American Baby Names — Popular and Modern Picks
1,585 names used in the United States naming, with meanings — English, French, Latin, Hebrew and more.
American naming is a melting pot in the most literal sense: biblical classics (Noah, Elijah, Hannah), Irish and Scottish imports (Liam, Aiden, Riley), Spanish names from the fast-growing Hispanic population (Mateo, Santiago, Camila), and a home-grown love of surnames-as-first-names (Hudson, Carter, Harper) and place names (Brooklyn, Austin, Dakota). Trends move quickly — a name that is fresh in one decade is a “mom name” in the next — so vintage revivals (Theodore, Hazel, Eleanor) are as much a part of the picture as brand-new spellings.
The names here are the American-usage names in our catalogue, most common first. If you want the classic top-of-the-chart names, start with the popular section; if you want something less likely to be shared with a classmate, scroll to the rare gems.
boy girl unisex — tap a name to see it in the finder with your surname.
Popular American names 60
- Sara — precious, noble
- Emma — whole, universal
- Sofia — wisdom
- Maria — sea of bitterness, beloved
- Noah — rest, comfort
- Adam — man, earth
- Mia — mine, beloved
- Elena — bright, shining
- Lucas — bringer of light
- Olivia — olive tree
- Samuel — god has heard
- Sebastian — venerable, from Sebaste
- Emilia — rival
- Gabriel — god is my strength
- Liam — resolute protector
- Zoe — life
- Bruno — brown
- Elias — my god is Yahweh
- Ella — fairy maiden, all
- Isabella — devoted to god
- Mila — gracious, dear
- Oliver — olive tree
- Alexander — defender of the people
- Aurora — dawn
- Jonas — dove
- Martin — of Mars, warlike
- Maya — illusion, magic
- Nora — honour, light
- Andrea — manly, brave
- Arthur — bear, noble
- Benjamin — son of the right hand
- Christian — follower of Christ
- Daniel — god is my judge
- David — beloved
- Hugo — mind, intellect
- Ivan — god is gracious
- Leo — lion
- Leon — lion
- Lorenzo — from Laurentum
- Luca — bringer of light
- Oscar — deer lover, god spear
- Santiago — Saint James
- Theo — god, divine gift
- Victor — conqueror
- Zara — princess, blooming flower
- Alina — bright, beautiful
- Amir — prince, commander
- Angel — messenger
- Camila — young ceremonial attendant
- Julian — youthful, downy
- Mark — warlike
- Nicole — victory of the people
- Paul — small, humble
- Sophia — wisdom
- Stefan — crown
- Stella — star
- Tala — palm tree, gold
- Vincent — conquering
- William — resolute protector
- Adrian — from Hadria, dark
American boy names 40
- Noah — rest, comfort
- Adam — man, earth
- Lucas — bringer of light
- Samuel — god has heard
- Sebastian — venerable, from Sebaste
- Gabriel — god is my strength
- Liam — resolute protector
- Bruno — brown
- Elias — my god is Yahweh
- Oliver — olive tree
- Alexander — defender of the people
- Jonas — dove
- Martin — of Mars, warlike
- Arthur — bear, noble
- Benjamin — son of the right hand
- Christian — follower of Christ
- Daniel — god is my judge
- David — beloved
- Hugo — mind, intellect
- Ivan — god is gracious
- Leo — lion
- Leon — lion
- Lorenzo — from Laurentum
- Oscar — deer lover, god spear
- Santiago — Saint James
- Theo — god, divine gift
- Victor — conqueror
- Amir — prince, commander
- Julian — youthful, downy
- Mark — warlike
- Paul — small, humble
- Stefan — crown
- Vincent — conquering
- William — resolute protector
- Adrian — from Hadria, dark
- Axel — father of peace
- Bo — to live, dweller
- Enzo — ruler of the home
- Isaac — he will laugh
- Leonardo — brave lion
American girl names 40
- Sara — precious, noble
- Emma — whole, universal
- Sofia — wisdom
- Maria — sea of bitterness, beloved
- Mia — mine, beloved
- Elena — bright, shining
- Olivia — olive tree
- Emilia — rival
- Zoe — life
- Ella — fairy maiden, all
- Isabella — devoted to god
- Mila — gracious, dear
- Aurora — dawn
- Maya — illusion, magic
- Nora — honour, light
- Zara — princess, blooming flower
- Alina — bright, beautiful
- Camila — young ceremonial attendant
- Nicole — victory of the people
- Sophia — wisdom
- Stella — star
- Tala — palm tree, gold
- Alexandra — defender of the people
- Kiara — dark-haired, bright
- Leah — weary, delicate
- Luna — the moon
- Tara — star
- Amelia — industrious, striving
- Aria — air, melody
- Athena — goddess of wisdom and war
- Cassandra — shining upon man, the prophetess
- Charlotte — free woman
- Chloe — blooming, young green shoot
- Eliana — my god has answered
- Emily — rival, industrious
- Flora — flower, the goddess of spring
- Genesis — origin, beginning
- Hannah — grace, favour
- Iris — rainbow, the flower
- Jasmine — the fragrant flower
English names 30
- Sara — precious, noble
- Emma — whole, universal
- Sofia — wisdom
- Maria — sea of bitterness, beloved
- Noah — rest, comfort
- Adam — man, earth
- Mia — mine, beloved
- Elena — bright, shining
- Lucas — bringer of light
- Olivia — olive tree
- Samuel — god has heard
- Sebastian — venerable, from Sebaste
- Emilia — rival
- Gabriel — god is my strength
- Liam — resolute protector
- Zoe — life
- Bruno — brown
- Elias — my god is Yahweh
- Ella — fairy maiden, all
- Isabella — devoted to god
- Mila — gracious, dear
- Oliver — olive tree
- Alexander — defender of the people
- Aurora — dawn
- Jonas — dove
- Martin — of Mars, warlike
- Maya — illusion, magic
- Nora — honour, light
- Andrea — manly, brave
- Arthur — bear, noble
Native American names 30
- Tala — palm tree, gold
- Sami — god has heard
- Kai — sea
- Nina — little girl, dreamer
- Dakota — friend, ally
- Yara — water lady
- Kohana — swift
- Itzel — rainbow lady, the moon goddess
- Citlali — star
- Cuauhtemoc — descending eagle, the last emperor
- Kanti — beauty, lustre
- Nayeli — I love you
- Tonatiuh — the sun god
- Xochitl — flower
- Yaretzi — you will always be loved
- Lautaro — swift hawk, the Mapuche leader
- Nahuel — jaguar, from Mapuche
- Amaru — serpent, the revolutionary
- Antu — sun
- Ayelen — joy, smile
- Aylen — clear, transparent
- Inti — the sun god
- Killa — moon
- Kusi — joyful
- Millaray — golden flower
- Nahiara — the eye of god, the sweet one
- Rayen — flower
- Tupac — royal, radiant
- Wayra — wind
- Kaya — elder sister
Hawaiian names 30
- Leilani — heavenly flower
- Kai — sea
- Noa — motion, movement
- Nani — little one, beloved
- Alana — harmony, beautiful
- Kane — warrior, little battler
- Moana — ocean
- Koa — brave, warrior
- Kaia — the sea, pure
- Keanu — cool breeze
- Kehlani — sea and sky
- Malia — beloved, calm waters
- Ailani — high chief
- Halia — remembrance of a loved one
- Ikaika — strong
- Iolana — to soar like a hawk
- Kahiau — selfless generosity
- Kalani — the heavens, royal
- Kalea — joy, happiness
- Kaleo — the voice
- Kanoa — the free one
- Keilani — glorious chief
- Kekoa — the brave one
- Keoni — god is gracious
- Kiana — divine, the moon goddess
- Kimo — supplanter
- Lani — sky, heaven
- Makoa — fearless
- Nalani — serenity of the skies
- Alani — orange tree, precious
Modern picks 40
- Sara — precious, noble
- Noah — rest, comfort
- Mia — mine, beloved
- Lucas — bringer of light
- Emilia — rival
- Liam — resolute protector
- Zoe — life
- Elias — my god is Yahweh
- Ella — fairy maiden, all
- Mila — gracious, dear
- Aurora — dawn
- Maya — illusion, magic
- Hugo — mind, intellect
- Leo — lion
- Leon — lion
- Lorenzo — from Laurentum
- Luca — bringer of light
- Oscar — deer lover, god spear
- Santiago — Saint James
- Theo — god, divine gift
- Zara — princess, blooming flower
- Alina — bright, beautiful
- Amir — prince, commander
- Angel — messenger
- Camila — young ceremonial attendant
- Stella — star
- Tala — palm tree, gold
- Axel — father of peace
- Bo — to live, dweller
- Enzo — ruler of the home
- Kiara — dark-haired, bright
- Leah — weary, delicate
- Levi — joined, attached
- Luna — the moon
- Mateo — gift of god
- Roman — citizen of Rome
- Anthony — priceless, of the Antonius family
- Aria — air, melody
- Athena — goddess of wisdom and war
- Dylan — son of the sea
Rare gems 30
- Cauã — hawk, from Tupi
- Doris — gift of the ocean
- Jaci — the moon, from Tupi
- Tainá — star, from Tupi
- Ahanu — he laughs
- Aileen — bright, shining light
- Annette — grace
- Antoinette — priceless
- Aretha — virtue
- Ayasha — little one
- Bertha — bright, famous
- Chayton — falcon
- Dolly — doll
- Ehecatl — wind
- Elu — full of grace
- Evelina — desired
- Geronimo — the one who yawns, the leader
- Halona — fortunate
- Hiawatha — he makes rivers
- Ixchel — the moon goddess
- Kachina — spirit, sacred dancer
- Lyle — from the island
- Mato — bear
- Maude — mighty in battle
- Maxwell — great stream
- Milani — from Milan
- Monroe — mouth of the river Roe
- Montgomery — Gomeric's hill
- Moses — drawn out of the water
- Myrtle — the evergreen shrub
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Meanings and origins are compiled from common references and are approximate. Many names carry several meanings across traditions — please confirm with family or a native speaker before deciding. Updated 2026-09-20.