Baby name trends 2026
What's rising, what's fading, and the cultural currents behind this year's naming choices.
On the rise
Nature names
Rowan, Sage, Wren, River, Juniper
Earthy, grounded, gender-flexible — the outdoors keeps inspiring parents.
Pop-culture picks
Names from playlists, shows, and athletes
Parents are pulling straight from what they stream and watch.
Literary revivals
Atticus, Arwen, Cosette, Lyra
Book lovers breathing new life into classic characters.
Soft vintage
Eleanor, Theodore, Hazel, August
Grandparent-era names that feel fresh again.
Celestial
Luna, Nova, Aurora, Orion
Star and sky names keep climbing — cosmic and a little magical.
On the way out
Place names
London, Dallas, Malaysia, Boston
The geography trend has cooled off.
D & K starters
Danielle, Dylan, Kenna, Dominic, Karim
Once-dominant initials are losing ground.
Creative spellings
Charleigh, Alivia, Maddison, Emmitt
Nontraditional spellings of popular names are out of vogue.
Find your favorite