Fastest-Rising Boy Names 2024
- Jedidiah
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"beloved of the Lord"Description:
Jedidiah, an Old Testament name with a touch of Gunsmoke-era western panache, is right in line to be revived along with the other biblical -iah names.
- Aurelio
Origin:
Italian; Spanish, variation of AureliusMeaning:
"the golden one"Description:
Aurelio is an energetic Italian name rarely heard in the US, with an attractive aura. As the female version Aurelia gains greater notice, we expect to hear more from Aurelio too. In fact, Aurelio has recently entered the Top 1000 in the US in 2022. Next to follow might be latinate versions Aurelius and Aurelian.
- Wilson
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"son of Will"Description:
Wilson is a substantive presidential choice far less prevalent than Taylor or Tyler, and with the advantage of being a new route to friendly nickname Will. We see Wilson growing in popularity as an alternative to William; and as a patronymic, it would make a conceivable (if possibly confusing) choice for a son of William.
- Bode
Origin:
German, YorubaMeaning:
"order, command; return"Description:
Bode is a short and sharp name that has been on and off the US charts since the mid-2000s. Similar to on-trend choices such as Brooks, Beau, Boone, Brody, and Bodhi, Bode suffers a little, perhaps because it might be read as the word "bode" , as in "that doesn't bode well", and because it has several acceptable pronunciations.
- Marcelo
Origin:
Spanish and Portuguese variation of Marcellus, LatinMeaning:
"little warrior"Description:
Elegant but upbeat, Marcelo has steadily climbing up the US Top charts since the mid-90s. Also popular in Spain, Uruguay, Chile, and Mexico, it ranked in the US Top 500 for the first time in a recent year when it was given to more than 700 boys.
- Alonzo
Origin:
Italian diminutive of AlphonsoMeaning:
"noble, ready"Description:
Alonzo is dashing and debonair, with a large measure of Latin flair.
- Boone
Origin:
English from FrenchMeaning:
"blessing, lucky"Description:
Boone is one of the advancing herd of lean and lanky cowboy names with a laid-back, backwoods, Western feel—and surprising French roots. It's inevitably linked with legendary frontiersman Daniel, and also with the positive connotations of the word boon. It debuted in the US Top 1000 in 2015.
- Dalton
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"the settlement in the valley"Description:
Dalton is a name with multi-faceted appeal. Many are attracted to the name's resemblance to other two-syllable n-ending favorites: Colton, Holden, and cousins. Others see it as a trendy Western name, recalling the legendary Dalton Brothers gang. It also has something of an upscale, preppy feel connected to the exclusive New York private school.
- Ledger
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"people's spear; book of recordings"Description:
Ledger, another surname-turned-first name, carries associations of the great and late Australian actor Heath Ledger. It appeared on the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2017, perhaps bolstered by the potential of Lej and Edge as nicknames, and its similarity to Legend.
- Drake
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"dragon; or, male duck"Description:
A simple one-syllable name that has been on the popularity list since the mid-1980s, Drake is most associated today with the single-named rapper (born Aubrey). The name peaked at Number 197 in 2010 and has since been on a slow decline, but it still can be counted among the stylish contemporary boy names starting with D.
- Denver
Origin:
English or French place-name and surnameMeaning:
"from Anvers"Description:
Before there was Aspen, Denver was the Colorado city name of choice, and it reentered the US Top 1000 in 2015 after a 14 year absence as a stylish two-syllable boys’ name with its trendy -er ending. Its decade of greatest use was the 1920s, when it reached as high as Number 422.
- Darren
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"little great one"Description:
Darren and wife Sharon shop for fifties memorabilia on eBay. The Connecticut place-name Darien might offer an update.
- Ronald
Origin:
Scottish, NorseMeaning:
"ruler's counselor"Description:
A strong, if slightly dated sounding choice, Ronald made the US Top 10 in the late 1930s through into the mid-1940s, before it became heavily associated with President Reagan, as well as with the McDonald franchise mascot. More recently, it has appeared in the Harry Potter series, borne by Ronald "Ron" Weasley, while others may immediately think of its rhyme, Donald. All of these factors may work against Ronald making a big resurgence, but popular nickname Ronnie might make others reconsider.
- Joe
Origin:
Diminutive of JosephMeaning:
"Jehovah increases"Description:
Joe is still the ultimate good-guy name, not at all diminished by its longevity or popularity or its everyman rep as Regular Joe, Cowboy Joe, G.I. Joe, Joe Exotic, Joe Blow, Joe Millionaire, Average Joe — and now President Joe (Biden).
- Rowen
Origin:
Spelling variation of Rowan, Scottish and IrishMeaning:
"rowan tree; little redhead"Description:
While the Rowan spelling is in the Top 1000 for both boys and girls, this spelling is much more unusual though maintains the same gender split at nearly four boy Rowens for every girl.
- Grady
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"noble"Description:
Following in the footsteps of popular brother Brady, Grady is another lively, ebullient Irish surname name. The O'Gradys (originally O Gradaugh) were an ancient clan that produced an impressive number of bishops.Perhaps the most remarkable O'Grady descendant is Muhammad Ali, whose mother's maiden name was Grady.
- Mylo
Origin:
Spelling variation of Milo, Latin or old GermanMeaning:
"soldier or merciful"Description:
Milo, Miles and even Myles are all well-known in the US, but the spelling Mylo is not widely used here though it ranks among the British Top 1000 names for boys. However you spell it, a friendly, jaunty name with authentic roots.
- Santino
Origin:
ItalianMeaning:
"little saint"Description:
A name introduced here by The Godfather: James Caan played the anything-but-saintly Santino "Sonny" Corleone, and comedian Adam Carolla used it for his son.
- Kenzo
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"strong and healthy"Description:
Kenzo is a common Japanese name with several creative bearers: the single-named fashion designer, prizewinning architect Kenzo Takada, and painter Kenzo Okada, which makes it internationally recognizable.
- Darwin
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"dear friend"Description:
Enough parents have found naturalist Charles Darwin, the father of the theory of evolution, a worthy hero to keep Darwin relatively consistently in the Top 1000. It has a lovely meaning too—"dear friend."
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