The 20 most popular baby names of the 21st century

Jacob is a name many have heard before. It means “to follow” and is the name of Good Boys  star Jacob Tremblay.  When it comes to why this name peaked in the 21st century, though? Look no further than the popularity of Twilight and the werewolf who tried to win the heart of a high schooler.

Emily Blunt just might be living up to her name, as it means eager, and she’s not the type of actress who sits still. Since the ‘00s, Blunt has done well over three dozen films, including The Devil Wears Prada, Sicario, and A Quiet Place.

Michael’s origins are biblical, which means this name has been around for centuries. Mike, Mikey, Michael — however it’s said, it always sounds right. Plus, it’s also a great name when it comes to becoming an icon: Michael Jordan, Michael Jackson, and, in time, Michael B. Jordan.

Madison was more commonly used for boys until the early ‘50s. Today, it is more widely used for girls, including singer Madison Beer.

Joshua has been around a long time but peaked in the ‘70s and stayed near the top of the list as the years followed. This makes sense, seeing as Doctor Odyssey star Joshua Jackson was born in 1978. While the name took a dive around 2021, it’s been back on the rise in popularity.

Meaning whole or universal, Emma has been in the top 10 for girl names for some time. One has to wonder how many parents who double as Potterheads were inspired not by the character, but by the actress Emma Watson? Then there’s also Emma Stone, who could’ve had some fans who wanted to use her name for their own child.

One of the oldest names on the list, Matthew is solid and never fails to be a parental favorite when it comes to naming baby boys.

Stemming from olive trees, Olivia has come to mean peace, which makes it a name that parents likely couldn’t deny. Who doesn’t want and deserve more peace in their lives?

Daniel is one of those names parents love to dish out because it can and often comes with a few fun nicknames like Danny, Dan, and on occasion, Dante.

Parents who wanted their kid’s name to mean something along the lines of grace but didn’t want them to have to find a BFF named Will have been settling on Hannah. It’s also highly likely that Miley Cyrus’ alter ego has something to do with the rise of Hannahs in the 21st century.

One would be willing to bet that Christopher, a.k.a. Chris, has been in the top 10 for decades, as there always seems to be a couple in each graduating class.

Abigail translates to “father’s joy,” so it’d be interesting to know how many dads picked this top name out.

Andrew is another classic on this list that even some Gen Alpha grandpas may have, as its popularity has always been on point.

Shortened to Bella, Isabella started to gain momentum in the 21st century, and that could be because of everyone’s obsession with Bella Swan from the Twilight franchise.

Who wouldn’t want to name their kid something that means “strong, enduring, firm, and long-lived?”

Samantha is a versatile name as it can be shortened in many ways that allow the person to make it their own: Sam, Sammie, Sammy, Sami.

More than a fair share of male names come from religious texts, including Joseph.

Elizabeth comes with a vibe that screams regality that is hard to resist.

It never fails to blow minds when someone is called Bill, but their birth certificate says William. Not sure how that became a thing, but that confusion hasn’t stopped parents from utilizing it.

The popularity of Ashley dates back to at least the ‘80s, as many millennials can attest that they had at least two or three Ashleys in their classes back in the ‘90s. Today, it’s still trucking as a name parents can’t quit.