Five letters is a sweet spot: long enough to feel like a whole name, short enough to fit on a lunchbox and a birth certificate without a fight. These 100 5 letter names cover girls, boys, and plenty that go either way, each with its origin, meaning, pronunciation, and where it actually stands in U.S. birth records.
Some are everywhere. Sofia ranked 9th for American girls in 2025, and 13 names on this list sat inside the U.S. top 100 that year (1). Others are nearly invisible: Zetta went to five girls, about one in every 333,000 births.
Rarity rarely lasts, though. A University of Michigan study found that a name held by about 1 in 10,000 babies grows around 1.4 percent a year, while one given to more than 1 in 100 slides about 1.6 percent (2). “This is really a case study showing how boom-bust cycles by themselves can disfavor common types and promote diversity,” said Mitchell Newberry, the evolutionary biologist behind the work. So pick the one you love and let the charts do what they do.
Popularity at a Glance
The most popular names on this list in the United States, 1965 to 2025: Sofia, Hazel, Chloe, Ethan and David.
100 Popular Five-Letter Names
Every name below carries its origin, meaning, pronunciation, and its current standing in U.S. birth records.
Aanya
Aanya is a rare variation of Anya, a name with Russian and Sanskrit roots. In Russian it carries the sense of gracious and merciful, which suits an easygoing, sunny baby. It first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1998 and has stayed on the quiet end of the charts ever since, so your girl is unlikely to meet another one at preschool. If you are hunting 5 letter girl names that start with A, Aanya doubles up on the letter and the charm.
- Origin: Russian, Sanskrit
- Meaning: Inexhaustible
- Pronunciation: AHN-yah
- Variations: Anya
- Popularity: Aanya ranked #1,666 in the U.S. in 2025, with 124 girls given the name; its best showing was #997 in 2014.
Aaron
In the Bible, Aaron was a gifted speaker and the older brother of Moses, and he turns up in enough of the story to feel like a lead rather than a supporting player. The name has been in the federal birth data since 1880 and has never really left, which is why it reads as familiar instead of dated. Other bearers include Aaron Rodgers, the American quarterback who spent most of his career with the Green Bay Packers, and it remains a steady pick for parents who want a boy’s name nobody has to spell twice.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: High mountain, exalted
- Pronunciation: AIR-uhn
- Namesakes: Aaron Lewis, an American singer, and member of Staind.
- Popularity: Aaron sat at #80 for U.S. boys in 2025 with 4,041 babies named, down from its #28 peak in 1994.
Abbie
Abbie is the softer take on Abigail, the biblical wife of King David who talked her way out of a war. Plenty of parents still default to the punchier Abby, which leaves Abbie feeling gentler and a little more old-fashioned. It now sits well outside the top 1,000, down from its best-ever rank of #451 in 1913, so it lands as vintage rather than trendy. You will hear it sprinkled through long-running shows like Law and Order.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: My father is joyful
- Pronunciation: AH-bee
- Variations: Abby
- Namesakes: Abbie Cornish, an Australian actress known for her role in Geostorm.
- Popularity: Abbie ranked #1,652 for U.S. girls in 2025, far below its best year, #451 in 1913.
Addie
Short for Adeline or Addalyn, Addie had its real moment in the early 1900s and has been quietly hanging around ever since. Alternate readings include pleasant, which is a fair thing to wish on a newborn. Like a lot of German names, it is direct and does not play games. Soap fans will know it from Days of Our Lives.
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Noble, nobility
- Pronunciation: AA-dee
- Variations: Addy
- Namesakes: Addie Ballou, an American poet.
- Popularity: Addie holds at #1,272 in 2025 with 176 girls named, a long way from its 1913 high of #187.
Adler
Adler is German for the eagle, a bird tied to courage and sharp sight. The eagle is also the American emblem, which gives the name a patriotic edge without being heavy-handed. It has appeared in U.S. birth records since 1985, but the last ten years are when it took off, and 2025 is its strongest year on record. Actress Danielle Fishel put it on more radars when she chose Adler for her son in 2019.
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Eagle
- Pronunciation: AD-ler
- Popularity: Adler is at its best rank yet, #871 in 2025, with 275 boys named and a rise of about 112% on the previous decade.
Aiden
Aiden traces back to Aed, a figure from Celtic mythology attached to the underworld and, in some tellings, to the sun. It climbed hard through the 2000s, peaked at #9 in 2010, and has been easing back since, so it is recognizable without being unavoidable. Spellings and pronunciations vary from family to family, which is either a feature or a headache depending on your patience, though for a boy who lights up the room it is hard to beat.
- Origin: Gaelic, Irish, Persian
- Meaning: Little fire, help
- Pronunciation: AY-dehn, EYE-dehn
- Variations: Aidan
- Namesakes: Aiden Quinn, an American actor known for his role on Blacklight.
- Popularity: Aiden ranked #62 in 2025 with 5,046 babies named, down from the #9 spot it held in 2010.
Aimee
Aimee brings a little Parisian polish and is still easy to say. It had its American run in the 1970s, when French-flavored names were everywhere, and it has drifted down the charts since. The meaning stretches to to love, which is about as sweet as a name gets. Parents who like Amy but want something less plain tend to land right here.
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Beloved
- Pronunciation: AY-mee
- Variations: Amy
- Namesakes: Aimee Sommerfelt, a Norwegian author.
- Popularity: Aimee ranked #1,581 in 2025 with 133 girls named; its best year was 1976, at #123.
Akiko
In the kanji system one name can carry several meanings depending on the characters chosen, and Akiko is a good example, with readings that include bright child, glistening, and autumn. It is traditionally given to girls born in fall, though nothing stops you using it in July. The rarity noted above means she is unlikely to share a classroom with another Akiko.
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Bright child
- Pronunciation: ah-KEE-koh
- Namesakes: Akiko Suzuki, a Japanese figure skater.
- Popularity: Akiko is genuinely rare in the U.S., ranked #8,385 in 2025 with 12 girls named; its best showing was #1,384 in 1927.
April
April joins the small club of month names, usually behind May, June, and August in the queue. It carries the idea of opening and regrowth, which is a nice thing to hand a baby. Its big run came in the 1970s, cresting at #23 in 1979, and it has settled into steady, unfussy use since. Television keeps it in earshot through Grey’s Anatomy and Parks and Recreation.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: To open
- Pronunciation: AYP-rill
- Namesakes: April Matson, an American actress known for her role in Vile.
- Popularity: April ranked #542 in 2025 with 557 girls named, a long slide from #23 in 1979.
Baker
Baker started as an occupational surname for exactly what it sounds like, and moms who lived on carbs through pregnancy will enjoy the joke. The name has been in the birth data since 1895, but the surname-as-first-name wave is what turned it into a real contender, and 2025 is its strongest year on record. It is friendly, easy to say, and stops short of sounding like a costume.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: One who bakes
- Pronunciation: BAY-ker
- Namesakes: Baker Mayfield, an American football player.
- Popularity: Baker is the fastest riser on this list, up about 1,179% on the previous decade and reaching its best rank yet, #217 in 2025.
Bella
Bella began as a short form of Arabella and Isabella, then walked off on its own. Every root it touches, Italian, Spanish, and Greek, circles the same idea: beautiful. Twilight’s Bella Swan gave it an enormous push, and while that wave has passed, the name never crashed. It is a warm, uncomplicated choice that still sits comfortably inside the top 150.
- Origin: Italian, Spanish, Greek
- Meaning: Beautiful
- Pronunciation: BELL-uh
- Namesakes: Bella Lewitzky, an American choreographer.
- Popularity: Bella ranked #136 in 2025 with 2,129 girls named; its numbers have barely moved in a decade, even though its best rank was #48 in 2010.
Betty
Betty is a diminutive of Elizabeth, a name that reads as God is my oath. It was enormous between the wars, reaching #2 in 1928, and for a long stretch afterward it felt like your grandmother’s name. That is exactly why it is coming back, with Betty Crocker always hovering nearby and Bess ready as a sweet nickname.
- Origin: English, Hebrew
- Meaning: Pledged to God
- Pronunciation: BEH-tee
- Variations: Bettie
- Namesakes: Betty White, an American actress and comedian.
- Popularity: Betty peaked at #2 in 1928 and now sits at #1,113, though it is up about 40% on the previous decade.
Billy
Billy usually starts as a nickname for William, but it earns unisex standing because it also shortens Wilhelmina. It sounds masculine to most American ears now, though girls have carried it too. Billy the Kid keeps a little outlaw dust on it. If you want the softer look, Billie is right there.
- Origin: English, German
- Meaning: Resolute protector
- Pronunciation: BILL-ee
- Variations: Billie
- Namesakes: William (Billy) Joel, an American singer and songwriter.
- Popularity: Billy topped out at #19 in 1931 and ranked #1,068 in 2025, with 203 babies named.
Bowie
Most people hear David Bowie first, which is a fine thing to hand a kid, though outdoorsy families will think instead of Jim Bowie and the knife that carries his name. The Scottish and Irish root points at fair or yellow hair, so it suits a blond baby without locking anyone in. Bo is the obvious short form.
- Origin: Scottish, Irish
- Meaning: Yellow-haired
- Pronunciation: BOHW-ee
- Namesakes: Bowie Horvat, a Canadian ice hockey player.
- Popularity: Bowie ranked #1,228 in 2025 and is up roughly 512% on the previous decade; its best rank, #952, came in 2021.
Brett
Brett began in the Middle Ages as a tag for someone who came from Brittany, so families with French or Celtic roots have a ready-made reason to use it. It had a genuine run in the 1980s and now feels like a name with some mileage on it, in the good way. It works on a girl or a boy, though it leans masculine to most ears. Hemingway readers will think of The Sun Also Rises.
- Origin: Celtic
- Meaning: From Brittany
- Pronunciation: BREHT
- Variations: Brette
- Namesakes: Brett Dier, a Canadian actor known for his role in Jane the Virgin.
- Popularity: Brett hit #69 in 1986 and has slipped to #1,382 in 2025, down about 60% on the previous decade.
Brock
Brock means the badger, an animal with a reputation for stubbornness and smarts, since the same root carries the sense of to dig, which is why storybook badgers keep getting the name. It is one of those cool baby names that still sounds right on a grown man. Blunt, one syllable, nothing to explain.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Badger
- Pronunciation: BRAHK
- Namesakes: Brock Peters, an American actor known for his role in To Kill a Mockingbird.
- Popularity: Brock peaked at #243 in 2003 and ranked #810 in 2025, with 306 boys named.
Bruno
Bruno flew under the radar for decades until Encanto arrived in 2021 and one song made the name unavoidable. The German root ties it to armor, and it has a sturdy, unhurried sound to match. Saint Bruno, whose feast day falls in October, gives it a quiet religious thread as well. It suits parents who want a classic with a little mystery in it.
- Origin: German, Brazilian
- Meaning: Armor
- Pronunciation: BROO-noh
- Namesakes: Bruno Mars, an American singer and songwriter.
- Popularity: Bruno ranked #740 in 2025 with 351 boys named, up about 41% on the previous decade; its best rank was #259 in 1915.
Burke
Burke began as a surname for someone who lived by a fortified hill, which is where the reading from the fortress comes from. It has been in the U.S. data since 1881 without ever getting crowded, so it stays unusual rather than unheard of. Baseball fans may know pitcher Burke Badenhop. Television has used it too, in Grey’s Anatomy and White Collar.
- Origin: French
- Meaning: From the fortress
- Pronunciation: BURK
- Popularity: Burke is rare, ranked #2,649 in 2025 with 49 boys named; its best year was 1968, at #959.
Carly
Carly is the feminine form of Carl, which makes it a neat way to nod to a grandfather or an uncle. It landed in the U.S. data in 1951 and hit its stride in the 1990s. With a reading that runs to warrior, it has more backbone than the bubbly sound suggests. The spelling options, Karly, Carlee, Carleigh, give parents room to pick a look.
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Free woman
- Pronunciation: KAR-lee
- Variations: Karly, Karlie, Carleigh, Carlee
- Namesakes: Carly Simon, an American singer and songwriter.
- Popularity: Carly ranked #1,009 in 2025 with 248 girls named, down from #122 in 1995.
Carol
Carol reads as female now, but it went to boys as well for much of the last century. It was one of the biggest girls’ names of the 1940s, cresting at #4 in 1941, and it has been out of fashion long enough to sound fresh again. The link to Christmas songs makes it an easy pick for a December baby, so do not be surprised if yours turns out to have a tune in her head.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Free man, joyful song
- Pronunciation: KAIR-ohl
- Variations: Carole, Karol
- Namesakes: Carol Burnett, an American actress and comedian.
- Popularity: Carol reached #4 in 1941 and now ranks #2,242, with 82 babies given the name in 2025.
Cecil
Cecil doubles as a short form of Cecilia and an Anglicized version of Seissylt, which carries the sense of sixth. That makes it a quiet option for a June baby or a sixth grandchild. It was a genuine top 100 name before the First World War and has been ticking up again lately. Film fans will place it in The Butler and To Kill a Mockingbird, and CeCe covers you when the full name feels heavy.
- Origin: Latin, Welsh
- Meaning: Blind
- Pronunciation: suh-SEEL, SEE-suhl
- Variations: Cecile
- Namesakes: Cecil DiMillie, an American film director known for The Ten Commandments.
- Popularity: Cecil ranked #1,486 in 2025 with 119 babies named, up about 20% on the previous decade after peaking at #74 in 1913.
Chloe
In Greek mythology, Chloe is an alias for the fertility goddess Demeter, and the word itself points at the first green shoot of spring, which is why blooming works as a second reading. Christians will recognize it from the New Testament as a minor but real figure. It has spent this entire century near the top of the charts, and Coco is the ready-made nickname.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Young green shoot
- Pronunciation: KLOH-ee
- Variations: Cloey, Cloe, Khloe, Khloey
- Namesakes: Chloe Bridges, an American actress known for her role in Mantervention.
- Popularity: Chloe ranked #23 in 2025 with 6,203 girls named, still close to its #9 peak in 2009.
Ciera
Ciera is a respelling of Ciara, an Irish name once used for a girl with dark hair. The look also pulls in the Sierra mountains, all snow and granite. It arrived in the U.S. data in 1979, had a strong early-1990s run, and has faded faster than anything else here. That makes it a rare find now rather than a dated one.
- Origin: Irish, Spanish
- Meaning: Little dark one, mountain
- Pronunciation: see-AIR-ah, KEER-ah
- Variations: Sierra
- Popularity: Ciera is the steepest faller on this list, down about 81% on the previous decade and ranked #11,153 in 2025 after peaking at #375 in 1993.
Clara
Clara is the feminine form of Clarus and carries the plain, lovely meaning of bright or clear. It was a top 100 staple a century ago, went quiet for decades, and has come back strongly enough to sit inside the top 100 again. Ballet families will know Clara from The Nutcracker. In real life there is Clarissa Barton, the wartime nurse everyone called Clara.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Bright, clear
- Pronunciation: KLAIR-uh
- Variations: Klara
- Namesakes: Clara Haskil, an American pianist.
- Popularity: Clara ranked #63 in 2025 with 3,601 girls named, up about 51% on the previous decade; its best rank was #36 in 1913.
Clint
Clint is the trimmed-down form of Clinton, a surname for people from Glinton, and Clint Eastwood gave it a squint and a saddle that the name has never shaken. It is a popular name for Southern boys for exactly that reason. One syllable, no nonsense, hard to mishear.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Fenced settlement
- Pronunciation: KLINT
- Variations: Klint
- Namesakes: Clint Black, an American singer and songwriter.
- Popularity: Clint ranked #2,364 in 2025 with 58 boys named, well down from #195 in 1980.
Colin
Colin started as Colle, a medieval short form of Nicholas, and grew into a name of its own. Harry Potter readers will remember a Colin with a camera. Colin Firth, of the 1995 Pride and Prejudice, is the other one everybody pictures. With an animal-inspired reading of pup, it suits a snuggly baby, and it works just as well on a professor.
- Origin: Greek, Scottish, Irish
- Meaning: Pup
- Pronunciation: CALL-ihn, COH-lihn
- Variations: Collin, Kolin
- Namesakes: Colin Powell, a former United States Secretary of State.
- Popularity: Colin ranked #343 in 2025 with 950 boys named, down from #85 in 2004.
Crete
Crete belongs to Greek mythology, where several different women carry the name, and it is also Greece’s largest island, ringed with unreasonably blue water. As a surname it once described someone living near a crest. It is about as unused as a name can be, so your Crete would be the only one in the room.
- Origin: Latin, Greek
- Meaning: Of Lucretia
- Pronunciation: KREET
- Popularity: Crete has not appeared in the U.S. birth data since 1882, when it ranked #690; only 14 American babies are recorded with it in total.
Cyrus
Cyrus arrives with serious history: Cyrus the Great founded the first Persian empire. The name reads as sun, which keeps it warm rather than severe. As a surname it belongs to the Cyrus family, Miley included. Claire Danes chose it for her son, and the name has been climbing since.
- Origin: Persian
- Meaning: Sun
- Pronunciation: SYE-riss
- Namesakes: Cyrus Gray, an American football player who played for the Kansas City Chiefs.
- Popularity: Cyrus ranked #268 in 2025 with 1,284 boys named, just off its best rank of #253 in 2024 and up about 88% on the previous decade.
Daisy
Daisy began as a nickname for Marguerite and reads literally as day’s eye, for the way the flower opens with the sun. It has been used steadily since the 1880s and is having its strongest year on record right now. Daisies get handed to new mothers because they stand for innocence and fresh starts, and Daisy Duck has kept the name in cartoons since 1940.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Day’s eye
- Pronunciation: DAY-zee
- Namesakes: Daisy Ridley, an American actress known for her role in Ophelia.
- Popularity: Daisy is at its best rank ever, #75 in 2025, with 3,206 girls named.
David
In the Bible, David is the shepherd who becomes king and writes a good share of the psalms. He appears in the Quran as well, which makes the name comfortable for Muslim families. It has been one of the most-used American boys’ names for more than a century, so it will never need explaining. Dave and Davey are waiting whenever the full name feels formal.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Beloved
- Pronunciation: DAY-vihd, DAH-veed
- Namesakes: David Beckham, an English soccer player.
- Popularity: David was the #1 boys’ name in America in 1960 and still ranked #35 in 2025; more than 3.6 million American boys have carried it since 1880.
Dixie
Dixie once pointed at someone from below the Mason-Dixon line before it became a first name in its own right. It shows up everywhere from country bands to movies about dogs, and social media brought it back around through Dixie D’Amelio. There is also a Latin reading of I have spoken, which fits a girl with opinions.
- Origin: Latin, French
- Meaning: Tenth
- Pronunciation: DIKS-ee
- Namesakes: Dixie Carter, an American actress known for her role in Filthy Rich.
- Popularity: Dixie ranked #1,605 in 2025 with 130 girls named; its best year was 1938, at #167.
Edris
Edris is a variation of Edrich, a name built from old words for rich and powerful. It works as a unisex name, partly because it shares ground with Idris. U.S. birth records first pick it up in 1971, and it has never been common, so it stays genuinely unexpected. Eddie works as a short form for everyday use.
- Origin: Welsh, Arabic
- Meaning: Lord, studious
- Pronunciation: EED-riss, EHD-riss
- Variations: Idris
- Popularity: Edris is rare, ranked #4,166 in 2025 with 25 babies named, though that is its best rank so far.
Eliza
Eliza started as one of many nicknames for Elizabeth and had broken free as its own name by the Middle Ages. It reads as pledged to God, which gives it quiet weight. George Bernard Shaw’s Eliza Doolittle is the bearer most readers picture. It has been climbing for years and now sits comfortably in the top 150, with Liz in reserve.
- Origin: Hebrew, English
- Meaning: Pledged to God
- Pronunciation: ee-LEE-zah, ee-LYE-zah
- Variations: Aliza
- Namesakes: Eliza Dushku, an American actress known for her role in Bring It On.
- Popularity: Eliza ranked #115 in 2025 with 2,370 girls named, close to its #111 best in 2021 and up about 88% on the previous decade.
Elsie
Elsie is a Scottish form of Elspeth, which loops back to Elizabeth and its God is abundance reading. It was a top 50 name before the First World War and is well into a revival now. Zooey Deschanel raised eyebrows when she named her daughter Elsie Otter in 2015, and readers of a certain vintage will know the Elsie Dinsmore books by Martha Finley.
- Origin: Scottish
- Meaning: God is abundance
- Pronunciation: el-SEE
- Namesakes: Elsie Janis, an American singer and actress.
- Popularity: Elsie ranked #123 in 2025 with 2,236 girls named, up about 164% on the previous decade; it peaked at #40 in 1913.
Elvis
Saint Elvis puts the name in the record as far back as the sixth century, but one Memphis singer owns it now. The 2022 film gave it a fresh push with a younger set of parents. If you want a name that arrives with its own soundtrack, this is the one.
- Origin: Scandinavian, Irish
- Meaning: All wise
- Pronunciation: EL-viss
- Namesakes: Elvis Costello, a British singer and songwriter.
- Popularity: Elvis ranked #1,328 in 2025 with 145 boys named; its best year was 1957, at #311.
Emani
Emani is a rarer spelling of Imani, a Middle Eastern name built on the idea of faith. It is not named in the Quran itself, but the meaning sits comfortably for Muslim families. Alternate readings run to very faithful, a nice thing to aim a child at. U.S. birth records first pick it up in 1990.
- Origin: Arabic
- Meaning: Trustworthy
- Pronunciation: uh-MAH-nee, EE-mah-nee
- Variations: Imani
- Popularity: Emani ranked #1,375 in 2025 with 160 babies named, near its #956 best in 2019.
Ethan
Ethan turns up several times in the Old Testament, most memorably as a man known for his wisdom. It spent the 2000s at the very top of the American charts, hitting #2 in 2009, and it is still a top 25 name today. Movie fans will hear Ethan Hunt of the Mission Impossible films. The meaning, strong and safe, is what most parents are wishing for anyway.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Strong, safe
- Pronunciation: EE-thun
- Namesakes: Ethan Coen, an American film director known for Fargo.
- Popularity: Ethan ranked #24 in 2025 with 7,852 boys named, down from the #2 spot it held in 2009.
Faith
Faith is a virtue name the Puritans put to work, often as a short form of Faithful. It crosses religions easily, which is part of why it has stayed useful for so long. If you are having twins, Faith and Hope is a pairing as old as the tradition itself.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Trust
- Pronunciation: FAYTH
- Namesakes: Faith Hill, an American country music singer.
- Popularity: Faith peaked at #48 in 2002 and ranked #254 in 2025, with 1,212 girls named.
Fiona
Fiona comes from a Gaelic root for white or fair, and it suits a small person with a stubborn streak. It has been in the U.S. data since 1942, long before most Americans met it. Brigadoon used it first; Shrek made it a household word. Peaking in 2017 leaves it familiar without being overused.
- Origin: Irish, Scottish
- Meaning: White, pale
- Pronunciation: fee-OH-nuh
- Namesakes: Fiona Apple, an American singer and songwriter.
- Popularity: Fiona ranked #470 in 2025 with 654 girls named; its best rank, #180, came as recently as 2017.
Garth
Garth is a Norse word for an enclosure or yard, and it once described the man who looked after one. Its American peak came in the 1950s and it has been thin on the ground since, though Garth Williams drew the pictures in the Little House books and Garth Brooks needs no introduction. For an outdoorsy family it is a quiet, sturdy option.
- Origin: Norse, British, Scandinavian
- Meaning: Enclosure
- Pronunciation: GARTH
- Namesakes: Garth Brooks, an American singer and songwriter.
- Popularity: Garth is scarce now, ranked #9,183 in 2025 with eight boys named, a long way from #444 in 1954.
Gemma
Gemma is the Italian word for gem, which makes it one of the least complicated names on this list. Saint Gemma of Lucca gives it a devotional thread, and the poet Dante’s wife carried it too. American parents came to it late, but the last decade has been its best by a distance. It pairs neatly with a one-syllable middle name.
- Origin: Italian, Latin
- Meaning: Gem, jewel
- Pronunciation: JEM-uh
- Variations: Jemma
- Namesakes: Gemma Atkinson, an English actress and model.
- Popularity: Gemma is at its best rank yet, #170 in 2025, with 1,805 girls named and a 120% rise on the previous decade.
Glenn
Glenn is a Scottish word for a valley, and like a lot of five letter boy names it came to first-name duty by way of a surname. Its big decade was the 1960s, when blunt, plain names for boys were the default. It has thinned out a lot since, though television keeps it in circulation through The Walking Dead and Family Guy, which leaves it sounding grown-up rather than dated.
- Origin: Scottish, Irish
- Meaning: Valley
- Pronunciation: GLEHN
- Variations: Glen, Glynn
- Namesakes: Glenn Howerton, an American actor known for his role in BlackBerry.
- Popularity: Glenn hit #55 in 1962 and ranked #1,443 in 2025, with 124 babies named.
Grace
Grace comes from the Latin Gracia, used for unearned favor. It is a fixture in Christian language and a fixture on the charts, sitting inside the top 50 for this whole century. The everyday reading, poise, is the one most parents have in mind. The Grace Kelly connection alone gives it real staying power.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Blessing, favor
- Pronunciation: GRAYS
- Namesakes: Grace Kelly, an American actress and Princess of Monaco.
- Popularity: Grace ranked #38 in 2025 with 5,127 girls named, still near its #13 peak in 2003.
Hazel
Hazel is a botanical name with real staying power, and its return is the most dramatic here by rank, climbing to #18 in 2023 before settling at #21 in 2025. It is technically unisex, but it goes to girls almost every time, and readers will connect it to Hazel Grace Lancaster from The Fault in Our Stars. Folklore treats the hazel tree as magical, so do not be surprised if yours has a few tricks.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Hazelnut tree
- Pronunciation: HAY-zilll
- Namesakes: Hazel O’Connor, an English singer and actress.
- Popularity: Hazel is the biggest comeback on this list: it reached its best rank yet, #18, in 2023, and sits at #21 in 2025 with 6,318 girls named.
Hosea
Hosea was a prophet whose book presses hard on living well and coming back from failure. The name reads as salvation and has kept a steady place in American religious families. Hosea Easton, the minister and activist, is one of the better-known bearers. It has never been common, but it has never gone away either.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Salvation
- Pronunciation: HOH-say-uh, hoh-ZAY
- Namesakes: Hosea Williams, an American civil rights activist.
- Popularity: Hosea ranked #2,154 in 2025 with 67 boys named, up about 41% on the previous decade; its best rank was #770 in 1925.
India
India belongs with the place names, alongside London and Paris, and it has been in U.S. records since 1880. Singer India Arie is the bearer most people can name. Gone With the Wind gave it a Southern echo that has never quite faded. It reads as sophisticated without feeling fussy.
- Origin: Greek, English
- Meaning: From the Indus River
- Pronunciation: IHN-dee-uh
- Namesakes: India Adams, an American singer.
- Popularity: India ranked #1,722 in 2025 with 118 girls named, down from its #299 best in 2001.
Irwin
Irwin looks like it is about swine, but a boar friend was old shorthand for a noble one. It is one of the most unique I names for a first name, though it is common enough as a surname. It has been in the data since 1880 and peaked between the wars, which puts it right on schedule for a revival.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Boar friend
- Pronunciation: ER-wihn
- Namesakes: Irwin Shaw, an American playwright, and author.
- Popularity: Irwin ranked #6,600 in 2025 with 13 boys named, a long fall from #245 in 1931.
Jacey
Jacey grew out of Gaius, an old Roman name tied to joy. It counts as unisex because it can shorten Jacinda as easily as it stands alone. The hyacinth reading brings in forgiveness and sincerity, if flower symbolism is your thing, and Jaycee or Jacee gives you a choice of look.
- Origin: American
- Meaning: Happy
- Pronunciation: JAY-see
- Variations: Jaycee, Jacee
- Namesakes: Jacey Murphy, a Canadian rugby player.
- Popularity: Jacey ranked #2,468 in 2025 with 72 babies named; its best rank was #722 in 2000.
Jason
In the Bible, Jason is an early believer who opens his house to the apostle Paul. Greek mythology has its own Jason, the one with the ship and the fleece. It was a defining boys’ name of the 1970s and has settled into comfortable middle ground since. With a second reading of healer, it suits parents hoping for a doctor in the family. Jay is the shortcut.
- Origin: Greek, Hebrew
- Meaning: The Lord is salvation
- Pronunciation: JAY-suhn
- Variations: Jayson
- Namesakes: Jason Aldean, an American country music singer.
- Popularity: Jason was the #2 boys’ name in 1974 and ranked #165 in 2025, with 2,224 boys named.
Jaxon
Jaxon is the X-forward spelling of Jackson, and that letter is doing most of the work. Under the tough look sits a gentle meaning, since Jack traces back to John and God is gracious. It climbed fast through the 2010s and is still a top 150 name. Football fans will think of Jaxon Shipley before anyone else.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Son of Jack
- Pronunciation: JAK-suhn
- Variations: Jackson, Jaxsyn
- Namesakes: Jaxon Shipley, an American football player.
- Popularity: Jaxon ranked #115 in 2025 with 3,073 boys named, down a little from its #39 peak in 2018.
Karma
Karma lands somewhere between a warning and a wish, depending on who is saying it. The idea behind it, that actions come back around, gives the name more weight than the sound suggests. Taylor Swift’s song put it in front of a lot of new parents. It has been in U.S. birth records since 1915, so it is older than it looks.
- Origin: Indian
- Meaning: Destiny, spiritual force
- Pronunciation: KAR-muh
- Namesakes: Karma Wilson, an American children’s author.
- Popularity: Karma ranked #1,706 in 2025 with 120 babies named; its best year was 2009, at #761.
Kasey
Kasey had its run in the 1980s and 1990s, when unisex spellings were everywhere. The English name reads as brave in battle, and alternate readings run to watchful, which fits a kid who notices everything. It goes to boys and girls in real numbers, not just in theory, and the C spelling, Casey, is the more common look if you want it.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Brave in battle
- Pronunciation: KAY-see
- Variations: Casey, Casee, Kacee, Kacey
- Namesakes: Kasey Kahne, an American race car driver.
- Popularity: Kasey ranked #1,876 in 2025 with 105 babies named, well below its #201 peak in 1988; boys account for roughly a quarter of all American Kaseys.
Katie
Katie is a nickname for Katherine or Kaitlin that most parents now use on its own. It reads simply as pure. Its peak was the mid-1980s, but it has never dropped out of use, which is the definition of a name that ages well. It shows up all over film and television, the Harry Potter series included.
- Origin: English, Greek
- Meaning: Pure
- Pronunciation: KAY-tee
- Variations: Katee, Katey, Catie, Caytee
- Namesakes: Katie Holmes, an American actress known for her role in Dawson’s Creek.
- Popularity: Katie ranked #646 in 2025 with 447 girls named, down from #38 in 1986.
Keana
Keana is a distant cousin of Cian, an Irish name meaning enduring one, and it also reads as ancient or divine in Hawaiian. That pairing gives it history and warmth at once. It has been in the American data since 1970 without ever getting crowded, and Kiki works as a nickname.
- Origin: Irish, Hawaiian
- Meaning: Ancient, divine
- Pronunciation: kee-AH-nah
- Popularity: Keana is rare, ranked #6,977 in 2025 with 16 girls named; its best rank was #1,033 in 1995.
Kenya
Kenya entered the U.S. birth data in 1952 and became a way for families to put heritage straight into a name. It points at Mount Kenya, the snow-topped range the country takes its name from. Actress Diane Parish chose it for her daughter in 2006. It is used for both, though girls get it far more often.
- Origin: African
- Meaning: Animal horn
- Pronunciation: KEN-yah
- Namesakes: Kenya Moore, an American actress, and author.
- Popularity: Kenya peaked at #275 in 1973 and ranked #2,499 in 2025, with 71 babies named.
Lilac
Floral names are having a long moment and Lilac has somehow been left out of it, which is good news if you want a flower name nobody else is using. It covers both a color, that blue-violet, and one of the best-smelling blooms in the yard. Lila or Ly makes a soft nickname.
Lucca
Lucca is a walled city in Tuscany, which is a good deal more romantic than most name origins. It reads as bringer of light, and alternate senses run to wooded area and marsh. American parents have taken to it quickly, and it is having its strongest year on record. Luc gives you a short form.
- Origin: Italian
- Meaning: Bringer of light
- Pronunciation: LOO-kah
- Variations: Lukka, Luka, Luca
- Popularity: Lucca is at its best rank yet, #425 in 2025, with 757 babies named and a jump of about 206% on the previous decade.
Lukas
Lukas is the continental spelling of Lucas, from the Greek Loukas. Footballer Lukas Podolski is the bearer most people name first. A second reading, bright one, keeps it cheerful. It has been in the U.S. data since 1963 and is quietly climbing, with Lou there when you want it.
- Origin: German, Latin, Greek
- Meaning: From Lucanus
- Pronunciation: LOO-kiss
- Variations: Lucas
- Namesakes: Lukas Haas, an American actor known for his role in Witness.
- Popularity: Lukas ranked #288 in 2025 with 1,161 boys named, close to its #214 best in 2019.
Mandy
Mandy started as a short form of Amanda, whose Latin root means lovable, then went its own way. It was a 1970s favorite, peaking at #94 in 1977, and has slid to #4,514 in 2025, which makes it ripe for rediscovery. In some families it doubles as a nickname for Armando, and you will hear it in Dallas and in the Ugly Dolls movie.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Lovable
- Pronunciation: MAN-dee
- Variations: Mandie
- Namesakes: Mandy Moore, an American actress and singer.
- Popularity: Mandy peaked at #94 in 1977 and has fallen to #4,514 in 2025, with 31 girls named.
Manly
Not much is written down about Manly, though it seems to have described a man’s shared meadow. The Little House books use it as Almanzo Wilder’s nickname, which gives it literary cover. It is also, obviously, a word about being macho, so it comes with a built-in joke.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Shared land
- Pronunciation: MAN-lee
- Popularity: Manly last appeared in the U.S. data in 2000, and only about 520 American babies have carried it since 1880.
Mario
Mario descends from Marius, a name carried by Roman generals, and it keeps a thread back to Mars along the way. Nintendo owns the association now, for better or worse, and no child will escape the plumber jokes. It has been in the American data since 1897 and peaked in 1980. For a military family, the war-god link gives it extra meaning.
- Origin: Italian, Latin, Greek, Spanish
- Meaning: Mars, manly
- Pronunciation: MAR-ee-oh
- Namesakes: Mario Lopez, an American actor and television host.
- Popularity: Mario ranked #438 in 2025 with 721 boys named, down from #102 in 1980.
Maude
Maude was everywhere in the early 1900s and then vanished so completely that it now sounds brand new. It is a variant of Matilda and reads as mighty in battle. Empress Maude, once heir to the English throne, is the historical bearer. Tennyson built a poem around it, and The Simpsons put a lighter spin on it. The numbers are small but climbing.
- Origin: English, French
- Meaning: Mighty in battle
- Pronunciation: MAHD
- Variations: Maud
- Namesakes: Maude Apatow, an American actress known for her role in Euphoria.
- Popularity: Maude ranked #3,367 in 2025 with 46 girls named, though it is up about 186% on the previous decade.
Micah
Micah was one of the sharper prophets, and the book carrying his name is not all doom; it lands on telling the truth and doing justice. The name reads as he who is like God. It has been climbing steadily and now sits just inside the top 100, though it goes to boys most of the time, not always.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: He who is like God
- Pronunciation: MYE-kuh
- Variations: Mykah
- Namesakes: Micah Williams, an American actor known for his role in Good Luck Charlie.
- Popularity: Micah ranked #90 in 2025 with 3,817 boys named, just off its #86 best in 2024; girls account for about a tenth of American Micahs.
Milan
Milan is a city name first for most Americans, all runways and cathedrals. It is also a long-established male name in Slavic countries, where it works as a short form of Miloslav. Those two readings pull in different directions, which is exactly why it makes such a good nonbinary pick. It works equally well in English, Italian, or Slavic-speaking circles.
- Origin: Italian, Slavic
- Meaning: Gracious, dear
- Pronunciation: mill-AHN, MEE-lahn
- Popularity: Milan ranked #242 in 2025 with 1,418 babies named, up about 259% on the previous decade; roughly a third of American Milans are girls.
Moses
Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt and came back down the mountain with the commandments, so the name arrives with a full biography, and it reads literally as drawn out of the water, a nod to the basket in the reeds. It is most at home in Jewish families but has never been limited to them. Its steady climb over the last decade suggests it is still gaining rather than fading.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: To draw out/pull out (of water)
- Pronunciation: MOHZ-ess
- Namesakes: Moses Malone, an American basketball player.
- Popularity: Moses ranked #515 in 2025 with 583 boys named, up modestly on the previous decade; its best rank was #265 in 1913.
Moxie
Moxie began as one of America’s first soft drinks, sold on the promise that it steadied the nerves. The word outlived the drink and came to mean nerve itself. As a name it is barely a generation old and still genuinely rare. For a kid with drive, it is hard to argue with.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Aggressive energy
- Pronunciation: MAHKS-ee
- Namesakes: Laura (Moxie) Raia, an American singer and songwriter.
- Popularity: Moxie first appears in the U.S. data in 2006 and ranked #5,060 in 2025, with 26 girls named.
Nancy
Nancy grew out of Annis, itself a medieval form of Agnes, and settled into the plain, friendly meaning of grace, and it was one of the biggest names in the country in the middle of the last century. Nancy Drew keeps it in the hands of eight-year-olds; Nancy Reagan keeps it in the history books. It has been out of fashion long enough that it is starting to sound charming again.
- Origin: Hebrew, French
- Meaning: Grace
- Pronunciation: NAN-see
- Variations: Nanci, Nancie
- Namesakes: Nancy Wilson, an American singer and member of Heart.
- Popularity: Nancy was a top 10 name in 1950, peaking at #6, and ranked #967 in 2025; more than a million American girls have carried it.
Neale
Neale is a spelling of Neil that traces back to Niall, a name that doubles as an Irish surname. Alternate readings include passionate and victory, both fitting for a name that means champion. This spelling has not shown up in U.S. birth data since 2012, so it is a way to use a familiar name without meeting another one.
- Origin: Irish
- Meaning: Champion, cloud
- Pronunciation: NEEL
- Variations: Neal, Neil
- Popularity: Neale last shows up in U.S. birth data in 2012; its best rank was #1,283, back in 1937.
Nolan
Nolan started as an Irish surname and carries the meaning champion, which is a lot to hand a newborn. Fittingly, the bearer most Americans name is pitcher Nolan Ryan. It is technically unisex, though girls get it rarely. It has been climbing for years and now sits comfortably inside the top 100.
- Origin: Irish
- Meaning: Champion
- Pronunciation: NOH-lan
- Namesakes: Nolan Bushnell, an American entrepreneur who established Atari, Inc.
- Popularity: Nolan ranked #65 in 2025 with 4,846 boys named, just off its #57 best in 2023.
North
North is a direction before it is a name, and directions carry the idea of home and orientation. Some traditions treat north as the anchoring point everything else is measured from, and it also suggests cold weather, which makes it fair game for a winter baby. Kim Kardashian and Kanye West put a spotlight on it when they chose it for their daughter, though the birth numbers stayed tiny.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Northern farm
- Pronunciation: NORTH
- Variations: Northe
- Popularity: North is one of the rarest names here, ranked #13,350 in 2025 with only five babies given it.
Ocean
Ocean comes from Oceanus, the Greek god of freshwater. As a name it does what nature names do best: it puts a whole mood in five letters, calm one minute and wild the next. It arrived in the U.S. data in 1974 and has been climbing hard lately. It splits close to evenly between girls and boys, which is unusual for a nature name.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Sea
- Pronunciation: OH-shun
- Variations: Oceane
- Popularity: Ocean ranked #720 in 2025 with 375 babies named, up about 300% on the previous decade, and it splits close to evenly between girls and boys.
Ollie
Ollie reads as a nickname for Oliver now, though it works just as well for Olivia. It was a standalone first name for decades before that, which is where the vintage feel comes from. With Oliver and Olive both riding high, Ollie gives you the same warmth without the crowd.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Olive tree
- Pronunciation: AH-lee
- Variations: Olly
- Namesakes: Olive (Ollie) Kirby, an American stage actress.
- Popularity: Ollie ranked #1,058 in 2025 with 207 babies named, up about 241% on the previous decade; most American Ollies on record have been girls.
Orson
Orson carries a whiff of old Hollywood, mostly thanks to Orson Welles. It means bear cub, and the softer reading, little bear, is the one that suits a baby. It has been in the U.S. data since 1880 without ever being common, and the last decade has been its busiest. Television keeps it in earshot through Desperate Housewives and The Middle.
- Origin: Latin, English
- Meaning: Bear cub
- Pronunciation: OR-suhn
- Namesakes: Orson Welles, an American director and actor.
- Popularity: Orson ranked #1,433 in 2025 with 126 boys named, up about 243% on the previous decade.
Pablo
Pablo is the Spanish form of Paul, which puts it in the New Testament and on gallery walls at the same time. Picasso is the bearer everyone reaches for. The meaning, small or humble, gives it a gentleness the sound does not. It has been steady in the U.S. charts for two decades, which is unusual for a name this recognizable.
- Origin: Spanish
- Meaning: Small
- Pronunciation: PAH-blow
- Popularity: Pablo ranked #430 in 2025 with 743 boys named, holding close to its #284 best in 2005.
Paris
Paris is a city to most people, though the name is Greek and belonged first to a figure out of myth. Paris Hilton gave it a very different flavor for a while. It works on a girl or a boy, and the birth records show both. Alternate readings run to the lover, which is a lot of pressure for a toddler.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Defender
- Pronunciation: PAIR-iss
- Popularity: Paris ranked #592 in 2025 with 497 girls named, down from its #157 peak in 2004; about a fifth of American Parises have been boys.
Pearl
Pearl is the one gem that comes out of a living thing, which gives the name more romance than the rest of the jewelry box. It was a top 60 name before the First World War and has been creeping up again lately. Audrey Hepburn made the case for pearls better than anyone, and as June’s birthstone it is an easy pick for a summer baby.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Pearl
- Pronunciation: PERL
- Variations: Pearle
- Popularity: Pearl ranked #777 in 2025 with 350 girls named, up about 30% on the previous decade; it peaked at #55 in 1913.
Peter
Peter means rock, and the disciple who carried it got the name as a job description. He is the one who stepped out of the boat, and later the saint said to hold the keys. Children’s books are full of Peters, from Rabbit to Pan. The name has barely moved in the charts for a decade, which is about as reliable as names get. It suits a boy at any age without feeling like a phase.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Rock
- Pronunciation: PEE-ter
- Namesakes: Peter Gabriel, an English singer and songwriter.
- Popularity: Peter ranked #187 in 2025 with 1,954 boys named, essentially flat across the last decade after peaking at #35 in 1955.
Rahul
Rahul has one pronunciation and a surprising number of readings, from capable to conqueror of all miseries and son of Buddha. That mix of gentleness and grit makes it one of the best-known 5 letter names for Indian boys. In American records it peaked around 2000 and has thinned out since.
- Origin: Indian
- Meaning: Capable
- Pronunciation: RA-hool
- Popularity: Rahul ranked #9,498 in 2025 with eight boys named, well down from #818 in 2000.
Raven
Raven brings Poe with it, which is either a selling point or a warning depending on your taste in poetry. The bird itself stands for intuition and, in plenty of traditions, foresight. The name leans female in practice, though boys get it too. Ray is the nickname hiding inside it.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Wise
- Pronunciation: RAY-vehn
- Variations: Ravyn
- Namesakes: Raven Symone, an American actress known for her Disney Channel roles.
- Popularity: Raven ranked #404 in 2025 with 771 girls named, up about 45% on the previous decade after peaking at #139 in 1993.
Rayne
Rayne sounds like weather and reads like counsel, an odd and rather nice combination. Alternate senses run to helpful friend, a decent thing to aim a child at. It goes to girls more often, but the boys’ numbers are real, and it pairs beautifully with a longer, classic middle name.
- Origin: Scandinavian, Latin
- Meaning: Counsel, song
- Pronunciation: RAYN
- Variations: Raine, Rain
- Popularity: Rayne ranked #906 in 2025 with 293 babies named, near its #736 best in 2019.
Reign
Reign sits with the royal titles that have done so well lately. It entered the U.S. data in 1996 and took off after Kourtney Kardashian chose it for her son in 2014. It is still used more often as a common middle name than as a first, though that is changing fast. It suits a girl or a boy who is going to command a room.
- Origin: English, Latin
- Meaning: Royal power
- Pronunciation: RAYN
- Popularity: Reign ranked #452 in 2025 with 682 babies named and is up about 754% on the previous decade, one of the sharpest climbs here.
Riley
Riley was a surname first, for someone who lived by a rye clearing. A second reading, valiant, puts some steel under the friendly sound. It is one of the few names that genuinely splits between girls and boys in U.S. birth records. Rye or Lee gives you a nickname if the full name feels too casual.
- Origin: Irish
- Meaning: Rye clearing
- Pronunciation: RYE-lee
- Variations: Rylee, Rileigh
- Namesakes: Riley Weston, an American actress known for her role in Black Widow.
- Popularity: Riley ranked #48 for girls in 2025 with 4,441 named; boys account for about 42% of all American Rileys.
Ringo
Beatles fans will hear Ringo Starr and nothing else, and the name does first appear in American records in 1964. It has Japanese roots though, where it reads as apple. In the kanji system it can also carry woods and circle.
- Origin: Japanese, English
- Meaning: Apple
- Pronunciation: RING-oh
- Namesakes: Ringo Lam, a Japanese film director.
- Popularity: Ringo ranked #9,523 in 2025 with eight boys named; its best year was 1965, at #1,902.
River
River is the most changeable of the water names, since a river can be a trickle or a flood. It has climbed hard over the last decade and now sits just outside the top 100. River Phoenix gave it a lasting association, and Jamie Oliver is one of several parents who followed. It is used for girls and boys in real numbers, which is rarer than it sounds.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: A flowing body of water
- Pronunciation: RIH-ver
- Namesakes: River Phoenix, a late American actor known for his role in Stand by Me.
- Popularity: River ranked #111 in 2025 with 3,139 boys named, up about 290% on the previous decade; a third of American Rivers are girls.
Robin
Robin is a bird and a bright, shining meaning rolled into one. Robin Hood is the fictional bearer everyone knows; Winnie the Pooh supplies the gentler one. It was a genuine top 25 name in the early 1960s and is quietly rising again. Robby works for a kid who wants something less delicate.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Bright, shining
- Pronunciation: RAH-bihn
- Variations: Robyn
- Namesakes: Robin Williams, a late American actor known for his role in Aladdin.
- Popularity: Robin peaked at #25 in 1962 and ranked #704 in 2025, with 400 babies named, up about 71% on the previous decade.
Romeo
Romeo means pilgrim, which is a gentler story than the balcony one. Shakespeare owns the association, so your son will hear about it early and often. David Beckham and Jon Bon Jovi both used it, and the name has been climbing since. It is at its strongest in decades right now.
- Origin: Italian
- Meaning: Pilgrim
- Pronunciation: ROH-mee-oh
- Namesakes: Romeo Crennel, an American football coach.
- Popularity: Romeo ranked #302 in 2025 with 1,129 boys named, just off its #283 best in 2024.
Rosie
Rosie began as a pet form of Rose and has spent the last decade turning back into a full name. The flower itself stands for love and friendship, which is a lot of goodwill packed into five letters. British model Rosie Huntington is the bearer plenty of people picture. It is up about 269% on the previous decade, though it still sits well off its best-ever rank of #152 in 1927.
- Origin: English, Latin
- Meaning: Rose
- Pronunciation: ROHZ-ee
- Variations: Rosy
- Namesakes: Rosie O’Donnell, an American comedian and talk show host.
- Popularity: Rosie ranked #283 in 2025 with 1,088 girls named, up about 269% on the previous decade; its best rank was #152 in 1927.
Ryker
Ryker comes from the German reich, a word about wealth and power, which is a bold thing to put on a birth certificate. It only became a real American first name this century, and it climbed fast. Football has one in Ryker Mathews. It fits parents who want an edge without inventing a spelling.
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Rich
- Pronunciation: RYE-ker
- Popularity: Ryker ranked #183 in 2025 with 2,003 boys named, down slightly from its #122 peak in 2018.
Sabra
Sabra is a Hebrew name for the prickly pear, a fruit that is tough outside and sweet within. A second reading, to rest, ties it to the Sabbath and the idea of a day set aside. It peaked quietly in the early 1960s and is genuinely rare now. It is a good name for parents who want a built-in reminder to slow down.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Prickly pear
- Pronunciation: SAY-brah
- Namesakes: Sabra Lane, an Australian journalist.
- Popularity: Sabra ranked #11,739 in 2025 with eight girls named; its best year was 1961, at #856.
Selah
Selah appears throughout the Psalms as a small instruction: pause here, think about that. Christian families took to it in the 2000s, and it now sits at its best rank ever, #216 in 2025, up 100% on the previous decade. A second reading gives it rock, which grounds the airy sound. Singer Selah Sue is the best-known bearer.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Praise
- Pronunciation: SAY-lah, SEE-lah
- Variations: Saylah
- Popularity: Selah is at its best rank ever, #216 in 2025, with 1,416 girls named and a 100% rise on the previous decade.
Slate
Slate is a rock name, flat and gray-green and hard to break, which is the whole appeal. It is rare, though athletes like Landon Donovan have used it. The Flintstones supplies the only pop culture you will ever need to explain.
- Origin: American
- Meaning: Gray-green rock
- Pronunciation: SLAYT
- Popularity: Slate ranked #2,712 in 2025 with 48 babies named, up about 84% on the previous decade.
Smith
Smith described the person who worked the metal, which is why it turns up in every phone book in the country. As a first name it belongs with the surnames that start with S parents have been borrowing lately. British evangelist Smith Wigglesworth is the notable bearer. Smitty is the nickname built in.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Blacksmith
- Pronunciation: SMITH
- Popularity: Smith ranked #1,483 in 2025 with 120 babies named, up about 66% on the previous decade.
Sofia
Sofia is the spelling that skips the ph, and it has quietly overtaken plenty of longer names. It means wisdom, which is a fair thing to wish on a daughter. Reaching the top 10 in 2025 makes it the strongest performer here by a wide margin. Sofi makes an easy nickname.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Wisdom
- Pronunciation: soh-FEE-uh
- Variations: Sophia
- Namesakes: Sofia Vergara, a Colombian American actress and model.
- Popularity: Sofia is the highest-ranked name on this list, #9 for U.S. girls in 2025, with 8,252 babies named.
Tawny
Tawny names a color, that golden brown you see in autumn fields, and it can point at the field itself. It suits a baby with warm hair, though nobody is checking. It had its moment in the late 1980s and has all but vanished since. Disney Channel’s Even Stevens is where most millennials heard it.
- Origin: English, Irish
- Meaning: Golden-brown
- Pronunciation: TAW-nee
- Variations: Tawnee
- Namesakes: Tawny Cypress, an American actress known for her role in Remains.
- Popularity: Tawny last appears in the U.S. data in 2024, at #17,438; its best year was 1989, at #860.
Tripp
Tripp looks like it is about falling over, but it is usually a nickname for the third man in a family to carry the same name. Bristol Palin drew attention to it when she chose it for her son in 2008. It has been in the U.S. data since 1957 and is having its best decade now. Short, friendly, and it needs no nickname of its own.
- Origin: French
- Meaning: One who trips
- Pronunciation: TRIHP
- Variations: Trip
- Popularity: Tripp ranked #522 in 2025 with 572 boys named, near its #437 best in 2022.
Tyler
Tyler described the man who laid the tiles, and in some places the one who kept the inn. It was one of the defining boys’ names of the early 1990s, which means the first wave of Tylers are parents themselves now. It was used for girls for a while and has gone back to being mostly male. Ty is the nickname everybody defaults to.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Tile worker
- Pronunciation: TYE-ler
- Namesakes: Tyler Hubbard, an American country music singer.
- Popularity: Tyler was a top 5 name in 1993 and has slid to #220 in 2025, with 1,633 boys named.
Viola
Viola is the heroine of Twelfth Night, which gives the name four centuries of literary credit. She’s the Man is the modern retelling, if you would rather have that one. It points at the violet, a flower tied to humility, and it doubles as an instrument. Vi or Vee keeps the vintage feel going.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Violet
- Pronunciation: vye-OH-lah
- Namesakes: Viola Compton, an English actress known for her role in The Shadow.
- Popularity: Viola ranked #1,015 in 2025 with 247 girls named, up about 74% on the previous decade; it peaked at #52 in 1913.
Young
Young reads as youthful in English, though it can also carry the sense of son of. Many take it as a Westernized form of Yang, an Asian surname. In the kanji system it is linked to flower, which softens a name that otherwise sounds plain.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Youthful
- Pronunciation: YUNG
- Popularity: Young last appears in U.S. birth data in 2022; its best rank was #1,263, back in 1917.
Zelda
Gamers will hear the Legend of Zelda and nothing else, and the franchise is most of the reason the name came back at all. It is German at root and reads as strong woman. After decades of near-silence it has climbed sharply, up about 246% on the previous decade to #832 in 2025. It is one of the tougher-sounding 5 letter girl names without losing the fairy-tale edge.
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Strong woman
- Pronunciation: ZELL-duh
- Popularity: Zelda ranked #832 in 2025 with 328 girls named, up about 246% on the previous decade.
Zetta
Try Zetta if you want five letter girl names that start with Z that nobody else will be using. It points at the olive tree, a long-standing symbol of peace, and at the green of the fruit itself. It had a small run in the 1910s and has been scarce ever since. For an emerald-eyed baby, it is a lovely, quiet choice.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Olive
- Pronunciation: ZEH-tah, ZAY-tah
- Popularity: Zetta is the rarest name on this list, ranked #17,262 in 2025 with five girls named, roughly one in every 333,000 births.
