The Playbook

Baby name explorer

Filter the most popular U.S. names by starting letter, length, syllables, popularity and 10-year trend. Tap a name to hear it with your surname, star favorites, and share the shortlist.

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By the Guide to Fatherhood editorial team. Last reviewed .

Checked against guidance from organizations like the AAP, CDC, ACOG and NHS (linked below). This is general information, not medical advice. Read our medical disclaimer.

How to use the explorer

  1. Filter. Narrow by who the name is usually given to, the first letter, letters it contains, length, syllable count, popularity band, or trend. Want something classic but not top 100? Choose “Ranked 101-500” and “Steady.”
  2. Try it out loud. Tap any name and it appears with your surname (and a middle name, if you add one) in the panel on the right, with a few checks on initials, rhythm and flow.
  3. Star favorites. They collect in your shortlist and stay on this device.
  4. Share. Copy the shortlist link and send it to your partner. When they open it, they see your exact list and can add their own stars.

About the data

Names come from the U.S. Social Security Administration, which publishes how many babies were given each name on Social Security card applications. We load the top 1,000 names for each sex and show how many babies got each name, so you can see whether a name is unusual or very common.

Popularity rank and trend are the facts. We do not list origins or meanings, because most online “name meaning” databases are unsourced, and we would rather show you nothing than make something up.

Naming advice from dads who have been there

  • Say the full name loudly, as if calling across a playground. And then as if you are annoyed. You will do both.
  • Check the initials and the monogram. The explorer flags the obvious ones, but think about nicknames too.
  • Popularity is relative. Even the number one name in the U.S. goes to a small share of babies, so a top-10 name will not mean five in one class, but it might mean two.
  • Agree on a veto rule. Either parent can veto any name, no justification required. Then keep looking until you both light up.
  • You don’t have to decide before the birth. Many couples bring a shortlist of two or three and decide after meeting the baby. Check how long your hospital or state gives you to file the birth certificate.

Hard conversations, easy version

Names carry family history, and sometimes family pressure. If one of you wants to honor a relative and the other is lukewarm, the middle name is a tried-and-true compromise. If grandparents have strong opinions, many couples keep the name private until the birth. The shortlist link lets the two of you work on it without a group chat.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the name data come from?

From the Social Security Administration's national baby names data, which counts names on Social Security card applications for U.S. births. We include the top 1,000 names for boys and for girls in the most recent full data year we have loaded, and compare ranks with ten years earlier to show trends.

How does the surname test work?

It puts the first, middle and last name together and checks a few things people often regret: initials that spell an unfortunate word, first and last names that rhyme, sounds that run together, and very long full names. It also notes alliteration and rhythm. It is a sanity check, not a verdict.

Why are some names marked rising or falling?

We compare a name's rank with its rank ten years earlier. A move of 50 or more places is rising or falling; names that were not in the top 1,000 ten years ago are marked new.

Do you store our shortlist?

Only on your device, and in the page link if you choose to share it. Nothing is sent to our servers.

Sources

  1. Popular Baby Names, U.S. Social Security Administration
  2. Beyond the Top 1000 Names (national data files), U.S. Social Security Administration

We link to the original source for every medical and safety claim. Guidance changes; if a source has been updated since our last review, the source wins. How we research.