NATIONWIDE – Noah and Olivia continue to reign supreme as America’s top baby names, but new pop culture obsessions, from hockey dramas to Western aesthetics, are rapidly reshaping the naming landscape.
BabyCenter, the world’s trusted pregnancy tracker and baby name finder, released its annual The Most Popular Baby Names of 2026 and The Top Trends That’ll Influence Baby Names in 2027 reports. The findings, based on proprietary data from over 350,000 babies born in 2026 to registered BabyCenter app users, reveal emerging shifts ahead of the official Social Security Administration data.
2026 Rankings: Noah and Olivia Hold Firm, Eliana Surges
For another year, Noah and Olivia maintain their positions as the No. 1 names for boys and girls, respectively.
However, the girls’ top 10 saw dramatic movement, with Eliana continuing a “meteoric rise” from No. 7 in 2025 to No. 2 this year. Evelyn also clawed its way back into the top 10, jumping five spots to No. 9.
On the boys’ side, Elias made history by entering the top 10 for the very first time, debuting at No. 7. Veteran favorite Leo also returned to the top 10 after a brief absence.
The top 100 welcomed several new entries reflecting broader trends:
- Girls’ List Debut: Magnolia was the single brand-new addition.
- Boys’ List Debuts: Stetson, Archer, Milo, and Dean (entering the top 100 for the first time this century).
Longtime favorites Christian, Ryan, Leah, and Brooklyn all fell out of the top 100 this year.
“The trends this year show parents are ready to dig into the archives with some modern appreciation for the ancient, the vintage, the classic,” said Steph Coffield, baby name advisor for BabyCenter. Coffield added that Eliana’s momentum is so strong, it may challenge Olivia for the top spot next year.
‘E’ and ‘J’ Initiatives, Longer Names Growing
First-initial trends are taking hold. Names beginning with ‘E’ now make up 15% of the top 100 girls’ names, while 14% of top boys’ names start with ‘J.’
Rising ‘E’ names for girls include:
- Evelyn (up 5 spots to No. 9)
- Elsie (up 23 spots)
- Evangeline (up 50 spots)
- Elodie (up 87 spots)
- Esme (up 222 spots)
Modern ‘J’ favorites for boys saw strong momentum, with spelling variations Jaxon (No. 88) and Jaxson (No. 93) holding firm, while Jasper (No. 97) remained in the top 100. Josiah (No. 21) and Jeremiah (No. 60) both surged over 25 spots.
Data also indicates parents are prioritizing maximalism. Roughly 30% of top names for both boys and girls now feature seven or more letters, with Christopher (11 letters) leading the length chart.
2027 Trend Predictions: Hockey Dramas, Gilmores, and “Taylor Fatigue”
Pop culture is increasingly fracturing into diverse micro-trends, driving conflicting name styles.
Hockey TV Dramas Take the Ice: Riding a surge in NHL popularity, names inspired by hockey dramas are increasing. Picks from Prime Video’s Off Campus and Heated Rivalry saw the names Garrett, Allie, Beau, and Jules rise. Most notably, Ilya rocketed up over 6,000 spots to No. 2,197 for boys.
Gilmore Girls Galvanizes New Parents: Fall rewatches of the classic series Stars Hollow are driving spikes for favorites Lorelai (up 12 spots) and Rory (up 31 spots) for girls. Stars Hollow boys are also on the rise: Christopher (up 4 spots), Luke (up 7 spots), Richard (up 29 spots), and Dean (up 31 spots).
A Showdown of Aesthetics: Western vs. Mediterranean:
- The Yellowstone effect lingers, cementing Western vibes. Stetson rose 46 spots to make its top 100 debut at No. 95, followed by Walker (up 19 spots), Callahan (up 88 spots), Wilder (up 107 spots), and Gunner (up 151 spots).
- Simultaneously, Greek mythos is having an “epic fashion” moment thanks to a blockbuster remake of The Odyssey. Parents are embracing grandiose personas like Atlas (up 5 spots), Orion and Troy (both up 9 spots), Ares (up 32 spots), Evander (up 128 spots), and Perseus (up 249 spots) for boys, and Iris (up 18 spots), Lydia (up 38 spots), and Daphne (up 42 spots) for girls.
Perhaps the most surprising pop culture shift, parents seem weary of the name “Taylor.” Following a barrage of headlines—from Taylor Swift’s wedding to agricultural recalls at Taylor Farms and multiple famous ‘Taylors’ having babies—the name dropped sharply. It fell 24 spots for girls (to No. 399) and plummeted 262 spots for boys (to No. 1,093), slipping out of the top 1,000 for the first time ever.
