Names that Peaked in 2008

  1. Landen
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "long hill"
    • Description:

      A variation of Landon, this form has a slightly softer look to it, but it is the less favored of the two. The name itself comes from a surname and a place name meaning "long hill", which likely refers to a ridge in the landscape.
  2. Aydin
    • Origin:

      Turkish
    • Meaning:

      "intelligent"
    • Description:

      While it looks like a creative respelling of the ubiquitous Aidan, Aydin has Turkish roots and means "intelligent." While there will most certainly be issues with spelling, those attracted to the Turkish lineage can be assured of a smooth path to assimilation due to the current popularity of soundalike names. The name is spelled with an ı (dotless i) in Turkish.
  3. Dayana
    • Origin:

      Spanish, Kazakh
    • Meaning:

      "heavenly, faith"
    • Description:

      Dayana is an Hispanic variant of Diana, notably belonging to Venezuelan actress, model and producer Dayana Mendoza. It also belongs to a South American orchid whose name derives from the surname of English botanist John Day. Its use can be partly attributed to the popularity of Diana, the Princess of Wales.
  4. Jairo
    • Origin:

      Spanish, variation of Jairus
    • Meaning:

      "God enlightens"
    • Description:

      While Jairus is rare, this Spanish variation is heard in the US, having ranked in the Top 1000 for the last three decades. It currently ranks in the latter end of the charts, while similar sounding Kairo, Cairo, and Kyro rank higher.
  5. Kayden
    • Origin:

      Variation of Caden
    • Description:

      More feminine than the male Caden, which came in at Number 192 in 2015. We still think Cadence is a prettier version of the "Kay-" group of names which are so popular at present.
  6. Kamryn
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Cameron, Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "crooked nose"
    • Description:

      As a Top 600 name for girls for more than 20 years, Kamryn has become a widely-accepted version of the original Cameron. It also ranks just below the Top 1000 for boys too, though it is used three times more often on girls.
  7. Rihanna
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "sweet basil"
    • Description:

      Many will associate Rihanna with the Barbados-born singer, known mononymously by her middle name. During her early years of fame, when "Umbrella" was on the radio and "Take a Bow" was playing through the iPod Shuffle, the name shot up the charts in the US, UK, France, and Puerto Rico. Though the name did fall out of the charts as rapidly as it entered and while some parents might feel it is way too tied to the mid-2000s, Rihanna was given to 165 babies in 2023.
  8. Giancarlo
    • Origin:

      Combination of Gian and Carlo, Italian variations of John and Charles
    • Description:

      In Italy, a common melding of two popular names, heard in the US as well.
  9. Madalyn
    • Origin:

      Variation of Madeleine, French "of Magdala"
    • Meaning:

      "of Magdala"
    • Description:

      Madalyn is a variant of the French name Madeleine — one of several which have graced the US top 1000 in recent years.
  10. Aydan
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Aidan
    • Meaning:

      "little fiery one"
    • Description:

      Aydan has been a popular alternate spellings of Aidan, though it has been declining in usage since 2008. It has also been seen as a girl's name.
  11. Nataly
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Natalie, French
    • Meaning:

      "birthday of the Lord"
    • Description:

      With Natalie and Natalia in the US Top 100, it is not a surprise for spelling variations to gain popularity. Nataly was given to nearly 300 baby girls in 2023 and was one of the fastest-rising girl names that year.
  12. Kiley
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Kylie
    • Meaning:

      "boomerang"
    • Description:

      Kiley is one of the more reasonable of the Kylie variations, which also include Kilea, Kilee, Kileigh, Kili, Kilie, Kylee, Kyley, Kyli, ad infinitum. Despite its similarity to the popular Riley, the high ranking Kylie will ensure that this choice comes with spelling confusion. For our part, we'd rather people stuck with the original Kylie, especially seeing as that is a Noongar Aboriginal word.
  13. Madilyn
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Madelyn
    • Description:

      Madelyn is the most popular, phonetically-clear spelling of the lovely and stylish French name. Madilyn edges it toward Marilyn, though that isn't necessarily a bad thing.
  14. Cloe
    • Origin:

      Spanish and Italian variation of Chloe, Greek
    • Meaning:

      "young green shoot"
    • Description:

      Cloe comes in second to the original form, Chloe, in it's native Spain. In the US, this honor goes to the Kardashian-ized Khloe.
  15. Kaeden
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Kaden or Caden
    • Description:

      Much less popular than more traditional spellings.
  16. Haiden
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Hayden
    • Description:

      This play on Hayden is likely influenced by the popularity of the Aiden names. It has appeared in the US Top 1000 for eight of the past twelve years.
  17. Jazlyn
    • Origin:

      Modern invented name
    • Meaning:

      "jazz by the lake; fower by the lake"
    • Description:

      A modern invention that's been in use since the 80s and in the charts since the 90s, which combines the sounds of Jasmine (or Jasper or just the word jazz) with the popular suffix, -lyn. Inspiration might also have come from Joslyn, Jocelyn, or Roslyn. Trendy but snazzy too, Jazlyn remains in the US Top 600.
  18. Milagros
    • Origin:

      Spanish
    • Meaning:

      "miracles"
    • Description:

      Even in the Hispanic community, very religious and old-fashioned.
  19. Jaidyn
    • Description:

      Jaidyn is a modern masculine name that emerged as a variation of Jaden, which itself derives from the Hebrew name "Jadon" meaning "thankful" or "God has heard." This contemporary spelling with the distinctive "y" gives the name a trendy, unique quality. Jaidyn rose in popularity during the late 1990s and early 2000s as part of the trend of names with creative spellings. As a boy's name, it carries a youthful, energetic quality while maintaining masculine strength. The name works well cross-culturally and has a modern American feel. Though less common than Jaden or Jayden, Jaidyn offers familiarity with a distinctive edge. Parents typically choose this spelling variation to give their son a recognizable yet individually styled name.

  20. Jaylen
    • Description:

      Jaylen is a contemporary name that gained popularity in the late 20th century. Likely created as a variation of names beginning with 'Jay' (such as Jason or Jayson) combined with the popular '-len' suffix found in names like Allen or Glen. The name may also be influenced by the success of similar-sounding names like Jalen, which gained prominence after basketball player Jalen Rose (whose name was a combination of his father's and uncle's names). While originally more common for boys, Jaylen has emerged as a unisex name with feminine usage increasing since the 2000s. The name peaked in popularity for boys in the 2010s, ranking in the top 200 names in the United States. The versatile sound patterns and contemporary feel of Jaylen have contributed to its appeal across diverse communities. The name exemplifies modern naming trends that favor distinctive sounds with flexible gender associations.