Each year, the Social Security Administration (SSA) shares baby name data from the year prior, and while the most popular names of 2019 weren't much different than those of 2018 (or '17, or '16, or '15 . . . ), it's the names that have risen the most in popularity that make 2019's data fun to look at. The SSA allows you to look at the popularity increase and decrease of names that are within the top 1,000 of the year — so for example, if you look up my name, Alessia, you'll only see the popularity ranks for 2016-2019, as the name was never in the top 1,000 before that — but each year it shares a page of names that have increased at least four rankings since the previous calendar year. In many cases, this list highlights some of the names we don't typically see in the popularity lists, as they're ranked lower than 1,000.
In 2019, tons of names rose through the ranks on both the boys' and girls' lists, leaving the slots 1,001 and below in the dust and claiming their spots in 2019's top 1,000. Keep reading to see some of our favorite new popular names of the year — we can't wait to see how they fare when 2020's data comes out!
Aayan, Aila, Ainhoa, Alaiya, Alistair, Ambrose, Amias, Amoura, Atreus, Aziel, Azrael
Banks, Beatrix, Bellamy, Blaise, Blessing
Callahan, Chandler, Cleo, Colter
Denver, Dhruv, Dilan
Eithan, Eliel, Elodie, Emani, Emerald, Emir, Ermias
Fallon, Flora, Foster, Freyja
Halo, Harriet
Indie
Jair, Jakari, Jovanni
Kaisley, Kamari, Kaya, Kenny, Kiaan, Kimora, Kolten, Kylian, Kyro
Legacy, Luisa, Luz
Mac, Magdalena, Malakhi, Malayah, Marquis, Mylo
Navy, Nellie, Niklaus
Oakleigh
Persephone
Remi, Renee, Robin, Rome
Salem*, Santos, Sekani, Seven, Sevyn, Simeon, Stone
Theodora, Tru
Wes, Winnie
Yahya, Yaritza, Yasmin, Yisroel
Zendaya, Zyon
*Indicates a name that newly appeared on both the boys' and girls' top 1,000 list in 2019.