Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Add Upworthy to your Google News feed.
Google News Button

A new year is upon us, and so is a fresh batch of baby boy name trends for 2025. Just like trending baby girl names in 2025, inspiration for baby boy names this year is coming from multiple sources–country cowboys, family trees and more. Throughout the years, baby boy name trends have evolved. Michael reigned as the top name in the 80s and the 90s, Jacob in the 00s, and Noah in the 2010s. While it can be hard to nail down exactly which baby boy names will prove to be standouts, one way to guess is by taking a look at recent baby boy name data.

Most Recent Popular Baby Boy Names
Since 1924, the Social Security Administration has been tracking the most popular boy names in the United States. While the top names of 2024 have yet to be released, these are the top 10 baby boy names from 2023:


  1. Liam
  2. Noah
  3. Oliver
  4. James
  5. Elijah
  6. Mateo
  7. Theodore
  8. Henry
  9. Lucas
  10. William
Since 2017, Liam has remained the most popular baby boy name in the United States. In previous years, the most popular baby boy name was Michael–which remained at the top 44 times. From 1949-2010, it could be found in the top 5 names each year–but has since fallen off.

Country Rebrand
Names inspired by the Old West and its rugged cowboys will see a major renaissance in 2025. "One of the biggest trends we’ll see for baby boy names in 2025 are 'Country Rebrand' names," Sophie Kihm, editor-in-chief of baby-naming site Nameberry, told Good Housekeeping. "Cowboy-style names have been in fashion this decade, but the cohort of Country Rebrand names goes past last names as first names like Carter and Tate. This new group embraces names that were once considered hokey, like Abner and Hiram; names from non-English cultures like Navarone and Santos and even 'bad boy' country names associated with outlaws like Jessejames."

She adds that the key to nailing country names in 2025 is to "think last names as first names like Carter and Lawson, or place names west of the Mississippi such as Denver and Dakota."

Here are a few country-inspired baby boy names to consider:

  • Crockett
  • Enoch
  • Ephraim
  • Harlan
  • Hatcher
  • Huck
  • Jethro
  • Lyle
  • Truett
  • Waylon

Athletes
Professional athletes will continue to be a big source for baby boy names in 2025, according to BabyCenter. From ballers to Olympians, those with athletic prowess (and Super Bowl rings) might top the charts. These include:

  • Brock
  • Christian
  • Creed
  • Isiah
  • Louis
  • Patrick
  • Raphael
  • Travis
  • Trent

Patrick MahomesTouch Down Kansas City Chiefs GIF by NFL On PrimeGiphy


"E" Names
BabyCenter predicts that "E" names for baby boys will have a comeback. BabyCenter notes that one name, Emrys, recently made its first-ever appearance in the top 1,000 boy names in the United States. Others gaining popularity include:

  • Easton
  • Edgar
  • Eliel
  • Elijah
  • Eliseo
  • Emir
  • Enrique
  • Everett
  • Ezra

Croc Names
Nope, these aren't inspired by crocodiles–rather, the divisive shoe that has fashion camps taking sides. Crocs are either the best shoe ever, or the ugliest. "Their namesake shoes — foam, perforated clogs in loud hues — are now so ugly, they’re beautiful. Croc Names intend to make the same transition," writes Kihm. And these Croc Names, usually from older generations and rendered from family trees and lineage, are coming back in 2025:

  • Clarence
  • Clyde
  • Ernest
  • Gilbert
  • Harold
  • Howard
  • Isadore
  • Morris
  • Murray
  • Oswald
  • Simeon
  • Tyrone
  • Vernon
  • Virgil
  • Wilbur

More For You

screenshots of a little girl in the hospital; little girl dancing with her father

Ava Cooper and her dad Sean celebrate a surprise daddy-daughter dance at Cleveland Clinic Children's.

Cleveland Clinic/Instagram

Hospital surprises 10-year-old waiting for heart transplant with her own father-daughter dance

One of the highlights for young girls in elementary school is the annual father-daughter dance. Not only is it an opportunity to get dressed up and get grooving, it's a special time for daughters to be celebrated by their dads and make new memories together. And for 10-year-old Ava Cooper, who has been in the hospital for more than 200 days awaiting a heart transplant, her mom Jamie and Cleveland Clinic Children's made sure she didn't miss out on the special occasion with her dad, Sean. They put together a surprise daddy-daughter dance in the hospital just for them, and the emotional video was shared on Instagram.

"There wasn’t a dry eye in the room, when 10-year-old Ava Cooper and her dad, Sean, danced forehead to forehead during an unforgettable father-daughter dance. Ava says, 'My dad is like having the best friend a girl could ask for'," the post's caption reads.

Keep ReadingShow less
 A groom speaks into a microphone during his wedding, addressing someone special in the audience.

Jefferson takes a moment during his vows to share an unexpected and emotional message.

YouTube | Jefferson

This groom's 'confession' shocked the crowd—and left his stepdaughter in tears

Every bride dreams of a perfect wedding day, but sometimes, the most unforgettable moments come from the unexpected. That was exactly the case when Jefferson, a loving groom, decided to surprise his bride, Jessica—not with a last-minute change of plans, but with a confession straight from the heart.

After exchanging vows with Jessica, Jefferson took a deep breath and admitted that there was someone else he loved just as much, if not more. Gasps filled the room as guests tried to process what he was saying. Jessica herself began to cry, overwhelmed by emotion. But before anyone could assume the worst, Jefferson turned to Giovanna—Jessica’s 8-year-old daughter—and revealed the truth: he wasn’t just committing to Jessica that day, but to Giovanna as well.

Keep ReadingShow less
The shopping cart test: the viral theory that claims to reveal who’s a “good” person
Representative photo by Joshua Rawson-Harris | Unsplash

The shopping cart test: the viral theory that claims to reveal who’s a “good” person

A simple decision at the grocery store—returning a shopping cart or leaving it in the parking lot—might say more about your personality than you realize. According to a viral theory, this everyday action is actually a litmus test for self-governance and social responsibility.

The idea, originally posted on 4chan, suggests that putting a cart back in its designated place is a sign of good character. Unlike other social norms, there are no immediate consequences for abandoning a cart, making it a pure test of whether someone will do the right thing without being forced.

Keep ReadingShow less
HOA president tried to stop kids from playing outside. Dad shut her down instantly.
Representative photo by Canva

HOA president tried to stop kids from playing outside. Dad shut her down instantly.

With screens dominating so much of modern life, the sight of kids playing outside has become increasingly rare—but for some, even that seems to be a problem. A viral TikTok video from Daily Dose Of Masculinity (@masculineessence_) has sparked a debate after a Homeowners Association (HOA) president confronted a father, demanding that he keep his daughters indoors because neighbors had complained about the noise.

@masculineessence_

Visit TikTok to discover videos!

An unexpected confrontation caught on camera

Footage captured by a doorbell camera shows three young girls screaming and running inside as the HOA head approaches their house. Moments later, she rings the doorbell, and their father answers. Wasting no time, she immediately makes her demand:

"So, I am going to ask you to keep them inside," she says.

Clearly puzzled, the father responds with a simple but firm question:

"For what reason?"

Her reasoning? Multiple noise complaints from irritated neighbors.

"I have like 10 houses now contacting me. They are like barking at me and running," she explains.

Kids frolicking Representative photo by Katherine Hanlon | Unsplash

Dad isn’t backing down

At first, the father tries to reason with her, explaining that his daughters are just playing outside, as kids do. But as the conversation continues, his patience wears thin.

"That's what's wrong with this world because people like you and those other people don't let kids be kids, okay?" he says, his frustration growing.

Not interested in further debate, he firmly ends the conversation with:

"We appreciate you stopping by. Have a nice night."

Giphy


The video, captioned "HOA president gets mad at girls for playing," quickly took off online, with thousands of viewers chiming in on both sides of the argument.

TikTok reacts: Is the dad right, or was the HOA head reasonable?

The viral clip sparked a heated discussion, with some siding with the father and others sympathizing with the HOA president.

Some viewers believed the HOA head was being overly strict and that kids should be free to play outdoors.

@d33dspizza shared a wholesome perspective, writing:

"Our neighbors stopped over and said they loved hearing our kids playing and yelling outside… because theirs are all grown and moved out and they miss hearing it."

Representative photo by MI PHAM | Unsplash

Others, however, thought the volume level mattered—especially if the noise was disturbing residents at night.

@syb1375 pointed out that the HOA head had handled the situation calmly, saying:

"She was being respectful and came to reason with him instead of calling the police after getting so many complaints. It’s nighttime… people work in the morning."

Some commenters saw both sides but noted that ten different households complaining was significant.


"Not looking for a fight, but when 10 different households send a noise complaint, that’s a problem. We don’t know what noises they are making, so I can’t really take a side here."
— @Ilovehentaixdd

Meanwhile, @martin_arce acknowledged the HOA head’s position, writing:

"I wouldn’t be rude to her though. His neighbors demand it from her, and she’s gotta do it as her responsibility. And also, your neighbors’ demands aren’t unreasonable."


Giphy


Where is the line between community rules and personal freedoms?

At its core, this situation highlights a larger debate: how much control should HOAs have over residents' daily lives? While some believe neighborhood rules help maintain peace, others argue that they often overstep boundaries—especially when they interfere with something as simple as kids playing outside.

Whatever the case, one thing is clear: this father had no intention of keeping his daughters cooped up inside just because some neighbors complained.


Follow Daily Dose Of Masculinity (@masculineessence_) on TikTok for more videos.

Keep ReadingShow less
McDonald’s gave employees this ‘bonus’ and people couldn’t believe it
Representative photo by JESHOOTS.COM | Unsplash

McDonald’s gave employees this ‘bonus’ and people couldn’t believe it

Many employees hope for some kind of appreciation from their companies at the end of the year—whether it's a bonus, a gift, or even just a thoughtful gesture. But for one McDonald's worker, the reality was far from rewarding.

Reddit user u/MMS37 took to the platform to reveal the so-called "bonus" they received from one of the biggest fast-food chains in the world—and the response was a mix of frustration, disbelief, and secondhand embarrassment.

Keep ReadingShow less