Names that Peaked in 2001

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  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. 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".
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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."
  8. Javier
    • Origin:

      Spanish variation of Xavier, Basque
    • Meaning:

      "new house"
    • Description:

      One of the most popular Spanish names for boys in the US, Javier is embodied for many Americans in the magnetic persona of Spanish-born Oscar-nominated actor Javier Bardem.
  9. 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.
  10. Elisabeth
    • Origin:

      German, Dutch, Danish, English, variation of Elizabeth, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "pledged to God"
    • Description:

      This spelling of the classic name is found in France, Germany, Greece, and other cultures, and is worn by such notables as Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, Elisabeth Shue, Elisabeth Moss, and Elisabeth Hasselbeck. The name's pronunciation is usually just like the Z version, but some parents choose this because they want to discourage the Liz or Lizzie short forms and so pronounce it as if it has Lisa in the middle.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. Nya
    • Origin:

      Swahili, Basque, "tenacity, purpose, aim; sea fam, wave"
    • Meaning:

      "tenacity, purpose, aim; sea fam, wave"
    • Description:

      A relatively new name on the scene, increasing in popularity since 1999. It is likely a variation of Nia, a Swahili name based on the Arabic Niya meaning "tenacity, purpose, determination". Alternatively it may be based on Naia, a Basque name meaning "sea foam, wave" or it may simply be a modern creation, influenced by the popularity of Mia, Mya, Kaia, and similar.
  14. 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.
  15. Sheridan
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "searcher"
    • Description:

      Upper crust-y surname Sheridan gains some energy when used for a girl.
  16. Javon
    • Origin:

      Hebrew variation of Javan
    • Meaning:

      "Greece"
    • Description:

      While the biblical Javan, the son of Japheth, is spelled with two a's, the -on version is by far the favorite in contemporary America. Variant spellings and pronunciations abound. This name has ranked in the US Top 1000 since 1976, though it's in danger of falling off.
  17. Jesus
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "the Lord is salvation"
    • Description:

      Jesus -- pronounced hay-SOOS -- is used exclusively and extensively among Spanish speakers, though JEE-zus as in the first name of Christ is never used in the Anglophone world. Jesus Quintana was a character in The Big Lebowski and Jesus Velasquez appeared on True Blood.
  18. 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.
  19. Beyonce
    • Origin:

      American invented name from Louisiana Creole
    • Description:

      You know who Beyonce is. One of the most famous people in the world. When she was born, her name was truly unique; it was a riff on her mom's maiden name, Biyence, with an accent over the final E.
  20. Nyah
    • Description:

      Nyah is a feminine name with multiple cultural origins, giving it rich multicultural significance. In Arabic, it's related to 'Nia' meaning 'purpose' or 'intention.' In Swahili traditions, it connects to similar meanings of 'purpose' or 'resolve.' Some associate it with Hebrew origins meaning 'beauty' or consider it a variation of the name 'Nya.' The name gained visibility in Western countries in the early 2000s, partly due to increased interest in distinctive multicultural names with concise, flowing sounds. Nyah features prominently in contemporary naming trends that favor short, vowel-rich names ending in 'ah.' Its international roots and melodic quality make it appealing to parents seeking a name that's both accessible and distinctive.

Introducing the Nameberry App

Nameberry App
Find your perfect baby name together with our new mobile app.
  • Swipe through thousands of names with your partner
  • Names you match on are saved to your shared list
  • Get personalized recommendations that learn based on your and your partner's preferences
  • Partner with friends and family to find names you all love
  • Backed by Nameberry's 20 years of data around name preferences.
Sign up to be notified when the app launches and to receive a discount on full access.
Nameberry App Logo