The top baby names for 2022 were Olivia and Liam, marking a 4-year and a 6-year winning streak for these names, respectively. This data, provided by the Social Security Administration (SSA), shows a continuing preference for classic, vintage names.
Breaking down this data by state reveals that most states follow the nationwide pattern, but a few buck the trend.
Kentucky, West Virginia Babies Break the Naming Mold
Kentucky is the only state where the most popular girl’s name for 2022 doesn’t fall in the top 10 most popular names for the US. In this state, the most popular girl’s name last year was Harper, which was only the 11th most popular name nationwide. This name, derived from a standard English, Scottish, and Irish surname, also falls outside the current vintage naming trend. It appeared on the SSA’s top 1000 list for the first time in 2004.
West Virginia also breaks away from popular naming trends with its most popular boy’s name for 2022, Asher. In fact, West Virginia’s top 3 boy’s names, Asher, Grayson, and Waylon, all deviate from the most popular names nationwide, ranking 19th, 37th, and 66th.
The Rise and Fall of Popular Baby Names
It’s not uncommon for names to remain popular for years, just as Olivia and Liam have. In fact, the past 15 years have seen more turnover in chart-topping names than ever before. Emma, Isabella, Sophia, and Olivia have jockeyed for the top spot since 2008.
Before that, popular names held their top spots for around a decade. Emily was most popular from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s, following a decade shared by Jessica and Ashley from the mid-80s to the mid-90s. Jennifer reigned in the 70s, Lisa in the 60s, and Mary was the most popular girl’s name nearly every year from 1923 to 1969.
Names for baby boys have even more staying power. The top spot has belonged to Liam or Noah since 2013, and Jacob was most popular for 13 straight years prior. Before that, Michael was the most popular name for boys from 1954 all the way to 1998, with just one aberration in 1960.
Vintage Is In
Current baby naming trends show a strong proclivity toward classic, vintage names. The top five girls’ names, Olivia, Emma, Charlotte, Amelia, and Sophia, have all appeared on the SSA’s list of the top 1,000 girl’s names since 1900. The graph of babies receiving these names each year shows a similar pattern. Each name gradually decreased in popularity from the 1900s until sometime in the middle of the 20th century, experienced a brief lull, and began to climb again. Each of these names is more popular now than ever before.
Some of the top baby boy names also represent a resurgence of the classics. Elijah, Oliver, and Noah all show the same gradual decline and rebirth pattern. James is a notable exception, as it has remained in the top 20 names for boys since 1900, occupying the top 10 for nearly all of those years.
Liam, the #1 boy’s name for 2022, isn’t an old classic, reawakened. It didn’t appear regularly on the SSA’s top 1,000 list until the mid-1970s and didn’t take off until the 1990s. However, it’s also a popular nickname for William, a top-20 name for over a century.
Which Trends Are Next? Nature-inspired, Western, and Biblical
Luna, the #10 most popular name for girls, isn’t the #1 name in any state. However, it’s significantly risen after being off the SSA’s chart since 1921. It reappeared in 2003 and has been steadily growing ever since.
Luna is just one of several names that fit the classic, vintage style while also sounding nature-inspired. Hazel, Ivy, and Violet are other traditional, nature-themed names that continue to grow in popularity.
Earthy names with a more modern feel are also on the rise for girls. Oaklynn is a fast-rising name for baby girls, jumping from #888 in 2017 to #159 last year with 1,824 total female births. The girl’s name making the most significant jump in popularity from 2021 to 2022 was Wrenlee. The alternate spelling Wrenley also increased significantly in popularity.
For boys, Western-inspired names are on the rise. The two most significant increases in popularity from 2021 to 2022 were Dutton (up to #835 from #1821) and Kayce (up to #587 from #1077). Both names were popularized by the TV series Yellowstone. While these two names remain relatively obscure despite significant increases, other cowboy-core names, like Waylon (#66), Maverick (#40), and Walker (#78), all land in the top 100 and continue to grow in popularity each year.
Rare biblical names for boys also continue to gain popularity. Asher (#19), Ezra (#25), and Levi (#12) land in the top 50 and grow in popularity each year, while more traditionally common biblical names like Michael, Joseph, and Matthew decrease in popularity annually.
