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Fastest-Rising Boy Names 2023

Fastest-Rising Boy Names 2023

What are the fastest-rising boy names on the most recent US name popularity list?

Here's a complete list of the boy names vaulting the furthest and fastest up the list. Note that the Social Security Administration issues the official baby name count for the US more than a year later, so 2022 is the most recent year counted.

Some of these names are already on the official US Top 1000 and some are much more rare. What they have in common is that they're hot right now.

Does that mean they're destined to be the most popular boy names of the future? Maybe, and maybe not.

Some of the fastest-rising names got that way because of a pop culture event or a celebrity and may fade just as quickly. But some—and these are the names you'll probably want to pay the most attention to—are male names that have been simmering along just below the surface and are ready to pop.

Nameberry favorites such as Arlo, Atticus, and August have become big favorites with the rest of the country, which means they are almost certainly heading to the top of the popularity list.

The fastest-rising boys' names on this list are ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry.

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Popular Names

Boy Names

  1. HugoHeart
    • Origin:

      Latinized form of Hugh
    • Meaning:

      "mind, intellect"
    • Description:

      Hugo, the Latin form of Hugh, has more heft and energy than the original -- and of course we love names that end (or begin, for that matter) with an o. This one is especially appealing because it's backed up by lots of solid history and European style.
  2. CassianHeart
    • Origin:

      Latin, variation of Cassius
    • Meaning:

      "hollow"
    • Description:

      Cassian is a saints' and Latin clan name, related to Cassius, that is virtually unused and waiting to be discovered.
  3. TheoHeart
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Theodore
    • Meaning:

      "gift of God"
    • Description:

      Many modern parents use Theo as the short form for Theodore rather than the dated Ted--including some celebs, such as Dallas Bryce Howard-- but others bypass the Grandpa name Theodore entirely and skip right to the hip nickname Theo. Short and ultra-chic, Theo's a cool, contemporary baby name choice.
  4. OtisHeart
    • Origin:

      Variation of Otto, German
    • Meaning:

      "wealthy"
    • Description:

      Otis has real appeal for parents attracted to its catchy O initial and combination of strength and spunk. The appealing hero of the British TV show Sex Education has done much to propel Otis into the forefront of cool names.
  5. LucianHeart
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "light"
    • Description:

      Lucian is a sleeker, more sophisticated version of Lucius that is climbing in tandem with other Lu-starting names.
  6. AzrielHeart
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "God is my help"
    • Description:

      Azriel is more masculine than Ariel, more unusual than Israel. Also spelled Asriel and Azrael, Azriel is the name of the Angel of Death in Jewish and Muslim traditions.
  7. RaphaelHeart
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "God has healed"
    • Description:

      Raphael is a romantic archangel name that sounds both artistic and powerful. Raphael is also a great cross-cultural choice, with significance for people with both Latinate and Jewish roots, plus plenty of grounding in the English-speaking world.
  8. AsaHeart
    • Origin:

      Hebrew; Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "healer; born in the morning"
    • Description:

      A short but strong biblical name with multicultural appeal, Asa is enjoying new visibility thanks to hot young actor Asa Butterfield of Hugo fame.
  9. KoaHeart
    • Origin:

      Hawaiian
    • Meaning:

      "warrior"
    • Description:

      With Noah taking the Number 1 spot in 2013, Koa is attracting more attention than ever.
  10. CedricHeart
    • Origin:

      Celtic
    • Meaning:

      "bounty"
    • Description:

      Cedric was invented by Sir Walter Scott for the noble character of the hero's father in Ivanhoe, presumed to be an altered form of the Saxon name Cerdic. The name was later also given to Little Lord Fauntleroy, the long-haired, velvet-suited, and lace-collared boy hero of the Frances Hodgson Burnett book, who became an unwitting symbol of the pampered mama's boy.
  11. AzielHeart
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "God is my strength"
    • Description:

      Aziel is a rarely used name that connotes zeal and may become more familiar thanks to its fashionable initial A and z in the middle.
  12. SonnyHeart
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "son"
    • Description:

      Sonny is one of the generic boy nickname names making a surprise reappearance, and it was recently used by actor Jason Lee. Another surprise: It's been on the US Top 1000 list every year since 1927, reaching a peak in 1975, when it hit Number 428.
  13. RhodesHeart
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "where roses grow"
    • Description:

      This is a name we've seen the potential of for some time now — A Greek island and a prestigious scholarship make for a preppy first name with the uber-stylish S ending. Needless to say we were not surprised that Rhodes cracked the Top 1000 in 2022, and we expect it to keep rising. Rhodes was recently chosen by actress Emma Roberts for her son, born in 2020.
  14. ShepherdHeart
    • Origin:

      Occupational name
    • Meaning:

      "sheep hearder"
    • Description:

      Shepherd is an occupational surname with a pleasant pastoral feel. It was chosen for their son by the Jerry Seinfelds, which might inspire others to follow their lead.
  15. AldenHeart
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "old, wise friend"
    • Description:

      Hot young actor Alden Ehrenreich, the new Han Solo, gives this formerly-stodgy surname name an attractive new image, making it a fresh successor to Aiden or Holden. Before it got this fresh shine, Alden was among the classic Thanksgiving baby names.
  16. RobinHeart
    • Origin:

      Bird name; or English, diminutive of Robert
    • Meaning:

      "bright fame"
    • Description:

      Now that it's no longer fashionable for girls, Robin is rising for boys again. Robin Hood, Robin Williams, Christopher Robin, and Robin the Boy Wonder are all male namesakes, after all. It reentered the US Top 1000 boys names in 2015 for the first time since 1999 and continues to bounce around the lower end of the Top 1000.
  17. CallahanHeart
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "bright-headed"
    • Description:

      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.
  18. DionHeart
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Dionysius, Greek
    • Meaning:

      "child of heaven and earth"
    • Description:

      In ancient Greece, a student of Plato; in modern America, a cool guy.
  19. AlfredHeart
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "wise counselor; elf counsel"
    • Description:

      Alfred is up off his recliner! If you're looking for a path to Fred, you can go directly to Frederick or take the long way around with the so-out-it's-in-again Alfred. Alfred is quite popular in several European countries, especially England and Wales, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.
  20. TateHeart
    • Origin:

      English from Norse
    • Meaning:

      "cheerful"
    • Description:

      A strong single-syllable surname with a joyful meaning, Tate is finding a place on more and more birth certificates.