Names that Peaked in 2022
Across 23 pages
of 23
Yehuda
Variation of Yehudah, Hebrew
"to praise"
This modernized version of Yehudah is the source of on popular choice Judah and is traditionally given to boys born at Chanukah — a Jewish festival of lights and rededication which is celebrated in…
Maisy
Scottish diminutive of Margaret
"pearl"
The Maisie spelling may be more widely used, but Maisy is perfectly proper and also makes the British Top 100. And as Maisy, she feels like a closer relative to Daisy, another Margaret diminutive.
Dani
Hebrew and Italian, diminutive of Daniella, Danielle, Danita
Short form occasionally used on its own, with an open and friendly androgynous quality.
Davina
Hebrew
"little deer"
A Scottish favorite that could make it here thanks to its similarity to the word divine. It's the most popular of several feminizations of David used in Scotland, including Davida, Davinia and…
Soleil
French
"sun"
An attractive French word name known here via former child TV star Soleil Moon Frye, aka Punky Brewster. It started to be lightly used in the U.S. in the 1920s and is now attracting some attention as…
Zyair
Variation of Zaire, Kongo
"the river that swallows all rivers"
One of the many new spellings of Zaire that has been climbing the charts lately.
Mustafa
Arabic
"the chosen one"
Mustafa is a name widely used in Turkey, as it was the given name of the man popularly known as Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey. Mustafa is also an epithet of the prophet Muhammad and was the…
Ayan
Somali
"fortune"
The African name Ayan was first seen on the US Top 1000 for boys in 2014. It's both simple and distinctive, a winning combination.
Xyla
Greek
"wood-dweller; the cross"
X is undoubtedly one of the coolest initials to have, and more parents are agreeing — Xyla entered the Top 1000 for the first time in 2022. Xyla comes from the Greek xylon, meaning "wood" — the same…
Elina
Spanish, Italian, German, Greek, and English variation of Helen
"bright, shining light"
Elina is one of the many variations of mother name Helen to make the US Top 1000 list, and is given to around 300 girls each year. While it might blend in among the Helenas, Elenas, and Alinas, it…
Laylani
Variation of Leilani, Hawaiian
"heavenly flower"
A gentle-sounding name with a pretty meaning to match, Laylani is a close cousin to names like Lily and Layla that have been very trendy in the last few years. We're somewhat agnostic about this…
Freyja
Old Norse variation of Freya
"a noble woman"
The original form of the name of the Norse goddess Freya, whose name is now a worldwide sensation. Freya is the most common variant, although Freja is preferred in Denmark and Sweden. Iceland still…
Asaiah
Hebrew
"the Lord hath made"
Like Isaiah but looking for a name that's more unique? Asaiah is a name found several times in the Old Testament. Think of it as a blend of Asa and Josiah and a possible substitute for Isaiah. Asaiah…
Inaya
Arabic, Bengali and Urdu
"care, concern"
Inaya is a soft and expressive name that derives from the Arabic word "inayah", meaning "care, concern, help". It is an indirect Qur'anic name, and the strictly feminine form of the unisex Inayat . A…
Riggs
English surname
"one who lives on the ridge"
Riggs, with its suave, cowboy-cool style, is one of the hottest new names on the scene. Boy names that end with S are particularly trendy right now, with similar choices Briggs, Wells, and Jones…
Dutton
English surname
"hill settlement; Dodd's town"
The newest cowboy-cool kid on the block is Dutton, introduced by the hit Western drama series Yellowstone . It's seen as a surname in the series, which follows the Dutton family on their ranch. But…
Zamir
Hebrew, Arabic, Albanian
"nightingale, song; heart, conscience, mind; good voice"
An interesting bird name choice if you're seeking a nonbiblical Hebrew name. The zippy Z sound is appealing to more parents, and Zamir entered the Top 1000 for the first time in 2022 and was one of…
Belen
Spanish place name and form of Bethlehem, Hebrew, Turkish
"house of bread; mountainside"
A fast rising choice in the US, Belen is a name with two possible origins. On one hand, it could be a variation — or an anglicization — of Belén, the Spanish form of Bethlehem. This would make it a…
Ocean
English, nature name
Ocean is a nature name that comes right out and states its meaning and association. Full of power and depth, Ocean is one of the fastest-rising baby names for both girls and boys, making the US Top…
Emiliana
Italian variation of Emily
"rival"
The enormous popularity of Emily and Emma means that parents will be looking further afield for substitutes -- and this is one of the prettiest.