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Do you know the latest trends in baby names? Take the quiz to find out!

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Baby names are one of the biggest and most personal choices that new parents have to make. Some families prefer common names, while others want their kids’ names to stand out. Some parents like to reuse family names or reinforce cultural roots, while others get inspiration from popular culture, nature, or geography.

Although the sheer diversity of given names is one of the most wonderful things about American culture, the popular trends in naming over the years is also fascinating to learn about. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has been tracking given names for all babies who applied for a Social Security card since 1880, and recently released its 2024 data of all new registered first names in the U.S. — what better time to dive into fun facts about names, both current and past?

Take the baby names trivia quiz

Whether you have a baby on the way, your kids are grown up, or you’re just fascinated with names, you can have fun quizzing yourself or your family to see how much you know about the baby names trending in the U.S.

Baby name trivia quiz (2025)
1. What boys’ name broke into the top 5 baby names for the first time ever in 2024?

Answer: C) Theodore jumped to the status of #4 most popular boys’ name in 2024. The name, of Greek origin, was in the top 100 most popular names in the first half of the 20th century, around the time Theodore Roosevelt was president. Then the name’s popularity dropped off for several decades, but it has been making a major comeback since the 2010s.

2. Which girls’ name joined the top 5 most popular baby names in 2024 for the first time ever?

Answer: A) Mia broke into the top 5 girls’ names (at #5) for the first time in 2024. The name Mia was originally a nickname of the classic name Maria, which in turn derived from the Hebrew name Miryam. Mia didn’t become a popular American name until the 1960s.

3. The name Truce stood out in 2024 as the…

Answer: B) Truce increased in popularity more than any other name from 2023 to 2024. It is still only ranked #991 in male names and has only been used a handful of times as a female name in the U.S. — but if it’s the beginning of a trend, it’s one that gives much-needed harmonious vibes.

4. Emma has been one of the top 5 U.S. girls’ names every single year since…

Answer: B) In 2002, when Rachel on Friends had a baby and named her Emma, the name skyrocketed in popularity — and has been on the top 5 girls’ names list for 23 years in a row!

5. How many times during the past 100 years has the name Michael appeared at the top of the list of most popular boys’ names?
Answer: C) If you know a lot of Michaels, it’s because Michael has been the #1 boys’ name 43 times in the past 100 years, including a stretch of 37 years in a row from 1961 to 1998. It finally dropped off of the top 5 list after 2010.
6. Which name was the #1 most popular girls’ name of the 1970s and the third most popular girls’ name of the last 100 years?

Answer: D) Jennifer was the most popular girls’ name for 15 years in a row, between 1970 and 1984. It’s an iconic name of that generation! The surge in popularity may be explained by the main character named Jennifer in the 1970 hit movie, Love Story.

7. What was the #1 most popular baby girl name in Puerto Rico in 2024?

Answer: D) Valentina was #1 on the list for girls’ names in Puerto Rico in 2024. Aurora, Emma, Amira, Mia, Victoria, Luna, Camila, Isabella, and Gianna rounded out the rest of the top 10 girls’ names. The top boys’ name in Puerto Rico was Noah.

8. The name Thiago has been trending upward, coming in at #55 for U.S. boys in 2024. What is the cultural origin of this name?

Answer: C) Thiago is a Brazilian and Portuguese name. It can also be a nickname for the Spanish name Santiago. The popularity of the name might have been bolstered by the names Lionel Messi (one of the world’s most famous soccer players) and his wife Antonela Roccuzzo chose for their kids: Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro. Mateo is an even more popular boys’ name right now, coming in at #7 in the U.S. in 2024.

9. Lainey was the most popular name for girls in 2024, but only in one state! Which state is it?
Answer: A) Montana is the only state where Lainey came out at the very top, but the name has been increasing in popularity in other states too. The name Lainey is now more popular than Elaine, Laney, or Lane. Its rise could very well have something to do with country music star Lainey Wilson.
10. Liam is the single most popular name for babies in the U.S. right now, and is significantly more popular than Olivia is for girls. About how many baby boy Liams got a U.S. Social Security card in 2024?

Answer: C) 22,154 baby boy Liams (and 34 baby girl Liams) registered for a Social Security card in 2024. However, there were more than 3.6 million births in the U.S. in 2024. So even though it’s the most common baby name, and your kids are likely to meet multiple Liams in their lives, it’s still only a drop in the bucket when it comes to all of the different names they’ll encounter in their generation.

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Joanna Eng is a staff writer and digital content specialist at ParentsTogether. She lives with her wife and two kids in New York, where she loves to hike, try new foods, and check out way too many books from the library.

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