Every year, American parents expand our baby name horizons. In 2024 over a thousand names made their all-time debuts in American name rankings, meaning they were give to five or more boys or girls for the first time. The debuts span the style spectrum, including brand-new inventions and age-old rediscoveries. Meet some of the most noteworthy new names for boys.
Ancient
Amon-Ra: A supreme deity of ancient Egypt, the merging of the gods Amon and Ra. Amon-Ra St. Brown is a wide receiver for the Detroit Lions.
Cassander: An ancient Macedonian king and rival of Alexander the Great.
Methuselah: A biblical patriarch best known for his life span of 969 years, making this the oldest new name ever.
Animated
Bandit: The dogfather in the hit Australian children’s cartoon Bluey.
Banjo: A supporting dog in Bluey, Banjo is a uniquely Australian name thanks to legendary bush poet Banjo Paterson, the author of “Waltzing Matilda.”
Stolas: A prince of Hell in the comedic animated series Helluva Boss. The name comes from a demon prince listed in the 17th-century grimoire the Ars Goetia.
Aggressive
I don’t think any explanation is required for these names; they speak for themselves.
Pressure
Ripper
Stunner
Thrasher
Whip
Global
Dieumerci: African French name meaning “thank God.” Dieumerci Mbokani is a Congolese soccer star.
Neeom: According to Sanskrit names scholar Nityānanda Miśra, Neeom was mistakenly listed as a name of Shiva in a popular post by a Instagram astrologer last year.
Teotl: A Nahuatl word for “divinity.” Teotl was the Aztec concept of the unifying energy of all creation.
Celebrity
Chrisyius: 5-year-old drummer Chrisyius Whitehead made a splash on America’s Got Talent. The name is pronounced kri-SIY-əs.
Nischay: Indian comedic vlogger Nischay Milhan has 24 million YouTube subscribers.
Ohtani: The Japanese surname of baseball megastar Shohei Ohtani. In a twist, his first name does not appear in the U.S. name stats.
Xolo: Actor Xolo Maridueña starred in the superhero film Blue Beetle, but this fashion phenomenon is broader. Other debut names this year include Xalo, Xol, Xyloh, Zaylo and Zyloh.
And Beyond
Grizz: The name Grizz has been given to various bear characters including the mascot of the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies.
Invictus: Latin for “invincible.” The Invictus Games is an international athletic tournament for disabled military personnel.
Rivian: Rivian is an American maker of electric vehicles. Another EV brand name, Tesla, vanished from the name stats in 2024.
Aidens, Aydens: An old favorite made new.
Versailles: The lavish palace of French King Louis XIV. Which brings us to our final name…
Lavish
2 Comments
Is “Shohei Ohtani” Westernized or not? As in, is Ohtani the given name or the surname?
Ohtani is his surname, Shohei is his given name. My guess is that choosing Ohtani is more about the current trend of names ending in -ani (Kehlani, Armani, etc.) than about Shohei Ohtani’s accomplishments…