Names that Peaked in 2023

Callahan, the simpler spelling of Callaghan, is a rhythmic jig of a name whose history harks back to the ancient King of Munster. In the Dirty Harry movies, the Clint Eastwood character is Harry Callahan.

Callahan

Rory is a buoyant, spirited name for a redhead with Celtic roots. The name Rory is getting more popular overall, but for the past few years has been trending decidedly toward the boys' side -- however, it's been rising to new heights for girls in recent years. 
 It's worth noting, however, that while Rory is used a third of the time for girls in the US, in Britain it's never used as a girls' name. In London or Liverpool, naming your daughter Rory is like naming her....Roger.
 Rory (or Rori) might also be a nickname for Aurora. In the TV series Gilmore Girls, Rory was the nickname of Lorelai Leigh, the daughter character played by Alexis Biedel whose mother, played by Lauren Graham, was also named (and called) Lorelai.
 Robert Kennedy's youngest daughter, born after his assassination and now a respected documentary filmmaker, is named Rory. Actress Melora Hardin named her daughter Rory Melora.

Rory

With a soft sound, a preppy feel, and a unisex style, Palmer is a last name that's been climbing up the charts for girls in the US. Having entered the Top 1000 in 2018, more recent stats place it in the Top 300. More than four times as many girls received the name than boys in 2023, though Palmer is a name on the rise all round. 
 
An English surname that derives from the Latinpalma, the literal meaning of the name is "one who carries the palm (trees)". On a more symbolic level, it means "pilgrim", because Christian Pilgrims traditionally brought palms with them when they visited the Holy Land. Alternatively, it is linked to Palm Sunday, the week before Easter, when new palms are brought to churches so the old ones may be burnt in time for Ash Wednesday.
 
Palmer might work then for Christian parents wanting a modern sounding name that still reflects their faith, but it could also make a very modern honor name for grandma Pamela. Or, given its long history as a last name and its contemporary style, it could work for anyone who likes it, or for those looking for an alternative to Piper or Harper.

Palmer

Sweet and sparky, youthful yet long-established, this Scottish nickname for Margaret, Mairead, or Mary, entered the US Top 1000 back in 2014 and has been on the rise ever since, replacing the once popular Macy which peaked back in the 2000s. Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams helped propel the name back into the limelight, along with the that of her character, Arya, while singer Maisie Peters has helped keep it in the charts. 

In literature, Maisie is the name of the precocious young title character in the Henry James novel What Maisie Knew, and is also the main female character in Rudyard Kipling's The Light That Failed. Spelled Maisy, it's a popular children's book series.
 
When Maisie entered the US Top 1000 in 2014 at 658, it was one of the fastest rising names of that year and more recently ranked in at #233. Alternative spellings Maisy and Maizie ranked at #745 and #898 in the same year. 
 
Maisie is a big favorite in England and Wales, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, where it ranked in the Top 100 in recent years, while in Northern Ireland and Scotland, it's an even bigger love, featuring in the Top 20.

Maisie

Cataleya is the name of a genus of orchids that gained visibility as a baby name after it was used for the character played by Zoe Saldana in Colombiana. Part Caitlin, part Aaliyah, and part Leah, Cataleya is a trendy choice that just might transcend its momentary popularity. It is a spelling adaptation of Cattleya, named after the British horticulturalist William Cattley.

Cataleya

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."
 Currently the most popular name in the UK, it is a strong, solid, and meaningful name. Other variations include Mehmet, Mohammad, Mahamadou, and Mihemed.

Muhammad

The name of a figure from Greek mythology, Adonis is a high-pressure name often synonymous with masculine beauty. Nonetheless, many mythological names that would have previously been deemed off limits have made their way up the popularity charts—for instance, Penelope currently ranks highly for girls. And indeed, Adonis was one of the fastest-rising boys' names of 2016, moving up 307 spots on the U.S. popularity chart in just one year.

Adonis

Collins is a surname name that has made the girls' Top 1000 thanks to its use for the daughter of the real-life Blind Side heroine. As of 2022, Collins climbed into the US Top 300. This derivation of the Greek Nicholas—which means "people of victory"—or the Irish and Scottish Colin—which may itself be a Nicholas derivation or an Anglicization of the word for pup—has a stylish feel made more so by that final s.

Collins

Effortlessly stylish with an international feel, Milan re-entered the US charts back in 2013 after a 55 year hiatus. It has been powering up the charts ever since, following in the footsteps of sweet sound-alike Mila, and spotlighted by singer Shakira, who chose it for her son. 
 
A fast rising choice of 2023, Milan comes from the Slavic element milŭ meaning "gracious, dear", however, as an Italian place name, it is more likely from the Latin Mediolanum, meaning "middle of the plain". It could also be connected to the Sanskrit milana meaning "union", which might explain its usage in India. 
 
Milan has been a Top 10 name for boys in The Netherlands and Hungary, as well as making the Top 20 in Belgium. A famous literary namesake is Czech writer Milan Kundera, author of The Unbearable Lightness of Being. In America, it is a solidly unisex name whose usage is no doubt also inspired by the stylish Italian city of the same name.
 
Given to around 1500 boys in a recent year compared to 450 girls, for every one girl called Milan, there are three boys.
 
Milan is a name with plenty of variations and diminutives including Milen, Miko, Miłosz, Milenko, Milano, and Mylan.

Milan

Shepherd is an occupational surname with a pleasant, pastoral feel, an outdoorsy vibe, a gentle sound and a cool, contemporary energy. The name has been rising steadily in the US since the mid-2000s, but it didn't break in to the Top 1000 until 2016. Since then, it has become a fresh but familiar choice, ranking in the Top 350 in a recent year.
 
Used to describe a sheep herder, this name was chosen by Jerry Seinfelds and his wife Jessica back in 2005, likely inspiring other parents to consider it. More recently, it was chosen by actors Genevieve and Jared Padalecki for their son in 2013, which coincides with the time it really started to pick up pace as a name option. 
 
Shepherd has spiritual undertones, links with Christmas, and an air of wisdom about it, however it doesn't feel too much. Its sounds and rustic feel keep it grounded.
 
. There are other spelling choices: Shepard, Sheperd, and Sheppard--all of which lead to the friendly nickname Shep. Artist Shepard Fairey (original first name Frank) gained a lot of attention for his Obama HOPE poster.
 The various spellings are additionally reflected in the surnames of astronaut Alan Shepard, "Winnie the Pooh" illustrator Ernest Shepard, actor/playwright Sam Shepard, "A Christmas Story" writer Jean Shepherd, Fox News anchor Shepard Smith, and actress Cybill Shepherd.

Shepherd

Zayn zoomed up the popularity charts thanks to former One Direction member Zayn Malik; it was one of the fastest-rising names of 2016. The name can also be spelled Zain; the feminine version is Zayna or Zaina. It might also be seen as a spelling variation of Zane, as in the bestselling early twentieth century author Zane Grey, which sounds exactly the same but has a different root.

Zayn

Ismael is Spanish and Portuguese rendition of the Biblical name Ishmael and the form used in the Greek New Testament. Currently, it is the variant that ranks most highly on the US charts and it is popular among the Hispanic community, both in the US, and globally. 
 
Derived from Hebrew, Ismael means "God will hear", and in the Bible, he is the son of Abraham, the ancestor of the Arab people. While Ishmael is remembered as the narrator of Herman Melville's Moby Dick, Ismael is slightly sleeker, more internationally friendly, and popular in France, Spain, Brazil and Mexico.
 
With nicknames Mael and Izzy, Ismael is given to over 1400 babies every year in the US and was a fast rising name in 2024.

Ismael

Kayson is one of several variations of the boys' name Cason, a favorite of the 2010s when it appeared in many different forms, from the Casen to Kaisen to Cayson. Likely inspired by the popular Mason and Jason, the name is also a place name and surname, derived from the English town Cawston .
 
While other Cason-variants seem to have had their day, Kayson remains the most popular. It is in both the UK Top 600 and the US Top 300, where it is given to more than 1200 boys every year. 
 
If you do enjoy Kayson but want something a little more unique, Canaan, Canyon, Layton, or Keaton might appeal.

Kayson

Talia is derived from the Hebrew elements tal, meaning "dew," and yah, in reference to God. In the mythology of one ancient sect, Talia was one of ten angels who attended the sun on its daily course. The occasionally homophonous name Thalia has unrelated Greek origins.
 
In tandem with the longer-form Natalia, this pretty Russian-flavored girls’ name has been rising in the popularity charts in the US.
 
A prominent bearer is Talia Shire, doomed to go down in cinema history as Rocky's mousy girlfriend Adrienne, along with actress Talia Balsam, aka the former Mrs. George Clooney. Most recently, Talia was attributed to YouTube star Talia Joy Castellano, a young girl battling cancer who passed away at age 13.
 
Talia is also an Australian Aboriginal name meaning "near water".

Talia

Bowen is a Celtic surname representing two separate Celtic strains, one Welsh and one Irish, and entered the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2011.
 Football Hall of Famer Drew Brees named his son Bowen, as did a recent reality show couple looking for the perfect name to 'brand' their baby. It does have the appealing nickname Bo.
 
Alternatively, this is also a Chinese name, combining Bo and Wen, in which case the meaning would be 'wave of writing" or "wave in literature". 
 
Actor Bowen Yang is a notable bearer.

Bowen

Saint as a descriptive word name was first chosen by rocker Pete Wentz for his younger son (baby brother is Bronx), and now Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have catapulted the name into the celebrity stratosphere by choosing it for their baby boy. The couple called their baby "Saint" throughout the pregnancy because his conception had been so difficult. Saint was named in our predictions for the top baby name trends of 2015, on descriptive word names which also include Royal and Noble, King and Rogue. Saint is moving beyond the group of names that are only <a href="https://nameberry.com/fameberry">celebrity baby names</a> and into the general lexicon.

Saint

Arleth has made the US Top 1000 twice — in 2005 and 2021 — thanks to telenovela star Arleth Terán. 

Arleth

The international popularity of Noah has led to some parents searching for alternatives and the rhyming Koa is now attracting more attention than ever. With its cool K initial and summery, nature-inspired feel, this punchy three letter name has risen more than 600 places since it entered the US charts in 2017.
 
A Hawaiian name with a fierce meaning, Koa is also a type of tree native to the islands whose wood is favored for building canoes and surfboards. Considered sacred to some, the tree was also used historically to make weapons, making it synonymous with strength and warriors.
 
Given to around 1100 boys in the US last year, Koa is also in the Top 500 in the UK, and in the Top 100 in Australia, where it is also associated with the Aboriginal Koa people, whose name possibly comes from a word meaning "west". 
 
Striking the balance between gentle nature name and bold adventurer, Koa was chosen by guitarist Tom Dumont of the band No Doubt, a brother for Ace and Rio, and a name that fits right in with all of the band's stylishly named offspring, Mason, Magnolia, Ruby, Kingston, Zuma, Apollo, Coco, and Saffron. The YouTubers, Family Fizz, also have a son named Koa, who joins sisters Mia, Sienna, and Karma, and baseball player Francisco Lindor and his wife used Koa Amani for their son in 2025.

Evie was derived from the English Eve or the Latin Eva, which in turn come from Chawwah, a Hebrew name related to the concept of life. Evie can be used as a nickname for any name that starts with Ev-, including Eva, Evelyn, and Evangeline, but also for names such as Genevieve and Maeve. Evie is typically pronounced with a long E sound, but a short E is also valid.
 
In the land of the nickname name, otherwise known as the UK, where diminutives like Freddie, Millie, Maisie, Alfie and Ollie are all the rage, Evie is a highly popular choice. In the US, she entered the popularity ranks in 2007 for the first time since 1941, appreciated for its energy and spunk.

Evie's star has been on the rise in the US, but her popularity here still lags behind that in the rest of the English-speaking world. Evie is a Top 100 name throughout the British Isles, in Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.

Princess Evie is the deuteragonist, or second most important character, in Disney's Descendants franchise. She is the daughter of the Evil Queen.
 Natalie Portman played an Evie in V for Vendetta and Rachel Weiss bore it in The Mummy.
 Evie, of course, can stand on its own, but its diminutive origins put it firmly in the ranks of <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/508/cute-baby-names-for-girls">cute baby names</a>

Evie

Lushly elaborate name that makes Lucy more grownup and sensual.  Carnie Wilson chose it for her daughter.  Lucianus is an ancient Roman family name and Lucianus of Samosata was an early satirist.  Heard most often in the Italian and Spanish cultures, Luciana is usually pronounced loo-chee-anna.