One of the most exciting parts of having a baby is finding the perfect name for them. Parents can spend hours thinking of potential names, examining their meanings and discussing those names with the rest of the family. To help you choose a great name for your baby boy, here are some baby boy names that are destined to be popular in 2016!
Liam
Liam has become a very popular name around in the world in recent years. It is a shortened version of the Irish name “Uilliam”, which comes from the Frankish name “Willahelm”. Willahelm is derived from two German words (vila and helm), which translate to mean “Guardian”.
The name saw a resurgence in popularity in the 1980s and in the past 5-years has become one of the most common names in many countries including the United States, Canada, Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and Ireland.
Noah
A very old name of Hebrew origin. It is believed that the name came from Babylonian/Assyrian origin and means “rest”. In 2014, Noah was the most popular name the United States and it is expected to be in the top 5 again this year.
Noah is also a very popular name in Canada, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Ireland and Switzerland.
Jacob
Jacob is another old name that is derived from the Latin “Iacobus”, which was derived from the Greek “Iakobos”, which in turn was derived from “Yaʿqob” or “Yaʿaqov”. The name means “to follow, to be behind” and “to supplant, circumvent, assail, overreach”.
The name has a long history of popularity and was the most popular name the United States from1999 to 2012. It is currently a top 10 name in Canada, Wales, the United States, England, Norway and Scotland.
Oliver
The most popular name in England in 2015, Olive is set to remain popular in the coming year. The name is of French origin and is derived from the Latin “olivarius”, which means “olive tree planter”. It came to England with the Norman around the 11th-Century. Most people in Europe associate the name with Oliver Twist, one of the most famous pieces of literature in the world.
Today, the name is incredibly popular. In 2015, Oliver was a top 10 name in Finland, Norway, Sweden, Scotland, Australia and New Zealand. In 2016, it is expected to be the most popular name in many countries.
Jack
Sometimes used as a shortened version of John, this name was very popular throughout the 20th-Century. That popularity has continued into this century and the name is very common in many countries. Variants of the name are also incredibly common, like “Jackson”, which is also a top 10 name in many countries.
The origin of Jack may be traced back to a number of sources. It has been commonly used to abbreviate “John” since mediaeval times. It may have come from the French name Jacques, which is based upon Jacob. Another theory is that it has celtic origin and is based on the word Jakkios, meaning “healthy, strong, full of vital energy”.
Jack and Jackson are incredibly popular in the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Australia and New Zealand.
Harry
This name saw a huge burst in popularity in some countries after the birth of Prince Diana’s 2nd son “Harry” in 1984. It is the mediaeval form of the name “Henry”. It is also suspected that ‘Harry’ may originate from Greek name “Haris”, which means “grace”. The name is incredibly common in England and Ireland.
William
A classic name that has remained popular for hundreds of years, William is expected to remain in the top 10 most popular boys names in 2016. The name is of Germanic origin and is derived from Wilhelm, which is a combination of two words, Will (will or desire) and helm (helmet or protection).
The name had its first burst of popularity in England in 1066, after the Norman invasion of England. It has been widely used by various royal families around the world, which has helped it remain popular. It is a top 10 name in many countries including the United States, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, England, Australia and New Zealand.
Michael
Michael has been a very popular baby boy name in the United States and Canada for many years. It is expected to remain in the top 10 boys names of both countries in 2016. It is derived from the Hebrew “Mīkhāʼēl”, meaning “Who is God?”. It is often shortened to Mick or Mike.
James
Another very traditional name, James can also be traced back to the Hebrew name Jacob. Often shortened to Jim, Jimmy or Jamie, James will remain popular in 2016, particularly in the United States, where it ranked #1 in 2014.
Daniel
Daniel is popular baby boy name in a wide range of countries including Aruba, Haiti, Hamaica, Israel, the United States, Bulgaria, Andora and many more. It is of Hebrew origin and means “God is my judge”. It is expected to remain extremely popular in 2016!
Sources
Babynamewizard.com,. (2016). English Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in England for 2014 | Baby Name Wizard | Baby Name Wizard. Retrieved 17 February 2016, from http://www.babynamewizard.com/name-list/english-boys-names-most-popular-names-for-boys-in-england
Wikipedia,. (2016). List of most popular given names. Retrieved 17 February 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_popular_given_names#Male_names_4
Jimeson, L. (2015). Top Baby Name Predictions for 2016! | Disney Baby. Disney Baby. Retrieved 17 February 2016, from http://www.disneybaby.com/blog/top-baby-name-predictions-2016/
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