William Shakespeare's famous female protagonist once asked, "What's in a name?" The answer? Honestly, quite a bit. Though the young lovestruck Juliet presents her soliloquy in the interest of proving quite the opposite—that a name means nothing, and her affection for Romeo should not be hindered by feuding family names—the truth about the weight carried by a name is quite contrary to her point.
The reality is that names tell stories. They tell stories about those who give them to us, and they come to tell stories about us as we carry them through our lives. They tell stories about cultural trends and current events that inform them or about the long-standing traditions that serve to carry them on from generation to generation. Names are like mirrors that reflect where we've come from, who we are, what connects us, and where we're going.
This is a time when finding unique baby names seems to be a high priority. Yet a look at baby name trends over the past decade shows that even as we grasp for the unconventional, there's still a fair share of names that reign supreme when it comes to baby name selection.
Stacker compiled a list of the most popular baby names for boys of the last decade in Iowa using data from the Social Security Administration. Names are ranked by number of babies from 2010 to 2019.
Keep reading to see if your name made the list.
Canva
1 / 50John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 697
- Number of babies in 2019: 71 (#34 (tie) most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -12.3%
- Highest rank since 2010: #34 in 2019
National
- Rank: #26
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 102,521
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
2 / 50Luke is a name of Greek origin meaning "man from Lucania".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 707
- Number of babies in 2019: 67 (#42 (tie) most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -22.1%
- Highest rank since 2010: #40 in 2013
National
- Rank: #32
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 93,102
Andy Dean Photography // Shutterstock
3 / 50Charles is a name of Germanic origin meaning "free man".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 715
- Number of babies in 2019: 67 (#42 (tie) most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -17.3%
- Highest rank since 2010: #31 in 2017
National
- Rank: #49
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 69,859
PxHere
4 / 50David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 717
- Number of babies in 2019: 41 (#93 (tie) most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -50.0%
- Highest rank since 2010: #31 in 2014
National
- Rank: #18
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 116,382
noBorders - Brayden Howie // Shutterstock
5 / 50Jace is a name of American origin meaning "heal".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 719
- Number of babies in 2019: 47 (#74 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +20.5%
- Highest rank since 2010: #18 in 2014
National
- Rank: #88
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 47,325
Elvira Koneva // Shutterstock
6 / 50Connor is a name of Irish origin meaning "Lover of wolves”.
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 722
- Number of babies in 2019: 47 (#74 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -46.6%
- Highest rank since 2010: #40 in 2017
National
- Rank: #53
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 68,183
PxHere
7 / 50Brayden is a name of Irish origin meaning "brave".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 729
- Number of babies in 2019: 37 (#111 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -69.7%
- Highest rank since 2010: #19 in 2010
National
- Rank: #58
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 65,848
Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock
8 / 50Carson is a name of English origin meaning "son of Carr".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 730
- Number of babies in 2019: 59 (#58 (tie) most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -42.2%
- Highest rank since 2010: #31 in 2010
National
- Rank: #87
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 47,885
Canva
9 / 50Caleb is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "faithful".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 788
- Number of babies in 2019: 46 (#79 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -61.7%
- Highest rank since 2010: #21 in 2011
National
- Rank: #38
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 86,530
Canva
10 / 50Daniel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 793
- Number of babies in 2019: 65 (#44 (tie) most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -27.8%
- Highest rank since 2010: #33 in 2013
National
- Rank: #12
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 133,595
Irisska // Shutterstock
11 / 50Parker is a name of English origin meaning "park keeper".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 805
- Number of babies in 2019: 55 (#62 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -36.8%
- Highest rank since 2010: #24 in 2014
National
- Rank: #84
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 49,131
Pshenina_m // Shutterstock
12 / 50Andrew is a name of Greek origin meaning "brave".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 808
- Number of babies in 2019: 44 (#86 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -61.4%
- Highest rank since 2010: #23 in 2011
National
- Rank: #25
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 104,818
Pixabay
13 / 50Gavin is a name of Celtic origin meaning "white hawk".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 809
- Number of babies in 2019: 34 (#122 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -73.8%
- Highest rank since 2010: #11 in 2011
National
- Rank: #65
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 62,250
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock
14 / 50Grayson is a name of English origin meaning "son of the steward".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 820
- Number of babies in 2019: 110 (#13 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +161.9%
- Highest rank since 2010: #10 in 2016
National
- Rank: #56
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 66,231
Canva
15 / 50Nolan is a name of Irish origin meaning "champion".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 824
- Number of babies in 2019: 65 (#44 (tie) most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -32.3%
- Highest rank since 2010: #28 in 2018
National
- Rank: #81
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 49,980
Lopolo // Shutterstock
16 / 50Easton is a name of Scottish origin meaning "settlement".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 824
- Number of babies in 2019: 68 (#40 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +17.2%
- Highest rank since 2010: #22 in 2016
National
- Rank: #89
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 46,647
Pixabay
17 / 50Bentley is a name of English origin meaning "meadow with coarse grass".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 827
- Number of babies in 2019: 60 (#56 (tie) most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -36.2%
- Highest rank since 2010: #18 in 2012
National
- Rank: #92
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 43,754
Canva
18 / 50Eli is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "my God" or "elevated".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 861
- Number of babies in 2019: 61 (#54 (tie) most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -47.9%
- Highest rank since 2010: #22 in 2013
National
- Rank: #51
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 69,687
Canva
19 / 50Joseph is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will add".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 864
- Number of babies in 2019: 71 (#34 (tie) most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -43.7%
- Highest rank since 2010: #18 in 2010
National
- Rank: #20
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 115,341
Canva
20 / 50Cooper is a name of English origin meaning "barrel maker".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 865
- Number of babies in 2019: 69 (#37 (tie) most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -31.7%
- Highest rank since 2010: #21 in 2012
National
- Rank: #83
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 49,181
Unsplash
21 / 50Michael is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 869
- Number of babies in 2019: 75 (#32 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -23.5%
- Highest rank since 2010: #25 in 2016
National
- Rank: #7
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 144,741
Gorynvd // Shutterstock
22 / 50Hudson is a name of English origin meaning "Hugh's son".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 879
- Number of babies in 2019: 114 (#12 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +111.1%
- Highest rank since 2010: #10 in 2018
National
- Rank: #74
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 51,351
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock
23 / 50Levi is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "joining".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 905
- Number of babies in 2019: 102 (#17 (tie) most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +10.9%
- Highest rank since 2010: #17 in 2019
National
- Rank: #45
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 77,717
2p2play // Shutterstock
24 / 50Hunter is a name of English origin meaning "one who hunts".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 914
- Number of babies in 2019: 56 (#61 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -40.4%
- Highest rank since 2010: #15 in 2014
National
- Rank: #47
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 74,682
Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock
25 / 50Gabriel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my strength".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 915
- Number of babies in 2019: 68 (#40 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -42.9%
- Highest rank since 2010: #20 in 2011
National
- Rank: #24
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 105,296
Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock
26 / 50Jaxon is a name of American origin meaning "son of Jack”.
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 925
- Number of babies in 2019: 91 (#23 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +68.5%
- Highest rank since 2010: #17 in 2016
National
- Rank: #52
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 68,946
Iren_Geo // Shutterstock
27 / 50Isaac is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will laugh".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 933
- Number of babies in 2019: 63 (#49 (tie) most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -41.1%
- Highest rank since 2010: #21 in 2013
National
- Rank: #31
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 94,338
Lipatova Maryna // Shutterstock
28 / 50Landon is a name of English origin meaning "long hill".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,012
- Number of babies in 2019: 52 (#65 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -67.9%
- Highest rank since 2010: #6 in 2010
National
- Rank: #44
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 79,187
Canva
29 / 50Lucas is a name of Greek origin meaning "man from Lucania".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,049
- Number of babies in 2019: 92 (#22 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -18.6%
- Highest rank since 2010: #17 in 2018
National
- Rank: #17
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 118,453
Tatiana Chekryzhova // Shutterstock
30 / 50Lincoln is a name of English origin meaning "lake settlement".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,049
- Number of babies in 2019: 140 (#5 (tie) most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +324.2%
- Highest rank since 2010: #4 in 2017
National
- Rank: #73
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 51,899
Canva
31 / 50Samuel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "name of God".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,050
- Number of babies in 2019: 82 (#30 (tie) most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -44.2%
- Highest rank since 2010: #11 in 2010
National
- Rank: #22
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 107,854
morrowlight // Shutterstock
32 / 50Aiden is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "born of fire".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,069
- Number of babies in 2019: 74 (#33 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -56.5%
- Highest rank since 2010: #4 in 2010
National
- Rank: #13
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 129,374
PxHere
33 / 50Alexander is a name of Greek origin meaning “defender of man".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,081
- Number of babies in 2019: 86 (#25 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -36.8%
- Highest rank since 2010: #14 in 2015
National
- Rank: #8
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 141,833
Jeremy Bishop // Unsplash
34 / 50Jacob is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "to follow".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,112
- Number of babies in 2019: 69 (#37 (tie) most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -58.2%
- Highest rank since 2010: #5 in 2011
National
- Rank: #3
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 162,876
Canva
35 / 50Ethan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "strong" or "enduring".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,112
- Number of babies in 2019: 70 (#36 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -60.9%
- Highest rank since 2010: #3 in 2010
National
- Rank: #6
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 148,857
Mallmo // Shutterstock
36 / 50Jack is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,149
- Number of babies in 2019: 125 (#8 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +5.0%
- Highest rank since 2010: #8 in 2019
National
- Rank: #40
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 85,569
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
37 / 50James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,161
- Number of babies in 2019: 109 (#14 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +13.5%
- Highest rank since 2010: #9 in 2017
National
- Rank: #9
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 139,307
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
38 / 50Elijah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh is God".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,188
- Number of babies in 2019: 103 (#16 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +2.0%
- Highest rank since 2010: #8 in 2015
National
- Rank: #10
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 136,649
Unsplash
39 / 50Logan is a name of Scottish origin meaning "Little hollow".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,193
- Number of babies in 2019: 86 (#25 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -44.9%
- Highest rank since 2010: #9 in 2012
National
- Rank: #14
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 126,600
Pexels
40 / 50Benjamin is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "son of my days".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,229
- Number of babies in 2019: 102 (#17 (tie) most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -29.7%
- Highest rank since 2010: #6 in 2016
National
- Rank: #11
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 134,226
Pexels
41 / 50Wyatt is a name of English origin meaning "brave in war".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,360
- Number of babies in 2019: 105 (#15 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -20.5%
- Highest rank since 2010: #5 in 2017
National
- Rank: #37
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 87,572
Min An // Pexels
42 / 50Carter is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "transporter of goods".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,381
- Number of babies in 2019: 94 (#21 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -40.1%
- Highest rank since 2010: #1 in 2011
National
- Rank: #30
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 95,047
FamVeld // Shutterstock
43 / 50Jackson is a name of English origin meaning "son of Jack".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,390
- Number of babies in 2019: 123 (#9 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -21.7%
- Highest rank since 2010: #6 in 2014
National
- Rank: #19
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 115,997
My Good Images // Shutterstock
44 / 50Henry is a name of German origin meaning "estate ruler".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,479
- Number of babies in 2019: 178 (#3 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +109.4%
- Highest rank since 2010: #3 in 2019
National
- Rank: #33
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 92,441
Pixabay
45 / 50Mason is a name of English origin meaning "one who works with stone".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,498
- Number of babies in 2019: 86 (#25 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -53.0%
- Highest rank since 2010: #1 in 2010
National
- Rank: #5
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 157,591
Samuel Borges Photography // Shutterstock
46 / 50Oliver is a name of Latin origin meaning "olive tree planter".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,503
- Number of babies in 2019: 232 (#1 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +197.4%
- Highest rank since 2010: #1 in 2019
National
- Rank: #28
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 97,962
Canva
47 / 50Noah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "rest".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,545
- Number of babies in 2019: 140 (#5 (tie) most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -23.5%
- Highest rank since 2010: #1 in 2010
National
- Rank: #1
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 182,896
Burst
48 / 50Owen is a name of Welsh origin meaning "young warrior".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,571
- Number of babies in 2019: 133 (#7 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -4.3%
- Highest rank since 2010: #2 in 2016
National
- Rank: #34
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 90,980
Unsplash
49 / 50William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,650
- Number of babies in 2019: 156 (#4 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -3.1%
- Highest rank since 2010: #2 in 2015
National
- Rank: #4
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 159,600
Canva
50 / 50Liam is a name of German origin meaning "protection".
Iowa
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,817
- Number of babies in 2019: 188 (#2 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +54.1%
- Highest rank since 2010: #1 in 2015
National
- Rank: #2
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 173,636
