If you're getting ready to hold a tiny human and wondering whether to name them Liam or Leonidas, you’re not just picking syllables, you’re picking a pathway to opportunities to their future. Because let’s be honest: names are the resume before the resume. They’re the handshake before the handshake. And in 2025, just like in 2005 and 1985, your baby’s name might do more social signaling than your LinkedIn profile ever will.
So we dove into nearly a decade of U.S. baby name data (2015–2024), crunched the numbers, and decoded the culture to bring you the most important name trends happening right now. This isn’t just about popularity, it’s about what the rise and fall of names tells us about society, media, tech, and even what we fear (or worship) this year.
Let’s kick things off with the big players in the most recent complete year dataset.
These names didn’t just arrive overnight. Many, like Liam and Olivia, have held top spots for half a decade or more. But others, like Ezra and Luna, are newcomers riding waves of cultural relevance.
Name Signals: Names as Cultural Indicators
Just like interest rates and TikTok trends, names move for a reason. They signal comfort, ambition, nostalgia, rebellion, and status while all wrapped in 3 to 8 letters.
The Soft Power Set
Names like Liam, Leo, Mila, Ella, Ava, Mia are short, warm, and globally flexible. These are the names that walk into a business meeting or playground and fit in without explanation. They sound like empathy in human form, and in an era where “EQ” trumps “IQ,” they’re the quiet powerhouses.
The Legacy Picks
Think Charlotte, William, James, Elizabeth - names that could wear a crown or argue in court. Solid, enduring, and maybe a bit tired. They’re not fading, but their glory days may be shifting into the “my parents’ name” category.
The Climbers
Names like Mateo, Luca, Eliana, Ezra have surged in the past few years appear to be driven by multicultural households, international media, and a vibe of sophistication-meets-familiarity. They’re the Patagonia vests of baby names: functional, stylish, and ready to summit.
The Faders
Remember Aiden, Madison, Chloe, Jayden? You should—they were everywhere in the late 90s and early 2000s. . Now they’re slipping. These are the skinny jeans of names: still wearable, but no longer leading the trend.
AI, Algorithms & Influencers
Here's a fun thought: Is your baby's name too close to an AI assistant?
Alexa has plummeted in use. Siri was never much of a contender. And people are side-eyeing anything that might accidentally activate their smart speaker.
But names are being shaped by the internet in other ways:
- Luna (Harry Potter, Chrissy Teigen)
- Ezra (Gen Z and Euphoria energy)
- Mateo (TikTok families, bilingual charm)
- Isla and Aurora (Disneyfication, Pinterest boards, and soft aesthetics)
- Halo ( The Xbox multiplayer hit? - yup).
The TikTokification of identity means baby names now ride social media waves. Expect that to continue and to accelerate.
If names are the stock market, Mateo and Luna are Tesla pre-2019.
Why These Names Now?
- Culture craves comfort. In uncertain times, we go short, soft, and familiar.
- Diversity wins. Cross-cultural names are dominating—think Mateo, Isla, Leo
- Nostalgia matters. Names that feel like a cardigan and fresh-baked bread (Evelyn, James) stick around.
- Media matters more. Your kid’s name might’ve been chosen by your subconscious after 600 hours of Netflix.
Names that are globally friendly, emotionally rich, and culturally visible will keep climbinghours
Betting on the Future: Top Name Contenders for 2026
Our data-fueled crystal ball says:
Final Thought
Choosing a name isn’t about being trendy. It’s about placing a bet on how the world will greet your child and how they’ll introduce themselves to it. Names carry stories. They invite connection or they'll push it away. They signal power, warmth, wisdom, or trend-chasing desperation.
So as you look through top 100 lists or listen for what feels “right,” just remember: your baby’s name is more than a label. It’s their first headline. Pick one that earns them the benefit of the doubt.