October 20, 2026Updated October 21, 2026, 9:06 a.m. ET
Noah and Olivia remain the most popular baby names, according to BabyCenter’s 2026 rankings and data, which also highlights other trending names influenced by hockey TV shows, Greek epics and electronic names.
Although the most popular first name for both genders remains the same as last year, the digital parenting resource said in an Oct. 20 press release that some old favorites had returned to the top 10, along with some new names. For example, among girls, Eliana moved from 7th place in 2025 to second place this year, while Evelyn regained a place in the top 10 after falling in 2024.
On the boys’ side, Elias entered the top 10 for the first time at number 7, alongside Leo, who returned to the top 10 after his fall last year. Other new names gaining popularity include Magnolia for girls and Stetson, Archer, Milo and Dean for boys.
Dean entered the top 100 for the first time this century, after falling from its peak in the 1950s and 1960s.
Steph Coffield, baby name advisor for BabyCenter, said in a statement that the most surprising baby name trend this year was “Eliana’s meteoric rise to become the second most popular name for girls,” adding that if its momentum continues, it could become the most popular name next year, dethroning Olivia.
BabyCenter said its information comes from its “proprietary name data, sourced from more than 350,000 babies born in 2026 to parents registered on the BabyCenter app.” The organization noted that because the names are “submitted in real time, BabyCenter can spot emerging trends before the Social Security Administration releases its annual list.”
Top 10 most popular girl names for 2026
- Olivia
- Eliane
- Amélie
- Charlotte
- Sophie
- Isabelle
- Emma
- Dawn
- Evelyne
- Mia
Top 10 most popular boy names for 2026
- Noah
- Liam
- Olive
- Elijah
- Mateo
- Luke
- Elias
- Levi
- Ezra
- Lion
Trends that determine baby names
BabyCenter’s latest report reveals that “E” is the most popular first initial for girls, with names starting with the letter making up 15% of the top 100 girls’ names. Meanwhile, “J” is the most popular first letter among boys, with 14% of the top 100 names starting with this letter.
The data also showed that first names are getting longer, with 29% of the most common girls’ names and 31% of the most common boys’ names having 7 letters or more. According to BabyCenter, the longest name among the most popular is Christopher, with 11 letters.
Meanwhile, some longtime favorite names have declined in popularity, including Leah and Brooklyn for girls and Christian and Ryan for boys. Taylor also saw a sharp decline in popularity among girls and boys, as parents experienced what BabyCenter called “Taylor fatigue,” presumably fueled by Taylor Swift’s marriage, recalls Taylor Farms Lettuce, and “even the Taylors Lautner having a baby, with the middle name Taylor.”
Trends that will influence baby names in 2027
Hockey TV series, Greek epics and Western aesthetics are expected to drive baby name trends for 2027, according to BabyCenter, which also notes that longer names and names starting with “E” for girls and “J” for boys will continue to be trendy.
Here’s what BabyCenter predicts for the coming year:
- As hockey dramas dominate the television landscape and ESPN recorded its most-watched NHL playoff season, names inspired by the game have grown in popularity, with parents choosing names like Garrett, Allie, Beau and Jules from Prime Video’s hit show “Off Campus.”
- Western names inspired by hit shows like “Yellowstone” continue to dominate pop culture and baby names as parents embrace the vibe. Stetson, for example, climbed 46 places to 95th, entering the top 100 for the first time, followed closely by Walker, Callahan, Wilder and Gunner.
- Names inspired by Greek and Mediterranean myths have also gained popularity, “thanks to their grandiose characters and the blockbuster ‘The Odyssey,'” BabyCenter said. Atlas, Orion, Troy, Ares, Evander, and Perseus have all seen an increase in boys, while the girls’ names are Iris, Lydia, and Daphne.
- Heading into a recently announced documentary, “Gilmore Girls”-inspired names are already driving a major spike for Stars Hollow favorites including Lorelai, Rory, Christopher, Luke and Dean.
- Bold, high-impact names featuring the letter X are also popular, with Bexley, Alexandra, Xena and Ximena for girls, and Braxton, Knox, Daxton, Maximilian and Jaxson for boys.
“This year’s trends show that parents are willing to dig into the archives with some modern appreciation of the old, the vintage, the classic,” Coffield said. “BabyCenter data shows that names from Greek myth and the Wild West are conquering the Gen Beta baby name frontier. And these names are becoming more elaborate using statistically more letters as parents max out and adopt longer names.”
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact her at sshafiq@usatodayco.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
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