What are the most popular word names right now?

It sounds like an easy question, but it’s not always obvious.

Once upon a time, mason was a job. But chances are that Mason is a child (or teenager, or even a grown-up) these days.

To make this list of most popular word names, it has to:

  • Appear in a skinny little paperback dictionary. Nothing archaic or obscure.
  • Be spelled exactly as it would appear in said dictionary. (That rules out Scarlett – but not Scarlet!)
  • Not be an instantly familiar place name, or a surname recently transitioned to given name status. (That drops Hunter and Savannah – two very popular word-like favorites. Though this might be the most challenging of the criteria.)
  • And finally, it has to be commonly used in English. (Adieu to Leo and Luna! Even though we immediately picture a lion or the moon, that’s not quite the same as naming your baby, well, Lion or Moon.)

Even with those rules, that still leaves plenty of amazing word names for boys and girls alike. Several of these appear on both lists, and a great many word names lean unisex. So if this is a style you love? The choices are almost limitless.

MAVERICK (#37)

Over the last fifty years, Maverick has moved from the Wild West to the wild blue yonder, and now, onto birth certificates everywhere. It currently tops the list of most popular word names for boys.

MILES (#43)

We’re used to hearing Miles as a given name, but we can – and do – travel miles and run miles and measure MPH.

ANGEL (#63)

From the Latin word for messenger, it’s the source of Angela and Angelo, but lately it’s most popular as the word itself. It owes much of its popularity to Spanish-speaking families, but since it qualifies as an English language word, it makes this list, too.

ROMAN (#66)

Rome would be disqualified, but adjective Roman – as in Roman villa and Roman nose – just squeaks by.

ROWAN (#76)

Rowan continues to rise, a unisex tree name with a bright, modern sound. It’s an Irish surname, too, which further expands its appeal.

AUGUST (#104)

A gentle summer name, August started out as the very opposite. During the early days of the Roman Empire, Augustus – meaning venerable – was given as an honorific to the emperor himself.

ATLAS (#112)

Atlas started out as a character in Greek myth, but it’s broadly known as a book of maps, too.

RIVER (#116)

A stylish sound, a modern vibe, ties to the late River Phoenix … this word name succeeds for so many reasons.

JASPER (#122)

Jasper is a stylish gemstone name, one of the few that feels exclusively masculine. It’s also sometimes associated with the Three Wise Men, from the Nativity story.

LEGEND (#145)

It’s a lot to live up to, but like Maverick, Legend continues to feel more mainstream with every passing year. Legend might also be read as a literary word, a little like naming your child Fable or Story.

CHASE (#154)

An action verb name that feels equally polished and energetic.

ACE (#157)

Ace brings to mind fighter pilots, winning hands of cards, and tennis serves.

DEAN (#159)

Dean started out as an ecclesiastical title, but is now most commonly heard as a title in academic settings – think Dean of Students.

STETSON (#182)

Strictly speaking, it’s a surname name. John B. Stetson designed the original cowboy hat. Except it’s long since stopped sounding like a brand and become a generic term to refer to the style, so it joins the list of most popular word names.

GRANT (#228)

Another long-established surname and given name, Grant also appears as a verb and noun in English quite regularly.

LANE (#254)

Once a surname for someone living near a path, Lane now feels like a brisk, bright name for a child.

CREW (#260)

A sport or a gang, Crew feels two-parts preppy, one-part motley and rebellious. It’s the perfect mix for Chip and Joanna Gaines’ youngest son.

COLT (#264)

A gun, a beer, a young horse. Colt succeeds as a baby name, too, possibly thanks to surname name Colton ranking in the US Top 100.

KING (#266)

King rules. But, as with several of the most popular word names, whether that’s a bold and bragging statement, or a spiritual reference, isn’t always obvious.

PHOENIX (#269)

An Arizona place name, Phoenix started out as a mythological creature, a bird rising from its own ashes.

CASH (#288)

Cash is king – except that King actually ranks higher on this list. Let’s say that Cash is cool, bringing to mind music legend Johnny Cash, as well as the cold, hard variety.

ONYX (#308)

Sleek, black gemstone name that follows Jasper.

SAINT (#313)

Spiritual word name possibility.

WADE (#341)

A surname name long used as a first, Wade also appears in the dictionary as a verb.

PRINCE (#364)

A royal title name, but also possibly given in homage to the legendary musician.

CHANCE (#378)

Less cumbersome than Bonaventure, more name-like than Lucky, Chance is a modern virtue word name that’s very wearable.

JAY (#382)

We’re used to Jay as a first, and sometimes a nickname for James or another traditional boy name starting with the letter. But it makes this list thanks to the birds – think blue.

ROYAL (#402)

A nineteenth century and early-twentieth century favorite, regal Royal is back today.

STERLING (#403)

Originally, Sterling referred to a silver penny. But now it can simply mean anything of high quality. That makes it a little bit of a virtue name.

SHEPHERD (#409)

A gentle name, Shepherd suggests a spiritual meaning. But it might also just be a meaningful, virtue-adjacent choice for a son’s name.

SAGE (#422)

An herb, but also a word meaning wisdom, as well as a shade of green, there are so many reasons to consider Sage for a child’s name.

REED (#429)

Reid feels like more of a surname, and it’s the far more popular spelling of this short, strong choice. But Reed takes it in a nature name direction, thanks to the tall grasses. And since those grasses are used in musical instruments, it fits with Harmony and Aria, too.

MAJOR (#514)

A military title name with more history than you might expect as a first, and also a big, bold pick in the key of Maverick.

CLAY (#580)

One of the more traditional choices on this list, inherently down-to-earth with a bright sound.

OCEAN (#609)

Another water-inspired name in the key of River.

REIGN (#624)

Among the more subtle of the royal-related choices.

CANNON (#636)

A brother for Remington, Cannon originally referred to artillery. But it also sounds like so many stylish surname picks, from Landon to Cameron.

BRIAR (#669)

Brian and Bryce meet the natural world.

CHOSEN (#671)

A name with spiritual overtones, and a bold, bright sound. Spelling Chozen also ranks in the US Top 1000, but doesn’t quite meet the criteria for this list.

TRACE (#674)

A noun, a verb, and a given name with a country twang.

CREED (#678)

A name that signals belief, as well as the current generation’s favorite fictional boxer.

DUKE (#684)

A title name, one with plenty of swagger.

CASE (#709)

Cousin to Trace and Chase.

FOREST (#747)

Forrest is more popular, but Forest is found in the dictionary.

SEVEN (#803)

A number name rich with meaning, thanks to the Christian idea of Sunday as the sacred, seventh day.

ROCKY (#891)

It can describe a road or a path. Or even the world’s most famous fictional boxer. Rocky Balboa is the mentor to Adonis Creed, making this the second of the most popular word names the long-running movie franchise has put on this list.

ZEN (#935)

Peaceful mini name.

TITAN (#972)

Powerful word borrowed from mythology to refer to someone strong and dominant.

TRUE (#980)

Enduring virtue name.

STONE (#990)

A nature name that projects strength.

WREN (#991)

Borrowed from the birds – and the girls’ list.

Get new posts sent to your inbox!
Don’t miss out! Subscribe and get all the new posts first.

VIOLET (#16)

Shrinking no more, vintage Violet is powerfully popular today.

HAZEL (#19)

Another word name with history, this nineteenth century favorite continues to climb.

LILY (#20)

A lovely flower name, Lily now outpaces formerly popular spellings Lilly and Lillie.

AURORA (#22)

A night sky phenomenon now wildly popular for our girls, too.

ARIA (#24)

Operatic Aria owes its success to Pretty Little LiarsGame of Thrones, and our never-ending affection for A names and ends-in-ia picks.

IVY (#38)

A mini name in the key of Ava, Ivy is among the hottest of ecovintage choices for our daughters.

GRACE (#39)

Grace marries classic elegance with modern meaning. It’s perpetually among the most popular word names.

WILLOW (#41)

Take a popular television character, factor in Will Smith’s famous daughter, and no surprise that gentle nature name Willow ranks among the most popular word names for this generation.

PAISLEY (#56)

It started out as a place name, but today we count Paisley among the most popular word names because of a pattern. Paisley was first produced in the Scottish town.

GENESIS (#57)

It refers to the first book of the Bible, but more broadly, to any beginning.

RUBY (#66)

Ruby leads the gemstone names for girls, and also represents a popular source of inspiration for girls’ names: the color red.

AUTUMN (#75)

A beautiful season, and a tailored, modern favorite word name for girls.

IRIS (#78)

Elegant floral option.

JADE (#81)

Jade tops the list of the literally green names for girls, a high energy choice with a distinctive sound.

MELODY (#103)

A sweetly musical word name option for a daughter, similar to Melanie and so many other three-syllable girl names ending with -y or -ie.

SERENITY (#105)

First heard in the 1970s, Serenity sounds like old school Puritan virtue names like Amity, but is very much a modern favorite.

DAISY (#110)

A fresh and appealing floral, Daisy is connected to classic Margaret – but also stands nicely on its own.

JUNIPER (#113)

A high-energy nature name, Juniper feels like the 2020s successor to 1970s favorite Jennifer.

ROSE (#124)

Multiple Rose names compete for our attention, but it’s the elegant, straightforward Rose that makes our list.

SUMMER (#141)

A sunny, casual name for a daughter.

SAGE (#143)

Another of the most popular word names shared by our sons and daughters alike, Sage feels modern, but tied to history and the natural world alike.

MAGNOLIA (#145)

Elaborate Magnolia fits in with so many floral favorites. This one feels slightly Southern, too.

EMBER (#170)

Former favorite Amber has faded, but Ember – borrowed from the coals of a fire – is catching on.

JUNE (#171)

Like Rose, this has been a given name for so long that we often don’t hear it as a word name. But just like August, it’s a summery possibility that feels casual and classic at once.

OLIVE (#181)

Olivia holds the top spot, but it’s tailored Olive that counts as the word name.

JASMINE (#190)

Jasmine was a hit long before this name soared on Aladdin’s magic carpet. Today it feels like a culture-crossing botanical that fits in with so many floral favorites.

RIVER (#193)

This nature name caught on first for our boys, but science fiction – Doctor Who and Firefly – suggested it for our daughters, too.

WREN (#196)

A sweetly spare name for a daughter, inspired by the bird.

ASPEN (#214)

Famous for the Colorado city, Aspen started out as a tree name, and so makes this list.

HAVEN (#219)

A word name boosted by its meaning, as well as that appealing middle V.

HARMONY (#231)

A little bit musical, Harmony also suggests peace.

ROWAN (#233)

A vibrant tree name that also appears on the list of most popular word names for boys.

FAITH (#242)

Popular with the Puritans, and still going strong in the twenty-first century, Faith feels like the most obviously spiritual choice on the girls’ list.

DAHLIA (#253)

A floral name long used as a first.

POPPY (#289)

A bright, vibrant flower name, now rising fast.

HOPE (#302)

A powerful word, full of strength and optimism.

ROSEMARY (#311)

It looks like a Rose-Mary smoosh, but Rosemary has long referred to the herb and the evergreen shrub. In fact, the name is from the Latin rosmarinus – dew of the sea – rather than those classic given names.

JOURNEY (#334)

Another modern meaningful, Journey suggests a life of adventure.

DREAM (#335)

Another word name possibility boosted by the famous Kardashian family.

PHOENIX (#348)

As on the boy’s list, Phoenix is a hopeful choice borrowed from mythology, as well as the map.

TRINITY (#349)

A spiritual name, Trinity refers to a Christian principle. But it’s also well-established as a given name.

MEADOW (#352)

Gentle nature name with that stylish O ending.

RAVEN (#361)

One of several bird-inspired names, set to soar.

NAVY (#363)

A color – and a branch of the military. Navy owes something to Ava, maybe even more to Ivy.

AZALEA (#367)

Another flower name, this one given a boost by figures like rapper Iggy Azalea.

WINTER (#370)

Another seasonal choice, and the fastest rising of the four.

SUNNY (#406)

Sweet and summery Sunny is a nickname-name that suggests a lighthearted, joyful spirit.

REIGN (#414)

Another bold borrowing from all things royal.

MIRACLE (#438)

A name for a child born against all odds.

DESTINY (#439)

A 1990s favorite, Destiny paved the way for names like Trinity and Journey.

HOLLY (#450)

Wintry plant name, long used as a girl’s name.

JOY (#455)

A long-time word name, Joy brings to mind the central character of Inside Out, the very personification of happiness.

SCARLET (#465)

Yes, Scarlett is the far more popular spelling. But Scarlett comes from the surname. It’s Scarlet – with just one T – that belongs on the list of most popular word names.

OPAL (#488)

October’s birthstone and a vintage gem ready for revival.

HEAVEN (#514)

Spiritual word name popular since the 1980s.

APRIL (#515)

Another name borrowed from the calendar.

IVORY (#520)

A color name that owes a little something to Ivy and Avery.

LYRIC (#536)

Another name with ties to all things musical and literary.

LEGACY (#541)

Word name in the key of Delaney or Rosalie, but with a subtle virtue vibe.

CLEMENTINE (#543)

A lunchbox and snack time staple, the fruit was a given name first.

BRIAR (#550)

Brynn, Brianna, and Harper all share sounds that make this nature name an option. One more reference? In the fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty is sometimes called Briar Rose.

ROYALTY (#562)

Another name that rules.

HALO (#567)

A saintly reference, or perhaps a video game-inspired choice.

AMBER (#575)

A gemstone derived from fossilized tree sap, and a gorgeous golden-brown color, too.

EVE (#600)

Truly old school given name that lines up with our word for the night before a momentous event.

CLOVER (#675)

A word name that suggests good fortune.

MARIGOLD (#714)

Another floral favorite.

LAUREL (#715)

Traditional Laura meets modern nature name style.

PROMISE (#716)

A word name suggesting strength and devotion.

LOVE (#734)

A brief, but dramatic, word name possibility.

EMERALD (#744)

Glittering green gemstone possibility with built-in nickname Emme.

SKY (#783)

Skyler and Skye are more popular, but it’s just Sky that meets the criteria as a word name.

ROBIN (#793)

Once a masculine nickname for Robert – think Robin Hood, to name just one – Robin now fits with bird-inspired names, too.

PEARL (#805)

Sophisticated gemstone possibility with ties to the ocean.

TREASURE (#813)

Word name suggesting enduring value.

SCOUT (#821)

An active word name, Scout sounds like adventure.

OCEAN (#826)

Nature name celebrating the coast, as well as the briny deep.

LIBERTY (#891)

Virtue name associated with all things patriotic.

PRINCESS (#919)

A title name, in the key of King or Duke.

BLESSING (#953)

A word name that celebrates a child’s birth.

INDIGO (#964)

Like Navy and Sky, vibrant blue possibility.

SAPPHIRE (#973)

It’s right next to Ruby in the jewelry box, and maybe on a kindergarten class roster, too.

Would you use one of the most popular word names? Or do you like your word names more obscure?

First published on July 15, 2016, this post was revised substantially and republished on November 4, 2020, and again on June 18, 2022, May 13, 2023, and July 25, 2024.

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.

You May Also Like:

What do you think?

11 Comments

  1. Would Starlit be too out there if it was a middle name? What about Emerald as middle name? I once wondered Bloom, Charm, and Rainlily would make a sweet middle name. I feel like Charm is too much but would be a namesake after Charmaine. I do love Rain as middle name but seems too common for middle name spot I think.

    1. Honestly, I think almost NOTHING is too out there as a middle name, unless the first name is really different, too. But assuming the first name is within the sort of broad range of familiar, then a bold, even borderline wild, middle is great. Ava Emerald, Eliza Starlit, Sebastian Charm, Miles Starlit … I think there’s lots of potential there!

  2. Hi! I know you made this comment years ago, but I had to respond when I saw it. My name is Brooke, and my nickname growing up was Creek.

  3. Hallie isn’t a total word name. In Arabic, it means halo. It English, it is derived from hallelujah, meaning praise the Lord. In Teutonic, it comes from Old High German name Heimirich (cognate to English Henry) and Hariwald (cognate to English Harold). It can also mean a lovable maiden

  4. My daughter’s name is Raven Azalea. So the answer is yes, I would use a word name. This is one of my favorite categories for names.

    1. I love Raven! It was at the top of our list for girls, but we ended up with a boy. Raven Azalea is both cool and gorgeous.

  5. River can actually be used as a girl name, I know a girl named River. I am also wondering if Creek could be used as a name.

  6. My tastes can be very traditional, but I’d actually consider using Ace as a nickname for Achilles. Rose is perennially adorable (hope I’m not accidentally making a flower pun).

    Temperance and Mercy rather appeal to me, but they both fell out of the top 1000 last year so they wouldn’t be on this list. Although…I really like Honor, Valor (nn for Valerie?), and Victory, and those are all rare.

  7. One of the awesome things about names is that they all started off as words! The semantic process by which proper names get differentiated from other nouns is such a strange one, and one that neither linguists or philosophers really understand. I loved reading this list! And I like your criteria for separating out “words” from “names”. But on that criteria, I’d quibble with Roman, which has a LONG history as a name (https://dmnes.org/name/Roman) :). (I would probably have also not included Miles or Jasper). I’m also curious why the virtue names got a pass, as they also have a long history as names.

    1. You’re right – as I looked at this list last night, I wished I’d dropped Grace and Rose and a few others … except it felt like I was cheating, because they were so obviously words that could be used that way.

      I didn’t even think to look at Roman’s history! Fascinating … thank you!

    2. I had a similar problem with Lane, Grant, and King being on the boys list, all common last names.