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Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
9 Baby Names Nobody Was Using 5 Years Ago—but They're About To Be Everywhere
9 Baby Names Nobody Was Using 5 Years Ago—but They're About To Be Everywhere originally appeared on Parade. Baby name trends are always changing, and what was super common at one point can quickly fade as new monikers rise in popularity. But sometimes it's hard to see the trends emerging until they hit the absolute top of the charts. So Parade spoke with a professional baby name consultant to get the details on rising baby names that you'll start seeing everywhere—despite them hardly being used at all just half a decade Slagen, who goes by @namingbebe on Instagram, is a baby name consultant and author of the book Naming Bebe: An Interactive Guide to Choosing a Baby Name You Love. Since she professionally helps parents choose names for their little ones, she's very well versed in the trends and sees which monikers are starting to climb the ranks. The rising names she's seeing these days were hardly on anyone's radar even five years Social Security Administration data, in 2020, some of the top baby names for boys were Liam, Noah, Oliver, Elijah and William. For girls, the most popular monikers were Olivia, Emma, Ava, Charlotte and Sophia. Though most of those names are still commonly used today, several others have started climbing their way through the charts—and Slagen has her eye on "Scottie is one of those names that just caught fire. To me, it gives off the exact same air as the name Charlie for girls, which has become very popular," Slagen tells notes that while Scottie wasn't present in the top 1,000 baby names in 2020, it now ranks at 202 for girls. "I'm not sure I have seen a name climb that fast," she rise could have been helped out by influencer Allison Kuch and her husband, former NFL player Isaac Rochell, naming their daughter Scottie in 2023. Slagen adds that Scottie combines a few rising name trends, like gender-neutral monikers, nicknames as full names, and unique options that still don't feel "too unusual." "This name started buzzing after the show Yellowstone aired in 2018—it was the surname of the family featured in the show," Slagen says. She adds that it's now risen in popularity as a first name for baby boys, explaining, "Dutton now ranks 736, while it was not even in the top 1,000 five years ago."Related: Though Winona consistently ranked for baby girls in the first half of the 1900s, it dropped off the charts after 1957. Now, Slagen says it's "starting to creep up in popularity." It ranked 738th for girls in 2024. Slagen loves it for its bold, vintage feel "with a playful, wearable nickname in Winnie."Related: "The comeback of Lottie speaks to the 100-year rule: The idea that names cycle back into fashion every 100 years," Slagen says. "It's Grandma-chic! It's also a way to make the very popular Charlotte feel a bit more unique."She notes that Lottie now ranks 676th for girls, whereas it didn't land in the top 1,000 just five years ago. "I'm certainly hearing [Rocky] much more than I did five years ago, and we can attribute that to Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker, who used it for their son Rocky Thirteen in 2023," Slagen says. As a boys' name, Rocky climbed around 200 spots from 862nd place in 2020 to 657th in 2024. Slagen sees Miller following the trend of surnames being used as given names. "While names like Parker, Cooper and Carter are now mainstream, top 100 names, Miller has a very similar vibe and people are turning to it as a less common alternative with great nickname potential," she made both the girls' and boys' top 1,000 list in 2024, whereas in 2020 it only ranked for boys (and about 260 spots lower).Related: "Elowyn is one of the most surprising ones to me," Slagen reveals. "However, there is nothing people love these days more than a name that starts with 'El,' and parents are turning to more unique options as names like Eleanor, Ellie, Ella and Eloise have become more popular."She adds that Elowyn has an "appealing nickname option in Wynn/Wynnie." The moniker ranked 447th for baby girls in 2024, despite not cracking the top 1,000 in 2020. "This ranked 915th in 2019 and now ranks 366th," Slagen says about the growing popularity of this boys' name. "When a unique name is rising in popularity so quickly, it really stands out. I see this on so many lists now and I think the appeal is that it's a less common alternative to more popular surname names that end in 's' like Brooks or Miles."She adds that it can also be used as a girls' name, which Hilary Duff did with her daughter Banks Violet in 2018. "This name appeared out of thin air," Slagen says. "There are a few pop culture references that could have helped boost it, but it's very in line with the rugged, western-sounding names that people are loving right now."She adds that it can also be seen as "an edgier alternative to the more popular Colton." In 2024, Colter ranked 218th for baby boys, compared to 972nd in 2020. According to Slagen, that's "an astronomical jump in the name world." These monikers all show a lot of promise despite their rare usage half a decade ago, so there's no telling how high they could climb on the charts in just a couple more years! Up Next:Colleen Slagen is a baby name consultant and author of the book Naming Bebe: An Interactive Guide to Choosing a Baby Name You Love. Find her on Instagram @namingbebe. 9 Baby Names Nobody Was Using 5 Years Ago—but They're About To Be Everywhere first appeared on Parade on Jun 26, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
New Research Reveals the Actual Most Popular Baby Names, and the List Is Fascinating
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."If you're like many new parents, you might find it hard to strike the perfect balance when naming your little one. There are so many ways you can go: long names, short names, Disney names! What if you just like the idea of choosing a popular name, but still want your child to feel special and individual? How can you tell how popular a name is, really? Great news: There's a fascinating new resource you can use to find out. You might know that the Social Security Administration (SSA) compiles a yearly list of the most popular baby names in the United States each year, based on the information parents give when they apply for their newborn's Social Security number. Here, spelling counts, so names like Zoe, Zoey and Zoie are counted as three separate names. The baby-naming website Nameberry, however, has put together its own list, called the Playground Analysis, of the real top baby names of the year by ranking each name with all of its spellings together as one name. "The baby name data released each year by the SSA lists variant spellings like Eleanor and Elinor, or Luca and Luka, as totally separate names, which can impact their official position on the charts," says Sophie Kihm, Nameberry's editor-in-chief. "Listing the various spellings together gives us a more accurate view of the top names in the country." As in, the combined ranking shows which names you're actually most likely to hear called out on the playground. This shifts the name charts significantly. While the SSA has Olivia as the most popular name in the country, Nameberry's calculation determined that the name Sophia was actually number one in overall popularity for girls in 2024, knocking Olivia down to No. 3. (Check out this viral TikTok that thoroughly covers their process.) 'Both Sophia and Sofia are in the SSA Top 10, so when combined, it overtakes Olivia by almost 2000 births,' Kihm explains. Let's do a comparison of the 25 most popular girls' names and the most popular boys' names, according to both the SSA and the Playground Analysis. Here are the most popular girl names in the country, according to the SSA, which counts variant spellings as different names. 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 Here are the top 25 names according to Nameberry, which combines different spellings of the same name. Sophia, including Sofia and Sofiya Amelia, including Emilia, Emelia and Amilia Olivia, including Alivia and Alyvia Emma, including Ema Charlotte, including Charlette Mia, including Miah, Miya and Miyah Isabella, including Izabella and Isabela Adeline, including Adalynn, Adaline, Adalyn, Adelyn, Adelynn, Addilyn, Addilynn, Adilene, Addalyn, Addelyn, Adilynn, Addalynn, Adelyne, Adalyne and Adilyn Eliana, including Elliana, Elianna, Ellianna, Eliyanah, Elyana, Elyanna, Eliyana, Ellyana, Ellieana and Eleana Evelyn, including Evelynn, Evalyn, Evalynn and Evelin Isla, including Ayla, Iyla, Ila, Aila, Aylah, Eila, Aiyla, Iylah, Aayla and Ilah Aria, including Arya, Ariyah, Ariya, Ariah, Aarya and Aryah Camila, including Kamila, Camilla, Kamilla and Kamilah Zoe, including Zoey and Zoie Madelyn, including Madeline, Madilyn, Madeleine, Madelynn, Madilynn, Madalyn, Madalynn, Madelyne and Madelin Elena, including Alaina, Elaina, Alayna, Alena, Aleyna, Elayna and Ellena Ava, including Avah, Ayva and Ayvah Riley, including Rylee, Ryleigh, Rylie, Rhylee and Reilly Layla, including Leila, Laila, Leyla, Laylah, Lailah and Leilah Chloe, including Khloe and Cloe Lily, including Lilly, Lillie and Lili Eleanor, including Elinor, Eleanore, Elanor and Eleonor Nora, including Norah Harper Violet, including Violette and Violett Now let's do the same for the boys, starting with the SSA's top 25. Liam Noah Oliver Theodore James Henry Mateo Elijah Lucas William Benjamin Levi Ezra Sebastian Jack Daniel Samuel Michael Ethan Asher John Hudson Luca Leo Elias 'As a general rule, boy names tend to have fewer alternative spellings than girl name,' Kihm notes. 'That's part of the reason that Liam is the top name in both the SSA stats and the Playground Analysis. It's also just a very popular name that has grown in usage over the past year.' Liam, including Lyam Noah, including Noa Oliver Mateo, including Matteo and Matheo Jackson, including Jaxon, Jaxson, Jaxxon, Jaxen and Jaxyn Luca, including Luka, Lucca and, Lukah Lucas, including Lukas Theodore, including Theodor Elijah, including Alijah James Henry, including Henri Aiden, including Ayden, Aidan, Adan, Eiden, Aden, Aydin, Eyden, Aydan, Eydan, Eidan, Adin, Aidyn and Aedan William Miles, including Myles Ethan, including Eithan Eythan Benjamin Levi, including Levy Grayson, including Greyson, Graysen, Greysen, Gracen Kayden, including Kaiden, Caden, Kaden, Cayden, Caiden, Kaidyn, Kaeden and Kadyn Ezra, including Ezrah Michael, including Mikael, Micheal, Mikel and Mykel Sebastian, including Sebastien Daniel Jack John, including Jon and Jhon The Playground Analysis condensed the SSA's list down to 100 names. Here are the biggest leaps in popularity: Kaylee — moved 147 places to #74 Journee — moved 121 places to #96 Kehlani — moved 113 places to #37 Callie — moved 97 places to #79 Amaya — moved 93 places to #76 Kayson — moved 223 spots to #68 Zayn — moved 149 spots to #100 Kayden — moved 106 spots to #19 Elliot — moved 68 spots to #82 Malachi — moved 60 spots to #89 Some names are spelled one way, but can sound multiple ways. 'The biggest limitation of the Playground Analysis is that some names have multiple standard pronunciations, but we must categorize the names based on a single pronunciation,' Kihm explains. Take the name Henry, for example. 'While it's true that the original pronunciation of Henri is something like 'Ohn-REE', most Americans pronounce Henri and Henry the same way,' she says. 'We thought it was a better fit to group them together.' When the Nameberry experts looked at the list according to the Playground Analysis, these trends emerged as having an effect on baby names. 'Sofia is on the rise — particularly in states with high Spanish-speaking populations like New Mexico, California and Nevada,' Kihm says. Nameberry data found that names starting with El- increased in popularity between 2023 and 2024. Think Eliana, Elena, Eleanor, Elizabeth, Ellie and Elias. Also, names starting with the letter L, like Lucy and Luca, are on the rise. Nameberry also found that botanical monikers like Violet and Ivy are trending upward. 'For boys, soft and gentle names like Miles, Dylan and Asher were among the biggest risers between Playground Analysis 2023 and Playground Analysis 2024,' Kihm notes. Let's start with the Zayn Malik Effect. The singer who got famous with One Direction has driven the popularity of his name way up. 'Ranked at Number 249 on the SSA charts, Zayn is Number 100 on the Playground Analysis thanks to popular spelling variations like Zane,' Kihm says. 'He has also influenced the name Kai. Malik and supermodel Gigi Hadid introduced the alternative spelling Khai when they used it for their daughter. As the second-most common variation of Kai, Khai helps boost Kai into the Playground Analysis Top 100.' Luka Dončić, the superstar forward guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, is also having an impact. "Luka is another spelling variation that is climbing the charts, in part thanks to him, although it still has a ways to go to catch up to Luca," Kihm says. Singer-songwriter Lainey Wilson is also the reason for the rising popularity of her first name, as well as its spelling variations. Singer Kehlani has also spurred many moms and dads to name their girls in her honor. 'Kehlani has strongly impacted all spellings of her name,' Kihm says. "Kehlani has emerged as the 'standard,' but Kaylani, Kailani and Keilani are popular as well.' Then there's the name Kaylee, already popular but given a fresh boost by influencer Kaeli Mae. Last but not least: 'Arianna used to be the dominant spelling (of that name), but it was overshadowed by Ariana in 2014, when Ariana Grande became a household name,' Kihm notes. Although the name as a whole isn't as popular anymore, the Arianna spelling is dropping quicker. The magic of Glinda goes on! Using this in-depth info from the Playground Analysis is a great way to identify what baby names you like and don't like. Make your own ranked list of favorites, practice saying and spelling each option, then listen to your heart (or wait to meet your baby). The right name will come at just the right time! Check out these Good Housekeeping lists: 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 | Nature Baby Names | 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 | 1970s Names You Might Also Like 67 Best Gifts for Women That'll Make Her Smile The Best Pillows for Every Type of Sleeper
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
A Top Baby Name Site's ‘Playground Analysis' Just Revealed the ‘Real' Most Popular Names of 2024 — & They Aren't What You Think
When the U.S. Social Security Administration released their top baby names of 2024, we weren't surprised to see Olivia and Liam in the top spot for girls and boys, respectively. But one thing that may have surprised you was to see Sophia in the top 10 list twice — once in spot six spelled 'Sophia' and once in spot 10 spelled 'Sofia.' If this same name, just different spellings, were considered different entries, how does that skew the data? A Playground Analysis at Nameberry thought the same thing, which is why they released what they call the 'real' most popular names of 2024, taking into account all the different ways parents spell their kids' names. 'The Social Security Administration tallies the popularity charts according to the spelling of the names on birth certificates, so names like Eleanor, Elinor, and Eleanore are all counted as distinct names with individual rankings,' Sophie Kim, editor-in-chef at Nameberry tells SheKnows. 'Nameberry's Playground Analysis groups names according to sound — because when you hear a name on the playground, there's no way to distinguish between Eleanor and Elinor!' More from SheKnows These Are the Top Trending Baby Names in the U.S. Right Now, According To Google This is so true, and as someone named Sydni as opposed to the more traditional Sydney, I am all too familiar with the different and unique spellings parents come up with for their babies. Nameberry grouped different spelling variations of the same name and then ranked them, resulting in a slightly different list then what the Social Security administration data shows. The results show how likely you're going to hear your child's name at the playground or preschool. 1. Sophia (6) — 20336 births — Sofia, Sofiya 2. Amelia (3) — 18375 births — Emilia, Emelia, Amilia 3. Olivia (1) — 15777 births — Alivia, Alyvia 4. Emma (2) — 13629 births — Ema 5. Charlotte (4) — 12693 births — Charlette 6. Mia (5) — 12633 births — Miah, Miya, Miyah 7. Isabella (7) — 12056 births — Izabella, Isabela 8. Adeline (58) — 11764 births — Adalynn, Adaline, Adalyn, Adelyn, Adelynn, Addilyn, Addilynn, Adilene, Addalyn, Addelyn, Adilynn, Addalynn, Adelyne, Adalyne, Adilyn 9. Eliana (18) — 11219 births — Elliana, Elianna, Ellianna, Eliyanah, Elyana, Elyanna, Eliyana, Ellyana, Ellieana, Eleana 10. Evelyn (8) — 10695 births — Evelynn, Evalyn, Evalynn, Evelin 1. Liam (1) — 22478 births — Lyam 2. Noah (2) — 20622 births — Noa 3. Oliver (3) — 15375 births 4. Mateo (7) — 14228 births — Matteo, Matheo 5. Jackson (35) — 13311 births — Jaxon, Jaxson, Jaxxon, Jaxen, Jaxyn 6. Luca (23) — 12358 births — Luka, Lucca, Lukah 7. Lucas (9) — 12097 births — Lukas 8. Theodore (4) — 12089 births — Theodor 9. Elijah (8) — 12055 births — Alijah 10. James (5) — 11827 births Nameberry also released the most impacted girl and boy names from their results. 1. Kaylee — moved 147 places to #74 2. Journee — moved 121 places to #96 3. Kehlani — moved 113 places to #37 4. Callie — moved 97 places to #79 5. Amaya — moved 93 places to #76 1. Kayson — moved 223 spots to #68 2. Zayn — moved 149 spots to #100 3. Kayden — moved 106 spots to #19 4. Elliot — moved 68 spots to #82 5. Malachi — moved 60 spots to #89 Kim noticed a few trends in this report. 'The top baby name trends of 2025 include Fast Fashion Names — mix and match elements that allow parents to create meaningful and personalized names; Global Americana Names — ethnically distinct and pan-cultural names that tie children to their heritage or work well in various cultures around the world; and Country Rebrand Names — a diverse set of names that includes classic country choices alongside those inspired by gauchos and outlaws,' she told us. So what advice does she have for choosing a name? 'When picking a baby name, I always recommend parents consider their experience with their own names,' Kim continues. 'What did they like about them? What was hard about their names? Answering these questions can help guide them towards a name that feels right for their child.' Maybe these names will help inspire a baby name choice for your future little one, or a unique way to spell a name you already liked!Best of SheKnows These Are the 36 Celebrities with the Most Kids 15 Celebrity Parents Whose Kids Went to Ivy League Schools Tween & Teen Slang 2025: A Definitive Guide to 'What the Hellyante' Your Kid Is Saying Right Now
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
New Research Shows the Most Popular Baby Name, and It's Not Olivia
The Social Security Administration has been publishing its highly anticipated Top Baby Names list every year for the last nearly 30 years, and since its debut in 1997, the list has inspired people all over the world to name their newborns with the trendiest titles in mind. In 2025, naming baby girls Olivia, Emma, and Amelia, and little boys Liam, Noah, and Oliver became the norm as a result. However, new research reveals that the SSA got it wrong when it comes to the most popular baby girl names of 2024. On June 5, Nameberry (AKA 'the world's largest baby naming site') debuted its 2024 Playground Analysis. According to the site's research, Sophia (Sofia and Sofiya) is the most popular girl's name, followed by Amelia (Emelia, Emilia, and Amilia) and Olivia (Alivia and Alyvia). The top three most popular boys' names, however, remain the same, with Liam on top, and Noah and Oliver coming in for second and third. 'The Social Security Administration differentiates and ranks names based on spelling, while Nameberry's Playground Analysis groups names according to sound, because when you're on the playground, Luca with a C is virtually the same as Luka with a K,' Nameberry writer Emma Waterhouse explained in a recent TikTok. 'My colleague Kelly combined all the variant spellings of names into groups, and then ranked the groups to get the real top baby names of 2024… The hardest part of The Playground Analysis is deciding which names to group together because many names have multiple pronunciations. But, as a whole, The Playground Analysis is much more reflective of the names you're actually hearing out and about than the SSA stats are.' As creative as Nameberry's approach to determining the top names of the year is, many TikTokers were simply too distracted by the many spellings shown in the video, which depicted the top 20 baby names for boys and girls, to care. 'Spelling it Charlette should be a Class A felony,' one TikToker commented on the video. 'Absolutely bone-chilled and shocked to see 'Madelyn' used as the base spelling,' another person remarked. 'I can't believe they made up six ways to spell Jackson,' someone else chimed in. Spelling aside, some TikTokers did take the time to applaud the grouping system, while others agreed that deciding which names go together is quite tricky. 'The fact that previous analysis didn't think to combine different spelling variations… like, who designed that?' one person remarked. Needless to say, if you've ever wondered where some of the names in your kiddo's class originated, these in-depth name analyses shed some light. 'My son is 11. There were six Aidens in his class of 21 kids this year,' one TikToker revealed. 'Nooo—I thought the Aiden and Caden reign of terror was over,' someone else exclaimed. You Might Also Like 70 Impressive Tiny Houses That Maximize Function and Style 30+ Paint Colors That Will Instantly Transform Your Kitchen
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Social Security Administration reveals most popular baby names for girls and boys in 2024
On average, about 10,000 babies are born in America every day, according to data from the CDC. That equates to millions of people every year wondering "What should be the baby's name?" The Social Security Administration releases annual lists of the 1,000 most popular names in each state and across the U.S. Is your baby's name trendy or a trend setter? Liam Noah James William Oliver Charlotte Olivia Amelia Emma Ava Liam was the top boy name in 2023 and 2020 and has been among the top 5 since 2018. Noah and William have been among the top 3 since 2015. One name that's jumped in and out of the top 5 over the last decade or so is Elijah. Charlotte has been slowly growing in popularity, claiming the No. 2 spot in 2023 and having been in the top 5 since 2019. Olivia was the longtime queen, sitting at the tippy top from 2021 to 2023. One name that's jumped in and out of the top 5 over the last decade or so is Isabella. According to the Bump, Liam is an Irish name meaning "strong-willed warrior." It's a diminutive of the British name William, meaning "helmet of will" or "protection." The Bump says Charlotte has French and Roman origins, standing as a feminine variation of Charles which means "free man." Historically, it has been a name evoking nobility and the freedom of creative expression. Liam Noah Oliver Theodore James Olivia Emma Amelia Charlotte Mia Liam is not only Georgia's most popular boy name, it has been the most popular name in America since 2017. It and Noah have had the top 2 spots since 2014. Theodore has been slowly picking up speed over the years. Olivia has also been a longtime queen, staying at the top since 2019. Before that, Emma held the crown, but she and Emma have been in the top 2 since 2014. Mia has been growing in numbers over the years. Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for Gannett/USA Today. Find him on Instagram @miguelegoas and email at mlegoas@ This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Most popular baby names in GA: Liam, Charlotte, Noah, Olivia, James
