Kids & Family

2021’s Top Baby Names Are Again Olivia And Liam: Social Security Data

Michael and Mary exhibit staying power; Amiri and Raya made strong gains and Jaxtyn and Denisse fell from favor among parents last year.

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The names parents chose for their newborns didn't change much in 2021, according to a report from the Social Security Administration. The agency's database affords a deep dive in changes in popularity of baby names dating back to 1880.
The names parents chose for their newborns didn't change much in 2021, according to a report from the Social Security Administration. The agency's database affords a deep dive in changes in popularity of baby names dating back to 1880. (Shutterstock)

ACROSS AMERICA — Look ahead to graduation day 2039: You’re likely to hear the names Olivia and Liam repeated often as the graduates walk across the stage to receive their diplomas — assuming that’s still a tradition when children born in 2021 get their diplomas.

Olivia and Liam were the most popular names for girls and boys in 2021, according to the Social Security Administration, which has released the list since 1997 and includes names dating back to 1880.

Noah and Oliver were again the second- and third-most popular name for boys in 2021. Among girls, Emma was the No. 2 favorite name and Charlotte overtook Ava as the third-most popular name.

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Here are the Top 10 names for girls and boys in 2021:

RANKGIRL'S NAMEBOY'S NAME
1.OliviaLiam
2.EmmaNoah
3.CharlotteOliver
4.AmeliaElijah
5.AvaJames
6.SophiaWilliam
7.IsabellaBenjamin
8.MiaLucas
9.EvelynHenry
10.HarperTheodore

The Social Security Administration database is sortable by decade and changes in the popularity of a name, often influenced by popular culture at the time, the agency noted.

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Even so, some names have withstood the test of time. Over the past 100 years, the male name Michael has held the top spot most often at 44 times, while the female name Mary has been ranked in the top position 35 times over the same period.

Several names made big jumps in popularity in 2021. Names for boys in this group included:

  • Amiri, up 534 places to No. 757;
  • Eliam, up 442 places to No. 736;
  • Colter, up 334 places to No. 627;
  • Ozzy, up 336 places to No. 712;
  • Loyal, up 300 places to No. 753.

Names parents are giving their daughters with more frequency included:

  • Raya, up 441 places to No. 494;
  • Wrenley, up 397 places to No. 498;
  • Angelique, up 306 places to No. 876;
  • Emberlynn, up 284 places to No. 961;
  • Flora, up 278 places to No. 647.

Names for girls that fell out favor in 2021 included:

  • Denisse, down 471 places to No. 1,323
  • Denise, down 360 places to No. 1,233
  • Karen, down 263 places to No. 1,091
  • Keily, down 227 places to No. 1,080
  • Nathalie, down 221 places to No. 1,133

Names for boys that decreased in popularity included:

  • Jaxtyn, down 349 places to No. 935;
  • Karsyn, down 254 places to No. 954;
  • Xzavier, down 236 places to No. 1,212;
  • Willie, down 210 places to No. 1,202;
  • Tristen, down 202 places to No. 1,056.

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