Classic Baby Names

Top 300 names with stable or gradually declining trends — the definition of staying power. These names weren't invented by a TV writer or borrowed from a celebrity baby announcement. They've been solid for generations and show no signs of going anywhere.

207 names — click any name for full meaning, origin, and analysis

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#2

Emma

Girl

entire, all-encompassing

English
#4

Charlotte

Girl

free woman

French
#5

James

Boy

may God protect

English
#5

Mia

Girl

sea of bitterness, wished-for child

Italian
#6

Sophia

Girl

divine wisdom

Greek
#7

Isabella

Girl

God is my oath

Italian
#9

Ava

Girl

like a bird, birdlike

English
#9

Lucas

Boy

light, luminous

English
#10

Sofia

Girl

skill, cleverness

Spanish
#10

William

Boy

resolute protector, strong-willed guardian

English
#11

Benjamin

Boy

son of the south

Hebrew
#15

Jack

Boy

God is gracious

English
#16

Daniel

Boy

God judges

English
#17

Elizabeth

Girl

consecrated to God

English
#17

Samuel

Boy

name of God

English
#18

Michael

Boy

God-like

English
#19

Ethan

Boy

permanent, long-lived

English
#20

Chloe

Girl

young green shoot

English
#21

John

Boy

Yahweh is gracious

English
#24

Lily

Girl

purity, innocence

English
#25

Emily

Girl

industrious, hardworking

English
#26

Owen

Boy

young warrior

Welsh
#27

Alexander

Boy

protector of humanity

Greek
#28

Dylan

Boy

great tide, wave

Welsh
#29

Zoe

Girl

alive, living

Greek
#30

Ella

Girl

goddess, oak tree

English
#31

Avery

Girl

ruler of elves, elf counsel

English
#31

David

Boy

friend, darling

Hebrew
#32

Abigail

Girl

father's joy

Hebrew
#32

Joseph

Boy

may God give increase

Hebrew
#33

Matthew

Boy

gift of Yahweh

Hebrew
#35

Jackson

Boy

son of Jack

English
#39

Thomas

Boy

twin, double

English
#40

Grace

Girl

From Latin 'gratia' meaning grace or favor; a v...

English
#41

Jacob

Boy

Supplanter; one who follows at the heel

English
#42

Mason

Boy

one who builds with stone

English
#42

Riley

Girl

descendant of Raghallach

Irish
#44

Anthony

Boy

priceless one, of inestimable worth

English
#46

Logan

Boy

From the Scottish place name Logan; a topograph...

Scottish
#46

Madison

Girl

gift of God

American
#47

Aiden

Boy

Little fire; born of fire

Irish
#48

Victoria

Girl

victory

English
#49

Caleb

Boy

whole-hearted, faithful

English
#51

Maya

Girl

goodness, mother

Indian
#52

Hannah

Girl

God has favored me

Hebrew
#53

Leah

Girl

weary, delicate, languid

Hebrew
#55

Genesis

Girl

beginning, origin, creation

English
#56

Isaiah

Boy

the Lord saves

Hebrew
#57

Joshua

Boy

Yahweh is deliverance

Hebrew
#58

Wesley

Boy

from the western farmstead

English
#59

Zoey

Girl

life, living

Greek
#60

Sophie

Girl

skill, knowledge

French
#61

Christopher

Boy

one who carries Christ in heart

Greek
#62

Nathan

Boy

he gave, gift from God

Hebrew
#63

Angel

Boy

messenger

Spanish
#64

Nolan

Boy

champion, famous one

Irish
#65

Madelyn

Girl

high tower, elevated place

American
#66

Cameron

Boy

crooked nose

Scottish
#67

Claire

Girl

illustrious, renowned

French
#68

Addison

Girl

son of the earth

American
#68

Andrew

Boy

manly, brave

Greek
#72

Adrian

Boy

from Hadria, of the Adriatic

Latin
#73

Natalie

Girl

born on Christmas Day, birthday of the Lord

French
#74

Maria

Girl

drop of the sea, star of the sea

Spanish
#75

Ian

Boy

God is gracious

Scottish
#77

Christian

Boy

follower of Christ

English
#79

Aaron

Boy

high mountain

English
#79

Autumn

Girl

the fall season; harvest time

English
#83

Jonathan

Boy

gift of God

English
#84

Jade

Girl

stone of the flank

English
#87

Madeline

Girl

tower; watchtower

English
#87

Ryan

Boy

descendant of Rían (little king)

Irish
#90

Robert

Boy

glorious, famous

English
#91

Jose

Boy

God will add

Spanish
#92

Caroline

Girl

strong woman

English
#94

Anna

Girl

grace, favor

English
#95

Sarah

Girl

lady, woman of rank

Hebrew
#97

Parker

Boy

keeper of the game preserve

English
#99

Allison

Girl

of noble birth

English
#100

Adam

Boy

man, mankind, human

Hebrew
#100

Hailey

Girl

hay meadow, hay clearing

English
#102

Xavier

Boy

savior

Spanish
#103

Ariana

Girl

land of the Aryans, noble

Italian
#104

Jordan

Boy

the river Jordan

English
#105

Natalia

Girl

birth, natal

Spanish
#106

Gabriella

Girl

God is able

Italian
#106

Landon

Boy

from the long ridge

English
#107

Austin

Boy

venerable

English
#107

Savannah

Girl

treeless plain, open grassland

English
#108

Brooklyn

Girl

from Breukelen

American
#108

Dominic

Boy

born on Sunday

Italian
#109

Bella

Girl

beautiful

Italian
#113

Raelynn

Girl

modern invented name combining radiance and grace

American
#116

Julia

Girl

soft-haired, youthful

English
#117

Nicholas

Boy

people's champion, victorious

English
#117

Serenity

Girl

state of peaceful calm

American
#120

Eva

Girl

breath, to breathe

English
#121

Harrison

Boy

son of the home ruler

American
#122

Giovanni

Boy

Italian form of John, gift of God

Italian
#122

Melanie

Girl

dark, black

English
#124

Carson

Boy

son of Carr (marsh dweller)

American
#125

Rylee

Girl

rye clearing, from Old English ryge leah

American
#127

Samantha

Girl

flower, blossom

English
#128

Hunter

Boy

one who hunts

English
#130

Aubrey

Girl

king of elves

English
#130

Luis

Boy

renowned in battle

Spanish
#132

Mary

Girl

sea of bitterness

English
#135

Carlos

Boy

free man

Spanish
#136

Connor

Boy

hound lover, dog enthusiast

Irish
#137

Juan

Boy

God has shown favor

Spanish
#139

Dawson

Boy

son of David

English
#140

Calvin

Boy

derived from Calvus, bald

English
#142

Dean

Boy

a church official or head

English
#142

Summer

Girl

season, year

English
#143

Alana

Girl

harmony, handsome

Irish
#143

Evan

Boy

young warrior (folk etymology)

Welsh
#144

Nathaniel

Boy

gift of God

Hebrew
#147

Valerie

Girl

valor, strength

French
#148

Jason

Boy

son of Aeson, the hero who sought the Golden Fl...

English
#149

Hallie

Girl

hero, praise (Scandinavian variant)

English
#152

Emilio

Boy

rival, eager to excel

Italian
#153

Ivan

Boy

gift of God

Russian
#159

Callum

Boy

dove

Scottish
#159

Piper

Girl

flute player, pipe player

English
#162

Cole

Boy

victory of the people (short for Nicholas)

English
#164

Jesus

Boy

Yahweh saves; God is salvation

Spanish
#166

Anastasia

Girl

one who will rise again

Russian
#167

Isabel

Girl

my God is an oath

Spanish
#170

Braxton

Boy

Brock's town

American
#171

Isabelle

Girl

devoted to God

French
#171

Jaxson

Boy

God is gracious

American
#173

Chase

Boy

hunter

American
#175

Katherine

Girl

each of the two

English
#175

Max

Boy

greatest

English
#180

Emmanuel

Boy

God with humanity

Hebrew
#181

Antonio

Boy

priceless, of inestimable worth

Italian
#184

Nicolas

Boy

victory of the people

Greek
#185

Alejandro

Boy

defender of the people

Spanish
#187

Jesse

Boy

wealthy

Hebrew
#189

Miguel

Boy

who is like God?

Spanish
#195

Arianna

Girl

most holy

English
#195

Tatum

Boy

cheerful settlement

American
#197

Andres

Boy

warrior, strong man

Spanish
#199

Jasmine

Girl

jasmine flower

English
#200

Tucker

Boy

one who finishes cloth

American
#201

Bentley

Boy

clearing of coarse grass

American
#204

Abraham

Boy

exalted father

Jewish
#204

Ana

Girl

prayer

Spanish
#205

Alex

Boy

defender of men

English
#207

Kaiden

Boy

battle

American
#208

Molly

Girl

star of the sea

English
#208

Timothy

Boy

one who glorifies God

English
#210

Blake

Girl

pale, fair

American
#211

Caden

Boy

battle

American
#212

Alaina

Girl

beautiful, torch

American
#213

Ayden

Boy

little fire

American
#214

Victor

Boy

conqueror, winner

English
#215

Maddox

Boy

fortunate, good

American
#215

Noelle

Girl

birthday (of the Lord)

French
#216

Delaney

Girl

dark challenger

Irish
#218

Blair

Girl

plain, flat area, field

Scottish
#219

Joel

Boy

Yahweh is God

English
#221

Alexandra

Girl

protector of mankind

English
#221

Patrick

Boy

patrician, of noble birth

Irish
#227

Celine

Girl

heavenly, of the sky

French
#228

Amy

Girl

beloved, much loved

English
#228

Edward

Boy

rich protector

English
#229

Riley

Boy

courageous, valiant

Irish
#232

Khloe

Girl

young green plant, fresh growth of spring

American
#234

Ismael

Boy

God will hear

Spanish
#237

Aliyah

Girl

exalted, lofty, sublime

Muslim
#238

Kiara

Girl

bright, clear

Italian
#241

Grant

Boy

tall, imposing one

English
#242

Mariana

Girl

blend of Maria and Ana

Spanish
#243

Dallas

Boy

from the valley of water

American
#243

Diana

Girl

goddess of the hunt and moon

English
#245

Muhammad

Boy

the glorified one

Arabic
#245

Selena

Girl

moon

Spanish
#247

Javier

Boy

new house

Spanish
#249

Faith

Girl

faith, trust, belief

English
#251

Juliana

Girl

youthful, downy

Spanish
#252

Elise

Girl

God is my oath

French
#254

Elaina

Girl

torch, the bright one

Greek
#256

Marcus

Boy

dedicated to Mars

Roman
#259

Lilly

Girl

lily flower, purity

English
#260

Omar

Boy

flourishing, long-lived

Arabic
#263

Lena

Girl

bright, shining light

Greek
#264

Harmony

Girl

concord, unity of parts

English
#265

Blake

Boy

dark one, black

English
#267

Tristan

Boy

sorrowful (folk etymology via French)

English
#268

Lukas

Boy

man from Lucania

German
#272

Cade

Boy

surname origin from Gaelic Mac Caid

English
#272

Lola

Girl

free woman

Spanish
#276

Morgan

Girl

sea circle, sea chief

Welsh
#278

Kaleb

Boy

dog (symbol of loyalty)

English
#279

Daniela

Girl

feminine form of Daniel

Spanish
#279

Israel

Boy

God prevails; God persists

Jewish
#285

Jorge

Boy

farmer; earth worker; tiller of the soil

Spanish
#286

Angelo

Boy

divine messenger

Italian
#288

Sydney

Girl

wide island; broad river-island

American

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Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a baby name classic?

A classic name has been in the top tier for multiple decades without relying on a cultural moment to get there. Names like James, Elizabeth, Thomas, and Margaret fit this definition — they were popular in 1950 and still are.

Are classic baby names overused?

Less than you'd think. Even the most popular classic names represent under 1% of babies born per year. James, for example, ranks top-5 but you're unlikely to have more than one per classroom.

Will a classic name feel dated?

Classic names age out of fashion very slowly. Emma felt fusty in 1985 and modern in 2005. The names that date quickly are trend-driven names — names tied to a specific moment rather than deep usage history.

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