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 North Carolina 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.
Ramona Heim // Shutterstock
1 / 50Eli is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "my God" or "elevated".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,407
- Number of babies in 2019: 187 (#60 (tie) most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -12.6%
- Highest rank since 2010: #37 in 2012
National
- Rank: #51
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 69,687
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
2 / 50Jaxon is a name of American origin meaning "son of Jack”.
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,429
- Number of babies in 2019: 267 (#29 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +107.0%
- Highest rank since 2010: #24 in 2018
National
- Rank: #52
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 68,946
PxHere
3 / 50Hunter is a name of English origin meaning "one who hunts".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,462
- Number of babies in 2019: 170 (#68 (tie) most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -34.4%
- Highest rank since 2010: #34 in 2013
National
- Rank: #47
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 74,682
Canva
4 / 50Isaiah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh is salvation".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,476
- Number of babies in 2019: 212 (#52 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -33.8%
- Highest rank since 2010: #36 in 2010
National
- Rank: #46
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 75,977
FamVeld // Shutterstock
5 / 50Charles is a name of Germanic origin meaning "free man".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,518
- Number of babies in 2019: 239 (#39 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -7.4%
- Highest rank since 2010: #35 in 2017
National
- Rank: #49
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 69,859
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
6 / 50Jonathan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God has given".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,569
- Number of babies in 2019: 171 (#67 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -56.9%
- Highest rank since 2010: #23 in 2010
National
- Rank: #42
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 79,658
Pixabay
7 / 50Isaac is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will laugh".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,572
- Number of babies in 2019: 266 (#30 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +34.3%
- Highest rank since 2010: #30 in 2019
National
- Rank: #31
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 94,338
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
8 / 50Owen is a name of Welsh origin meaning "young warrior".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,611
- Number of babies in 2019: 291 (#26 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +25.4%
- Highest rank since 2010: #26 in 2019
National
- Rank: #34
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 90,980
Unsplash
9 / 50Dylan is a name of Welsh origin meaning "son of the sea".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,613
- Number of babies in 2019: 194 (#57 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -35.8%
- Highest rank since 2010: #32 in 2014
National
- Rank: #29
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 96,183
Canva
10 / 50Oliver is a name of Latin origin meaning "olive tree planter".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,613
- Number of babies in 2019: 412 (#8 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +243.3%
- Highest rank since 2010: #8 in 2019
National
- Rank: #28
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 97,962
Irisska // Shutterstock
11 / 50Josiah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Jehovah has healed".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,628
- Number of babies in 2019: 255 (#33 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +16.4%
- Highest rank since 2010: #28 in 2017
National
- Rank: #62
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 62,838
marina shin // Shutterstock
12 / 50Jeremiah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "appointed by God".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,667
- Number of babies in 2019: 190 (#58 (tie) most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -42.6%
- Highest rank since 2010: #33 in 2011
National
- Rank: #55
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 66,502
Falcona // Shutterstock
13 / 50Brayden is a name of Irish origin meaning "brave".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,674
- Number of babies in 2019: 143 (#83 (tie) most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -57.4%
- Highest rank since 2010: #26 in 2012
National
- Rank: #58
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 65,848
Burst
14 / 50Anthony is a name of Latin origin meaning "praiseworthy".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,687
- Number of babies in 2019: 197 (#56 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -48.4%
- Highest rank since 2010: #25 in 2010
National
- Rank: #21
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 111,883
2p2play // Shutterstock
15 / 50Henry is a name of German origin meaning "estate ruler".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,825
- Number of babies in 2019: 350 (#13 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +63.6%
- Highest rank since 2010: #13 in 2019
National
- Rank: #33
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 92,441
Canva
16 / 50Andrew is a name of Greek origin meaning "brave".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,887
- Number of babies in 2019: 187 (#60 (tie) most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -50.4%
- Highest rank since 2010: #27 in 2010
National
- Rank: #25
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 104,818
Unsplash
17 / 50Grayson is a name of English origin meaning "son of the steward".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,975
- Number of babies in 2019: 387 (#9 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +118.6%
- Highest rank since 2010: #9 in 2019
National
- Rank: #56
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 66,231
Roman Sorkin // Shutterstock
18 / 50Christian is a name of English origin meaning "follower Of Christ".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 2,988
- Number of babies in 2019: 217 (#50 (tie) most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -46.0%
- Highest rank since 2010: #17 in 2011
National
- Rank: #41
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 83,934
Canva
19 / 50Wyatt is a name of English origin meaning "brave in war".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,014
- Number of babies in 2019: 340 (#14 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +39.9%
- Highest rank since 2010: #14 in 2019
National
- Rank: #37
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 87,572
Unsplash
20 / 50Levi is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "joining".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,092
- Number of babies in 2019: 353 (#12 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +54.1%
- Highest rank since 2010: #12 in 2019
National
- Rank: #45
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 77,717
Pexels
21 / 50Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Gift of Yahweh".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,125
- Number of babies in 2019: 217 (#50 (tie) most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -38.7%
- Highest rank since 2010: #23 in 2017
National
- Rank: #16
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 124,808
MIA Studio // Shutterstock
22 / 50Cameron is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "crooked river".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,128
- Number of babies in 2019: 239 (#39 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -34.5%
- Highest rank since 2010: #22 in 2012
National
- Rank: #57
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 66,066
Lipatova Maryna // Shutterstock
23 / 50Joseph is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will add".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,208
- Number of babies in 2019: 284 (#28 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -26.6%
- Highest rank since 2010: #24 in 2010
National
- Rank: #20
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 115,341
Unsplash
24 / 50Landon is a name of English origin meaning "long hill".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,271
- Number of babies in 2019: 226 (#44 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -48.9%
- Highest rank since 2010: #17 in 2012
National
- Rank: #44
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 79,187
Philippe Put // Flickr
25 / 50Luke is a name of Greek origin meaning "man from Lucania".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,308
- Number of babies in 2019: 311 (#18 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +5.1%
- Highest rank since 2010: #12 in 2016
National
- Rank: #32
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 93,102
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
26 / 50Caleb is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "faithful".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,311
- Number of babies in 2019: 241 (#37 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -46.3%
- Highest rank since 2010: #16 in 2010
National
- Rank: #38
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 86,530
PxHere
27 / 50David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,432
- Number of babies in 2019: 262 (#32 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -43.5%
- Highest rank since 2010: #14 in 2010
National
- Rank: #18
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 116,382
Pixabay
28 / 50Lucas is a name of Greek origin meaning "man from Lucania".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,448
- Number of babies in 2019: 371 (#10 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +35.9%
- Highest rank since 2010: #8 in 2017
National
- Rank: #17
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 118,453
Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock
29 / 50Daniel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,515
- Number of babies in 2019: 295 (#24 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -29.6%
- Highest rank since 2010: #15 in 2013
National
- Rank: #12
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 133,595
Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock
30 / 50Gabriel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my strength".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,534
- Number of babies in 2019: 231 (#42 (tie) most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -42.4%
- Highest rank since 2010: #13 in 2014
National
- Rank: #24
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 105,296
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
31 / 50John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,609
- Number of babies in 2019: 325 (#16 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -22.6%
- Highest rank since 2010: #12 in 2015
National
- Rank: #26
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 102,521
Min An // Pexels
32 / 50Christopher is a name of English origin meaning "Christ-bearer".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,628
- Number of babies in 2019: 224 (#47 (tie) most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -54.7%
- Highest rank since 2010: #9 in 2011
National
- Rank: #27
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 101,885
Canva
33 / 50Carter is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "transporter of goods".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,630
- Number of babies in 2019: 364 (#11 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +49.2%
- Highest rank since 2010: #8 in 2018
National
- Rank: #30
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 95,047
My Good Images // Shutterstock
34 / 50Joshua is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God Is my salvation".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,635
- Number of babies in 2019: 224 (#47 (tie) most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -58.1%
- Highest rank since 2010: #6 in 2010
National
- Rank: #23
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 105,951
Pexels
35 / 50Samuel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "name of God".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,664
- Number of babies in 2019: 303 (#20 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -33.6%
- Highest rank since 2010: #15 in 2010
National
- Rank: #22
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 107,854
Vasiuk Iryna // Shutterstock
36 / 50Logan is a name of Scottish origin meaning "Little hollow".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,727
- Number of babies in 2019: 315 (#17 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -16.7%
- Highest rank since 2010: #7 in 2017
National
- Rank: #14
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 126,600
Unsplash
37 / 50Benjamin is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "son of my days".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,784
- Number of babies in 2019: 334 (#15 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -5.1%
- Highest rank since 2010: #8 in 2016
National
- Rank: #11
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 134,226
Samuel Borges Photography // Shutterstock
38 / 50Alexander is a name of Greek origin meaning “defender of man".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,840
- Number of babies in 2019: 296 (#22 (tie) most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -42.4%
- Highest rank since 2010: #10 in 2010
National
- Rank: #8
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 141,833
Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock
39 / 50Jayden is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "thankful".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,890
- Number of babies in 2019: 239 (#39 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -56.5%
- Highest rank since 2010: #5 in 2010
National
- Rank: #15
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 125,780
Min An // Pexels
40 / 50Aiden is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "born of fire".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 3,951
- Number of babies in 2019: 309 (#19 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -25.7%
- Highest rank since 2010: #10 in 2015
National
- Rank: #13
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 129,374
Canva
41 / 50Michael is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 4,112
- Number of babies in 2019: 292 (#25 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -41.8%
- Highest rank since 2010: #8 in 2016
National
- Rank: #7
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 144,741
Elvira Koneva // Shutterstock
42 / 50Ethan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "strong" or "enduring".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 4,113
- Number of babies in 2019: 287 (#27 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -45.8%
- Highest rank since 2010: #7 in 2010
National
- Rank: #6
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 148,857
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
43 / 50Jackson is a name of English origin meaning "son of Jack".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 4,688
- Number of babies in 2019: 419 (#7 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -18.8%
- Highest rank since 2010: #7 in 2019
National
- Rank: #19
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 115,997
Pixabay
44 / 50Jacob is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "to follow".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 4,763
- Number of babies in 2019: 301 (#21 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -57.2%
- Highest rank since 2010: #2 in 2010
National
- Rank: #3
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 162,876
Canva
45 / 50Liam is a name of German origin meaning "protection".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 5,125
- Number of babies in 2019: 685 (#1 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +151.8%
- Highest rank since 2010: #1 in 2019
National
- Rank: #2
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 173,636
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
46 / 50James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 5,147
- Number of babies in 2019: 514 (#4 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -1.0%
- Highest rank since 2010: #4 in 2019
National
- Rank: #9
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 139,307
Canva
47 / 50Elijah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh is God".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 5,340
- Number of babies in 2019: 461 (#5 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -20.0%
- Highest rank since 2010: #3 in 2013
National
- Rank: #10
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 136,649
Canva
48 / 50Mason is a name of English origin meaning "one who works with stone".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 5,757
- Number of babies in 2019: 460 (#6 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -9.3%
- Highest rank since 2010: #2 in 2014
National
- Rank: #5
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 157,591
PxHere
49 / 50Noah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "rest".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 6,002
- Number of babies in 2019: 605 (#2 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: +7.5%
- Highest rank since 2010: #1 in 2018
National
- Rank: #1
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 182,896
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
50 / 50William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".
North Carolina
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 6,978
- Number of babies in 2019: 585 (#3 most common)
- Change from 2010 to 2019: -28.7%
- Highest rank since 2010: #1 in 2017
National
- Rank: #4
- Number of babies from 2010 to 2019: 159,600
