NATIONWIDE — The first cohort of babies categorized as Generation Beta is entering the world, and their names are being chosen less by tradition and more by what’s trending on streaming services, sports courts, and music charts.
BabyCenter, the world’s leading digital parenting resource, released its list of The Most Popular Baby Names of 2025, detailing the most popular names and the powerful pop culture forces set to influence the names of 2026. The data, sourced from over 350,000 babies born in 2025, shows that parents are engaging in a more creative, yet cautious, naming process.
Popularity Ranks: Olivia and Noah Hold the Crown
For the fifth consecutive year, Olivia secured the No. 1 spot for girls, with Noah holding the top ranking for boys. However, the top 10 saw significant movement:
- Girls on the Rise: Eliana surged into the top 10 at No. 7, and Aurora made its debut at No. 9, pushing out celestial favorite Luna (now No. 13) and Ava.
- Boys Shakeup: Luca bounced back into the top 10 at No. 10, replacing Leo.
- Top 100 Newcomers: Seven new girl names, including Juniper, Oaklynn, and Sienna, introduced a mix of cottagecore, vintage, and modern aesthetics. For boys, Malachi, Ali, and Arthur reflect a turn toward classic, spiritual, and ancient roots.
The Trends Shaping 2026
Robin Hilmantel, senior director of editorial strategy & growth at BabyCenter, noted that the data reveals a profound connection between pop culture and the naming process.
“Our data shows how deeply pop culture—down to popular TikTok aesthetics—are widening new parents’ circles of influence,” Hilmantel said. “The baby naming process has gotten so much more creative, while also sticking to long-held rules—like if a name is embroiled in controversy, we’ll see it drop from the spotlight.”
Girls
BoysKey trends influencing future baby names include:
- The Beyoncé Effect: The country music influence from Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter is making names like Rose (up 19 spots) and Jane (up 127 spots) bloom again, with even the name Willie seeing a massive rise (up 577 spots). However, the classic Jolene is sliding down 17 spots.
- Boy Band Nostalgia: The Y2K revival is driving interest in names from the Backstreet Boys, with Nick (up 3%), Lance (up 115%), and Howie (up 299%) making a comeback. K-pop groups are also influencing choices, with Jin (BTS) up 699 spots and Jun (Seventeen) surging over 1,300 spots.
- The Summer I Turned Pretty Love Triangle: Names from binge-watches are influential, with Isabel (Belly’s full name) up 17 spots, and Conrad rising 40 spots, seemingly winning both the fictional heart and the naming registrations, while Jeremiah fell one spot.
- Court to Crib: Names of successful basketball players are gaining traction. NBA champions from the Oklahoma City Thunder are driving interest in Jalen, Jaylin, Isaiah, and Dillon, while WNBA stars like Courtney, Kelsey, and Natasha are also seeing a surge in interest.
- Controversy Cost: Names caught in public scandal are falling out of favor. Following a high-profile legal battle, both Blake (down 85 spots) and Justin (down 24 spots) are slipping in popularity. Additionally, the trend for boy names ending in – y (like Vinny, Grady, and Murphy) is fading.
These real-time naming insights offer an early glimpse into how Generation Beta—children born to a generation heavily influenced by streaming and social media—will be named in the years to come.
About BabyCenter, LLC
The world’s partner in parenting. BabyCenter is the world’s leading digital parenting resource, reaching millions of new and expectant parents every month in seven languages through its global websites, mobile apps, online communities, email, and social platforms—our vision: a world of healthy pregnancies, thriving children, and confident parents. Visit us at www.ehg-pp.com to learn more.
Connect with BabyCenter (@BabyCenter) on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, YouTube, LinkedIn, and X (Twitter).
