These Are the Most Popular Baby Names of the 21st Century

Special Report

June 3, 2021 4:00 pm

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5. Matthew
> Babies named Matthew between 2001 and 2019: 317,778
> Most popular in: 2001 (26,811 births)
> Popularity in 2019: No. 23 out of 655
> Share of babies named Matthew, 2001-2019: 1.02% (0.80% on avg a year)
> Meaning and origin: Derived from the English version of Matthaios, the Greek form of the Hebrew Mattiyahu, meaning “a gift of God.”
> Pictured: Actor Matthew McConaughey

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4. William
> Babies named William between 2001 and 2019: 333,255
> Most popular in: 2004 (20,226 births)
> Popularity in 2019: No. 4 out of 655
> Share of babies named William, 2001-2019: 1.07% (0.85% on avg a year)
> Meaning and origin: The name is of German origin. It’s derived from the name Willahelm, meaning “will helmet.”
> Pictured: Playwright William Shakespeare

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3. Ethan
> Babies named Ethan between 2001 and 2019: 335,423
> Most popular in: 2004 (22,208 births)
> Popularity in 2019: No. 10 out of 655
> Share of babies named Ethan, 2001-2019: 1.07% (0.85% on avg a year)
> Meaning and origin: The name is of Hebrew origin that means “solid, enduring, firm.”
> Pictured: Film director Ethan Cohen

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2. Michael
> Babies named Michael between 2001 and 2019: 363,299
> Most popular in: 2001 (29,685 births)
> Popularity in 2019: No. 14 out of 655
> Share of babies named Michael, 2001-2019: 1.16% (0.92% on avg a year)
> Meaning and origin: The name if of Hebrew origin, derived from Mikha’el, meaning “who is like God?”
> Pictured: Former basketball player Michael Jordan

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1. Jacob
> Babies named Jacob between 2001 and 2019: 402,290
> Most popular in: 2001 (32,550 births)
> Popularity in 2019: No. 13 out of 655
> Share of babies named Jacob, 2001-2019: 1.29% (1.02% on avg a year)
> Meaning and origin: The name is derived from the Latin name Iacobus and is of Hebrew origin, meaning “supplanter.”
> Pictured: Actor Jake Gyllenhaal, born Jacob Benjamin Gyllenhaal

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