Skip to content

Top Navigation

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Food
  • Holidays & Entertaining
  • Home & Garden
  • Style & Culture
  • News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Southern Living

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Explore

    Explore

    • These Haircuts Are Going To Be Huge in 2021

      The trendy haircuts you’ll be seeing everywhere next year. Read More Next
    • How To Season A Cast-Iron Skillet

      Learn how to season this Southern kitchen staple in five easy steps. Read More Next
    • The Right Way to Heat a Pre-Cooked Ham

      It's so easy, trust us. Read More Next
  • Food

    Food

    See All Food

    Lost Cakes of the South

    These simple and spectacular Southern cakes deserve a comeback
    • All Food
    • All Recipes
    • Holidays & Occasions
    • Quick Fix Suppers
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Desserts
    • Casseroles
    • Healthy Recipes
  • Holidays & Entertaining

    Holidays & Entertaining

    See All Holidays & Entertaining

    70 Wedding Vow Examples That Will Melt Your Heart

    Fight writer's block and find ways to express your love with these romantic, funny, and short wedding vow examples.
    • Christmas
    • Entertaining
    • Thanksgiving
    • Southern Weddings
    • Easter
    • Kentucky Derby
    • Valentine's Day
    • 4th of July
    • Mother's Day
  • Home & Garden

    Home & Garden

    See All Home & Garden

    7 Paint Colors We’re Loving for Kitchen Cabinets in 2020

    ‘Tis the season to ditch your all-white palette in favor of something a little bolder and brighter.
    • Home Decor Ideas
    • Idea Houses
    • Before & After
    • Inspired Communities
    • Curb Appeal
    • House Plans & Builders
    • The Grumpy Gardener
    • Plant Names A-Z
  • Style & Culture

    Style & Culture

    See All Style & Culture

    50 Books Everyone Should Read in Their Lifetime

    Curl up with a classic!
    • Southern Culture
    • Hair
    • Travel
    • Beauty
    • Pets
    • Southern Fashion
    • Healthy Living
  • News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Southern Living
  2. Southern Culture
  3. And the Most Popular Baby Boy Names of 2016 are...

And the Most Popular Baby Boy Names of 2016 are...

By Anna Aguillard
December 02, 2016
Skip gallery slides
Save FB Tweet
Each year, BabyCenter sorts through its huge database of popular baby names for girls and boys, and then combines the most commonly reoccurring names to provide a measure of name popularity. Unlike the official U.S. list, which relies on data straight from the Social Security Administration, BabyCenter combines names that sound the same, but have multiple spellings (Jackson and Jaxon) for their popularity tally. This year, Jackson has been declared the most popular name of 2016 for baby boys, and the South has a few famous Jacksons to claim as our own. Find out what other names rose to popularity in 2016. You can even put two together to create a boy double name, in classic Southern style. This year, it’s not all about the baby names of the future. Some classic baby names, from the early 1900s to ancient culture, also made the cut. And in the meantime, check out the most popular girl baby names for 2016.
Start Slideshow

1 of 25

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Jackson

Credit: mrs/Getty Images

Originally a last name meaning “son of Jack”

1 of 25

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 25

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Aiden

Credit: Noah Clayton/Getty

The name of the Celtic sun god, meaning “fiery”

2 of 25

3 of 25

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Lucas

Credit: getty images

A form of Luke or Lucius, meaning “light-giving” or “illumination”

3 of 25

Advertisement

4 of 25

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Liam

Credit: getty images

Meaning “strong-willed warrior”; “protector”

4 of 25

5 of 25

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Noah

Credit: Resolution Productions/Blend Images/Getty

Hebrew name meaning “rest” and “comfort”

5 of 25

6 of 25

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Ethan

Credit: Morsa Images/Abel Mitja Varela/Getty Images

Hebrew for “strong,” “safe,” and “firm”

6 of 25

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 25

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Mason

Credit: Moodboard Stock Photography Ltd./Getty

Traditionally a French last name, used in the middle ages by stoneworkers

7 of 25

8 of 25

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Caden

Credit: getty images

In Arabic, meaning “friend” or “companion.” In Welsh, meaning “spirit of battle”

8 of 25

9 of 25

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Oliver

Credit: Sarah Wolfe Photography/Getty Images

Meaning “olive tree”

9 of 25

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 25

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Elijah

Credit: Yuji Kotani/Getty

Hebrew for “Yaweh is God”

10 of 25

11 of 25

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Grayson

Credit: getty images

Originally a last name meaning “son of a steward”

11 of 25

12 of 25

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Jacob

Credit: getty images

Hebrew for "supplanter"

12 of 25

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 25

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Michael

Credit: getty images

“Who is like God” in Hebrew

13 of 25

14 of 25

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Benjamin

Credit: getty images

Meaning “son of the South” and “son of my old age”

14 of 25

15 of 25

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Carter

Credit: getty images

Traditionally a last name used by a cart driver

15 of 25

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 25

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

James

Credit: Mike Kemp/Getty

Derived from the Hebrew name Jacob, meaning “supplanter”

16 of 25

17 of 25

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Jayden

Credit: Wavebreak Media LTD/Getty

A modern name, perhaps a contemporary version of the Hebrew name Jadon, meaning “God has heard”

17 of 25

18 of 25

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Logan

Credit: Moodboard Stock Photography Ltd./Getty

Scottish in origin, meaning “small hollow”

18 of 25

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 25

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Alexander

Credit: Plume Creative/Getty

Greek for “defender of men”

19 of 25

20 of 25

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Caleb

Credit: Lesley Magno/Getty Images

A symbol of devotion to God in Hebrew

20 of 25

21 of 25

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Ryan

Credit: ZoneCreative S.r.l./Getty

A classic Irish last name, meaning “descendent of the king,” or even “little king”

21 of 25

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 25

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Luke

Credit: baobao ou/Getty

Another form of the name Lucas, meaning “light giving”

22 of 25

23 of 25

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Daniel

Credit: Dimitri Otis/Getty

Hebrew meaning “God is my judge”

23 of 25

24 of 25

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Jack

Credit: getty images

A nickname for John and James, now a name in its own right. Derived from the Hebrew name Jacob, meaning “supplanter”

24 of 25

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 25

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

William

Credit: getty images

Old German, meaning “strong-willed warrior”

25 of 25

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Anna Aguillard

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 25 Jackson
2 of 25 Aiden
3 of 25 Lucas
4 of 25 Liam
5 of 25 Noah
6 of 25 Ethan
7 of 25 Mason
8 of 25 Caden
9 of 25 Oliver
10 of 25 Elijah
11 of 25 Grayson
12 of 25 Jacob
13 of 25 Michael
14 of 25 Benjamin
15 of 25 Carter
16 of 25 James
17 of 25 Jayden
18 of 25 Logan
19 of 25 Alexander
20 of 25 Caleb
21 of 25 Ryan
22 of 25 Luke
23 of 25 Daniel
24 of 25 Jack
25 of 25 William

Share options

Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Login

Southern Living

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • About Us
  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Books from Southern Living
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
  • Sitemap

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en EspaƱol this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
  • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
Southern Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. Southern Living is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporationthis link opens in a new tab All Rights Reserved. Southern Living may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.southernliving.com

View image

And the Most Popular Baby Boy Names of 2016 are...
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.