Yearly Name Rankings
Top 100 Baby Names 2016
Official birth-registry rankings โ Emma and Noah take the top spots. Every name links to its full meaning, origin, and popularity history.
Emma#1 Girl Name
Noah#1 Boy Name
2016Data Year
Top 100 Girl Names
| # | Name | Trend | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emma | — | Emma derives from the Germanic element "ermen" meaning "whole" or "universal," and entered English through Olโฆ |
| 2 | Olivia | — | Olivia is the feminine form of the Latin name Olivius, derived from "oliva," meaning olive tree, symbolizing โฆ |
| 3 | Ava | ▲ 1 | The name Ava derives from the Latin "avis," meaning "bird," though some sources link it to the Germanic "avi"โฆ |
| 4 | Sophia | ▼ 1 | Sophia derives from the Greek word "sophia" (ฯฮฟฯฮฏฮฑ), meaning "wisdom." The name has its linguistic root in anโฆ |
| 5 | Isabella | — | Isabella derives from the Hebrew name Elisheba (ืืืืฉืืข), meaning "God is my oath" or "devoted to God," and paโฆ |
| 6 | Mia | — | Mia is a Scandinavian diminutive of Maria, derived from the Latin name Maria, which means "of the sea" or "beโฆ |
| 7 | Charlotte | ▲ 2 | Charlotte is the feminine form of Charles, derived from the Old Germanic name Karl, which means "free man" orโฆ |
| 8 | Abigail | ▼ 1 | Abigail derives from the Hebrew name Avigayil, composed of "av" (father) and "gail" (rejoices), meaning "fathโฆ |
| 9 | Emily | ▼ 1 | Emily derives from the Roman family name Aemilius, which likely comes from the Latin word "aemulus" meaning rโฆ |
| 10 | Amelia | ▲ 2 | Amelia derives from the Germanic name Amalia, which comes from the root "amal" meaning "work" or "industriousโฆ |
| 11 | Harper | ▼ 1 | Harper derives from the Old English occupational surname for someone who played the harp, from the word "hearโฆ |
| 12 | Evelyn | ▲ 3 | Evelyn derives from the Norman French name Aveline, which likely stems from the Germanic element "avi" meaninโฆ |
| 13 | Elizabeth | — | Elizabeth derives from the Hebrew name Elisheva (ืืืืฉืืข), meaning "God is my oath" or "God is abundance," comโฆ |
| 14 | Sofia | — | The given name 'Sofia' means 'wisdom' and its linguistic root is Greek, derived from the word 'ฯฮฟฯฮฏฮฑ' (sophiaโฆ |
| 15 | Madison | ▼ 4 | Madison originates from the English surname "Madde's son," derived from the Middle English given name Madde (โฆ |
| 16 | Avery | — | The given name 'Avery' is derived from the Old English words 'aelf' (elf) and 'ric' (ruler), meaning 'elf rulโฆ |
| 17 | Ella | ▲ 1 | Ella means "fairy maiden" or "beautiful fairy" and derives from the Old Germanic element "ali-" meaning foreiโฆ |
| 18 | Scarlett | ▲ 4 | Scarlett derives from the Middle English and Old French word "scarlate," referring to a luxurious scarlet cloโฆ |
| 19 | Grace | — | Grace derives from the Latin word "gratia," meaning favor, goodwill, or divine blessing, and entered English โฆ |
| 20 | Chloe | ▼ 3 | # Chloe The name Chloe comes from the Greek word "chloฤ" (ฯฮปฯฮท), meaning "green shoot" or "young green plantโฆ |
| 21 | Victoria | ▼ 1 | |
| 22 | Riley | ▲ 13 | |
| 23 | Aria | ▲ 6 | |
| 24 | Lily | ▲ 1 | |
| 25 | Aubrey | ▼ 4 | |
| 26 | Zoey | ▼ 3 | |
| 27 | Penelope | ▲ 7 | |
| 28 | Lillian | ▼ 2 | |
| 29 | Addison | ▼ 5 | |
| 30 | Layla | — | |
| 31 | Natalie | ▼ 4 | |
| 32 | Camila | ▲ 11 | |
| 33 | Hannah | ▼ 5 | |
| 34 | Brooklyn | ▼ 3 | |
| 35 | Zoe | ▼ 2 | |
| 36 | Nora | ▲ 5 | |
| 37 | Leah | ▼ 1 | |
| 38 | Savannah | — | |
| 39 | Audrey | ▼ 2 | |
| 40 | Claire | ▲ 9 | |
| 41 | Eleanor | ▲ 19 | |
| 42 | Skylar | — | |
| 43 | Ellie | ▲ 5 | |
| 44 | Samantha | ▼ 4 | |
| 45 | Stella | ▲ 6 | |
| 46 | Paisley | ▼ 1 | |
| 47 | Violet | ▲ 3 | |
| 48 | Mila | ▲ 5 | |
| 49 | Anna | ▼ 5 | |
| 50 | Allison | ▼ 11 | |
| 51 | Alexa | ▼ 19 | |
| 52 | Hazel | ▲ 11 | |
| 53 | Aaliyah | ▼ 6 | |
| 54 | Ariana | ▼ 8 | |
| 55 | Lucy | — | |
| 56 | Caroline | ▲ 6 | |
| 57 | Sarah | — | |
| 58 | Genesis | ▲ 7 | |
| 59 | Kennedy | ▼ 1 | |
| 60 | Sadie | ▼ 8 | |
| 61 | Gabriella | ▼ 7 | |
| 62 | Madelyn | ▼ 3 | |
| 63 | Adeline | ▲ 72 | |
| 64 | Maya | ▲ 4 | |
| 65 | Autumn | ▲ 4 | |
| 66 | Aurora | ▲ 12 | |
| 67 | Piper | — | |
| 68 | Hailey | ▼ 4 | |
| 69 | Arianna | ▼ 13 | |
| 70 | Serenity | ▲ 1 | |
| 71 | Ruby | ▲ 12 | |
| 72 | Kaylee | ▼ 11 | |
| 73 | Nevaeh | ▼ 3 | |
| 74 | Eva | ▲ 2 | |
| 75 | Naomi | — | |
| 76 | Alice | ▲ 11 | |
| 77 | Luna | ▲ 35 | |
| 78 | Bella | ▼ 4 | |
| 79 | Quinn | ▲ 18 | |
| 80 | Lydia | — | |
| 81 | Peyton | ▼ 9 | |
| 82 | Melanie | ▼ 1 | |
| 83 | Kylie | ▼ 17 | |
| 84 | Aubree | ▼ 5 | |
| 85 | Mackenzie | ▼ 12 | |
| 86 | Kinsley | ▲ 27 | |
| 87 | Cora | ▲ 1 | |
| 88 | Julia | ▲ 1 | |
| 89 | Taylor | ▼ 12 | |
| 90 | Madeline | ▲ 1 | |
| 91 | Katherine | ▼ 7 | |
| 92 | Gianna | ▲ 4 | |
| 93 | Eliana | ▲ 9 | |
| 94 | Elena | ▲ 12 | |
| 95 | Vivian | — | |
| 96 | Willow | ▲ 15 | |
| 97 | Brianna | ▼ 15 | |
| 98 | Reagan | ▲ 1 | |
| 99 | Faith | ▼ 9 | |
| 100 | Clara | ▼ 2 |
Top 100 Boy Names
| # | Name | Trend | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Noah | — | The name Noah derives from the Hebrew name ื ึนืึท (Noach), meaning "rest" or "comfort," from the root ื ืื (nuacโฆ |
| 2 | Liam | — | Liam means "strong-willed warrior" or "protection" and derives from the Irish name Uilliam, which is the Irisโฆ |
| 3 | William | ▲ 2 | William derives from the Germanic elements "wil" (desire, will) and "helm" (helmet, protection), literally meโฆ |
| 4 | Mason | ▼ 1 | Mason derives from the Middle English and Old French term for a person who works with stone, ultimately from โฆ |
| 5 | James | ▲ 2 | James derives from the Hebrew name Yaakov (Jacob), meaning "supplanter" or "one who follows," and entered Engโฆ |
| 6 | Benjamin | ▲ 4 | The name 'Benjamin' means "son of the right hand" or "son of the south," derived from the Hebrew elements *beโฆ |
| 7 | Jacob | ▼ 3 | Jacob derives from the Hebrew name Yaakov (ืืขืงื), meaning "supplanter" or "he who supplaces," from the root mโฆ |
| 8 | Michael | ▲ 1 | Michael derives from the Hebrew name Mikha'el, composed of the elements "mi" (who), "ka" (like), and "el" (Goโฆ |
| 9 | Elijah | ▲ 2 | Elijah derives from the Hebrew name Eliyahu (ืืืืื), combining "eli" (my God) and "yahu" (Yahweh), meaning "Mโฆ |
| 10 | Ethan | ▼ 4 | The given name 'Ethan' is derived from the Hebrew word 'Eitan', meaning 'strong' or 'firm', and is linguisticโฆ |
| 11 | Alexander | ▼ 3 | Alexander derives from the Greek name Alexandros, composed of the elements "alexein" (to defend) and "andros"โฆ |
| 12 | Oliver | ▲ 7 | Oliver derives from the Old French name Olivier, which likely comes from the Latin "oliva" (olive tree), symbโฆ |
| 13 | Daniel | ▼ 1 | Daniel derives from the Hebrew name Daniyyel, composed of "din" (judgment) and "el" (God), meaning "God is myโฆ |
| 14 | Lucas | ▲ 2 | Lucas derives from the Latin name Lucanus, which is itself based on the Latin word "lux" meaning "light," thuโฆ |
| 15 | Matthew | — | Matthew comes from the Hebrew name Mattityahu, meaning "gift of God," derived from the elements "mattah" (gifโฆ |
| 16 | Aiden | ▼ 3 | The name 'Aiden' means "little fire" or "fiery one," derived from the Old Irish name *รedรกn*, a diminutive ofโฆ |
| 17 | Jackson | — | Jackson means "son of Jack," derived from the patronymic suffix "-son" combined with Jack, which itself is a โฆ |
| 18 | Logan | ▼ 4 | Logan originates from the Scottish Gaelic name "Logan," derived from the Gaelic word "lag" meaning "small holโฆ |
| 19 | David | ▼ 1 | The name David derives from the Hebrew name Dawid (ืืื), meaning "beloved" or "friend," from the root dwd. |
| 20 | Joseph | ▲ 1 | The name Joseph derives from the Hebrew name Yosef (ืืึนืกึตืฃ), meaning "God will increase" or "God adds," combiโฆ |
| 21 | Samuel | ▲ 2 | |
| 22 | Henry | ▲ 7 | |
| 23 | Sebastian | ▲ 12 | |
| 24 | Owen | ▲ 12 | |
| 25 | Gabriel | ▼ 3 | |
| 26 | Carter | ▼ 2 | |
| 27 | Jayden | ▼ 7 | |
| 28 | John | ▼ 2 | |
| 29 | Luke | ▼ 1 | |
| 30 | Anthony | ▼ 5 | |
| 31 | Isaac | — | |
| 32 | Dylan | ▼ 5 | |
| 33 | Wyatt | ▲ 1 | |
| 34 | Andrew | ▼ 4 | |
| 35 | Joshua | ▼ 2 | |
| 36 | Christopher | ▼ 4 | |
| 37 | Grayson | ▲ 10 | |
| 38 | Jack | ▲ 2 | |
| 39 | Julian | ▲ 6 | |
| 40 | Ryan | ▼ 1 | |
| 41 | Jaxon | ▲ 3 | |
| 42 | Levi | — | |
| 43 | Nathan | ▼ 5 | |
| 44 | Caleb | ▼ 7 | |
| 45 | Hunter | ▼ 4 | |
| 46 | Christian | ▼ 3 | |
| 47 | Isaiah | ▲ 2 | |
| 48 | Thomas | ▲ 3 | |
| 49 | Aaron | ▲ 3 | |
| 50 | Eli | ▲ 3 | |
| 51 | Lincoln | ▲ 15 | |
| 52 | Charles | ▼ 2 | |
| 53 | Landon | ▼ 7 | |
| 54 | Connor | ▲ 1 | |
| 55 | Josiah | ▲ 2 | |
| 56 | Jonathan | ▼ 8 | |
| 57 | Cameron | ▼ 1 | |
| 58 | Jeremiah | ▼ 4 | |
| 59 | Mateo | ▲ 26 | |
| 60 | Adrian | ▼ 2 | |
| 61 | Hudson | ▲ 4 | |
| 62 | Robert | ▲ 1 | |
| 63 | Nicholas | ▼ 1 | |
| 64 | Brayden | ▼ 3 | |
| 65 | Jordan | ▼ 6 | |
| 66 | Easton | ▲ 12 | |
| 67 | Nolan | ▲ 4 | |
| 68 | Colton | ▼ 8 | |
| 69 | Evan | ▼ 2 | |
| 70 | Angel | ▼ 6 | |
| 71 | Asher | ▲ 11 | |
| 72 | Dominic | ▼ 4 | |
| 73 | Austin | ▼ 4 | |
| 74 | Leo | ▲ 17 | |
| 75 | Adam | ▼ 2 | |
| 76 | Jace | ▼ 1 | |
| 77 | Jose | ▲ 3 | |
| 78 | Ian | ▼ 2 | |
| 79 | Cooper | ▼ 2 | |
| 80 | Gavin | ▼ 10 | |
| 81 | Carson | ▲ 8 | |
| 82 | Jaxson | ▲ 2 | |
| 83 | Theodore | ▲ 16 | |
| 84 | Jason | ▲ 2 | |
| 85 | Ezra | ▲ 8 | |
| 86 | Chase | ▼ 12 | |
| 87 | Parker | ▼ 15 | |
| 88 | Xavier | ▲ 2 | |
| 89 | Zachary | ▼ 1 | |
| 90 | Kevin | ▼ 11 | |
| 91 | Tyler | ▼ 10 | |
| 92 | Ayden | ▼ 5 | |
| 93 | Elias | ▲ 7 | |
| 94 | Bryson | ▲ 39 | |
| 95 | Greyson | ▲ 16 | |
| 96 | Leonardo | ▲ 7 | |
| 97 | Sawyer | ▼ 3 | |
| 98 | Roman | ▲ 4 | |
| 99 | Brandon | ▼ 16 | |
| 100 | Bentley | ▼ 8 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA), 2016. Trend arrows compare each name’s rank with the previous available year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the most popular girl name in the United States in 2016?
The most popular girl name in the United States in 2016 was Emma, given to 19,550 newborn girls.
What was the most popular boy name in the United States in 2016?
The most popular boy name in the United States in 2016 was Noah, given to 19,188 newborn boys.
Which baby names are rising fastest in the United States?
Compared with the previous rankings, the fastest-rising names in the 2016 top 100 were Adeline (+72), Luna (+35), Kinsley (+27), Bryson (+39), Mateo (+26), Leo (+17).
Where does this data come from?
Rankings are from the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).