If you had a baby in 2021, you can check to see where your baby name fell on the popularity scale. Or, if you’re expecting or planning for a baby in 2022, you can gain some inspiration from last year’s list. This year marks the third consecutive year that Olivia has been a top choice, and it’s the fifth for Liam.
Related: These will be the most popular baby names of 2022
The SSA has released an annual list of the previous year’s most popular baby names for boys and girls each year since 1997. The data is sourced directly from Social Security applications, so it’s legit.
Other baby name information collected by the SSA also includes popular names by state and changes in popularity, as well as the fastest-rising baby names each year, as seen in the table below:
“Once again, during this unprecedented time, parents chose to stick with familiar names,” a release from the SSA said. “Out of both Top 10 lists combined, only one name changed, with Theodore replacing Alexander in popularity.”
Related: 100+ unique baby names as special as your new little one
Did you get that? Alexander is out, Theodore is in—the first time the name has ever made the top 10 list.
“Welcome to the club ‘Teddy!’” the release said.
Top 10 most popular baby names of 2021—for girls
- Olivia
- Emma
- Charlotte
- Amelia
- Ava
- Sophia
- Isabella
- Mia
- Evelyn
- Harper
Top 10 most popular baby names of 2021—for boys
- Liam
- Noah
- Oliver
- Elijah
- James
- William
- Benjamin
- Lucas
- Henry
- Theodore
