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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florian | #2,495 | 54 | #3,237 | 37 | ↑ 742 |
| Slate | #2,712 | 48 | #3,387 | 35 | ↑ 675 |
| Echo | #2,809 | 45 | #3,474 | 33 | ↑ 665 |
| Brant | #3,321 | 35 | #3,902 | 28 | ↑ 581 |
| Bram | #2,422 | 56 | #2,966 | 42 | ↑ 544 |
| Mercer | #2,558 | 52 | #3,079 | 40 | ↑ 521 |
| Helios | #2,367 | 58 | #2,887 | 44 | ↑ 520 |
| Ajax | #3,243 | 36 | #3,694 | 30 | ↑ 451 |
| Merritt | #1,505 | 117 | #1,900 | 84 | ↑ 395 |
| Theron | #2,474 | 55 | #2,866 | 45 | ↑ 392 |
| Rook | #1,972 | 78 | #2,362 | 60 | ↑ 390 |
| Caelum | #1,690 | 97 | #2,033 | 75 | ↑ 343 |
| Stellan | #1,140 | 186 | #1,446 | 126 | ↑ 306 |
| Leander | #1,463 | 122 | #1,758 | 94 | ↑ 295 |
| Woods | #1,476 | 121 | #1,765 | 94 | ↑ 289 |
| Penn | #2,706 | 48 | #2,990 | 42 | ↑ 284 |
| Monty | #1,543 | 112 | #1,815 | 90 | ↑ 272 |
| Viggo | #1,697 | 97 | #1,954 | 81 | ↑ 257 |
| Calder | #1,731 | 94 | #1,987 | 78 | ↑ 256 |
| Cornelius | #1,908 | 82 | #2,156 | 68 | ↑ 248 |
| Percival | #1,536 | 113 | #1,772 | 93 | ↑ 236 |
| Sylvan | #1,674 | 99 | #1,901 | 84 | ↑ 227 |
| Hadrian | #2,617 | 50 | #2,843 | 45 | ↑ 226 |
| Valor | #1,254 | 159 | #1,470 | 124 | ↑ 216 |
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 context for these rising rare boy names
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florian | 54 | 1886 | 1921 | 125 |
| Slate | 48 | 1990 | 2018 | 56 |
| Echo | 45 | 1996 | 2022 | 57 |
| Brant | 35 | 1918 | 1970 | 241 |
| Bram | 56 | 1948 | 2016 | 72 |
| Mercer | 52 | 1881 | 2025 | 52 |
| Helios | 58 | 2000 | 2025 | 58 |
| Ajax | 36 | 2005 | 2023 | 45 |
| Merritt | 117 | 1880 | 1924 | 121 |
| Theron | 55 | 1880 | 1966 | 180 |
“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.
A fast rise does not always mean a name is common
A name can jump hundreds of places and still remain outside the Top 1,000. Rank movement needs to be read beside the actual number of births.
One year is a signal, not a guarantee
A single jump can be temporary. We treat 2024 to 2025 movement as a current snapshot rather than proof that a name will keep climbing.
Rising names may feel less rare soon
If you want a name that is unlikely to become familiar quickly, a strong upward move is worth noticing. If you simply love the name, the trend may not matter at all.
Roscoe's pick
Stellan
Stellan is a good example of a polished uncommon name that gained noticeable ground in the latest data.
More names to explore
Questions parents ask
What does a year-over-year rise tell me?
It gives you a measurable U.S. popularity reference for the exact spelling shown. It does not predict how common the name will feel in your family, city or cultural community.
Why do birth counts matter as well as rank?
Ranks can move sharply when counts are low. Showing both makes it easier to see whether a change reflects dozens of births or a much larger shift.
Does a missing count mean zero births?
No. The national public file suppresses names recorded fewer than five times for a sex in a year, so a missing count can mean zero or one to four births.
Is U.S. popularity the same as popularity elsewhere?
No. These figures describe U.S. national data. A name may be common in another country, language community or region even when it is rare here.