Mateo has become the sixth-most popular baby name for boys in the United States for 2023, with over 11,000 babies named Mateo last year, marking a significant increase and the highest number recorded for this name. The rise of Mateo is attributed to its cross-cultural appeal and the increasing Latino population in the US, according to Nameberry’s editor-in-chief Sophie Kihm.
In 2023, Olivia and Liam retained their positions as the most popular baby names in the United States for the fifth consecutive year. The new entry to the top 10 list this year is Mateo, which became the sixth-most popular name for boys, causing Benjamin to drop off the list. According to the Social Security Administration, more than 11,000 babies were named Mateo last year, marking a significant increase and making it the highest number recorded for this name.
Sophie Kihm, the editor-in-chief of Nameberry, remarked on the exceptional rise of the name Mateo from the 11th position in 2022 to the 6th in 2023. She noted that Mateo, meaning “gift of God,” has grown in popularity partly because of the increasing Latino population in the U.S. and its cross-cultural appeal.
Additionally, the Social Security Administration highlighted that pop culture and social media have profoundly influenced naming trends. For instance, the name Kaeli surged in popularity, ranking 678th, following promotion by social media influencer Kaeli McEwen. Other names influenced by media include Alitzel, which grew more popular after a viral TikTok video, and Chozen, which gained traction from the Netflix show “Cobra Kai.”
Despite these trends, the name Barbie did not see significant popularity, with only 32 babies named Barbie last year, following the release of a movie centered around the iconic doll.
