Ahh, 2019: the year of total strangers waging online wars over Michael Jackson and JK Rowling retroactively deciding that every Harry Potter character had a bisexual phase in high school. It's been an interesting one, to say the least.
And, staying on that trend, the most popular baby names from the year so far are also, uh, interesting.
Now, we don't want to offend any parents out there whose little ones just happen to have one of the names on this list, and it's totally your prerogative if you want to name your kid Daenerys or Lazer Beam or whatever - but, you have to admit, the names ranking most highly in 2019 aren't exactly conventional.
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First up, it's the girls' names.
1. Posie
2. Isla
3. Olivia
4. Aurora
5. Maeve
6. Cora
7. Amara
8. Ada
9. Amelia
10. Charlotte
Ok, so most of these are pretty normal... but Maeve? Ada? Aurora? Are we naming 21st century babies here, or old women from the '50s and Disney princesses?
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And now the boys.
1. Milo
2. Jasper
3. Atticus
4. Theodore
5. Asher
6. Silas
7. Jack
8. Finn
9. Henry
10. Felix
Once again, some of these are fairly normal - but the old names are clearly making a resurgence! Theodore, Atticus and Silas definitely sound like characters from a children's book in the 1890s, but, in just a few years, those are the names you're going to hear parents calling out in the schoolyard.
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Soooo, a lot of these aren't exactly 'average' names. But you know what? Average names are boring. We need more Posies and Finns and Ashers in the world - and 2019 parents are getting it done.
The New Year hasn't even arrived yet but the list of 2026's most popular baby name predictions is here - and there are some surprise additions.
Naming a baby is often one of the hardest decisions parents have to make while waiting for the arrival of their little bundle of joy.
After all, you want something that captures their personality while not leaving them vulnerable to teasing or, worse, unemployable in the future based on their moniker.
And, if the current predictions are to be believed, next year parents will be flocking to failsafe names from the past for their newborn offspring.
Choosing a baby name can be a tough decision. Credit: Sally Anscombe/Getty Images
WhatToExpect.com explained: "A classic, old-fashioned baby name that was popular in decades past may strike the perfect balance between modern sensibilities and time-honoured traditions.
"Vintage baby names may not be right for everyone, but it's good to know which ones are making a comeback."
According to their list, these are the top 25 vintage boy names that are going to be big next year:
Ezra
Ezekiel
Jasper
Grant
Theo
Emerson
Ellis
Atticus
Edgar
Otto
Hank
Isaac
Leonard
Nathaniel
Otis
Raymond
Earl
Ralph
Harold
Howard
Paul
Leroy
Alfred
Eugene
Hugh
The options for girls are set to be just as sweet and wholesome, with these 25 set to surge in popularity:
Charlotte
Scarlett
Cora
Clara
Rose
Margaret
Esther
Adaline
June
Ada
Ruth
Lucille
Miriam
Millie
Maeve
Felicity
Mabel
Rosemary
Edith
Beatrice
Dorothy
Coraline
Mildred
Doris
Edna
Classic names are set to make a comeback. Credit: Sally Anscombe/Getty Images
According to HappiestBaby.com, there are some other name trends that will be big next year, too.
While they predict the classics will remain most popular, they suggest that names with meanings relating to light will also be a big trend.
They predict that names like Soleil and Solana will continue to rise, as well as Goldie, Elio, Lucien, and Aurelia.
Wildflower, bird, and forest names are also tipped to be popular, with the site predicting choices including Wrenlee/Wrenleigh/Wrenley, Lavender, Marigold, and Meadow to be among those often chosen. For boys, Aspen, Forrest, and Ocean are all set to be popular choices.
It also predicts that "heritage" names will make a big comeback, with parents opting to honor their roots by giving their babies names that relate to their culture, such as Mateo, Sofia, and Mustafa.
It also predicts gender-neutral names will be big, including Rowan, Tatum, and Bellamy, as well as classic names reinvented with new spellings.
If you've read through this list and have yet to find any name that takes your fancy for your 2026 baby, that's fine too - names are completely subjective and whatever feels right is often the best choice rather than trying to follow a trend.
Either way, it seems that there will be classrooms full of Wrenleighs in a few years to come.
Featured image credit: Sally Anscombe/Getty Images
The annual list of America’s most popular baby names for 2025 is finally here, and while some long-time favorites remain strong, a few new contenders have made their way into the top 10 for the first time.
Each year, BabyCenter, which has been tracking baby name trends for more than two decades, releases its list of the 100 most popular names based on data from parents registered on its app.
The 2025 rankings are drawn from more than 350,000 babies born this year, giving a fascinating glimpse into the naming trends shaping families across the country.
TV Hosts Tried (and Failed) to Guess the Top Names
Before the official list dropped, TODAY show hosts Craig Melvin, Sheinelle Jones, and Al Roker took a stab at guessing which names would come out on top.
While none of the co-hosts managed to predict the winners, they weren’t shocked by the results once revealed.
“We know a lot of Noahs,” Sheinelle admitted, while Craig noted that Olivia has been a U.S. favorite for years. Al added that cultural influences, like the beloved Olivia children’s books, could help explain the name’s staying power.
Fresh Faces in the Top 10
Although some familiar names continue to dominate, new entries are shaking up the rankings, particularly among the girls’ names.
Eliana (number 7) and Aurora (number 9) both broke into the top 10 for the first time, pushing out previous favorites Ava (number 11) and Luna (number 13).
Credit: Photodisc / Getty Images.
For boys, there was less dramatic movement. Leo slipped out of the top 10 to number 11, while Luca made a comeback after dropping off the list last year.
Newcomers to the Top 100
BabyCenter also highlighted several names making their debut (or return) to the broader Top 100. For girls, the new additions include Eloise (number 75), Sarah (number 84), Emersyn (number 89), Charlie (number 93), Catalina (number 95), Josephine (number 96), Juniper (number 97), Oaklynn (number 98), Vivian (number 99), and Kehlani (number 100).
Meanwhile, for boys, the latest arrivals are Malachi (number 91), Arthur (number 95), Ali (number 96), and Nathaniel (number 98).
Pop Culture Continues to Shape Baby Name Trends
According to BabyCenter’s baby name trends specialist Rebekah Wahlberg, pop culture continues to be one of the biggest naming influences for new parents.
The Summer I Turned Pretty (the hit Amazon Prime series) is among the shows believed to have inspired a wave of new name choices this year. Wahlberg explained that about 1 in 9 parents (11%) said their baby’s name was influenced by pop culture, whether that be a movie, TV series, celebrity, or best-selling novel.
This means your favorite on-screen couple or fictional character could very well be shaping the next generation of baby names.
Credit: NoSystem images / Getty Images.
Here’s how the final rankings stack up:
Top 10 Baby Boy Names of 2025:
10. Luca
9. Asher
8. Ezra
7. Lucas
6. Levi
5. Mateo
4. Elijah
3. Oliver
2. Liam
1. Noah
Top 10 Baby Girl Names of 2025:
10. Mia
9. Aurora
8. Ellie
7. Eliana
6. Charlotte
5. Isabella
4. Emma
3. Sophia
2. Amelia
1. Olivia
Once again, Noah and Olivia have held onto the top spots, proving that classic, timeless names continue to resonate with parents nationwide.
Olivia has been the most popular girl’s name for six years straight and has remained in the U.S. top 10 since 2001, while Noah continues its strong reign as a favorite for baby boys.
Even with the rise of pop culture-inspired picks and creative naming trends, it seems that when it comes to naming their newest family members, American parents still have a soft spot for tradition.
Featured image credit: NoSystem images / Getty Images.
Baby names have always reflected the times; shaped by pop culture, family ties, and even social media trends. But while some new parents look to modern, edgy names to stand out, others are finding inspiration in something far more traditional: the past.
Over the decades, names often fall in and out of favor. Some stay at the top year after year – classics like Olivia, Sophia, Noah, and Oliver seem almost untouchable. Others quietly disappear for generations before suddenly becoming fashionable again.
According to data from What to Expect, vintage names are making a serious return to modern nurseries. These timeless picks from decades or even centuries ago are proving that what’s old can feel new again.
Why Parents Are Turning to Timeless Names
Experts say there’s something special about names that bridge the gap between modern taste and classic tradition. What to Expect notes: “A classic, old-fashioned baby name that was popular in decades past may strike the perfect balance between modern sensibilities and time-honored traditions.”
Credit: Comstock / Getty Images.
They add that while these names aren’t for everyone, knowing which ones are regaining popularity gives parents a fresh sense of inspiration – especially for those who want something elegant but distinctive.
The Vintage Girl Name Everyone’s Talking About
Among this year’s biggest surprises is a name that hasn’t graced the girls’ Top 100 list for over 60 years – until now. After decades of fading from view, this graceful classic has quietly climbed the charts, fueled by its literary charm and timeless sound.
That name? Josephine.
BabyCenter reports that Josephine, meaning “God will add,” has reappeared in the Top 100 for the first time since 1943, landing at No. 96. The name (a feminine version of Joseph) began its steady comeback in 2018 and has since become a favorite among parents seeking something traditional yet chic.
Most Popular Baby Names of 2025
Alongside Josephine’s impressive resurgence, BabyCenter released its latest rankings for the year’s most popular names.
With Josephine back in the spotlight and many other traditional names finding new life, 2025 is shaping up to be the year of the vintage revival.
Parents are clearly embracing names that carry history; timeless choices that stand apart from fleeting trends, proving once again that classics never truly go out of style.
The name reportedly fell a sharp 55 places, from the 555th most popular name for boys in 2019 to the 610th last year. This is the lowest it has ever ranked on the annual list, which dates all the way back to the 1880s.
Credit: Social Security Administration
Per The Independent, 602 babies were named 'Donald' back in 2017. However, this dropped to 539 in 2018 and dropped yet again to 507 in 2019.
And in 2020, just 444 people in the US named their baby 'Donald'.
The name Donald peaked in its popularity as a name in 1934, when it was the sixth-most popular name for American baby boys. That year, 30,408 boys (and apparently 110 girls) recorded as being named Donald.
Related - Baby says "hello" at just eight weeks old:
These statistics show that the names of a number of other members of the Trump family members have dropped down the list as well.
For example, the name 'Tiffany' plummeted 96 spots from 696th place in 2019 to 792nd in 2020. 'Eric' also dropped from 176th in 2019 to 198th in 2020, and 'Jared' - the name of the former president’s son-in-law and senior adviser - also fell seven spots from 361st in 2019 to 368th the following year.
Credit: Pexels / Lisa
'Melania' was one of the fastest rising names for baby girls back in 2017: ranking at number 933. However, the name has subsequently fallen from the top 1,000 list, with only 190 baby girls named Melania recorded in 2020.
However, the data also shows that the names 'Ivanka' and 'Barron' have been on the rise in recent years.
In 2020, 106 babies were named Ivanka - up from 95 in 2019 and 97 in 2018. Meanwhile, 134 baby boys were named Barron last year, up from 107 in 2019 and 121 in 2018.
The names of sitting Presidents often decrease in popularity in the course of their tenure.
For example, the name 'Ronald' dropped in popularity during the Reagan Administration, as did 'Richard' during Nixon's, 'Gerald' during Ford's, and 'George' under Bush.
A woman has revealed that she has fallen out with her best friend after the pair argued about the bizarre Harry Potter-inspired baby names she has chosen for her twins.
Now, when it comes to naming our children, I'm sure many of us can admit to naming our newborns after somebody important in our lives. This can be a relative, a friend, and - on some occasions - a beloved fictional character.
However, in the fictional world of Harry Potter, not every name in the books is as common as "Harry" or "Ron". No, some of the names are a little more... unique, shall we say?
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Now, one woman has taken to Reddit's 'Am I The A**hole' page (where users share a recent grievance in their life and other users determine who was in the wrong) to ask if she overreacted after hearing the "terrible" Potter-inspired names her friend has chosen for her unborn twins.
Writing under the handle 'andacherryonthetop', the 34-year-old woman explains that her friend, 31-year-old Nicola, "is pregnant with twin boys due in spring".
She continues: They’ve been trying for a few years and so are really excited to finally be pregnant."
The poster writes how Nicola has been scheduled for a c-section, and due to the fact everybody knows the sex of the babies, she wants to keep their names a secret in order to keep some element of surprise around their births.
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But the Redditor adds that Nicola is "a massive Harry Potter fan" and had hinted that she may include some elements of the books in her children's names.
And before you start thinking "Fred and George", I'll stop you there, because this mom-to-be has chosen much more creative names.
The post continues:
"She was too excited to keep it in any longer and rang to me to ask me if I wanted to know the names they have chosen. It went something like this...
"Me: ooh yes please, I would love to know!
"Nicola: Albus Tony and Severus Callum
"Me: (long pause) wow!
"Nicola: (fuming) thanks for that, I can tell you hate them. Thanks so much for ruining this moment for me! (Hangs up)"
The Redditor adds that Albus and Severus are obviously from Harry Potter, a dn that "Tony is after her dad and Callum is a family member from her [other-half's] side".
She continues: "I feel awful because I paused for so long. I have tried to message and call her to apologize and say I do like the names (I don’t, Severus Callum has got to be the most random name I’ve ever heard of) but she keeps ignoring me."
And it would seem that most people in the comments section agreed with the poster.
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One person replied: "NTA [Not the a**hole]. Parents need to stop naming their kids with ridiculous names. These are not accessories, they are entire humans who have to exist with stupid names which is so much more important than her 'moment'.
"Albus Tony and Severus Callum are ridiculous names, it's almost like she wants them to get bullied."
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And another wrote: "NTA. I’m a huge Harry Potter fan and wow. Yikes."
Meanwhile, a third typed: "NTA. They are stupid names. Also, it's not like you were super offensive. You were literally stunned into silence. If that's your natural reaction (and relatively understandable/normal human reaction), then I don't think you are the a**hole."
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