Most Popular Baby Names 2026: Top 50 for Boys and Girls

Naming a baby is one of those decisions that feels impossible to get right. You want something meaningful but not weird, popular but not overdone, and it needs to sound good with your last name. Here are the names that new parents are choosing in 2026.

Top 10 Boy Names

1. Liam (Irish: "strong-willed warrior") - #1 for five years running
2. Noah (Hebrew: "rest, comfort")
3. Oliver (Latin: "olive tree")
4. Mateo (Spanish: "gift of God") - the fastest riser on this list
5. Theodore (Greek: "gift of God") - up 15 spots from 2024
6. James (Hebrew: "supplanter") - a classic that never leaves the top 10
7. Leo (Latin: "lion") - short names are trending hard
8. Asher (Hebrew: "happy, blessed")
9. Atlas (Greek: "bearer of the heavens") - new to the top 10
10. Kai (Hawaiian: "sea") - cross-cultural appeal

Top 10 Girl Names

1. Olivia (Latin: "olive tree") - holding the #1 spot since 2019
2. Emma (Germanic: "whole, universal")
3. Charlotte (French: "free woman")
4. Luna (Latin: "moon") - jumped 20 spots since 2022
5. Maeve (Irish: "she who intoxicates") - new to the top 10
6. Isla (Scottish: "island")
7. Willow (English: "graceful") - nature names keep growing
8. Aurora (Latin: "dawn")
9. Nova (Latin: "new, star")
10. Violet (Latin: "purple flower")

2026 Naming Trends

Short names are winning. Leo, Kai, Ava, Ivy, Mia. Parents want names that are easy to spell, easy to pronounce, and fit on a jersey.

Nature names keep climbing. Willow, River, Sage, Ivy, Aurora. This trend shows no signs of slowing down.

Unisex names are more popular than ever. Riley, Avery, Quinn, Rowan, and Phoenix work for any gender.

Old-fashioned names are back. Theodore, Eleanor, Hazel, Jasper. What was grandma-core is now cool.

Find Your Perfect Name

Browse thousands of names with meanings and origins using the Baby Name Generator. Filter by gender, origin, and style to find exactly what you're looking for. Save your favorites and share them with your partner.