Popular Baby Boy Names of 2012

While the Social Security Administration won’t release the official Top U.S. Baby Names for 2012 until sometime next year, the biggest baby-naming community on the Web released their own popularity list. And it just might surprise you.

Nameberry.com — a site for naming enthusiasts, whether they’re pregnant or not — compiled its Top 100 Boys’ Names of 2012 based on the most-searched and most clicked-on names this year (thus far). These are the names with the biggest buzz, and could certainly indicate some major trends to watch out for.

Some are typical chart-toppers and many are on par with my own baby-naming predictions, but there are some I didn’t expect to rank so high.

Take a look at the Top 25 baby boy names of 2012 on Nameberry.com:

1. Finn (ranked #304 in 2011) — meaning: “white, fair”; of Glee fame

2. Asher (ranked #113 in 2011) — meaning: “fortunate, blessed, happy one”

3. Henry (ranked #57 in 2011) — meaning: “estate ruler”

4. Milo (ranked #361 in 2011) — meaning: “mild, peaceful, calm”

5. Jasper (ranked #282 in 2011) — meaning: “bringer of treasure”

6. James (ranked #17 in 2011) — meaning: “supplanter”

7. Jude (ranked #155 in 2011) — meaning: “praise”

8. Atticus (ranked #462 in 2011) — meaning: “from Athens”

9. Rowan (ranked #309 in 2011) — meaning: “little redhead”

10. Owen (ranked #44 in 2011) — meaning: “young warrior; well-born”

11. Liam (ranked #15 in 2011) — meaning: “resolute protection”

12. Felix (ranked #311 in 2011) — meaning: “happy, fortunate”

13. Levi (ranked #68 in 2011) — meaning: “joined, attached”

14. Emmett (ranked #222 in 2011) — meaning: “truth; universal”

15. Kai (ranked #202 in 2011) — meaning: “sea”

16. Sawyer (ranked #172 in 2011) — meaning: “woodcutter”

17. Leo (ranked #167 in 2011) — meaning: “lion”

18. Silas (ranked #183 in 2011) — meaning: “wood”

19. Miles (ranked #115 in 2011) — meaning: “merciful, generous”

20. Sebastian (ranked #68 in 2011) — meaning: “person from ancient city of Sabasta”

21. Ezra (ranked #204 in 2011) — meaning: “help”

22. Noah (ranked #5 in 2011) — meaning: “rest, wandering”

23. Declan (ranked #177 in 2011) — meaning: “man of prayer”

24. Jack (ranked #45 in 2011) — meaning: “God is gracious”

25. Hudson (ranked #122 in 2011) — meaning: “Hugh’s son”

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Check out the most popular girls’ names from Nameberry.com — which are even more surprising than the boys’ list.

And see the entire list of Top 100 Boys’ Names at Nameberry.com.

(photo: Picnik Photography)

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