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 Massachusetts 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.
Roman Sorkin // Shutterstock
1 / 50Christian is a name of English origin meaning "follower Of Christ".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,379
- Number of babies in 2019: 88 (#80 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -41.7%
- Highest rank since 2010: #43 in 2013
National
- Rank: #41
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 83,934
Pixabay
2 / 50Brayden is a name of Irish origin meaning "brave".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,441
- Number of babies in 2019: 87 (#81 (tie) most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -47.9%
- Highest rank since 2010: #41 in 2011
National
- Rank: #58
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 65,848
Canva
3 / 50Zachary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God remembers".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,514
- Number of babies in 2019: 95 (#71 (tie) most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -47.5%
- Highest rank since 2010: #41 in 2010
National
- Rank: #76
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 50,999
Canva
4 / 50Theodore is a name of Greek origin meaning "gift of God".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,553
- Number of babies in 2019: 260 (#13 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +242.1%
- Highest rank since 2010: #10 in 2018
National
- Rank: #97
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 40,358
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
5 / 50Isaac is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will laugh".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,571
- Number of babies in 2019: 161 (#38 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +16.7%
- Highest rank since 2010: #33 in 2018
National
- Rank: #31
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 94,338
FamVeld // Shutterstock
6 / 50Jonathan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God has given".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,590
- Number of babies in 2019: 107 (#63 (tie) most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -50.5%
- Highest rank since 2010: #36 in 2011
National
- Rank: #42
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 79,658
Canva
7 / 50Evan is a name of Welsh origin meaning "Lord is gracious".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,639
- Number of babies in 2019: 123 (#50 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -50.8%
- Highest rank since 2010: #33 in 2010
National
- Rank: #60
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 64,670
Canva
8 / 50Caleb is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "faithful".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,646
- Number of babies in 2019: 161 (#38 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +4.5%
- Highest rank since 2010: #38 in 2019
National
- Rank: #38
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 86,530
Pexels
9 / 50Elijah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh is God".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,657
- Number of babies in 2019: 167 (#35 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -1.8%
- Highest rank since 2010: #35 in 2019
National
- Rank: #10
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 136,649
Photopin
10 / 50Tyler is a name of English origin meaning "doorkeeper of an inn" or "owner of a tavern".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,670
- Number of babies in 2019: 84 (#85 (tie) most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -67.4%
- Highest rank since 2010: #19 in 2011
National
- Rank: #66
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 59,197
Burst
11 / 50Julian is a name of Latin origin meaning "youthful".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,779
- Number of babies in 2019: 255 (#15 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +116.1%
- Highest rank since 2010: #15 in 2019
National
- Rank: #43
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 79,350
Yulia Sribna // Shutterstock
12 / 50Luke is a name of Greek origin meaning "man from Lucania".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,800
- Number of babies in 2019: 158 (#40 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -21.8%
- Highest rank since 2010: #32 in 2017
National
- Rank: #32
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 93,102
Canva
13 / 50David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,901
- Number of babies in 2019: 148 (#42 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -35.9%
- Highest rank since 2010: #35 in 2015
National
- Rank: #18
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 116,382
Canva
14 / 50Christopher is a name of English origin meaning "Christ-bearer".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,966
- Number of babies in 2019: 144 (#45 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -49.7%
- Highest rank since 2010: #26 in 2010
National
- Rank: #27
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 101,885
PxHere
15 / 50Connor is a name of Irish origin meaning "Lover of wolves".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 1,987
- Number of babies in 2019: 180 (#33 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -23.7%
- Highest rank since 2010: #30 in 2018
National
- Rank: #53
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 68,183
Pshenina_m // Shutterstock
16 / 50Joshua is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God Is my salvation".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,008
- Number of babies in 2019: 124 (#49 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -56.8%
- Highest rank since 2010: #24 in 2010
National
- Rank: #23
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 105,951
BaLL LunLa // Shutterstock
17 / 50Oliver is a name of Latin origin meaning "olive tree planter".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,026
- Number of babies in 2019: 251 (#16 (tie) most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +99.2%
- Highest rank since 2010: #14 in 2018
National
- Rank: #28
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 97,962
Gorynvd // Shutterstock
18 / 50Nicholas is a name of Greek origin meaning "victory of the people".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,048
- Number of babies in 2019: 138 (#47 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -53.2%
- Highest rank since 2010: #22 in 2010
National
- Rank: #54
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 66,619
PxHere
19 / 50Aiden is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "born of fire".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,237
- Number of babies in 2019: 156 (#41 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -45.6%
- Highest rank since 2010: #24 in 2010
National
- Rank: #13
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 129,374
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
20 / 50Charles is a name of Germanic origin meaning "free man".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,242
- Number of babies in 2019: 203 (#28 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -7.7%
- Highest rank since 2010: #14 in 2017
National
- Rank: #49
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 69,859
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
21 / 50Cameron is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "crooked river".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,253
- Number of babies in 2019: 181 (#32 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -27.3%
- Highest rank since 2010: #25 in 2012
National
- Rank: #57
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 66,066
Pixabay
22 / 50Gabriel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my strength".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,277
- Number of babies in 2019: 191 (#31 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -24.8%
- Highest rank since 2010: #25 in 2016
National
- Rank: #24
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 105,296
yifanjrb // Shutterstock
23 / 50Dylan is a name of Welsh origin meaning "son of the sea".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,287
- Number of babies in 2019: 194 (#30 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -26.5%
- Highest rank since 2010: #25 in 2015
National
- Rank: #29
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 96,183
Unsplash
24 / 50Jayden is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "thankful".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,296
- Number of babies in 2019: 177 (#34 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -44.9%
- Highest rank since 2010: #14 in 2010
National
- Rank: #15
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 125,780
marina shin // Shutterstock
25 / 50Nathan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "given".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,370
- Number of babies in 2019: 166 (#36 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -46.8%
- Highest rank since 2010: #9 in 2012
National
- Rank: #36
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 87,848
Pixabay
26 / 50Andrew is a name of Greek origin meaning "brave".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,508
- Number of babies in 2019: 161 (#38 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -53.5%
- Highest rank since 2010: #10 in 2010
National
- Rank: #25
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 104,818
Pexels
27 / 50Thomas is a name of Greek origin meaning "twin".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,527
- Number of babies in 2019: 239 (#21 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -8.1%
- Highest rank since 2010: #12 in 2017
National
- Rank: #50
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 69,846
Adrie Molco // Shutterstock
28 / 50Henry is a name of German origin meaning "estate ruler".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,556
- Number of babies in 2019: 313 (#8 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +85.2%
- Highest rank since 2010: #8 in 2019
National
- Rank: #33
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 92,441
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
29 / 50Jackson is a name of English origin meaning "son of Jack".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,675
- Number of babies in 2019: 251 (#16 (tie) most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +4.1%
- Highest rank since 2010: #14 in 2013
National
- Rank: #19
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 115,997
morrowlight // Shutterstock
30 / 50Anthony is a name of Latin origin meaning "praiseworthy".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,722
- Number of babies in 2019: 205 (#27 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -41.1%
- Highest rank since 2010: #8 in 2011
National
- Rank: #21
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 111,883
Pixabay
31 / 50Samuel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "name of God".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,734
- Number of babies in 2019: 235 (#22 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -22.7%
- Highest rank since 2010: #15 in 2014
National
- Rank: #22
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 107,854
Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock
32 / 50Owen is a name of Welsh origin meaning "young warrior".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,800
- Number of babies in 2019: 256 (#14 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -7.2%
- Highest rank since 2010: #9 in 2018
National
- Rank: #34
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 90,980
Pixabay
33 / 50Joseph is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will add".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,862
- Number of babies in 2019: 241 (#20 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -24.2%
- Highest rank since 2010: #11 in 2012
National
- Rank: #20
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 115,341
Pixabay
34 / 50Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Gift of Yahweh".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,876
- Number of babies in 2019: 219 (#25 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -44.6%
- Highest rank since 2010: #6 in 2010
National
- Rank: #16
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 124,808
Thammasak Lek // Shutterstock
35 / 50Daniel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,887
- Number of babies in 2019: 226 (#23 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -31.5%
- Highest rank since 2010: #10 in 2014
National
- Rank: #12
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 133,595
Canva
36 / 50Ethan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "strong" or "enduring".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,891
- Number of babies in 2019: 270 (#11 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -15.9%
- Highest rank since 2010: #10 in 2012
National
- Rank: #6
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 148,857
Flashon // Shutterstock
37 / 50Logan is a name of Scottish origin meaning "Little hollow".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,964
- Number of babies in 2019: 249 (#18 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -13.5%
- Highest rank since 2010: #7 in 2018
National
- Rank: #14
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 126,600
Unsplash
38 / 50Alexander is a name of Greek origin meaning “defender of man".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,993
- Number of babies in 2019: 245 (#19 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -29.6%
- Highest rank since 2010: #7 in 2014
National
- Rank: #8
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 141,833
Tatiana Chekryzhova // Shutterstock
39 / 50Jack is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,084
- Number of babies in 2019: 335 (#7 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +5.0%
- Highest rank since 2010: #7 in 2019
National
- Rank: #40
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 85,569
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock
40 / 50Mason is a name of English origin meaning "one who works with stone".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,214
- Number of babies in 2019: 225 (#24 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -19.4%
- Highest rank since 2010: #2 in 2012
National
- Rank: #5
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 157,591
PxHere
41 / 50John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,220
- Number of babies in 2019: 284 (#10 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -17.7%
- Highest rank since 2010: #7 in 2016
National
- Rank: #26
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 102,521
Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock
42 / 50Ryan is a name of Irish origin meaning "little king" or "illustrious".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,281
- Number of babies in 2019: 215 (#26 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -52.1%
- Highest rank since 2010: #1 in 2010
National
- Rank: #35
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 90,850
Unsplash
43 / 50Lucas is a name of Greek origin meaning "man from Lucania".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,381
- Number of babies in 2019: 346 (#5 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +13.8%
- Highest rank since 2010: #4 in 2018
National
- Rank: #17
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 118,453
PxHere
44 / 50James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,440
- Number of babies in 2019: 345 (#6 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -4.2%
- Highest rank since 2010: #3 in 2018
National
- Rank: #9
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 139,307
Ana Paula Lima // Pexels
45 / 50Michael is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,456
- Number of babies in 2019: 264 (#12 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -35.5%
- Highest rank since 2010: #4 in 2011
National
- Rank: #7
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 144,741
Canva
46 / 50Liam is a name of German origin meaning "protection".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,574
- Number of babies in 2019: 424 (#3 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +35.0%
- Highest rank since 2010: #2 in 2018
National
- Rank: #2
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 173,636
Unsplash
47 / 50Jacob is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "to follow".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,580
- Number of babies in 2019: 287 (#9 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -33.1%
- Highest rank since 2010: #3 in 2014
National
- Rank: #3
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 162,876
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
48 / 50Noah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "rest".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,713
- Number of babies in 2019: 462 (#2 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +39.2%
- Highest rank since 2010: #2 in 2019
National
- Rank: #1
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 182,896
Sidharth Sircar // Pexels
49 / 50William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 4,155
- Number of babies in 2019: 348 (#4 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -20.0%
- Highest rank since 2010: #1 in 2011
National
- Rank: #4
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 159,600
Iren_Geo // Shutterstock
50 / 50Benjamin is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "son of my days".
Massachusetts
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 4,645
- Number of babies in 2019: 474 (#1 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +7.2%
- Highest rank since 2010: #1 in 2019
National
- Rank: #11
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 134,226
