Surprising New Additions to the Top US Baby Names List
Discover the recent updates on the most popular baby names in the US, with unexpected additions and a rising name breaking into the boys’ top 10 ranks.
There is a new addition to the list of the most popular baby names in the US.
Mateo has entered the boys' top 10 list for the first time, ranking as the sixth most popular boys' name in 2023. This has caused Benjamin to be bumped off the list, according to the latest data from the Social Security Administration.
Mateo made a significant leap in popularity. According to Sophie Kihm, editor-in-chief of Nameberry, going from No. 11 in 2022 to No. 6 in 2023 is quite remarkable. Kihm notes that such drastic changes at the top of the charts are rare.
Kihm explains that names at the top of the list usually stay consistent. Liam and Olivia have been the most popular names for five years in a row. Interestingly, Mateo is the only new name to break into the top ranks.
The name’s inclusion on the boys’ top 10 list also marks a milestone, Kihm says.
“It’s pretty much the first identifiably Latino name, too, at least on the boys’ side,” she says.
Last year, more than 11,000 babies in the US were given the name Mateo, marking the highest number ever recorded by the Social Security Administration. The name, which translates to “gift of God,” first entered the top 1,000 names in 1995, according to Kihm. Over the next two decades, it steadily climbed the ranks to reach the top 100. Recently, its popularity has surged even more rapidly, notes Kihm.
Kihm, who assists people in naming or renaming their babies, identifies several trends that she believes are contributing to the increasing popularity of the name Mateo.
The increasing popularity of the name Mateo is probably due to the rising Latino population in the US, according to Kihm. She mentions that it's now more common for people of various backgrounds to choose names that reflect their heritage for their babies.
Kihm also points out that Mateo has a universal appeal, just like all names that make it to the top of the Social Security Administration's list.
"It feels friendlier and more accessible than Matthew. People really like the nice ‘-o’ ending it has. It feels very fresh, yet still traditional," she says.
Pop culture and social media play a big role in shaping name trends.
Mateo’s appearance on the top 10 list wasn't the only unexpected thing in the latest rankings. Officials also mentioned that popular culture is influencing the list of baby names that are quickly gaining popularity.
Kaeli's popularity as a girls' name skyrocketed last year, reaching the 678th spot in the rankings. The Social Security Administration acknowledged a social media influencer for sparking this trend in a news release on Friday.
The news release highlighted the influence of YouTube and TikTok star Kaeli McEwen (also known as Kaeli Mae) on parents. Kaeli is known for promoting a clean, organized, and neutral aesthetic lifestyle, which resonated with many parents.
Influencer Kaeli Mae, shown here attending New York Fashion Week in February, says she was surprised to learn of her name's rising popularity.
Influencer Kaeli Mae, shown here attending New York Fashion Week in February, says she was surprised to learn of her name's rising popularity.
Manny Carabel/Getty Images
McEwen, with 14.7 million followers on TikTok, was surprised to learn that her name was becoming more popular. Despite her large following, she had never heard of anyone naming a child after her.
"I was surprised to see that for sure. Growing up and even now, I don't know any other 'Kaeli's!' I do love the spelling of my name, so it's pretty cool to see it become more popular!" she mentioned in an email to CNN.
Kihm from Nameberry suggests that social media may have contributed to the increasing popularity of the second fastest rising girls' name in 2023: Alitzel.
A TikTok video showcasing indigenous American girl names gained popularity, with Alitzel being the first name mentioned and receiving over 1 million views.
Similarly, the boys' name Chozen saw a surge in popularity, reaching No. 813 on the list, after a character with that name became a hero in the latest season of "Cobra Kai," according to the Social Security Administration.
Yuji Okumoto plays Chozen Toguchi in "Cobra Kai." According to the US Social Security Administration, the name Chozen has become increasingly popular since the character became a hero on the Netflix show.
Yuji Okumoto portrays the character Chozen Toguchi in the popular series "Cobra Kai." The name Chozen has been gaining popularity, as per the US Social Security Administration, ever since the character rose to fame on the Netflix show.
Curtis Bonds/Netflix
Barbie Koelker and her Barbies
Barbie Koelker and her Barbies
Courtesy Barbie Koelker
Related article
For these women, the ‘Barbie’ movie is personal. They share a name with the iconic doll
Kihm believes the name started gaining popularity in 2015, thanks to NFL player Cam Newton naming his son Chosen.
However, despite the success of the movie featuring her, Barbie did not experience a significant increase in popularity as a baby name last year.
Only 32 people in the United States chose to name their child Barbie last year, based on official data. This number saw a small increase from the year before. Interestingly, the name Barbie did not make it onto the list of the top 1,000 baby names for the year. Similarly, the name Ken also did not make the cut.
Editor's P/S:
The rise of Mateo to the top 10 boys' names in the US is a testament to the increasing diversity of the American population and the growing popularity of Hispanic names. Mateo, meaning "gift of God," has a timeless appeal that transcends cultural boundaries. Its inclusion on the top 10 list marks a significant milestone, representing the growing influence of Latino culture in the US.
The impact of pop culture and social media on baby name trends is also evident in the article. The surge in popularity of Kaeli and Alitzel can be attributed to the influence of social media influencers, while the name Chozen gained traction after appearing in the popular TV show "Cobra Kai." These examples highlight the evolving nature of baby name trends, which are increasingly influenced by the broader cultural landscape.
