Mapped: The Most Popular Boys’ Names in Every U.S. State

Which Boys’ Names Are Most Popular Across the U.S.?

The most popular boys’ names vary widely across the U.S., with some dominating entire regions and others claiming the top spot in just one state.

This map shows the most popular name given to baby boys born in 2025 in every U.S. state and D.C., using data from the Social Security Administration. The agency counts names from Social Security card applications, organized by state of birth.

Liam Leads 15 States, Including the Three Largest

Just four names topped the rankings in 47 states. Liam, Noah, and Oliver remained the dominant favorites, but Theodore emerged as a serious contender, leading six states after topping just one in 2024.

Each name has its own territory. Liam led much of the Sun Belt, including California, Texas, and Florida, while Noah topped many East Coast states, from Massachusetts to South Carolina. Oliver’s states stretch across the Midwest and Mountain West, while Theodore’s are mostly northern: Maine, New Hampshire, Michigan, and Minnesota, along with Kansas and Wyoming.

The table below lists each state’s most popular boy’s name and its runner-up, along with the number of boys given each name in 2025:

The three largest states help explain how Liam remains No. 1 nationally while leading relatively few states. About 7,200 of the country’s 20,800 Liams were born in California, Texas, or Florida, and the name finished second in 17 other states. As with America’s favorite dog breeds by state, the national ranking gives more weight to populous states.

In some states, just one baby determined the most popular name. Noah edged out Theodore in Alaska by a single birth, while Oliver won Vermont by the same margin. Arizona was nearly as close, with 437 Liams versus 434 Noahs. Across 22 states, the winning name finished ahead by 10 babies or fewer.

These close races reflect how much baby-name preferences have diversified. Liam was given to about 1.1% of boys born in 2025, or one in every 88, according to the agency’s national data. In 1950, the top name, James, accounted for 4.7% of boys. With parents choosing from a wider variety of names, just 27 Theodores were enough to lead Wyoming.

Noah and Theodore Are Gaining on Liam

The map looked different a year earlier. Liam led 23 states in 2024, compared with just six for Noah. In 2025, seven states switched directly from Liam to Noah, including New York, where Liam had held the top spot for 10 straight years. Nationally, Liam’s lead over Noah shrank from about 1,800 babies to just 460.

The table below shows the five most popular boys’ names nationally each year from 2020 to 2025:

Liam, Noah, and Oliver have held the top three spots in the same order every year since 2019. Theodore is the newcomer. It ranked 99th in 2015 and entered the top five in 2024, before climbing to No. 1 in six states in 2025.

Its rise fits what baby-name experts call the 100-year rule, the tendency for a name to sound fresh again about a century after it was last in fashion. Theodore previously peaked at No. 30 in 1904, during Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency, before falling to No. 314 by 1999.

Not every state followed the national trends. Four states chose a name outside the national top four, including West Virginia, where Waylon became the most popular boy’s name after never previously topping a state ranking.

Alabama also broke with tradition. John overtook William, ending the latter’s 30-year run at No. 1 in the state. Although John now ranks 23rd nationally, it was America’s most popular boy’s name every year from 1880 to 1923.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out From John to Jayden: How Names Have Changed for American Boys Since the 1880s on Voronoi.

• Source: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/mapped-most-popular-boys-baby-name-every-state/