Fastest-Rising Boy Names 2023

As a form of the Hebrew Yochanan, Yahya is an Islamic name that honors the prophet John the Baptist, making it one of many international forms of John. In Islamic tradition, Yahya is celebrated for his dedication to and understanding of scriptures from a young age and for his gentleness and sinless life.
Currently popular in England and Wales, Yahya has also been on and off of the US Top 1000 charts since 2015.

While Eric - or Erik - may feel more 'classic' and familiar, Erick has ranked consistently in US Top 1000 since 1945. It rose up the charts during Eric's heyday in the 70s, but peaked in 2007 as Eric fell. The name has received less attention in recent years, but is nevertheless still given to 1100 boys.

A less common, Biblical alternative to Liam, Elliott, Elias, and Eli. Eliam joined the Top 1000 for the first time in 2021 and was given to around 430 babies in a recent year. In Puerto Rico, it's a Top 50 choice.

A popular choice amongst the African American naming community in the 90s, Deandre has been falling out of style in favor of more contemporary choices.

This relatively new name appears to have been created by adding the trendy -en suffix to Kyle, or by tweaking the spelling of the more popular and slightly older Kylan.

The original Hebrew form of Jacob is resurfacing in the US charts after a several-decade-long hiatus. The Old Testament figure is considered the founding father of the Jewish nation, whose twelve sons descended into the twelve tribes of Israel.

The original form of the Hebrew Meyer.

A tweaked version of Jamir, itself a modern invented name, Jahmir is based on Arabic names Jamal and Amir.

This variation of the popular Arabic name has now been in the Top 500 for several years. It wasn't even in the Top 1000 before the 1980s.

Chozen was the second fastest-rising boys' name of 2023, adding a new spin to word name Chosen, also increasing in popularity.

Mordechai and Mordecai are equally valid — both are used as transcriptions from the Hebrew bible, and one did not originate before the other. But although popular culture tends to prefer the (slightly simpler) Mordecai, Mordechai has always been the more common version for babies born in the US.

While Yusuf is the more popular Arabic form of Joseph, Yousef is the Persian variant and is sometimes used as an Arabic transcription. Currently in the Top 500 in the UK and the Top 1000 in the US, it is still a familiar choice.

Kyaire was among the fastest-rising boy names of 2023, and a newcomer to the US Top 1000. Rising amongst African American parents, it is speculated that Kyaire was inspired by modern spiritual choice Kyrie, or West African place name Zaire and more directly, by its even higher ranking spelling, Zyaire.

Fast-rising boy name thanks to Indian actress Dia Mirza when she used it for her son in 2021. Avyaan is related to Lord Ganesha, the Hindu god of beginnings and good luck. Avyaan entered the US and UK Top 1000 charts in 2021 and has been on the rise in the years since.

There is much disagreement about the origin, meaning, or even existence of this name. Some sources cite Jesiah as the name of several minor Biblical figures, others say it's a variation of Josiah, still others call it a modern conflation of Josiah and Jesse.

Popular in Puerto Rico since the 2000s and now in the US too, Dariel is a modern, elaborated form or Darrell or Darren, inspired by the likes of Gabriel and Daniel. Darrell (which might also be the inspiration behind Darren) derived from a Norman French surname, d'Airelle, referring to someone who came from Airelle in France.

Some people may prefer this spelling to clarify the name's connection to John, but it could be one h too many, exemplified by its steady decline over the past two decades.

80s sensation Derek brought several spelling variations along for the ride, including Derick, Derrick, and Dereck. While this spelling fell off the charts in in '93, it has now recently resurfaced in 2023 after rising a whopping 238 places.

This variation on Moses got a boost from Moises Alou, a Dominican-American baseball player who spent 17 seasons in the National League.

Created in the style of Jabari, a fashionable Swahili name. Jakari is mainly used among African American families in the US.