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

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

Key Takeaways

• Liam has been America’s top boy’s name for nine straight years, but it led only 15 states in 2025, down from 23 a year earlier.

• Noah (14 states), Oliver (12), and Theodore (6) led most of the remaining states. Theodore topped just one state in 2024.

• West Virginia’s favorite was Waylon, a name that had never topped any state before.

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:

StateMost Popular Boy's Name (2025)Second Most Popular (2025)

NameBoys Given the NameNameBoys Given the Name

AlabamaJohn343William331

AlaskaNoah46Theodore45

ArizonaLiam437Noah434

ArkansasLiam167Hudson147

CaliforniaLiam2,624Noah2,607

ColoradoLiam397Theodore373

ConnecticutNoah268Liam241

DelawareNoah63Liam59

District of ColumbiaNoah58Theodore53

FloridaLiam1,865Noah1,749

GeorgiaLiam661Noah653

HawaiiElijah49Noah46

IdahoOliver128Theodore124

IllinoisLiam690Noah683

IndianaOliver428Liam393

IowaOliver198Liam185

KansasTheodore183Oliver179

KentuckyOliver278Liam253

LouisianaNoah237Liam223

MaineTheodore83Oliver77

MarylandLiam463Noah377

MassachusettsNoah468Liam446

MichiganTheodore490Noah478

MinnesotaTheodore339Henry313

MississippiJames160William155

MissouriOliver405Theodore393

MontanaOliver62Henry58

NebraskaLiam149Theodore128

NevadaLiam205Mateo184

New HampshireTheodore101Henry77

New JerseyLiam749Noah742

New MexicoNoah115Liam109

New YorkNoah1,381Liam1,368

North CarolinaNoah684Liam680

North DakotaLiam56Henry49

OhioOliver653Theodore611

OklahomaLiam232Noah189

OregonOliver199Theodore188

PennsylvaniaNoah744Liam566

Rhode IslandNoah67Liam64

South CarolinaNoah276Liam271

South DakotaOliver66Liam60

TennesseeNoah444Liam425

TexasLiam2,688Noah2,450

UtahOliver274Liam227

VermontOliver35Theodore34

VirginiaLiam590Noah556

WashingtonNoah426Liam403

West VirginiaWaylon115Hudson106

WisconsinOliver336Theodore323

WyomingTheodore27James25

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:

RankMost Popular Boys' Names in the U.S. by Year

202020212022202320242025

1LiamLiamLiamLiamLiamLiam

2NoahNoahNoahNoahNoahNoah

3OliverOliverOliverOliverOliverOliver

4ElijahElijahJamesJamesTheodoreTheodore

5WilliamJamesElijahElijahJamesHenry

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.