The Most Popular Baby Name Endings of 2023
Meet America's favorite name endings!
You may be able to guess some of the most popular endings for names today. Maybe you've met a lot of boys named Jackson, Carson, and Mason, or get confused between your daughter's friends Eliana and Liliana.
The final sounds and letters of names go in and out of style, as each new generation of parents seeks something similar, yet slightly different, from former favorites.
We analyzed the American baby name data for 2023 to find out the most popular final three letters — choosing to focus on these as they include many popular mix-and-match suffixes, like -lyn and -ton.
The most popular combos are boy names ending in -son and girl names ending in -ana. Both appear several times in the Top 100, led by Hudson and Eliana, and a lot more further down the rankings.
There are pros and cons to using a name ending in a popular sound. On the one hand, it means you can use something relatively rare — like Larson or Alyana — and it won't sound out of place among your child's peers. On the other hand, there's the risk that it blends in too well, and gets confused with other similar-sounding names.
Here are the Top 10 name endings for boys and girls along with the most popular names with each ending. Plus, we have more distinctive endings for those who want to buck the trends.
America's Top 10 Girl Name Endings
1. ana
This classic feminine suffix replaces -ley as the most popular ending for girl names this year. They are led in the Top 100 by Eliana, Liliana, and Ariana.
2. lia
The most popular names with this ending are Amelia, Emilia, and Natalia, followed by many more further down the rankings.
3. ley
This former top ending, often found in unisex names derived from place names and surnames, now ranks lower as Riley drops from its peak. Here are the most popular -ley girl names.
4. lla
This lilting feminine ending appears in popular names like Isabella and Ella. Lower in the charts, Antonella had a big jump in popularity last year.
5. nna
Always popular because of Anna, this ending has had an extra boost in recent years from new favorites Gianna and Sienna.
6. lyn
This versatile ending is found in traditional names like Evelyn and Gwendolyn, as well as modern re-spellings and inventions like Madelyn and Gracelyn.
7. ina
The top names in 2023 with this internationally popular ending were Valentina, Catalina, and Alina.
8. lie
This ending is found on stylish nicknames like Ellie and Charlie, as well as full names such as Natalie, and variant spellings like Rylie.
9. ine
This sleek French ending can be pronounced several ways, as in Josephine, Caroline, or Katherine. As well as these classics, rising -ine names include Celine, Maxine, and Clementine.
10. ani
The rise of Leilani and other Hawaiian names like Kailani and Alani (and their spinoffs) has propelled this ending into the Top 10. It's also found in names from other cultures, like Imani and Avani.
America's Top 10 Boy Name Endings
1. son
No surprise that -son names are the most popular, as there are four of them in the Top 100: Hudson, Jackson, Mason, and Grayson.
2. ian
This ending is popular thanks to stylish names that work in both English and Spanish, like Sebastian, Julian, and Adrian.
3. den
A hot ending of the last two decades, thanks to Aiden, Jayden, Kayden and all their variants, as well as cool options like Camden and Eden.
4. ton
Found in placename-style names — which often have a cowboy vibe — like Easton, Weston, Colton, and Ashton.
5. iel
In culture-crossing classics like Daniel and Gabriel, as well as newly-popular biblical names such as Aziel.
6. iam
This ending's popularity is almost entirely thanks to Liam and William. The third most popular -iam name is Eliam, way down at number 641.
7. lan
Found in cool Celtic choices Dylan, Nolan, and Declan, plus up-and-coming star Milan.
8. iah
The classic Old Testament ending. In the Top 100 are Josiah, Isaiah, and Jeremiah, while lesser-used names include Hezekiah and Uriah.
9. han
Popular thanks to the biblical trio of Ethan, Nathan, and Jonathan, but further down the rankings there's also cool Rohan and Callahan.
10. ael
Biblical-esque names like Azael have seen a huge rise in the last ten years.
Uncommon Baby Name Endings
If you're looking for a more distinctive final sound, these names share their final three letters with only a few, if any, others.