Names that Peaked in 2022
Across 23 pages
of 23
Gia
Italian
"God is gracious"
Gia is a cute if slight name that calls to mind stylish sisters Mia, Lea, Pia, Tia, and Nia. One of the most familiar Italian baby names in the US, Gia is a short form of Gianna, which in turn is a…
Milani
Variation of Milana or Melanie
Is Milani an elaboration of Italian city name Milan or is it a modern form of Melanie? Milani has very quickly gained popularity over the last decade, potentially because of its trendy -i ending or…
Lennox
Scottish
"elm grove"
Lennox is an aristocratic and powerful Scottish surname name made truly special by that final x. The worldwide fame of British boxer--World and Olympic champion--Lennox Claudius Lewis brought the…
Ares
Greek
"ruin, bane"
Rooted in Greek mythology, Ares entered the US Top 1000 in 2013, when it was one of the year's fastest rising names. Similar in style to Atticus, Atlas, and Ari, it has continued to climb up the…
Poppy
Flower name, English from Latin
"red flower"
Poppy, unlike most floral names which are sweet and feminine, has a lot of spunk. Long popular throughout the rest of the English-speaking world, Poppy is finally starting to rise toward the top in…
Kohen
Spelling variation of Cohen, Hebrew
"priest"
This could be viewed as another name fallen to the trend of using a K initial over a C beginning, or it could tie the name more closely to the Hebrew title for a priest, which is transcribed as kohen…
Leia
Variation of Leah, Laya, or Leya, Portuguese, Spanish, English, Sanskrit
"weary; the law; dissolution"
Most familiar in the English speaking world as the Star Wars princess, Jedi, and leader, Leia can be considered a pop culture choice, created by George Lucas who in turn likely based it on the…
Esme
French
"beloved"
Esmé comes from the past participle of the Old French verb esmer , meaing "to esteem" or "to love." It can also be considered a derivative of the Spanish name Esmeralda, which means "emerald". Esmé…
Elowyn
Spelling variation of Elowen, Cornish
"elm"
The -en ending is the authentically female one and the traditional Cornish spelling, but more and more Americans are turning to the y as a feminizing element in the final syllable of this name. As…
Romeo
Italian
"pilgrim to Rome, Roman"
It wasn't so long ago that Romeo was considered as outre for an American baby as Casanova or Cupid. But that really changed when David and Victoria Beckham chose it for their second son in 2002, a…
Adelina
Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Slavic variation of Adeline
"noble, nobility"
Adelina is back in the Top 1000 after an absence of nearly a century, thanks to the meteoric rise of her sister name Adeline -- along with Adelaide, Adele, and Ada. Some parents choose Adelina…
Luciano
Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese variation of Lucian
"light"
A vibrant, operatic choice with plenty of flair and plenty of familiarity too. Popular in Italy, Chile, Uruguay, and Brazil, it also ranks in the Top 500 in France and the US. Operatic tenor Luciano…
Ali
Arabic
"supreme, exalted"
This is one of the ninety-nine attributes of Allah, deemed by Muhammad to be a recommended name for a male child. In this country, it's been primarily associated with boxing immortal Muhammad Ali,…
Banks
English surname
"one who lives on the hillside or riverbank"
Banks is a topographical surname that refers not to those places where people keep their money but to riverbanks or hillsides, and specifically the people who live and work on them. A name with two…
Elodie
French, variation of Alodia, German
"foreign riches"
The lyrical and melodious Elodie, a Nameberry favorite, is starting to rise through the US popularity charts for the first time since the 1880s. This once uncommon member of the El- family is a Top…
Colson
English surname
"son of Nicholas"
Author Colson Whitehead introduced this surname-name to the lexicon, perfect for a son or grandson of a Nicholas, a Nicole, or a Colin. Or anyone else who likes the sound for that matter, since there…
Mathias
Spelling variation of Mattias, Greek
"gift of God"
Matthias is the ancient Biblical form of Matthew, widely used along with brother Mathias in the US for the past 20 years. This New Testament name -- he was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot as an…
Eliam
Hebrew
"God is my nation"
Eliam is less common Biblical alternative to Liam, Elliott, Elias, and Eli, but maybe one that's faster-rising. Eliam joined the Top 1000 for the first time in 2021 and was sky-rocketed in 2024, when…
Sullivan
Irish surname
"black-eyed one"
Sullivan is a jaunty Celtic three-syllable name, with a real twinkle in its eye. It was immortalized in the 1930s classic film Sullivan's Travels and was chosen for one of Patrick Dempsey's twin…
Zyaire
Variation of Zaire, Kongo "the river that swallows all rivers"
"the river that swallows all rivers"
Zaire has been a rising choice in the US in recent years, derived from the name of a now dissolved Central African state which takes its name from the Kongo term "the river that swallows all rivers".…