Top baby boy names of 2018
The most popular monikers this year
1 Liam
Liam is short for the Irish name Uilliam, or William. It means strong-willed warrior and protector. Famous Liams include actors Liam Hemsworth and Liam Neeson.
2 Noah
This biblical name is soft-sounding yet strong, perfect for a baby boy – which is probably why it’s been on the top 100 list for so long. It’s a Hebrew name meaning ‘rest and comfort’. It’s also the name model Alessandra Ambrosio and actress Megan Fox chose for their sons.
3 Oliver
Oliver means 'peaceful' or 'olive tree' and is currently the top boy’s name in Australia and the UK.
4 Mason
Traditionally a French surname with Germanic influences, this gender-neutral moniker is up one spot from last year and will probably stick around for a while. Kourtney Kardashian chose this name for her first-born back when it was trending in 2009.
5 Logan
Originally a Scottish surname, Logan has increased in popularity over the years as a given name. The name means ‘a little hollow’. It first crept into the top 20 back in 2007, when a character named Logan appeared on three different TV shows: Veronica Mars, General Hospital and Gilmore Girls.
6 Lucas
A form of Luke or Lucias, this biblical name means ‘light’ or ‘illumination’. Luke is the author of the third gospel of the New Testament.
7 Elijah
Another biblical name, meaning ‘Yahweh is God’ in Hebrew. It’s been in the top 10 for the past few years. It first took off in the early 2000s when actor Elijah Wood starred as Frodo in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
8 Ethan
Hebrew for ‘strong’, ‘safe’ and ‘firm’, famous Ethans include actor Ethan Hawke, director Ethan Coen and revolutionary Ethan Allen.
9 James
This classic boys' name comes from the Hebrew name Jacob. It means 'supplanter' or 'one who follows'. Famous men named James include actors James Franco, James Dean and James McAvoy. It’s also crossed the gender divide to become a popular girls’ name in recent years.
10 Aiden
Aiden, or Aidan, means ‘fiery one’ and originates from the Celtic god of sun and fire, Aodh. Aidan is the youngest son of Australian model Sarah Murdoch. Other well-known Aidens include actor Aidan Gillen from Game of Thrones, and who could forget Carrie’s sensitive furniture-making boyfriend Aidan in Sex and the City?
Nicola Conville has worked as a journalist and editor for more than 20 years across a wide range of print and online publications. Her areas of expertise are parenting, health and travel. She has two children; Lucy, age eight, and Nathan, age five.
