Names that Peaked in 2001

  1. Fatima
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "a woman who abstains"
    • Description:

      Captivating and gorgeous, powerful but with gentle sounds, Fatima is a popular name of Arabic origin. In the Quran, she is one of the Prophet Muhammad's daughters, and the wife of Ali, the forth ruler of the Muslim world. Fatima is regarded as the ideal example of a Muslim women, which makes it a favorite among Muslim parents.
  2. Carlos
    • Origin:

      Spanish variation of Charles
    • Meaning:

      "free man"
    • Description:

      Carlos is the Spanish and Portuguese variation of Charles, which has been used in solid numbers in the US for as long as data has been kept. Carlos has never fallen out of the Top 600, but peaked from the 70s-early 2000s. Today Carlos is still within the Top 200. Notable namesakes include musician Santana, writers Fuentes and Castaneda, and numerous athletes. Carlos Irwin Estevez is the birth name of Charlie Sheen.
  3. Khalid
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "immortal, everlasting"
    • Description:

      Khalid has flirted with the Top 1000 for several decades now, climbing back on in 2015 after more than a decade's absence. Its return could be in part because of the popularity of snapchat personality and rap collaborator DJ Khaled. R&B singer Khalid may also be contributing to its newfound popularity. The name is important in Islamic history thanks to a 7th century military leader. Khalida is the feminine version.
  4. Trent
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "the flooder"
    • Description:

      This strong single-syllable boys’ name has been finding favor with parents since the fifties, though it's been slipping in recent years; it fell out of the Top 500 for the first time since 1959 in 2015. Its main associations have been with the River Trent, whose name dates back to prehistoric times, and with former Mississippi Senator Trent (born Chester) Lott, and Trent Reznor (born Michael) of Nine Inch Nails.
  5. Nayeli
    • Origin:

      Zapotec
    • Meaning:

      "I love you"
    • Description:

      A name rarely heard outside the Latino community, but it was popular enough in the early 2000s to crack the Top 200. Since then, it's lost ground.
  6. Katelyn
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Caitlin
    • Meaning:

      "pure"
    • Description:

      One of the most popular of the trendy Caitlin variations, Katelyn points directly to components Kate and Lyn --making it a bit more traditionally feminine.
  7. Abby
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Abigail, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "my father is joyful"
    • Description:

      Gently old-fashioned stand-alone nickname that owes its popularity to mega popular Abigail.
  8. India
    • Origin:

      Place name, from the River Indus
    • Description:

      Euphonious and long stylish in England, India was one of the fastest-rising names on the 2013 list, after jumping 240 spots back into the Top 1000.
  9. Julianna
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "youthful or sky father"
    • Description:

      Together with Julian, the name Juliana/Julianna derives from Julius, a Roman family name. Its origin is shrouded by history, but possible roots include Latin iuvenis, meaning "youthfu"; Greek ioulos, meaning "downy-bearded"; or Jovis, a form of Jupiter, which means "sky father".
  10. Muhammad
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "praiseworthy"
    • Description:

      There are over five hundred names for the Arab prophet who founded the Muslim religion, making it the most common boys' name in the world and explaining the Muslim adage, "If you have a hundred sons, name them all Muhammad."
  11. Alejandro
    • Origin:

      Spanish variation of Alexander
    • Meaning:

      "defending men"
    • Description:

      Softer and smoother than Alexander, this classic Spanish name for boys has made a seamless transition to this culture. Adding to its current impact: the Lady Gaga song Alejandro .
  12. Ayana
    • Origin:

      Arabic, African, Kazakh
    • Meaning:

      "large eyes; time; beautiful flower; clear, obvious, revealed; seeing, witnessing"
    • Description:

      With diverse roots and meanings, Ayana is a cross-cultural possibility with Arabic, African, and Kazakh origin. Both Ayana and Ayanna enjoyed a spike of popularity in the 1990s, but have faded since then, though 246 girls were given the name in the US in a recent year, placing it just outside the Top 1000. It appeared in the Kazakhstani top 15 multiple times in the 2010s and recently ranked in the UK Top 500.
  13. Eduardo
    • Origin:

      Spanish and Italian variation of Edward
    • Meaning:

      "wealthy guardian"
    • Description:

      A stalwart of Latin nomenclature that could work just as well for Anglos. Proof lies with the celebrity birth announcement — Hilaria and Alec Baldwin named their fifth child Eduardo Pau Lucas in 2020. This doesn't seem to have much impact on other parents, though: over 900 boys received the name in 2021, but the number is steadily decreasing.
  14. Regan
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "little king"
    • Description:

      Like somewhat more popular twin sister Reagan, this vibrant last-name-first Irish choice makes a strong, straightforward option.
  15. Kobe
    • Origin:

      Swahili
    • Meaning:

      "tortoise"
    • Description:

      Basketball legend Kobe Bryant, whose name was inspired by a Japanese steak house, brought this energetic and appealing name into -- and out of -- the mix. Bryant's tragic death in a helicopter crash in 2020 increased the popularity of his name, as fans and admirers named their children Kobe in honor of the star.
  16. Jordy
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Jordan
    • Description:

      A cutesy short form of Jordan that's never been overly popular. Pro Bowl wide receiver Jordy Nelson is one famous bearer.
  17. Jada
    • Origin:

      Spanish
    • Meaning:

      "jade"
    • Description:

      Long used in Spanish-speaking countries, this strong but feminine name was jump-started here by the rise of actress Jada Pinkett Smith. The Italian Giada is a popular variation. In the Bible, the name Jada was borne by a man and has a different root and meaning: It's Hebrew and means "he knows".
  18. Hamza
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "lion or strong"
    • Description:

      Hamza was the legendary uncle of the Prophet Muhammad, hero of The Hamzanama, the Story of Hamza.
  19. Giovanna
    • Origin:

      Italian, feminine variation of Giovanni
    • Description:

      Like Galilea and Livia, one of the Italian names that fashionable American parents—with or without Italian roots—have started to choose for their daughters. It has endured ups and downs since entering the popularity charts in 1991.
  20. Mohammed
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "greatly praised"
    • Description:

      This variation of Muhammed is not as popular as some, but it still is a widely used choice.

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