Names that Peaked in 2009

Kaleb is one of several boys' names starting with k that started life as a classic C name, Caleb. Kevin Federline named his boy Kaleb Michael Jackson.

The -leigh suffix seems to be losing its luster; several names in this category, including Kayleigh, Kyleigh and Ryleigh, peaked in popularity a few years back but have since lost quite a bit of ground.

Oh dear! We can see where you were going with connecting this name to the classic "Leah," but it just doesn't work. We recommend sticking with the classic Malia.

Cameron is starting to fall slightly since its peak in the early 2000s, but is still comfortably in the Top 100. The Camryn spelling has historically been more popular on the girls' side, though it did rank briefly for boys in the late 2000s.

Similar to Brielle and Riley, this name lags quite far behind these more common variations. It peaked at Number 622 in 2009 in the US, but it is now descending the ranks. It coincides with the surname Briley, a contracted form of Brierley, which might be an interesting alternative.

A melodic name, popular among the African-American community, where it joins sound-alikes Amari, Jamari, and Damari. It ultimately derives from the Arabic Qamar, meaning "moon", and is also used by Swahili speakers and those from Comoros and Somalia. It could also be considered a Greek place name, from a coastal village in Santorini.

Taliyah is an elaboration of Talia or a modern smoosh name, combining Taylor and Aliyah. Taliyah does sound natural, but we're not sure it improves on any of its originals.

Marlie is a modern feminine name that combines elements of traditional names like Mary and Charlie, or possibly represents a variation of Marley. Its soft sounds and ending with the feminine 'ie' suffix give it a gentle, contemporary feel. The name gained popularity in the early 2000s, reflecting the trend toward names that sound familiar yet fresh. Marlie has a versatile quality—it can evoke either a sweet, feminine impression or a slightly tomboyish character depending on the individual. The name works well cross-culturally and has been embraced in multiple English-speaking countries. Marlie's rise coincided with the popularity of similar-sounding names like Harley and Kaylie, representing parents' desire for names that balance tradition with modernity.

Yandel is a contemporary masculine name that gained prominence primarily through Latin American culture and music. While the name doesn't have deep historical roots, it emerged in popularity in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, particularly in Puerto Rico and other Spanish-speaking regions. The name received significant attention through Puerto Rican reggaeton artist Yandel (born Llandel Veguilla Malavé), who performed as part of the duo Wisin & Yandel before pursuing a solo career. Yandel has a modern, distinctive sound that appeals to parents seeking unique names. Its popularity has gradually increased among Hispanic communities in the United States and Latin America, though it remains relatively uncommon in broader usage.

Kaylin is a variation of Kayla and Katelyn that had several years of chart climbing before reaching a peak of Number 372 in 2009. Cailin and Kailyn are two other spellings.

Enough parents have appreciated this combinations of the sounds from Brayden and Jaylen to make it a widely used name. Its most noted bearer is former football player Braylon Edwards.

Like its cousin Braden, Braydon has been falling in popularity in recent years, perhaps signaling a weakening of the 'aden'-name epidemic. There are thousands of young Bradens and Braydons out there, including the son of Melissa Joan Hart.

Kadyn is a modern masculine name with contemporary appeal, representing a creative spelling variation of Caden/Kaden. These names likely derive from a Gaelic surname meaning 'battle' or possibly from the Welsh element 'cad' meaning 'battle.' Kadyn emerged in popularity during the late 1990s and early 2000s amid the trend for names with the '-en/-an/-in' ending. The distinctive 'K' spelling and 'y' substitution give the name a more unique appearance while maintaining the popular sound. Kadyn fits well with other modern masculine names like Jayden, Brayden, and Kayden. While less common than some similar variants, Kadyn continues to attract parents seeking a contemporary name with a slightly distinctive spelling.

Perfect name for a little girl born at Christmas. Its many variations and pet forms include Natalia, Nataliya, Natalie, Nataly, Natascha, Talya, Talia, Tasha and Tasya.

Zavion is a modern masculine name that appears to have emerged in the late 20th century. It may be related to Xavier (from Basque, meaning 'new house' or possibly 'bright') with the popular '-on' ending that appears in many contemporary names. Alternatively, it could be a creative variation of names like Zavier or Savion. The initial 'Z' gives the name a distinctive, strong beginning, while the overall sound has a contemporary feel. Zavion began appearing more frequently in naming records in the 1990s and early 2000s. The name exemplifies modern naming trends that favor strong consonant sounds (particularly Z, which has grown in popularity) combined with familiar name endings. While not among the most common names, Zavion has established a consistent presence in contemporary naming patterns, offering a distinctive option with accessible pronunciation.

A possible variation of Amia and Amaya. It has charted in the U.S. Top 1000 for most of the 21st century.

Kaylen is a little bit Kayla, a little bit Kay plus Lynn, and ultimately one of those modern names that is unlikely to survive the future.

A respelling of Giovanni which makes the Italian pronunciation – three syllables, rather than four – more clear. Jovani and its variant Jovanni were both Top 1000 picks for the first decade and a half of the 20th century. They are particularly popular in the US's Latino community.

A fast-rising variation of Abigail that was shooting up the popularity charts a few years ago, but whose star is now falling now that Abigail is not quite as hot as she once was.