Expecting a baby boy? You may find yourself poring over name choices — there are so many! Thankfully, Nameberry.com’s list of the top 10 baby boy names may help.
Pictured: Don’t cry, Mason Disick! Your name fared pretty well on this list.
Related: Top 10 Baby Names For Girls
#10: Daniel
Classic and approachable, there’s a reason why this name consistently makes the list. Nicknames like “Dan” and “Danny” make it sound even more friendly.
Meaning: “God is my judge”
Origin: Hebrew
Famous People With This Name: Daniel Boone (American pioneer), Danny DeVito (American actor), Dan Marino (American football player), Daniel Radcliffe (English actor), Daniel Kim (American actor), Daniel Tosh (American comedian)
​Pictured: Harry Potter star Danielle Radcliffe; photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
#9: James
Biblical (two apostles in the New Testament), royal (kings of both England and Scotland), and presidential (more U.S. presidents — six — have had this name than any other), James is the kind of name that just sticks around. We dig “Jim,” “Jimmy,” “Jamie” (and yes, even “Jimbo”) as nicknames.
Meaning: “Supplanter”
Origin: Hebrew, English variation of Jacob
Famous People With This Name: James Dean (American actor), James Franco (American actor), Jimmy Fallon (American actor and comedian), Jim Carey (American actor and comedian), Jimi Hendrix (American musician), Jim Henson (American puppeteer)
Pictured: Tonight Show host (and Saugerties native!) Jimmy Fallon, left, with actor and singer Justin Timberlake; photograph courtesy of www.instagram.com/fallontonight.
#8: Alexander
In the top 25 since 1991, this popular name has spawned many variations, like “Alex,” “Alec,” “Zander,” “Zan,” and “Xan.”
Meaning: “Defending men”
Origin: Greek
Famous People With This Name: Alexander the Great (Macedonian conqueror), Alexander Graham Bell (Scottish inventor of the telephone), Alexander Hamilton (American Founding Father), Alec Baldwin (American actor), Alex Turner (English musician)
Pictured: Alex Turner, frontman for the English rock band Arctic Monkeys; photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
#7: Michael
For almost half a century, Michael held the top spot on the list of American boys’ names. Its diverse multicultural use and religious undertone keep it in the top 10; for a variation, try “Micah.”
Meaning: “Who is like God”
Origin: Hebrew
Famous People With This Name: Michael Jordan (American basketball player), Michael Jackson (American singer), Michael Bloomberg (American politician), Mick Jagger (English musician), Mike Tyson (American boxer), Michael Keaton (American actor)
Pictured: Michael Jordan, former player for the Chicago Bulls — and heralded as the greatest basketball player of all time; photograph courtesy of Flickr.
#6: Ethan
Meaning “strong” and “firm,” this name stands on being both classic and fashionable. Tom Cruise’s character in the Mission: Impossible film series gave it a big boost.
Meaning: “Strong; firm”
Origin: Hebrew
Famous People With This Name: Ethan Allen (American Revolutionary War hero), Ethan Coen (American film director and screenwriter), Ethan Hawke (American actor), Ethan Zohn (American soccer player)
Pictured: Actor Ethan Hawke; photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
#5: William
For 400 years, William had been second only to John as the most popular name in the English-speaking world. Nicknames range from “Will” to “Bill” and “Billy.” Variations include the Irish spinoff, “Liam,” and the Dutch “Willem.”
Meaning: “Resolute protection”
Origin: English, from German
Famous People With This Name: William Shakespeare (English poet), Bill Gates (American founder of Microsoft., Inc), William “Brad” Pitt (American actor), Bill Clinton (former U.S. president), Will Arnett (American actor), Wil Wheaton (American actor)
Pictured: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge; photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
#4: Jacob
Jacob held the number one spot from 1999 to 2012. Because of the wildly popular Twilight saga, which stars heartthrob Taylor Lautner as the ever-loyal werewolf Jacob Black, the name is almost guaranteed to stick around in the top 10 for a while.
Meaning: “Holder of the heel” or “supplanter”
Origin: Hebrew
Famous People With This Name: Jake Gyllenhaal (American actor), Jacob Vargas (Mexican-American actor), Jacob Riis (Danish-American journalist and activist), Jake Peavy (American baseball player)
Pictured: Actor Jake Gyllenhaal; photograph by Kris Krüg/Flickr.
#3: Mason
Traditionally a surname, Mason has skyrocketed up the list of popular first names, thanks in large part to reality TV star Kourtney Kardashian, who selected it for her son in 2009.
Meaning: “Worker in stone”
Origin: English, occupational name
Famous People With This Name: Mason Crosby (American football player), Mason Cook (American actor)
Pictured: Mason Disick, son of reality TV stars Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick.
#2: Liam
Despite originating as the short form of William (#5), Liam has gained popularity on its own; according to Nameberry.com, it’s now “the fastest-rising Irish name in the U.S.”
Meaning: “Resolute protection”
Origin: Irish, short form of William
Famous People With This Name: Liam Payne (English singer of One Direction), Liam Neeson (Irish actor), Liam Hemsworth (Australian actor)
Pictured: Liam Payne of One Direction; photograph by Georges Biard, CC BY-SA 3.0/Wikimedia Commons
#1: Noah
Responsible for dethroning Jacob (#4) after a 13-year reign, Noah has biblical roots (yup, he’s the one with the ark). Pop culture certainly hasn’t missed the boat, using the name in everything from TV (think Glee, Desperate Housewives, General Hospital, and 24) to video games and anime (Final Fantasy XII, Yu-Gi-Oh!).
Meaning: “Rest; wandering”
Origin: Hebrew
Famous People With This Name: Noah Webster (American lexicographer), Noah Lowry (American baseball pitcher), Noah Wyle (American actor)
Pictured: Actor Noah Wyle; photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
