Fastest-Rising Boy Names 2021

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 <a href="https://nameberry.com/boys-names">names for boys</a>. However you spell it, a friendly, jaunty name with authentic roots.

Mylo

Howard, once hugely popular -- in the Top 50 from the 1870s to early 1950s, hitting Number 24 in 1920 -- has been stuck in Dad-Grandad limbo for decades, but is showing some signs of stirring back to life. Along with such formerly-fusty names as George and Harold, Howard may soon feel baby-appropriate, perhaps with the short form Ward.
Howard was the surname of an early English noble family, gradually metamorphosing into a first name in the nineteenth century. Notable Howards include tycoon Howard Hughes, director Howard Hawks, politician Howard Dean, and media figure Howard Stern. In literature, there is Ayn Rand's iconic architect Howard Roark, protagonist of The Fountainhead.
 Strange trivia item: Vampire novelist Anne Rice's given name is Howard Allen. She has said her mother "had the idea that naming a woman Howard was going to give that woman an unusual advantage in the world."

Howard

Celebrated in song—the rock 'n' roll classic "Louie, Louie"—this is a gregarious, friendly spelling of Louis not often used as a full first name. It reentered the US Top 1000 in 2015. It's a highly popular choice in England and Wales.
 It's the given name of actor and comedian Louie Anderson.

Louie

A twist on the standard Everett takes it to lofty heights. The snow-capped Everest would surely stand out in a classroom, yet has an acceptable name-like feel. 

Everest

Calum is a form of the boy name Callum, popular in the British Isles and carrying a peaceful meaning.

Calum

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.
 Ledger is also the main character in Ingrid Law's novel Scumble.

Ledger

Creed appeared on the US Top 1000 for the first time in over a century in 2016; it was the year's second-fastest-rising boys' name. It probably got a bump from the seventh movie in the Rocky series, called simply Creed. Some may know it from the character on the popular television show The Office.

Creed

Baylor's 2014 ascension to the US Top 1000 for boys is probably thanks to its fashionable two-syllable, r-ending, occupational surname feel. Think of it as Taylor with a twist.
 Baylor is also the name of a Texas university with some controversial associations.

Baylor

Kaiser, as in roll and Wilhelm, appeared for the first time on the US Top 1000 in 2017.  It fits the two-syllable -er ending style that's all the rage, and it lends itself to the short form Kai.  But we hope this Germanic version of what is essentially a title rather than a name doesn't keep rising on the charts.

Kaiser

A place name with so much history, from Ancient Egypt, where so many pyramids were built, to the US blues southern city. The name also has a great meaning. Although it's being given to babies of both genders, Memphis (unlike most place names) is much more common for boys than girls.

Memphis

This spelling variation of the much more popular Adrian entered reentered the Social Security list after an over 100 year absence in 1999. The -en ending makes it sound like the feminine Adrienne. We suggest sticking with the all A Adrian for your little boy.
 Actor Adrien Brody uses this spelling.

Adrien

The Kylian spelling of this popular Irish name was introduced to the lexicon by French soccer star Kylian Mbappé.

Kylian

One of numerous usable Irish and Scottish surnames starting with Mac and Mc, this is the real McCoy. McCoy Tyner, the well-known jazz pianist, is one of the few to use this very cool name. Bonus: Nickname Mac.


Mccoy

The boys' name Elon is best known today as the name of Elon Musk, eccentric billionaire founder of Tesla and SpaceX. With Canadian singer Grimes, Elon Musk has a son with an even more unusual name, X Æ A-12. 
Before Musk arrived on the scene, Elon was the name of a Biblical judge. Long obscure, naming your son Elon today would signal an admiration for Musk rather than the Good Book. 

Taken on its own merits, Elon is a sleek, attractive name with a strong nature meaning that's rare but also has deep roots: A total winner. But now that shiny name is feeling a bit....Musky.

Elon

A recent addition to the Most Popular list, Bridger has the trendy two-syllables and 'er' ending, and a historical reference to Jim Bridger, a foremost nineteenth-century frontiersman, explorer, trapper, scout, and teller of tall tales. 
 Bridger might be a nice name for a baby whose heritage bridges two cultures.

Bridger

Ridge may be the quintessential daytime drama name, but it's still better than most. This is one word name rising rapidly through the ranks, reentering the US Top 1000 in 2015 for the first time since 1989.

Ridge

Riggs, with its suave, cowboy-cool style, is one of the hottest new names on the scene. <a href=“https://nameberry.com/baby-names/905/boy-names-ending-in-s”>Boy names that end with S</a> are particularly trendy right now, with similar choices Briggs, Wells, and Jones zooming up the charts.

Riggs

More creative and artsy than Mario. It has regularly ranked near the bottom of the US Top 1000 over the last four decades. It does much better across the pond, and is especially popular in Italy, Spain, and Switzerland.

Dario

Cannon sits amongst other weapon names like Colt, Pistol, Lance, and Remington. Definitely a name that offers bombast.

Cannon

One of the most appealing of the newly hip occupational names, evoking sweet smells emanating from the oven. Much fresher sounding than than others that have been around for a while, like Cooper, and Carter.
 American football star Baker Mayfield has propelled his name into the big time over the past decade. There also are plenty of notable surnamed Bakers, including writers Nicholson and Russell, actor Simon, Senator Howard, rocker Ginger, jazz musician Chet, blues singer Anita, and entertainer Josephine.

Baker

Fastest-Rising Boy Names

Boy names moving fastest up the US name popularity list in 2021