Most popular baby names of 2025 revealed - and Millennials are reclaiming the top spot
It's always fascinating to see what new parents and their predecessors have opted for when it comes to naming their pride and joy.
Whether it's the 'rarest' baby names, all the 'vintage' monikers which have since made a comeback or even AI's predictions of the most popular choices over the next 10 years - it's clear the subject of newborn naming will always be interesting as they can tell us a lot about that particular birth year and a generation's major influences.
But what are the most popular baby names for boys this year?
Well, according to a study by NameKun.com, which analysed thousands of names across the world to find the 10 most popular baby boy names in 2025, there is one particular name which is seeing itself a bit of a renaissance.
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"The popularity of international names is rising. Globalisation, celebrities, and pop culture shape baby name trends across borders. International names benefit children socially and professionally," the experts explained.
"They are relevant across different cultures and easy to pronounce in many languages. Research suggests that your name can help avoid bias and racial profiling. In a 2003 field study National Bureau of Economic Research found that people with international and local names received significantly more callbacks for job interviews than those with more exotic names. Our study shows how interconnected naming trends have become."
So, without further ado, let's get into it...
1) David
Of Hebrew origin, the name David means 'beloved'.
This classic name is widely used around the world and was borne by the biblical King David - AKA the famed slayer of Goliath and monarch of ancient Israel.
Interestingly, David was the sixth most popular Millennial baby name for boys, with 649,402 babies reportedly being called that in 2022, as per Nameberry.
2) Daniel
Also coming from Hebrew, Daniel means 'God is my judge'. According to the Bible, Daniel's story was one of courage and integrity as he remained faithful and was delivered from the lions’ den.
Similarly, Daniel, ranking second on the 2025 list, also featured prominently among Millennials, landing at No. 5 with 663,363 recorded births.
3) Alex
Derived from the Greek Alexandros, Alex means 'defender of humankind' or 'man/warrior'.
4) Michael
From Hebrew Mikha’el, Michael means 'Who is like God?'
Classic choices like Michael have shown remarkable staying power through the decades, given that Michael was the No. 1 Millennial boy name with a staggering 1,131,021 babies named.
5) John
The name John, of Hebrew origin (Yohanan), means 'God is gracious' or 'graced by God'.
Other enduring favourites include John, as it was ranked No. 10 among Millennials with 581,023 babies, according to the 2022 data.
6) Kevin
From Irish Gaelic Caoimhín, Kevin means 'handsome,' 'noble birth,' or 'beloved'.
7) Chris
Chris is often a short form of Christopher, of Greek origin, meaning 'bearing Christ' or 'follower of Christ'.
8) Paul
From Latin Paulus, the name Paul means 'small', 'humble' or 'least'.
9) James
The name James comes from the Hebrew name Yaakov and is commonly interpreted as 'supplanter,' 'grabs the heel,' or 'follower'.
Additionally, James came in at No. 8 in Nameberry Millennial baby boy name data in 2022 with 609,005.
10) Peter
Derived from the Greek Petros, Peter means 'rock' or 'stone'.
Rhiannon Ingle