51 Baby Names of the 2000s

Y2K style may be all the rage, but that doesn’t mean the most popular baby names of the 2000s are necessarily as trendy as the era’s low-rise jeans and chunky sneakers. These are the monikers most common to Gen Z, and today's parents tend to either look to the past or totally new-to-them options. So names like Madison, Mason, and Jordan might taper off in popularity for a generation or two until they’re seen as “vintage” again. 

Not all the 2000s names on this list have fallen out of favor, though. There are plenty of timeless favorites like Matthew and Elizabeth. You might also like one of the alternative spellings or nicknames as a way to honor a friend or family member, while still giving your child a name that feels fresh. Some of the biggest names of the aughts are now popular gender-neutral options too.

So read on for the most popular Y2K names, and see what inspires you.

Popular 2000s Names for Boys

You’ll notice that some of the biggest Y2K boy names were inspired by pop-culture, like Justin and Jayden. Others—especially biblical names like Jacob, Joshua, and Matthew—have been in the Social Security Administration's top 1,000 for decades.

Jacob

• Meaning: Supplanter or "to follow"
• Origin: Hebrew
• Alternative Spelling & Variations: Jakob, Jake, Jakeb, Jaycob, Jack, Jakey, Jem, Jay

Mason

• Meaning: Stone worker
• Origin: British, French
• Alternative Spelling & Variations: Macen, Maison, Masen, Mayson

Joshua

• Meaning: The Lord is my salvation
• Origin: Hebrew
• Alternative Spelling & Variations: Josh, Joshwa, Joshua, Joaquin, Iosua, Josva, Joschua

Matthew

• Meaning: Gift of God
• Origin: Hebrew
• Alternative Spelling & Variations: Matt, Matty, Mathew, Mateo, Matthias, Matthieu, Matteo, Matvei, Mat

Nicholas

• Meaning: Victory of the people
• Origin: Greek
• Alternative Spelling & Variations: Nic, Nicky, Nick, Nico, Nicolas, Niko, Nicolaas, Nicholaus, Niklavs, Nikolai, Nicolo, Nikorasu, Nicolau

Chase

• Meaning: To hunt
• Origin: French
• Alternative Spelling & Variations: Chayse, Chasey, Chasie

Devin

• Meaning: Poet
• Origin: Irish, English, Latin
• Alternative Spelling & Variations: Devon, Deven, Devan, Devyn

Ethan

• Meaning: Strong, firm
• Origin: Hebrew
• Alternative Spelling & Variations: Eithan, Etan, Aithan

Noah

• Meaning: Peaceful, rest
• Origin: Hebrew
• Alternative Spelling & Variations: Noa, Noe

Justin

• Meaning: Fair, righteous 
• Origin: Latin
• Alternative Spelling & Variations: Justen, Juston, Justyn

More 2000s Names for Boys

• Austin: Baby names inspired by location and places, like Austin, have been a big trend since the '90s and 2000s. But Austen is another spelling variation to consider, especially if you’re a Jane Austen fan. 
• Jayden: This name entered the top 20 for baby boys in 2007 after Will Smith and his son, Jayden, appeared in The Pursuit of Happyness. 
• Ryan: Now gaining traction as a unisex and baby girl name, Ryan was commonly used for baby boys in the early aughts. Some of the biggest celebrities of the decade are named Ryan, including Ryan Seacrest, Ryan Gosling, Ryan Philippe, and Ryan Reynolds. 
• Alexander: Long considered a solid name choice, Alexander has remained steadily popular in the United States for over 140 years. However, it reached a high point in the early 2000s when it hit the top 25 and has stayed there ever since. 
• Tyler: Tyler was so trendy in the 1990s and early 2000s that it seemed near ubiquitous when it peaked at number five on the top 1,000 baby names. One reason for its popularity might be the 1999 cult-favorite movie Fight Club, which featured a character named Tyler. 
• Zachary: Zachary has started to decline in the past decade, so it could be due for a resurgence soon. It comes with a lot of nicknames and variations if you want your little one to have options, including Zacharias, Zachariah, Zackery, Zack, Zac, and Zach.
• Brandon: The Beverly Hills 20210 character Brandon Walsh, played by Jason Priestley, might be one reason why Brandon was all the rage in the 1990s and early 2000s.  
  

Popular 2000s Names for Girls

Names like Emily and Madison were so ubiquitous in the 2000s that they’re now considered classics. For something that feels newer, there are a lot of variations among the top Y2K girl names that are just as enduring but perhaps less common.

Emily

• Meaning: Rival
• Origin: Latin
• Alternative Spelling & Variations: Emmy, Emmie, Em, Emilie, Emely, Emalee, Emmalee, Emili

Madison

• Meaning: Son of Matthew or Maude; strength in battle
• Origin: British
• Alternative Spelling & Variations: Maddy, Maddie, Madi, Mad, Maddison, Madisyn

Grace

• Meaning: Blessing
• Origin: Latin
• Alternative Spelling & Variations: Gracie, Grazia, Greis, Graciela, Graziella, Gratia

Olivia

• Meaning: Olive tree
• Origin: Latin
• Alternative Spelling & Variations: Olive, Olivie, Livia, Liv, Olyvia, Alyvia, Lyvia, Livie

Hannah

• Meaning: Favor or grace
• Origin: Hebrew
• Alternative Spelling & Variations: Hanna, Chana, Chanah, Hanne

Abigail

• Meaning: My father’s joy
• Origin: Hebrew
• Alternative Spelling & Variations: Abagail, Abbey, Abby, Abbi, Abbie, Abi, Aby, Gail, Gayle

Isabella

• Meaning: Devoted to God
• Origin: Hebrew, Italian, Spanish
• Alternative Spelling & Variations: Bella, Isabel, Izabella, Isa, Izabel, Izzy, Isobel, Elizabeth, Isabelita, Isabelle, Izabela

Samantha

• Meaning: God has heard
• Origin: Hebrew
• Alternative Spelling & Variations: Sam, Sami, Sammie, Sammy, Samanta, Samana, Simantha, Symantha

Elizabeth

• Meaning: God is an oath
• Origin: Hebrew
• Alternative Spelling & Variations: Beth, Liz, Lizzy, Elisabeta, Elisa, Bess, Bessie, Betsy, Betty, Elsbeth, Isabel, Isabella, Libby, Lettie, Lizbeth, Lizzie, Liza

Ashley

• Meaning: Dweller near the ash tree meadow
• Origin: English
• Alternative Spelling & Variations: Ashleigh, Ashlea, Ashlee, Ashly, Ash, Ashlie, Lee

More 2000s Names for Girls

• Alexis: Once only considered a baby boy name, Alexis is now more widely used for baby girls and was even in the top 20 from 1994 until 2010.  
• Rachel: There are a lot of well-known people named Rachel your little one could share her name with—including the fictional Rachel Green from Friends. In real life, there’s Rachel Weisz, Rachel McAdams, Rachel Maddow, and more. 
• Sophia: Sophia—and its alternate spelling Sofia—have both been hugely popular in the United States for decades, but Sophia in particular saw a massive spike in the late ‘80s and was the number one girls’ name from 2011 to 2013. Because it is so widely used, you may want to consider a variation like Sophie, Sonia, or Seraphina. 
• Alyssa: Charmed, Who’s the Boss, and Melrose Place star Alyssa Milano helped popularize this name, which is a variation of Alicia and means “noble.”
• Emma: While certainly not a new name, Emma became super trendy in the aughts after iconic Friends characters Rachel and Ross used it for their baby girl in 2002. 
• Ava: If you’re looking for a sweet two-syllable name, Ava is a great choice. It’s of Latin origin and means “life.”
• Lauren: Fun fact: Lauren was traditionally seen as a masculine name until actress Lauren Becall used it as her stage name in the 1940s. It’s been in the top 1,000 baby girl names ever since.

Popular Gender-Neutral Names of the 2000s

Several of the biggest gender-neutral Y2K names still remain popular today. In fact Dylan, Riley, and Logan—all of which you’ll see on the list below—were considered to be on the rise in 2024. 

Spencer

• Meaning: Butler or steward
• Origin: British
• Alternative Spelling & Variations: Spenncer, Spenser, Spence, Pence, Penny

Jordan

• Meaning: To flow down, to descend
• Origin: Hebrew
• Alternative Spelling & Variations: Jordin, Jordyn, Jourdan, Jourden, Jorden, Jordy

Micah

• Meaning: Who resembles God?
• Origin: Hebrew
• Alternative Spelling & Variations: Myka, Mika, Micha, Mick, Mickey, Mic, Meica

Peyton

• Meaning: Fighting man’s estate
• Origin: Irish
• Alternative Spelling & Variations: Payton, Paityn, Payten

Logan

• Meaning: Hollow
• Origin: Scottish
• Alternative Spelling & Variations: Logen, Logyn, Logun

Dylan

• Meaning: Born from the ocean
• Origin: Welsh
• Alternative Spelling & Variations: Dillen, Dillno, Dillan, Dylon, Dilloyn, Dylen, Dylun, Dyllan

Alex

• Meaning: Defender of humankind
• Origin: Greek
• Alternative Spelling & Variations: Alix, Aleks, Aleska, Alexandra, Alexander, Aleandre, Alec

Landon

• Meaning: Long hill
• Origin: English
• Alternative Spelling & Variations: Landun, Landin, Landyn, Landen, Lan, Lanny, Lando

Blake

• Meaning: Black
• Origin: English
• Alternative Spelling & Variations: Blayke, Blakely

Cody

• Meaning: Helpful person
• Origin: English, Irish
• Alternative Spelling & Variations: Kody, Codi, Codie, Kodie, Kodi, Coedee

More Gender-Neutral Y2K Names

• Jesse: Traditionally considered a masculine name, Jesse is now considered a solid gender-neutral option. Other spelling variations include Jessie, Jessy, or Jessi.
• Riley: Blues artist Riley B. King (better known as B.B. King) and actress Riley Keough are just some of the famous folks your little one could share a name with.
• Bryce: This Scottish name means speckled or freckled and has become way more commonly used than its original spelling—Brice—over the decades. 
• Dakota: Be mindful if you’re considering the name Dakota for your child. It comes from the indigenous people of the northern Mississippi valley—so like all Native American names, you’ll want to make sure you’re honoring them respectfully. 
• Brooklyn: David and Victoria Beckham made headlines in 1999 when they gave their son the then-unusual name Brooklyn. Today, it’s a favorite gender-neutral choice, though it ranks higher as a baby girl name in the United States.
• Taylor: Taylor Swift—arguably the most famous Taylor, besides her namesake James Taylor—once said in an interview that her mother intentionally gave her a unisex name to prevent any future gender-bias in her career.   
• Kendall: Kendall was more commonly used as a baby boy name until the 1990s and early 2000s, when Sarah Michelle Gellar starred as Kendall Hart in All My Children, and Kardashian sister Kendall Jenner became famous and popularized the name as a gender-neutral selection.