Every year the US Social Security Administration reports on the top names registered during the year. The 2020 lists are out now, with new entries on the top 20 lists for both boys names and girls names. These lists can be helpful for parents-to-be looking for inspiration, or looking to avoid the most popular names. Are any of your favourites on the list?
Top Baby Names 2020 in the USA
According to the US Social Security Administration, the top baby name for boys last year (2020) was Liam, while Olivia was the top for girls.
As far as boys names go, the top 5 have stayed the same with Elijah and William swapping places to 4th and 5th. While for girls names, 4 of the top 5 names stayed the same (Olivia, Emma, Ava, Sophia) while Charlotte dropped down and Isabella popped up to 5th spot.
Further down the boys list, classic names like James, Henry and Michael still remain popular. Gianna is a new entry to the top 20 girls names, and I was interested to see Elizabeth staying in the girls’ top 20 as that’s my eldest daughter’s middle name and she was named after two great aunts of mine.
Top 20 Boys Names

- Liam
- Noah
- Oliver
- Elijah
- William
- James
- Benjamin
- Lucas
- Henry
- Alexander
- Mason
- Michael
- Ethan
- Daniel
- Jacob
- Logan
- Jackson
- Levi
- Sebastian
- Mateo
Top 20 Girls Names

- Olivia
- Emma
- Ava
- Charlotte
- Sophia
- Amelia
- Isabella
- Mia
- Evelyn
- Harper
- Camila
- Gianna
- Abigail
- Luna
- Ella
- Elizabeth
- Sofia
- Emily
- Avery
- Mila
And if you are curious what the most popular names of the 2010s were, here are the top 10 lists for each gender:
Popular baby names of the period 2010s

Girl Names
- Emma
- Olivia
- Sophia
- Isabella
- Ava
- Mia
- Abigail
- Emily
- Charlotte
- Madison
Boy Names
- Noah
- Liam
- Jacob
- William
- Mason
- Ethan
- Michael
- Alexander
- James
- Elijah
