Best New Baby Names in the Top 1000
America’s top baby names of 2020 have been announced! We’ve seen the most popular names at the top of the list, so now let’s look further down, at the new names in the Top 1000.
To make it into the Top 1000, a name had to be given to at least 252 girls, or at least 208 boys. In 2020, 72.16% of babies got a name in the Top 1000. This figure gets lower each year — back in 2011 it was 72.97% — showing that the pool of names is becoming ever more diverse and individualistic.
This year, 46 girl names and 42 boy names were new to the Top 1000, or entered after some time out of it. The highest entries were Capri, which jumped straight to Number 685, and Jaxtyn, which returned to the list at Number 585 after a year away.
The names that returned after the longest time were Violette, which was last seen in the Top 1000 in 1927, and Jones, which was last there in 1931.
The new entrants replace dropouts including retro Lisa and Patricia, cute Ronnie and Billy, and classic Ann and Toby.
We’ve picked out 12 of the hottest names new to the Top 1000 for 2020. They tell us about up-and-coming trends, and what was on parents’ minds last year.
Hot Names New to the Top 1000
Abner (971) — Who’d have thought Abner would make a comeback? Last seen in the Top 1000 in 1938, parents are reinventing this biblical-turned-hayseed name for a new generation.
Artemis (960) — One of the unisex mythological names that’s hot on the heels of Athena. In the same style, Osiris entered the Top 1000 for boys.
Capri (635) — Kobe and Gianna Bryant’s tragic death in early 2020 had a big impact on the world, including the world of baby names. Almost every family member’s name saw more use in 2020, and for the youngest sister Capri, this took her name from obscurity into the Top 1000. Other new entries were the variants Jakobe and Jianna, and Nathalia (an alternative spelling of another sister’s name, Natalia.
Everest (982) — We predicted that this rugged mountain name with the cool “Ever” sound was about to get big. It seems to be coming true! Ocean is another rising boy name we saw coming.
Harris (988) — How can a name in the Top Ten in Scotland be off the charts in the States? It’s great to see this surname name back in the Top 1000, along with others like Jones and Riggs.
Jovie (922) — This cheerful Christmas movie name has been gaining momentum ever since Elf was released, and has finally cracked the Top 1000. The fashionable V sound makes it feel like a successor to Jodie.
Kenji (904) — We love seeing more Japanese names enter the charts. Between chef J. Kenji López-Alt and soccer player Kenji Gorré, this name has some cool credentials. It feels like an updated version of Kenny, which finally left the Top 1000 this year.
Leilany (796) — Floral Hawaiian Leilani entered the Top 100, and this spelling variation jumped into the Top 1000. “Lani” endings are set to be a defining sound of this decade: also new in the Top 1000 are Laylani, Melani, and Khalani (a Khaleesi-Leilani mashup?).
Murphy (969 for girls, 967 for boys) — A double win: Murphy is the only name that’s new in the Top 1000 for both sexes. Ok, for boys it re-entered for the first time since 1956. It’s the latest in a long line of Irish surnames to become popular as first names. No doubt Peaky Blinders actor Cillian Murphy gave it a boost, as the name Cillian is also new to the Top 1000.
Raya (937) — “Ray” is a hot sound in girl names like Reagan and Reign. The Disney movie Raya and the Last Dragon could help this short, sweet international choice rise even higher.
Rio (783) — This Portuguese/Spanish nature name packs a lot of energy and cool factor into three letters. The rise may be influenced by soccer player Eder Lopes, who named his son Rio in 2020.
Stormi (951) — Kylie Jenner welcomed her daughter Stormi in 2018, but the name is still creating ripples. Like Dream, this could be a “wild” celebrity name that goes mainstream.
Girl Names New to the Top 1000
These are all the new (or returning) girl names in the US Top 1000 in 2020. They are listed in order of popularity, from Capri which shot straight to Number 685, to Kadence which just squeaked in at 1000.
Capri Marleigh Rosalia Bellamy Leilany Jianna Denisse Jaylin Ila Denise Scout Noah Brynleigh Wrenley Khalani Aspyn Cara Iyla Zoya Layne Marlowe Jovie Etta Shay Avayah Giavanna Raya Drew Loretta Stormi Artemis Aislinn Murphy Nyomi Marceline Marisol Nathalia Violette Yamileth Aarya Zhuri Araceli Melani Laylani Mazikeen Kadence
Boy Names New to the Top 1000
All of these boy names are new or re-entries to the US Top 1000 in 2020. We’ve listed them in order of popularity, from high climber Jaxtyn, which jumped in at Number 585, to Karim and Meir, which came in joint 1000th place.