The only names that are more popular come from the Bible and account for 40% of the boys’ top 100. Here are some of the most-used from each category:
| n-ending | Biblical |
|---|---|
| Landon (#39) | Jacob (#3) |
| Brayden (#48) | Michael (#7) |
| Cameron (#59) | Daniel (#10) |
| Colton (#64) | Elijah (#11) |
| Brandon (#70) | James (#13) |
| Grayson (#78) | Benjamin (#14) |
| Hudson (#87) | Matthew (#15) |
| Easton (#88) | David (#18) |
| Carson (#90) | Joseph (#20) |
| Camden (#99) | Joshua (#21) |
There is some overlap between these two groups, a place where style and substance join forces. We like that spirit, which imbues the modern sound with meaning and tradition:
- Aaron (#51)
- Christian (#35)
- Ethan (#6)
- Evan (#55)
- Ian (#80)
- Jordan (#53)
- Nathan (#31)
- Simon (#229)
Stylish Irish Names for Baby Boys
A quarter of Americans have some Irish ancestry, and choosing a name from the old country is a way for many parents to celebrate that aspect of their family history. These Irish names are quintessentially cool:
- Aiden (#12)
- Kevin (#72)
- Declan (#121)
- Colin (#124)
- Bryan (#132)
- Rowan (#295)
- Brendan (#326)
- Ronan (#434)
- Kieran (#557)
- Kian (#583)
Venerable Old Names That Feel Fresh
Over the past few years, many old-fashioned names have come back into favor—the most popular have a respectable pedigree but still sound perfectly of-the-moment:
- Dylan (#28)—recalls the 20th century Welsh poet Dylan Thomas
- Byron (#516)—the most famous of the romantic English poets
- Owen (#38)—from Owain, one of King Arthur’s knights
- Gavin (#49)—from Gawain, another of the knights of Camelot
- Tristan (#97)—also one of Arthur’s knights, famous for his doomed love affair with the princess Isolde
- Jason (#79)—leader of the Argonauts in the ancient Greek story
- Justin (#85)—short form of Justinian, an emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire
- Roman (#134)—a citizen of the famous empire
- Lincoln (#95)—our much-loved 16th president
- Franklin (#495)—founding-father, inventor, and Renaissance man
- Waylon (#292)—the smith of the gods in Norse mythology
- Odin (#573)—father of the Norse gods
Updated Family Names
We also admire the thoughtfulness of parents who incorporate the n-ending trend into family names to honor a father or grandfather, like Jackson (#16), Jameson (#181), and Samson (#356). If you like this style, see our full post on Fresh Forms of Family Names for Boys.
