We’ve made it all the way to very last round!

Every year, while the rest of the world is watching basketball, Appellation Mountain readers keep our focus on – what else? – baby names.

We vote our way through the most popular names on the site, and choose a winner.

The sweet sixteen round is always filled with curiosities. This year our contenders were:

  1. KAI
  2. HUXLEY
  3. OTTO
  4. KOA
  5. RHODES
  6. CALLUM
  7. EVREN
  8. SULLIVAN
  9. ST. JOHN
  10. CASSIAN
  11. COSMO
  12. BLAISE
  13. WESLEY
  14. ZEV
  15. HAL
  16. EVANDER

Your votes left just four names standing in the SemiFinal matchups. Let’s look at the results of those contests, before we get to the Big Final.

WESLEY SLIPS PAST SULLIVAN

This match was close! Upbeat, Irish Sullivan was even in the lead briefly. But ultimately, rising favorite Wesley won the day, with just over 51% of the vote. (Can we call this one a buzzer beater?) It seems like Wesley is The Name on everybody’s list right now, a surname that feels like a traditional boys’ name, as likely appeal to parents considering Maverick as those thinking about Theodore. And now, Wesley advances to the final.

CALLUM DEFEATS CASSIAN

On paper, these two names are similar. But Callum is a name that’s quietly climbed the US popularity rankings, a Scottish import fresher than Cameron. Cassian, on the other hand, is a newcomer, only recently debuting in the US Top 1000 thanks to the popularity of a Star Wars character. Callum garnered almost 68% of the total, and advances to the final.

MARCH MADNESS BABY NAMES 2024: BOYS FINAL MATCH

WESLEY VERSUS CALLUM

Your votes determine the winner, the name that will join this list:

  • Nathaniel – 2011
  • Arthur – 2012
  • Archer – 2013
  • Everett – 2014
  • Finn – 2015
  • Theodore – 2016
  • Leo – 2017
  • Rowan – 2018
  • Arlo – 2019
  • Caspian – 2020
  • Raphael – 2021
  • August – 2022
  • James – 2023

Voting stays open until Friday, March 29th. Check back on Saturday, March 30th to see which name wins it all!

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About Abby Sandel

Whether you're naming a baby, or just all about names, you've come to the right place! Appellation Mountain is a haven for lovers of obscure gems and enduring classics alike.

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