The most popular baby names of 2026 are here!
BabyCenter released its annual rankings on October 20, with Olivia named the most popular name for girls and Noah the most popular for boys once again.
On the girls’ list, Eliana ranked second, up from seventh in 2025, while Amelia placed third. BabyCenter’s baby name advisor, Steph Coffield, said this year’s biggest surprise was “Eliana’s meteoric rise to become the second most popular name for girls.” She predicted that Eliana could overtake Olivia next year if its popularity continues to grow.
Evelyn also returned to the girls’ top 10 for the first time since 2023, placing ninth, while Ellie dropped to No. 11.
On the boys’ list, Noah, Liam and Oliver kept their first-, second- and third-place rankings. The top five remained unchanged for the third consecutive year, though Elias entered the top 10 for the first time at No. 7 after climbing eight places. Leo also returned, ranking tenth.
To compile the rankings, BabyCenter used names reported by parents through its app. This year’s data covers more than 350,000 babies born in 2026. Parents submit names throughout the year, allowing BabyCenter to identify trends before the Social Security Administration releases its official annual rankings.
Here are BabyCenter’s top 10 names for girls and boys in 2026:
| Rank | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Olivia | Noah |
| 2 | Eliana | Liam |
| 3 | Amelia | Oliver |
| 4 | Charlotte | Elijah |
| 5 | Sophia | Mateo |
| 6 | Isabella | Lucas |
| 7 | Emma | Elias |
| 8 | Aurora | Levi |
| 9 | Evelyn | Ezra |
| 10 | Mia | Leo |
Magnolia was the only girls’ name to enter the top 100 for the first time this year, rising 40 spots to No. 88. Milo, Stetson and Archer made their first appearances in the boys’ top 100, while Dean returned for the first time this century.
Leah and Brooklyn dropped out of the girls’ top 100, as did Christian and Ryan on the boys’ list. Ryan fell 64 places to No. 146.
The report also found that E was the most common first letter among the top 100 girls’ names. Elsie, Evangeline and Esme all grew in popularity. For boys, J was the leading first initial, with Josiah and Jeremiah both rising in the rankings.
For 2027, BabyCenter predicts continued interest in Western names such as Stetson and Walker, influenced by shows like *Yellowstone*. It also expects *The Odyssey* to encourage interest in Greek-inspired names, including Atlas, Orion, Iris and Daphne.
