These Are 2021’s Most Popular Baby Names In Maryland

MARYLAND — From ball games to dance recitals and school assemblies across Maryland: You may hear the names Olivia and Liam repeated often as students are introduced at events.

Liam and Olivia are the top names Maryland parents chose for their babies in 2021, according to the Social Security Administration, which this month released its top baby names by state analysis.

In all 468 babies born in our state were named Liam, while 266 were named Olivia, records show.

Here are the top 10 female names in our state last year:

1. Olivia
2. Charlotte
3. Ava
4. Emma
5. Sophia
6. Mia
7. Amelia
8. Isabella
9. Evelyn
10. Madison

These were the top 10 male names in 2021:

1. Liam
2. Noah
3. James
4. Lucas
5. Oliver
6. William
7. Michael
8. Benjamin
9. Ethan
10. Dylan

Liam
368
Olivia
284

Liam and Olivia were also the most popular baby names in 2020. Last year, 368 boys were named Liam, 100 less than this year. And 284 girls were named Olivia in 2020, 18 more than this year.

Nationally, Liam, Noah and Oliver once again were the most popular names for boys. For girls, parents liked Olivia, Emma and Charlotte the best. Olivia and Emma were the top girl names in 2020, but Charlotte overtook Ava as the No. 3 name last year.

The Social Security Administration started releasing the annual list in 1997, with names dating back to 1880. The agency also notes that popular culture influences baby names.

Over the past 100 years, the male name Michael has held the top spot most often at 44 times, while the female name Mary has been ranked No. 1 for 35 times over the same period.