Top 100 Boy Names for 2027: Meanings, Origins and the Real Data Behind Them
Posted by Daniela
Picking a name for a baby boy is one of those decisions that feels small on paper and enormous in real life. It goes on the birth certificate, the christening invitation, the first day of school and, eventually, a job application. So it helps to know what other parents are actually choosing, not just what a few trendsetters are talking about online.
This list is built on the most recent official data available: the U.S. Social Security Administration's baby name rankings for 2025, published in May 2026. These are the names real families registered for their newborns last year, along with the number of boys who received each one. Because popular names change slowly, these 100 are the names you will hear most in playgrounds and nurseries throughout 2027.
For every name you will find its origin, its meaning, how many babies got it in 2025 and whether it is climbing or slipping.
What the Latest Data Tells Us
Before the full list, here are a few things that stood out in the numbers.
Liam is #1 for the seventh year in a row, but only just. 20,818 boys were named Liam and 20,358 were named Noah, a gap of just 460 babies across the whole country.
The top four did not move at all. Liam, Noah, Oliver and Theodore kept the exact same positions as the year before.
Henry overtook James to claim #5, and William climbed back to #9.
Six names entered the top 100: Atlas, Adriel, Arthur, Emiliano, Eithan and Archer.
Eithan made the biggest leap of any name in the top 100, jumping from #226 to #97.
Cooper was the breakout star of the top 50, rising 23 places to #27.
The fastest-rising name in the entire top 1,000 was Kasai, which jumped 1,108 places to #639. It means "fire" in Japanese and Swahili.
One more detail worth knowing: the SSA counts every spelling separately. If you add Theo (#82) to Theodore (#4), you get more than 17,000 boys, which would sit comfortably at #3. Luca and Luka together come to around 12,600. Ethan and Eithan together reach roughly 11,500. So if a name feels more common than its ranking suggests, a second spelling is often the reason.
#1–10: The Names Everyone Knows
1. Liam — Irish, a short form of Uilliam (William), "resolute protector." 20,818 births. Short, friendly and international, Liam has held the top spot since 2019.
2. Noah — Hebrew, "rest" or "comfort." 20,358 births. Noah has been in the top two for over a decade and is close enough to take the crown back at any time.
3. Oliver — Latin and English, linked to the olive tree, a symbol of peace. 14,939 births. Classic in Britain and just as loved in the U.S.
4. Theodore — Greek, "gift of God." 13,355 births. A full, distinguished name with two easy nicknames in Theo and Teddy.
5. Henry — Germanic, "ruler of the home." 12,020 births (up from #6). Royal, warm and timeless, Henry passed James this year.
6. James — Hebrew via Latin, from the same root as Jacob, "supplanter." 11,945 births (down from #5). One of the most consistent names in American history.
7. Elijah — Hebrew, "my God is Yahweh." 11,111 births (up from #8). A biblical name with a soft, melodic sound.
8. Mateo — Spanish form of Matthew, "gift of God." 11,045 births (down from #7). The highest-ranking Spanish name on the list and loved by bilingual families.
9. William — Germanic, "resolute protector." 10,545 births (up from #10). Will, Liam, Billy or Wills: few names offer this many options.
10. Lucas — Latin and Greek, "from Lucania," often associated with light. 10,219 births (down from #9). Works in almost every European language.
#11–20: Fast Risers Meet Old Favourites
11. Benjamin — Hebrew, "son of the right hand." 9,762 births. Steady at #11, with the friendly nickname Ben.
12. Levi — Hebrew, "joined" or "attached." 9,642 births. Short, strong and unchanged from last year.
13. Elias — Greek form of Elijah. 8,837 births (up 12 places from #25). One of the biggest movers near the top, popular with parents who like Elijah but want something a little different.
14. Luca — Italian form of Luke, "from Lucania." 8,759 births (up 9). Italian names are having a real moment and Luca is leading the way.
15. Jack — English, originally a nickname for John, "God is gracious." 8,748 births. Cheerful, simple and firmly in the top 20.
16. Sebastian — Greek, "venerable" or "revered." 8,605 births (down from #14). Elegant and grown-up, with Seb and Bash as nicknames.
17. Hudson — English surname, "son of Hudde," a medieval form of Hugh. 8,583 births (up 5). A surname name with an outdoorsy, river-and-valley feel.
18. Samuel — Hebrew, "God has heard." 8,334 births. Classic and kind, with Sam and Sammy built in.
19. Leo — Latin, "lion." 8,173 births (up 5). Short and confident, Leo has climbed steadily for years.
20. Ezra — Hebrew, "help." 8,126 births (down 7 from #13). Still very popular, but cooling after a fast rise.
#21–30: The Cooper Surprise
21. Michael — Hebrew, "who is like God?" 8,094 births (down 3). America's #1 boy name almost every year from 1954 to 1998, now gently easing off.
22. Daniel — Hebrew, "God is my judge." 8,085 births (down 6). Familiar in every language.
23. John — Hebrew, "God is gracious." 8,027 births (down 2). The root of Jack, Ian, Juan, Sean and dozens more.
24. Ethan — Hebrew, "strong" or "firm." 7,852 births (down 5). A 2000s favourite still holding a solid place.
25. Julian — Latin, from the Roman family name Julius. 7,603 births (up 5). Romantic and polished, it works beautifully in English and Spanish.
26. Santiago — Spanish, "Saint James." 7,554 births (up 3). A rhythmic name that shortens to Santi or Diego.
27. Cooper — English occupational name, "barrel maker." 7,472 births (up 23 from #50). The biggest jump in the top 50 and a sign that friendly, sporty surname names are booming.
28. Asher — Hebrew, "happy" or "blessed." 7,456 births (down 8). One of the names that defined the late 2010s.
29. Joseph — Hebrew, "he will add." 7,303 births (up 3). Joe, Joey and Jojo make it as playful as it is traditional.
30. Alexander — Greek, "defender of the people." 7,230 births (down 3). Long, strong and endlessly versatile.
#31–40: Gentlemen and Cowboys
31. Owen — Welsh, often linked to "noble" or "well-born." 7,190 births (down 5). Soft, short and very easy to love.
32. Matthew — Hebrew, "gift of God." 7,003 births (up 1). A reliable classic with Matt and Matty.
33. Luke — Greek, "from Lucania." 6,948 births (up 1). One syllable, zero spelling problems.
34. Thomas — Aramaic, "twin." 6,917 births (up 5). Tom and Tommy are back, along with the whole vintage gentleman style.
35. David — Hebrew, "beloved." 6,794 births (down 4). Timeless and recognised worldwide.
36. Jackson — English, "son of Jack." 6,582 births (down 1). Still popular, though slowly giving ground to newer surname names.
37. Gabriel — Hebrew, "God is my strength." 6,569 births (up 6). Angelic, international and climbing.
38. Wyatt — English, from Old English Wigheard, "brave in war." 6,480 births. The original modern cowboy name, holding steady.
39. Mason — English occupational name, "stone worker." 6,291 births (up 3). A rare 2010s favourite that is ticking back up.
40. Bennett — English, from Benedict, Latin for "blessed." 6,268 births (up 20). A huge jump. Bennett offers the friendliness of Ben with a more distinctive full name.
#41–50: Big Moves in Both Directions
41. Dylan — Welsh, "son of the sea." 6,208 births (down 13). One of the bigger slides this year.
42. Roman — Latin, "citizen of Rome." 6,162 births (up 10). Strong, classical and on a clear upward path.
43. Jacob — Hebrew, "supplanter" or "held by the heel." 6,152 births (down 3). The #1 name for 14 years until 2012, now a comfortable classic.
44. Miles — of uncertain origin, often linked to the Latin miles, "soldier." 6,072 births (down 7). Cool and musical, also popular as Myles (#100).
45. Carter — English occupational name, "cart driver." 6,024 births (up 1). Friendly, preppy and steady.
46. Anthony — Latin, from the Roman family name Antonius. 5,967 births (down 2). A favourite in Italian and Hispanic families.
47. Isaac — Hebrew, "he will laugh." 5,953 births (down 6). A happy meaning for a happy name.
48. Charles — Germanic, "free man." 5,898 births (up 3). Charlie has been a hit for years and the full name is benefiting.
49. Maverick — American English, "independent one," from the Texas rancher Samuel Maverick. 5,894 births (down 13). Bold names tend to rise and fall quickly, and Maverick may have peaked.
50. Thiago — Portuguese and Spanish, a form of Santiago, "Saint James." 5,835 births (up 5). Popular with football fans and bilingual families alike.
#51–60: Western Spirit Takes Hold
51. Grayson — English, "son of the steward." 5,805 births (down 3). Smooth and modern, though past its peak.
52. Wesley — English, "western meadow." 5,578 births (up 6). A vintage name that feels fresh again.
53. Logan — Scottish, "little hollow." 5,576 births (down 8). Still very common but slowly fading.
54. Josiah — Hebrew, "God supports." 5,509 births (down 1). A gentle biblical choice.
55. Weston — English, "western town." 5,482 births (up 15). Rugged and polished at the same time.
56. Waylon — English, "land by the road," made famous by country singer Waylon Jennings. 5,408 births (up 9). Proof that country-music names are firmly in fashion.
57. Isaiah — Hebrew, "God is salvation." 5,267 births (down 1). Strong and lyrical.
58. Caleb — Hebrew, often translated as "wholehearted." 5,217 births (down 9). A '90s and 2000s favourite gently cooling off.
59. Rowan — Irish, "little red one," and the name of a tree. 5,212 births (up 12). A nature name that works well for any family.
60. Beau — French, "handsome." 5,165 births (up 9). Short, charming and with a hint of Southern style.
#61–70: Classics Under Pressure
61. Ezekiel — Hebrew, "God strengthens." 5,091 births (down 7). Zeke is one of the coolest nicknames on the list.
62. Aiden — Irish, "little fire." 5,046 births (down 15). The biggest fall in the top 70, as the "-aden" sound loses ground.
63. Nathan — Hebrew, "he gave." 4,975 births (down 1). Simple and dependable.
64. Brooks — English, "of the brook." 4,877 births (up 3). One of the few names ending in "s" that is rising fast.
65. Nolan — Irish, "descendant of Nuallán," often translated as "champion." 4,846 births (down 1). Crisp and sporty.
66. Joshua — Hebrew, "God is salvation." 4,773 births (down 9). Was in the top five through much of the '80s and '90s.
67. Angel — Greek, "messenger." 4,757 births (down 4). Especially popular in Spanish-speaking families, where it is pronounced AHN-hel.
68. Christopher — Greek, "bearer of Christ." 4,748 births (down 7). Chris, Kit and Topher keep it versatile.
69. Lincoln — English, "town by the pool." 4,703 births (up 4). Presidential and approachable.
70. Jayden — modern American creation. 4,653 births (down 11). A 2000s phenomenon now settling down.
#71–80: Nature, Myth and Strength
71. Silas — Latin, from Silvanus, "of the forest." 4,639 births (up 10). Vintage and earthy, one of the favourite names among style-conscious parents.
72. Enzo — Italian, a short form of Lorenzo or Vincenzo. 4,556 births (up 2). Sporty and full of energy.
73. Andrew — Greek, "manly" or "strong." 4,497 births (down 5). A royal and apostolic classic.
74. Adrian — Latin, "from Hadria." 4,464 births (down 2). Works in English, Spanish, Polish and more.
75. Atlas — Greek, from the Titan who held up the sky, linked to "to endure." 4,413 births (up 26 from #101). New to the top 100 and the most dramatic sign of the mythology trend.
76. Cameron — Scottish, "crooked nose." 4,348 births (down 10). The meaning surprises people, but the name stays popular.
77. Everett — English, from the Germanic Eberhard, "brave as a boar." 4,287 births (up 8). Soft-sounding with a strong meaning.
78. Walker — English occupational name for a cloth worker. 4,204 births (up 4). Friendly and outdoorsy.
79. Axel — Scandinavian, a form of Absalom, "father of peace." 4,140 births (down 1). Edgy but easy.
80. Aaron — Hebrew, possibly "exalted." 4,041 births (down 1). A dependable classic that is always first in the register.
#81–90: The New Arrivals
81. August — Latin, "great" or "venerable." 3,958 births (up 7). A sophisticated name with the cute nickname Gus.
82. Theo — Greek, "god." 3,945 births (down 2). Many parents now use it as a full name, on top of all the little Theodores.
83. Ian — Scottish form of John, "God is gracious." 3,924 births (down 8). Short, clean and cross-cultural.
84. Adriel — Hebrew, often translated as "flock of God." 3,921 births (up 25 from #109). New to the top 100, popular in Hispanic and Christian families.
85. Luka — Croatian and Slavic form of Luke. 3,873 births (up 9). Footballer Luka Modrić helped make this spelling famous.
86. Gael — Breton and Spanish, associated with the Gaels and often read as "generous." 3,860 births (up 3). Popular across Latin America.
87. Arthur — Celtic, possibly "bear." 3,847 births (up 18 from #105). Legendary, regal and new to the top 100. Already a top name in England and France.
88. Jeremiah — Hebrew, "God will exalt." 3,840 births (up 5). Long, warm and biblical.
89. Jonathan — Hebrew, "God has given." 3,822 births (down 6). Jon and Johnny keep it friendly.
90. Micah — Hebrew, "who is like God?" 3,817 births (down 4). Gentle and modern-sounding.
#91–100: Ones to Watch
91. Leonardo — Italian, "brave lion." 3,789 births (down 7). Artistic, grand and shortens to Leo.
92. Robert — Germanic, "bright fame." 3,772 births (down 2). Bobby, Rob and Bert: a classic with personality.
93. Kai — Hawaiian, "sea," with meanings in several other languages. 3,768 births (down 17). One of the bigger falls, but still loved for its simplicity.
94. Emiliano — Spanish and Italian, from the Roman family name Aemilius, "rival." 3,701 births (up 19 from #113). New to the top 100, warm and romantic.
95. Jose — Spanish form of Joseph, "he will add." 3,678 births (down 4). A long-standing favourite in Hispanic families.
96. Christian — Latin, "follower of Christ." 3,641 births (down 19). The steepest fall in the whole top 100.
97. Eithan — a spelling of Ethan, Hebrew "strong." 3,636 births (up 129 from #226). The biggest jump into the top 100 this year.
98. Archer — English occupational name, "bowman." 3,627 births (up 17 from #115). New to the top 100 and very much in line with the Cooper and Walker trend.
99. Ryan — Irish, "little king." 3,532 births (down 12). Once a top 20 name, now edging toward the bottom of the list.
100. Myles — a spelling of Miles. 3,511 births (down 1). Combined with Miles, more than 9,500 boys got this name in 2025.
The Trends Shaping Boy Names in 2027
Surname names with a job behind them. Cooper, Archer, Walker, Carter and Mason all started as occupations. Cooper and Archer were two of the strongest risers in the data, so expect more names in this style.
Gentle vintage classics. Henry, Thomas, Arthur, August, Charles and Wesley are all climbing. They sound kind, established and grown-up without feeling old-fashioned.
Western and country names. Weston, Waylon, Beau and Brooks all moved up. Wyatt is holding steady, which suggests the trend is broadening rather than fading.
Spanish and Italian names. Mateo, Santiago, Thiago, Emiliano, Luca, Enzo and Leonardo show how much families value names that work in two languages.
Mythology and big meanings. Atlas went from just outside the top 100 to #75 in a single year. Names with a story behind them are a clear growth area.
What is fading: names ending in "-aden" (Aiden, Jayden), as well as Christian, Dylan, Maverick, Kai and Ryan, all saw notable drops.
How to Choose From the 100
Say it with your surname. Repeat the full name out loud several times. Watch out for clashing sounds, such as a first name ending in the same letter your surname starts with.
Check the initials. A quick look at the monogram can save years of teasing.
Think about nicknames. Theodore, William and Alexander give lots of options. Luke, Jack and Leo do not really shorten, which some parents prefer.
Decide how popular is too popular. A top 10 name will mean classmates with the same name. A name in the 70s to 100s is familiar but far less likely to be shared in a single classroom.
Look at the direction, not just the rank. A name rising fast now, like Cooper or Atlas, may be much more common in five years. A stable name like Benjamin or Levi will probably stay where it is.
Try the three-age test. Imagine the name on a newborn, a ten-year-old and a 40-year-old. The best names fit all three.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular boy name for 2027?
Liam is the safest prediction. It has been #1 in the U.S. for seven years running, though Noah trails by only 460 births and could overtake it.
Where does this data come from?
The rankings and birth counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's official baby name data for 2025, released in May 2026. It is the most recent full year available.
Which boy names are rising fastest?
Within the top 100, Eithan, Atlas, Adriel, Cooper and Bennett made the biggest jumps. Across the whole top 1,000, the fastest riser was Kasai, followed by Akari, Eziah, Jasai and Neithan.
Which new names entered the top 100?
Atlas, Adriel, Arthur, Emiliano, Eithan and Archer all joined the top 100 in 2025.
Does the ranking combine different spellings?
No. Every spelling is counted separately, so names like Theo and Theodore, Luca and Luka, or Miles and Myles are more common together than their individual ranks suggest.
Once You Have Chosen
Whether you go with a timeless name like Henry or a rising star like Atlas, the name you choose will soon appear on a birth announcement, a baby shower card or a christening invitation. When the moment comes to share it, make sure his name gets the spotlight it deserves.