common picks. Former favorites, like David, Jacob, and John. Classic James and William. Or today’s top choices, like Liam, Oliver, Elijah, and Noah.

The US Social Security Administration (SSA) publishes the 1000 most popular names given to boys and girls in a given calendar year.

That is a lot of names!

And if a name ranks in the US Top 1000? Chances increase that parents will hear that name discussed. It’s not a lock, of course – Chozen and Eiden rank on the current list and I’ve yet to hear them in the wild.

Still, baby names that debut in – or return to – the US Top 1000 are more likely to catch the ear of someone expecting a child.

Plenty of parents use it as a guide, ruling out anything more popular than 250, maybe, but knowing that any Top 1000 name is likely on the right side of wearable.

This list is packed with plenty of possibilities. What’s not here? Names that represent a slight twist on an existing favorite. For example, Top 100 Thiago is likely to be followed into the most popular baby names rankings by the related Tiago. But that feels like more of the same, not something fresh and new. Then again, that’s a hard line to draw – and nearly every name on this list bears some similarity to an existing favorite.

And so let’s look at twenty interesting possibilities that just might join the roster when the data is released next year.

FUTURE TOP 1000 BOY NAMES

ARDEN

A name of English origins, or possibly from a Gaelic root meaning “high,” Arden is a familiar place name. Shakespeare’s Forest of Arden takes inspiration from England, as well as other European forests. It’s romantic and strong, a name that has charted for girls and boys in the past. The numbers suggest Arden might follow Arlo, Arthur, and so many two-syllable, ends-with-N names for boys back into the US Top 1000.

ASH

Asher has become an unstoppable Top 100 favorite. At first glance, Ash is just a short form of Asher – and Ashton and Ashley. But it’s something more, too. Ash is a straight-up nature name, a brother for River. The tree name has been in use for ages, too – in Old Norse, it’s askr, and in Old English it’s æsc. Because the tree’s wood was often used for spears, those older words have multiple meanings. Ash it’s big in pop culture, too. A generation that grew up with Pokemon’s Ash Ketchum is now naming children of their own. If Asher, Cash, Nash, Dash, and Ashton are Top 1000 names, Ash could fit right in.

EVER

A word name from the Old English æfre, meaning always. It’s a little bit of a modern virtue choice, but also shares sounds with Evan and Everett and Oliver. It’s rising in use for boys and girls alike, but far more quickly for our sons. 

GIO

Gio might be short for Giorgio, the Italian form of George, a name of Greek origin meaning “earth worker,” that we usually interpret as farmer. But it might also come from Giovanni, the Italian form of the Biblical John, used since the late Middle Ages, at least. That makes Gio a rock solid traditional choice, and yet also, a surprising fresh and new possibility at the same time. It’s risen steadily in use since the early twenty-first century. This could be Gio’s year.

MONTGOMERY

A fixture on this list, polished surname name Montgomery has plateaued just outside the US Top 1000 … but it’s still near an all-time high. And Montgomery makes sense as a boy’s name now. It’s a little like Theodore, Alexander, or maybe even Sebastian – elaborate and rather grand, a name that sounds accomplished, even on a child.

OZIAS

Ozzy is the sweet, edgy nickname we love to love. It can be short for Oscar, but for parents looking for something a little more daring, Ozias intrigues. It’s a Greek and Latin take on an older name, Uzziah. The name means strong. An old school Old Testament name, and yet Ozias is perfectly at ease in the twenty-first century. 

REN

Samuel becomes Sam. Benjamin is always Ben. So why not Ren? Footloose helped make Kevin Bacon a star as Ren; a generation later, the movie was rebooted. That means grandparents and parents alike probably think of Ren as a rare, but usable, staple for a son. It has cross-cultural status, too, thanks to the name’s occasional use in Japanese. Unisex Wren entered the US Top 1000 last year. This might be Ren’s year.

ROWDY

Bold word names are having a moment. In our age of Maverick and Blaze, Rowdy isn’t such an outlier. Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer Rowdy Gaines was born Ambrose. But somehow Rowdy suddenly feels a little less outlandish than it might have circa 1995. It’s shot straight up in use for the past several years, suggesting that just a little more momentum could make Rowdy a household name.

SHAI

With Kai – and Khai, Makai, and Zakai – trending, sound-alike Shai seems like an obvious name to consider. It might be a Hebrew name meaning gift; it’s also sometimes used as a nickname for Isaiah. It feels familiar thanks to the long-time popularity of Sean, as well as names like Shane and Shea. But while those tend to lean Irish, Shai feels a little more global. Names ending with AI are enjoying a moment, so the door seems wide open for Shai.

SUNNY

Nature names, like River, Nova, and Wren, entered the girls’ charts before trending for our sons, too. Sunny could easily follow that same path. Casual nickname-name Sonny, once associated with a junior, is rising fast for boys, too, making Sunny sound like a natural choice.

TOWNES

Our love of surname names just won’t stop. With choices like Mason and Grayson, Jackson and Carter still in the US Top 100, the question is what’s next. Boy names ending with S are one possible answer. Look at Brooks, Banks, and Wells, plus newcomer Rhodes, and suddenly, Townes is the most logical of choices.

ZAKARI

Along with Makari, this is a sound that balances on the precipice. Zakari might look like a re-spelling of Zachary, but it’s not. (Or at least it’s not always.) With Zakai, Dakari, and Jakari all gaining in use, Zakari’s rise feels inevitable. A handful of famous Zakaris come from Nigeria and other parts of west Africa, though it’s easy to imagine parents inventing this name elsewhere, too.

LAST YEAR’S PREDICTIONS

ASH (unranked)

Brief and complete, this tree name has held steady, with 203 boys receiving the name in 2023. It returns to the list for this year.

BECK (unranked)

A perpetual favorite on this list of future Top 1000 boy names, Beck is a little bit Beckett, a little bit Jack. Just like Jack and Jackson both rank, brief Beck could fit on the same list that gives us Beckham and Beckett. It might honor a beloved Rebecca, or maybe the meaning appeals: stream. Update: Beckham and Beckett are still going strong, but Beck doesn’t rank. 

BILLY (unranked)

In some ways, Billy is a stealth trend. We can’t measure when parents of boys named William choose a different nickname, switching from Billy to Will – but that definitely happened at some point in the 1980s and 90s. But just like Charlie and Charles both rank for boys, it’s easy to imagine Billy ranking, too. From Stranger Things to Daisy Jones and the Six, Billy is a cute boy name again. And after decades of Will? Will is now a grown-up. (A sitcom staple; a future king!) According to the data, just Billy is still falling – but I think that could easily change. Update: Billy continues to fall, but with William at the top of the charts, it’s hard to say if some of those little boys are Billy after all.

BOAZ (debuted at #958)

We love our boy names from the Bible – just ask a generation of boys named Noah, Levi, Gabriel, and Ethan, and their dads, Aaron, Matthew, and Daniel. So we’re always looking for fresh new possibilities. Ezra and Ezekiel both rose, fueled in part by that zippy Z. Boaz shares the sound, plus cool nickname Bo of stylish picks like Bodhi and Bowen. And the Hebrew origin of Boaz is a word meaning swiftness. It’s an Old Testament rarity with potential. Update: With 234 births, Biblical Bo- name Boaz has arrived in the US Top 1000.

CEDAR (unranked)

The second tree name on this list, after Ash, speaks to how powerfully popular nature names have become for our children. Just like River feels more traditional because it shares the -R ending of names from Arthur to Carter to Cooper, Cedar checks the same box. Update: We still love nature names, but Cedar seems like it’s not catching on.

DECKER (unranked)

Another frequent nominee to this list, Decker owes a little something to the Fast & Furious media franchise. (Though that character’s name is Deckard Shaw.) Decker also straddles the line between legit name and tough guy pick. Shades of Ryder, Colter, or Axel – they’re listed in plenty of name books, but there’s something edgy and cool about them, too. Decker is the next generation of this trend. Update: Betting on tough guy names has seemed like a safe bet in recent years, but Decker continues to fall short of the numbers required. 

JOSIAS (unranked)

Ozias and Josias both feel like they have potential. Josiah ranks in the current US Top 100. (Josias is simply a Latin form of Josiah.) Jo- names for boys include Joseph – as classic as it gets – and fellow Old Testament favorite Jonah. With dramatic s-ending names like Adonis and Rhodes ranking in the Top 1000, why not Josias? Update: While it’s not ranked in the US Top 1000 yet, I’m still watching Josias for future years.

KELCE/KELSO (unranked)

These were always long shots – but both rose in use from 2022 to 2023. Kel- names still have some energy. The combination of Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs football player, the rise of the name Kayce from Yellowstone, and our love of gender-neutral names and creative K names all argue for a rise.

An even darker horse? Kelso, as in the new son of YouTuber Dude Dad. With O-enders like Enzo and Milo trending, Kelso could fit right in.

KNOWLEDGE (unranked)

It’s a big word name. But Legend and Maverick are among the most popular baby boy names, so it feels like that’s not really a barrier. As parents seek out ever bolder possibilities, like Legacy and Chosen, Knowledge tracks. Update: A big word name that’s still holding steady outside the current Top 1000. 

LINK (unranked)

Odds are that plenty of boys named Lincoln already answer to Link. But Link on its own sounds like a brother for Kai and Beau and Luke and Jack and Mac, a brief and complete name ready for adventure. Speaking of adventure, long-running video game franchise The Legend of Zelda features the hero Link. The first version of the game debuted way back in 1986, so plenty of parents today probably hear this name as heroic. Update: Oof! Link tumbled in the data … but then again, this was always a little bit of stretch. With Lincoln falling in use, too, Link’s moment might be over before it even started.

MAKARI (unranked)

It would be easy to dismiss Makari as a creative invention, a spin on Dakari and Makai. But Makari has roots. (As do those other names.) It’s most likely a take on Macarius and Macario, from a Greek name meaning blessed. Makari looks a little like Top 1000 choices Amiri and Khari. But that M also connects it to many a traditional boy’s name, from Michael to Mateo to Malachi. Update: Makari remains poised just outside of the current Top 1000.

MONTGOMERY (unranked)

An English surname ultimately of French origin, Montgomery is poised just outside of the rankings, and returns to the Future Top 1000 boy names list for 2025.

OAK (unranked)

The initial O has helped put Owen and Oliver near the very top of the popularity charts. And yes, if you’re counting, this is the third tree name on this list. But it feels logical. The brevity of Max or Chase meets the nature name style of River and Rowan. Another factor: Oakley and other Oak- names are trending, clearing the way for just Oak to stand tall. Update: All of the Oak- names are trending, making me think that we just need another year or two before Oak joins them. 

REN and WREN (unranked; debuted at #991)

Wren made the rankings; Ren returns to the list for another year.

ROWDY (unranked)

As thoroughly American as Maverick, this word name increased in use in 2023, with 16. boys receiving the name. It returns to the future Top 1000 boy names watch list for another round.

SCOUT (unranked)

For years, conventional wisdom dictated that if a name started to catch on for girls, parents would abandon it for boys – immediately. That’s never been exactly true, but it hasn’t been inaccurate, either. Now, though, a new generation simply disagrees. Maybe it’s because they grew up with names like Taylor and Jordan, already unisex. Or maybe it’s part of a broader cultural shift. Regardless, one of the best places to look for the new most popular boy names is … the girls’ Top 1000. That’s held true for names like Eden and Reign. Update: Not yet! In fact, Scout fell for boys and girls in the May 2024 data.

SHAI (unranked)

2023’s numbers were exactly the same as 2022: 219 births. It’s back on the list for 2025.

VEER (debuted at #981)

In English, to veer is to change direction. At first glance, that puts the fast-rising Veer in the same category as Journey. But it’s also from a Sanskrit word meaning brave, or possibly hero. It’s also spelled Vir, but Veer seems like the more obvious spelling for American English speakers. It’s got the sharp V, the cool R ending, and a brief, complete sound that fits right in. Update: Veer has entered the Top 1000!

WHIT (unranked)

A generation of women named Tracey grew up and named their sons Trace. Whitney peaked for girls in the late 1980s. Does that explain the rise in Whit for boys? Maybe, but Whit also feels like a substitute for Rhett or Wyatt or even Jude. They sound like little cowboys, but cowboys who might grow up to be doctors or lawyers or such. Whit also sounds like wit – as in a gentle sense of humor. It’s a positive, upbeat name. Update: Whit keeps on climbing! Though it still has a way to go before reaching the Top 1000.

ZEPHYR (unranked)

Z names for boys have had their moment, with choices like Zachary and Zane faring well in recent generations. Zephyr comes from the Greek god of the western wind. It’s no so different from Sawyer, Parker, and other R-ending names, but it’s clearly a distinctive choice, too, both in sound and meaning. Update: Another name with so much promise that feels like it has plateaued just outside of the Top 1000.

PAST PREDICTIONS

Here are the boy names I’ve previously predicted would enter the rankings. If they appear in the US Top 1000 as of 2023, that’s noted, too.

• ABNER (ranks #997 as of the 2023 data)
• ACHILLES
• ANSEL
• ARCHIE (ranks #347 as of the 2023 data)
• ARIES (ranks #786 as of the 2023 data)
• ARROW
• ASH
• BAKER (ranks #397 as of the 2023 data)
• BANKS (ranks #348 as of the 2023 data)
• BEAR (ranks #817 as of the 2023 data)
• BECK
• BENEDICT (ranks #928 as of the 2023 data)
• BODEN (ranks #756 as of the 2023 data)
• BOONE (ranks #595 as of the 2023 data)
• BOWIE 
• CAIRO (ranks #333 as of the 2023 data)
• CAIUS
• CALLAHAN (ranks #460 as of the 2023 data)
• CASPIAN (ranks #665 as of the 2023 data)
• CASSIAN (ranks #533 as of the 2023 data)
• CREED (ranks #678 as of the 2023 data)
• CRUE (ranks #729 as of the 2023 data)
• DASHIELL
• DECKER
• DENVER (ranks #512 as of the 2023 data)
• DUTTON (ranks #724 as of the 2023 data)
• ELIO (ranks #646 as of the 2023 data)
• EVANDER (ranks #780 as of the 2023 data)
• EVEREST (ranks #837 as of the 2023 data)
• FINNIAN
• FORD (ranks #521 as of the 2023 data)
• FOX 
• GATLIN (ranks #805 as of the 2023 data)
• GRANGER 
• HARLEM (ranks #911 as of the 2023 data)
• HARRIS
• HOLLIS (ranks #1000 as of the 2023 data)
• IDRIS (ranks #788 as of the 2023 data)
• JONES (ranks #960 as of the 2023 data)
• KAISER (ranks #764 as of the 2023 data)
• KOA (ranks #298 as of the 2023 data)
• LAZARUS 
• LEDGER (ranks #561 as of the 2023 data)
• LEGACY (ranks #829 as of the 2023 data)
• LEIF (ranks #860 as of the 2023 data)
• LIAN (ranks #582 as of the 2023 data)
• LINUS
• LOYAL (ranks #742 as of the 2023 data)
• LYLE
• McCOY (ranks #974 as of the 2023 data)
• MONTGOMERY
• MURPHY (ranks #896 as of the 2023 data)
• NOBLE
• OSIRIS (ranks #946 as of the 2023 data)
• OTIS (ranks #652 as of the 2023 data)
• OZZY (ranks #552 as of the 2023 data)
• PALMER (ranks #942 as of the 2023 data)
• PHARAOH
• RAMSEY
• REIGN (ranks #624 as of the 2023 data)
• RHODES (ranks #707 as of the 2023 data)
• RIGGS (ranks #733 as of the 2023 data)
• ROBIN (ranks #783 as of the 2023 data)
• RYATT (ranks #913 as of the 2023 data)
• SHEPHERD (ranks #409 as of the 2023 data)
• SMITH
• STONE (ranks #990 as of the 2023 data)
• TAJ
• TORIN
• TRUE (ranks #980 as of 2023)
• WALLACE 
• WILDER (ranks #421 as of the 2023 data)
• ZAKARI
• ZEV (ranks #881 as of the 2023 data)

What do you think of these predictions for future Top 1000 boy names? What would you add to the list? 

This post was published on April 3, 2024, updated on September 11, 2024, and revised on May 7, 2025.