Names to explore
The table uses the uploaded national files directly, so both the rank movement and the number of published births are visible together.
| Name | 2025 rank | 2025 births | 2024 rank | 2024 births | Rank move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ferris | #3,149 | 38 | #2,430 | 57 | ↓ 719 |
| Linus | #1,913 | 82 | #1,425 | 129 | ↓ 488 |
| Lake | #2,068 | 72 | #1,627 | 105 | ↓ 441 |
| Korben | #3,167 | 38 | #2,773 | 47 | ↓ 394 |
| Clive | #2,398 | 57 | #2,045 | 74 | ↓ 353 |
| Octavian | #2,592 | 51 | #2,249 | 64 | ↓ 343 |
| Flint | #2,293 | 61 | #1,964 | 80 | ↓ 329 |
| Arrow | #1,976 | 77 | #1,674 | 100 | ↓ 302 |
| Fox | #1,411 | 129 | #1,117 | 192 | ↓ 294 |
| Judd | #1,704 | 96 | #1,412 | 132 | ↓ 292 |
| Quest | #2,413 | 57 | #2,129 | 70 | ↓ 284 |
| Zeus | #1,351 | 140 | #1,067 | 205 | ↓ 284 |
| Titan | #1,295 | 151 | #1,018 | 220 | ↓ 277 |
| Quill | #3,361 | 35 | #3,086 | 40 | ↓ 275 |
| Merlin | #2,343 | 59 | #2,072 | 73 | ↓ 271 |
| Storm | #2,124 | 69 | #1,874 | 86 | ↓ 250 |
| Cosmo | #1,934 | 80 | #1,688 | 99 | ↓ 246 |
| Dashiell | #2,291 | 61 | #2,059 | 73 | ↓ 232 |
| Astro | #2,453 | 55 | #2,239 | 64 | ↓ 214 |
| Cai | #2,113 | 69 | #1,905 | 83 | ↓ 208 |
| Torin | #1,350 | 140 | #1,163 | 180 | ↓ 187 |
| Ender | #1,745 | 93 | #1,564 | 111 | ↓ 181 |
| Canyon | #1,604 | 106 | #1,427 | 128 | ↓ 177 |
| Zenith | #3,087 | 40 | #2,914 | 44 | ↓ 173 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration national baby-name files for 2024 and 2025. A smaller rank number means the name was more popular.
Historical context
Historical peaks for boy names becoming less common
Current popularity makes more sense when you can see when each spelling had its strongest published year.
| Name | 2025 births | First published | Peak year | Peak births |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ferris | 38 | 1893 | 2024 | 57 |
| Linus | 82 | 1882 | 2017 | 166 |
| Lake | 72 | 1891 | 2024 | 105 |
| Korben | 38 | 1989 | 2013 | 129 |
| Clive | 57 | 1885 | 2016 | 85 |
| Octavian | 51 | 1970 | 2021 | 66 |
| Flint | 61 | 1913 | 1959 | 100 |
| Arrow | 77 | 1971 | 2018 | 172 |
| Fox | 129 | 1888 | 2016 | 327 |
| Judd | 96 | 1880 | 1970 | 158 |
“First published” means the first year the spelling appears in the national public male-name file with at least five occurrences. Earlier use below the privacy threshold cannot be measured from this archive.
Falling is not a judgment
A lower rank only means fewer babies received the exact spelling relative to other names. It says nothing about the quality, history or personal meaning of the name.
Older names can become rare quietly
Some names remain familiar to adults because they were more common in earlier generations. That recognition can make a falling name easier to wear than a brand-new rarity.
Small count changes can move rank a lot
Lower on the chart, modest changes in births can shift rank by hundreds of positions. Always compare the count as well as the movement.
Build a shortlist before you rank it
Save the names that make you stop for a second. After you have five to ten, compare sound, initials, likely nicknames and current popularity. A smaller shortlist makes the differences much easier to hear.
Remember that national data is only one lens
A U.S. rank cannot measure family meaning, cultural fit or how common a name feels in your own community. Use the numbers for context, then give your personal reasons more weight.
Roscoe's pick
Rufus
Rufus is familiar from history but uncommon among babies, which gives it a different feel from a newly created rare name.
More names to explore
Questions parents ask
Are these boy names falling in popularity and becoming rarer actually rare?
The style pages are editorial, but every name card also shows its exact-spelling 2025 U.S. count when SSA published one. Data-led pages use explicit thresholds or rank movement.
Does a missing 2025 count mean nobody used the name?
No. The national public file omits names recorded fewer than five times for a sex in a year, so a missing count can mean zero or one to four births.
Should I avoid a name if it is rising?
Not necessarily. Popularity is only one part of choosing a name. If you love the sound, meaning or family connection, a rising rank may not change your decision.
Will the same name be equally rare outside the United States?
No. Popularity varies by country, region, language and community. The numbers on this site describe U.S. national data unless a page says otherwise.