There a a lot of factors that parents consider before choosing a baby name, and the popularity of a name is a big one. Choosing one that's too common is the No. 1 source of baby-name regret. Then again, some families like going with timeless, classic names that are so well known that they're easy to pronounce and spell.
The first step is figuring out how popular a name is — or will be in the coming year. The good news is the Social Security Administration (SSA) makes it easy to keep track of current and upcoming baby name trends. The SSA publishes a list each year of the latest 1,000 top popular baby girl names, along with names that are rising through the ranks.
When it comes to the most popular baby girl names, the top spots have been pretty steady for a while now. Just a few names — Olivia, Emma, Amelia, Charlotte, Mia and Sophia — have pretty much held rank as the top baby girl names for a decade, if not more. But consulting the SSA and other baby-naming databases, we can see what the trends are for this year, and even start to make predictions for the most popular baby names of the year.
The Most Popular Baby Girl Names Right Now (With Meanings)
When the SSA released the most recent list of the most popular name, these ever-popular names were at the top of the list.
- Olivia, "olive tree"
- Emma, "universal"
- Amelia,"hardworking"
- Charlotte, "free man"
- Mia, "mine"
- Sophia, "wisdom"
- Isabella, "pledged to God"
- Evelyn, "desired"
- Ava, "bird" or "life"
- Sofia, "wisdom"
These are almost the exact same 10 names as the year before, only rearranged slightly. Amelia has leapfrogged over Charlotte to claim the No. 3 spot. Mia has jumped up over Sophia, which now has a variant, Sofia, also in the top 10 (knocking out what used to be No. 10, Luna). Ava and Evelyn have also switched places, but the top 10 names remains stable.
The Trendiest Girl Names (With Meanings)
Where things start to get interesting, though, is the SSA's list of fastest-rising names, which are the names that took the biggest jumps in popularity since the list before. They are:
- Ailany/Aylani, "chief"
- Marjorie, "pearl"
- Scottie, "from Scotland"
- Analeia, "grace"
- Elodie, "foreign riches"
- Romy, "from Rome"
- Julietta, "youthful"
- Adhara, "maiden"
- Ailani, "sky" or "heavens"
- Elowyn, "elm tree"
- Elani, "light of the sun"
- Yusra, "prosperous"
- Rowyn, "rowan"
- Solana, "sunshine"
- Soraya, "star cluster"
- Honey, "honey"
- Wrenlee, "small songbird"
- Kailany, "see and sky"
- Marlowe, "driftwood"
- Icelynn, "beautiful ice"
- Lettie, "joy"
It jumps out immediately that there's a suffix in common that parents are gravitating towards: -any or -ani. You see it in names like Ailany or Aylani — which jumped 754 and 441 places in rank between 2023 and 2024, respectively — plus Ailani, Elani, and Kailany. And, just behind those names, -ie names aren't far behind, like Marjorie, Scottie, Elodie and Lettie. For a long time, the -ia names have been on top (like Olivia and Amelia), but maybe there will be a changing of the guard.
What else could be on the horizon? According to Nameberry, a baby-naming site that keeps track of interest in names and baby name trends and interest in names from its uses, says these are the current hottest names that have not yet been previously mentioned.
- Unique, "one of a kind"
- Eloise, "famous warrior" or "healthy, wide"
- Hazel, "hazel tree"
- Maeve, "she who intoxicates"
- Daphne, "laurel tree"
- Violet, "purple"
- Aurora, "dawn"
- Isla, "island"
- Imogen, "maiden"
- Lucy, "light"
Between Hazel, Daphne and Violet, we can see plant- and flower-names trending — part of an overall drift toward nature-inspired names.
Unisex and Gender-Neutral Names
Nameberry also says parents are moving away from stereotypically gendered names. "That doesn't always mean that boys and girls are getting the same names, though there are plenty of hot new gender neutral and nonbinary names around," says Pamela Redmond, Nameberry CEO. "Rather, we see girl names becoming stronger and more heroic while boy names are becoming less conventional and less traditionally masculine." As far as gender-neutral names go, keep an eye out for up-and-comers like Arrow, Cypress, Jupiter, Merritt, Ridley, River and Rowan.
We're seeing some neutral-to-masculine names on the SSA's fast-risers list, especially ones that could be what Babylist describes as "Dad names." These include Billie, Scottie, Miller, Andie and Murphy. The name Charlie also pops up a few times on the SSA list, first at No. 140 by itself, then as Charlee at No. 398, Charli (No. 524), Charley (No. 729) and Charleigh (No. 763). Between Billie and Charlie, is there are pop-music connection?
Pop Culture Names
The biggest pop-culture player of all, of course, is Disney. And as Disney kids have grown into Disney adults, they've made character names trend on the SSA list. Right now, you can find lots of rankers based on Disney princesses, like Aurora (currently No. 16 on the SSA list), Jasmine (No. 199), Ariel (No. 299), Raya (No. 363), Briar (No. 521), Tiana (No. 611) and Nala (No. 752). And they're not the only pop-culture royals on the chart: Zelda is No. 748.
On the small screen, if there's one television show launching more baby names than any other, it's Bridgerton. Nameberry has found an uptick in searches for Regency-era girl names inspired by the show. This includes Eloise (No. 64), Phoebe (No. 183), Daphne (No. 192), and Francesca (No. 314), along with Hyacinth and Philippa, which have not made the SSA list yet.
Land & Sky Names
As already mentioned, nature-inspired baby names have been trending for a while, but they've been really taking off recently. Nameberry says that "landscape names" like Cove, Coast and Creek are huge among its users, while BabyCenter users are looking to the heavens for names like Sol, Eclipse and Nova.
Cutesy Names
Using nicknames as full first names has been a trend for a while, now, but Nameberry notes that these monikers are getting cuter. They call them "playful names" or "baby names, literally" which are huge going into next year, and include names like Baby, Pixie, Dovie, Honey and Lulu.
The Latest List of Top 1,000 Baby Girl Names
However you feel about these up-and-coming trends, before you decide on a baby name, scan the SSA's most current crop of names to see where it falls on the list. And if it doesn't rank in the top 1,000, it's a good bet you've got a unique name on your hands.
- Olivia
- Emma
- Amelia
- Charlotte
- Mia
- Sophia
- Isabella
- Evelyn
- Ava
- Sofia
- Camila
- Harper
- Luna
- Eleanor
- Violet
- Aurora
- Elizabeth
- Eliana
- Hazel
- Chloe
- Ellie
- Nora
- Gianna
- Lily
- Emily
- Aria
- Scarlett
- Penelope
- Zoe
- Ella
- Avery
- Abigail
- Mila
- Lucy
- Isla
- Ivy
- Layla
- Lainey
- Nova
- Grace
- Willow
- Riley
- Emilia
- Naomi
- Elena
- Madison
- Valentina
- Victoria
- Stella
- Delilah
- Maya
- Hannah
- Leah
- Lillian
- Genesis
- Josephine
- Sadie
- Adeline
- Zoey
- Sophie
- Paisley
- Alice
- Ruby
- Eloise
- Madelyn
- Leilani
- Claire
- Addison
- Ayla
- Emery
- Iris
- Eden
- Natalie
- Maria
- Maeve
- Daisy
- Vivian
- Clara
- Autumn
- Liliana
- Everly
- Audrey
- Lyla
- Jade
- Kinsley
- Millie
- Madeline
- Josie
- Kennedy
- Athena
- Melody
- Caroline
- Aaliyah
- Anna
- Sarah
- Quinn
- Lydia
- Lucia
- Allison
- Hailey
- Ailany
- Cora
- Ariana
- Parker
- Natalia
- Gabriella
- Savannah
- Brooklyn
- Bella
- Georgia
- Juniper
- Alaia
- Raelynn
- Hadley
- Rose
- Julia
- Serenity
- Eliza
- Margaret
- Eva
- Amara
- Melanie
- Cecilia
- Ashley
- Rylee
- Margot
- Samantha
- Catalina
- Juliette
- Aubrey
- Esther
- Mary
- Nevaeh
- Skylar
- Alina
- Amira
- Ember
- Magnolia
- Sienna
- Charlie
- Elliana
- Summer
- Alana
- Brielle
- Remi
- Sage
- Valerie
- Hallie
- Wrenley
- Kehlani
- Emerson
- June
- Sloane
- Emersyn
- Elsie
- Oaklynn
- Oakley
- Blakely
- Freya
- Piper
- Valeria
- Arya
- Adalynn
- Everleigh
- Genevieve
- Anastasia
- Isabel
- Peyton
- Amaya
- Isabelle
- Olive
- Ruth
- Ximena
- Evangeline
- Katherine
- Callie
- Rosalie
- Alani
- Lilah
- Kaia
- Brianna
- Bailey
- Phoebe
- Vivienne
- Andrea
- Myla
- Lia
- Sara
- Kylie
- Reese
- Annie
- Daphne
- Ada
- Adaline
- Arianna
- Ariella
- Sutton
- Celeste
- Jasmine
- Mackenzie
- Haven
- Scottie
- Gemma
- Ana
- Tatum
- Arabella
- Lila
- Molly
- Stevie
- Blake
- Aitana
- Alaina
- Wren
- River
- Noelle
- Delaney
- Journee
- Blair
- Adalyn
- Kaylee
- Alexandra
- Mabel
- Norah
- Presley
- Alora
- Vera
- Celine
- Amy
- Brynlee
- Nyla
- Saylor
- Khloe
- Antonella
- Zara
- Aliyah
- Cataleya
- Lennon
- Kiara
- Camille
- Dahlia
- Kaylani
- Mariana
- Diana
- Reagan
- Selena
- Kimberly
- Rachel
- Gracie
- Faith
- Juliana
- Miriam
- Elise
- Noa
- Elaina
- Maisie
- Lilith
- Collins
- Palmer
- Lilly
- Shiloh
- Ophelia
- Elianna
- Lena
- Harmony
- Aspen
- Rowan
- Gia
- Leila
- Jane
- Talia
- Adelaide
- Dakota
- Lola
- Lucille
- Kailani
- Morgan
- Zuri
- Milani
- Daniela
- Selah
- Alessia
- Angela
- Juliet
- Evie
- Amora
- Rory
- Marley
- Sydney
- Alanna
- Leia
- Luciana
- Kamila
- Harlow
- Kali
- Octavia
- Amari
- Sawyer
- Gabriela
- Ariel
- Maggie
- Rosemary
- Ryleigh
- Tessa
- Evelynn
- Londyn
- Danna
- Amina
- Brooke
- Samara
- Kendall
- Rosie
- Alayna
- Angelina
- Francesca
- Adelyn
- Fatima
- Hope
- Nicole
- Nayeli
- Catherine
- Nina
- Journey
- Adriana
- Camilla
- Ailani
- Malia
- Meadow
- Jordyn
- Joanna
- Emory
- Malani
- Serena
- Teagan
- Aurelia
- Vanessa
- Kayla
- Navy
- Poppy
- Kalani
- Regina
- Adelina
- Rebecca
- Ariyah
- Esme
- Heidi
- Aisha
- Julieta
- Thea
- Annabelle
- Esmeralda
- Lauren
- Julianna
- Taylor
- Wrenlee
- London
- Giselle
- Sabrina
- Azalea
- Laura
- Sylvie
- Sylvia
- Alaya
- Raya
- Elora
- Finley
- Mya
- Dream
- Viviana
- Elaine
- Elodie
- Laila
- Sunny
- Briella
- Lana
- Paige
- Itzel
- Mckenna
- Melissa
- Frances
- Mira
- Payton
- Hattie
- Astrid
- Brynn
- Winter
- Aylin
- Miley
- Raven
- Jocelyn
- Maryam
- Logan
- Veronica
- Gwendolyn
- Anya
- Leighton
- Alivia
- Harley
- Charlee
- Alyssa
- Colette
- Hayden
- Lorelai
- Jayla
- Ivory
- Anaya
- Fiona
- Trinity
- Aubree
- Michelle
- Matilda
- Lilliana
- Mallory
- Mariah
- Helena
- Wynter
- Carmen
- Alayah
- Liana
- Holly
- Madilyn
- Phoenix
- Raelyn
- Willa
- Helen
- Emely
- Alessandra
- Gracelynn
- Carolina
- Arleth
- Salem
- Dorothy
- Xiomara
- Elisa
- Reign
- Florence
- Alicia
- Madeleine
- Melany
- Katalina
- Zariah
- Bonnie
- Joy
- Kaliyah
- Haisley
- Sarai
- Blaire
- Elowyn
- Saige
- Adelynn
- Opal
- Demi
- Nylah
- Emmy
- Camryn
- Kira
- Lorelei
- Daleyza
- Raegan
- Maia
- Bianca
- Aniyah
- Annalise
- Alexandria
- Amirah
- Alison
- Anahi
- Gracelyn
- Brooklynn
- Miracle
- Everlee
- Adhara
- Alma
- Macie
- Murphy
- Romina
- Cassidy
- Clementine
- Heaven
- Elle
- Skye
- Destiny
- Lyra
- Rylie
- Paris
- Cameron
- Felicity
- Maddison
- Leona
- Scarlet
- Kora
- Mariam
- Meredith
- Mckenzie
- Dayana
- Cali
- Amanda
- Arielle
- Angel
- Calliope
- Fernanda
- Estella
- April
- Izabella
- Hanna
- Marceline
- Alexis
- Carter
- Daniella
- Marlee
- Virginia
- Kataleya
- Halo
- Nadia
- Amiyah
- Madelynn
- Emerie
- Renata
- Oaklee
- Remington
- Maxine
- Nellie
- Briar
- Danielle
- Charli
- Makenna
- Imani
- Armani
- Edith
- Nalani
- Mae
- Vienna
- Hadassah
- Stephanie
- Ari
- Kate
- Jimena
- Briana
- Faye
- Jordan
- Louise
- Amber
- Makayla
- Zahra
- Lylah
- Margo
- Amoura
- Jennifer
- Kyla
- Mylah
- Winnie
- Alisson
- Amalia
- Reina
- Avianna
- Allie
- Ivanna
- Ariya
- Lilian
- Alia
- Aylani
- Noah
- Reyna
- Lexi
- Brinley
- Iyla
- Mavis
- Lina
- Cecelia
- Eve
- Maren
- Monroe
- Capri
- Emelia
- Jessica
- Halle
- Alejandra
- Gabrielle
- Yara
- Beatrice
- Della
- Kamryn
- Katie
- Ariah
- Arlette
- Noemi
- Alondra
- Maliyah
- Mara
- Jacqueline
- Jazlyn
- Frankie
- Angie
- Eileen
- Lyric
- Aliana
- Sierra
- Rosalia
- Oaklyn
- Chaya
- Amaia
- Leyla
- Holland
- Cleo
- Jream
- Leslie
- Sevyn
- Jolene
- Mina
- Keira
- Legacy
- Tiana
- Elliott
- Cassandra
- Jaylani
- Priscilla
- Rhea
- Kinley
- Clover
- Estrella
- Zariyah
- Journi
- Miranda
- Angelica
- Marlowe
- Jovie
- Abby
- Sariyah
- Kenzie
- Oakleigh
- Aya
- Siena
- Emberly
- Melina
- Amani
- Bristol
- Estelle
- Galilea
- Irene
- Marie
- Marina
- Makenzie
- Sasha
- Paislee
- Isabela
- Goldie
- Myra
- Davina
- Flora
- Anne
- Azariah
- Indie
- Kaitlyn
- Jazmin
- Gloria
- Georgina
- Shelby
- Dallas
- Thalia
- Aliza
- Averie
- Skyler
- Macy
- Rosa
- Dulce
- Khaleesi
- Marilyn
- Martha
- Adley
- Belen
- Ellianna
- Kelsey
- Nia
- Chana
- Lakelynn
- Selene
- Lottie
- Loretta
- Aleena
- Ila
- Dani
- Remy
- Whitley
- Jenna
- Lillie
- Kennedi
- Violeta
- Kendra
- Lennox
- Laney
- Aviana
- Solana
- Veda
- Marigold
- Billie
- Drew
- Dylan
- Ellis
- Gwen
- Amayah
- Milan 7
- Leilany
- Ryan
- Bridget
- Christina
- Ezra
- Ainsley
- Emerald
- Hana
- Noor
- Rivka
- Amelie
- Jenesis
- Royalty
- Lenora
- Taytum
- Jamie
- Kathryn
- Aileen
- Arlet
- Coraline
- Kiana
- Kyra
- Araceli
- Azaria
- Kenna
- Monica
- Bethany
- Laurel
- Charley
- Karla
- Kayleigh
- Rayna
- Louisa
- Celia
- Emmie
- Fallon
- Persephone
- Winona
- Marisol
- Lara
- Kensley
- Mckinley
- Michaela
- Novalee
- Elyse
- Lacey
- Penny
- Zelda
- Alena
- Luz
- Keilani
- Nala
- Paula
- Birdie
- Karsyn
- Lakelyn
- Miller
- Jemma
- Aleah
- Inaya
- Megan
- Sloan
- Charleigh
- Rosalina
- Andi
- Nola
- Julie
- Adrianna
- Kaeli
- Addilyn
- Freyja
- Ramona
- Samira
- Karina
- Denver
- Janelle
- Mikayla
- Seraphina
- Haley
- Indy
- Paulina
- Rowyn
- Milana
- Chelsea
- Elina
- Milena
- Valery
- Ivey
- Maci
- Stormi
- Brittany
- Madilynn
- Aila
- Yareli
- Yaretzi
- Zaylee
- Erin
- Adele
- Robin
- Jaliyah
- Maisy
- Pearl
- Adalee
- Brynleigh
- Keyla
- Alexa
- Baylor
- Jessie
- Cielo
- Braelynn
- Alianna
- Theodora
- Malaya
- Meilani
- Tallulah
- Analia
- Nyomi
- Promise
- Sol
- Xyla
- Kylee
- Marjorie
- Treasure
- Soleil
- Zaria
- Cynthia
- Luella
- Sky
- Ayleen
- Neriah
- Iliana
- Judith
- Ocean
- Lea
- Linda
- Livia
- Maddie
- Magdalena
- Elia
- Kahlani
- Micah
- Tiffany
- Wrenleigh
- Zaniyah
- Kallie
- Love
- Andie
- Johanna
- Mercy
- Skyla
- Aliya
- Deborah
- Zainab
- Anais
- Greta
- Kaiya
- Malaysia
- Marianna
- Amaris
- Barbara
- Bellamy
- Dalia
- Anika
- Giana
- Keziah
- Nataly
- Cheyenne
- Kelly
- Luisa
- Salma
- Teresa
- Aura
- Carly
- Liv
- Azari
- Dafne
- Rebekah
- Amiri
- Berkley
- Emberlynn
- Hunter
- Jaycee
- Alexia
- Reya
- Ruthie
- Eleanora
- Janiyah
- Rosalyn
- Giuliana
- Emiliana
- Novah
- Tru
- Kori
- Aspyn
- Chandler
- Kailany
- Lilyana
- Elowen
- Khalani
- Naya
- Zyla
- Jolie
- Leanna
- Yamileth
- Cattleya
- Elisabeth
- Ensley
- Ashlyn
- Allyson
- August
- Kimber
- Marleigh
- Soraya
- Anaiah
- Analeia
- Waverly
- Yasmin
- Zora
- Joelle
- Lilia
- Nancy
- Icelynn
- Indigo
- Arely
- Laylani
- Romy
- Scout
- Ayra
- Giovanna
- Siya
- Katelyn
- Madalyn
- Natasha
- Alaiya
- Honey
- Lettie
- Sarahi
- Elsa
- Emmeline
- Hadlee
- Lilianna
- Zendaya
- Ainhoa
- Elliot
- Jazmine
- Aadhya
- Guinevere
- Rayne
- Clare
- Saanvi
- Campbell
- Salome
- Tilly
- Yusra
- Akira
- Henley
- Lyanna
- Quincy
- Rosalee
- Vada
- Ainara
- Annika
- Ayah
- Violette
- Aleia
- Kaya
- Mazie
- Amyra
- Celina
- Mikaela
- Paloma
- Elouise
- Etta
- Julietta
- Kamiyah
- Zoya
- Jayleen
- Kassidy
- Keily
- Harlee
- Kiera
- Liberty
- Darcy
- Dior
- Lisa
- Malka
- Arisbeth
- Kara
- Bailee
- Elani
- Harmoni
- Mariella
- Zayla
- Emi
- Jianna
- Maelynn
- Avani
- Lavender
- Karter
- Raina
Even More Names
Looking for more baby name inspiration? Check out these Good Housekeeping lists:
Nature Baby Names | Disney Baby Names | Indian/Hindu Boy Names | Indian/Hindu Girl Names | Italian Baby Names | Japanese Baby Names | French Baby Names | Hispanic Boy Names | Hispanic Girl Names | Irish Boy Names | Irish Girl Names | Long Names for Boys | Long Names for Girls | Short Names for Boys | Short Names for Girls | Gender-Neutral Names | Western/Cowboy Baby Names | 1920s Names | 1930s Names | 1940s Names | 1950s Names | 1960s Names
Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; previously, she wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her toy-collecting husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found helping out her team at bar trivia or posting about movies on Twitter and Bluesky.
