Top 100 Baby Names 2026 — Most Popular Girl, Boy & Unisex Names

Choosing a baby name is one of the most meaningful decisions you'll make as a parent. It's the word your child will hear thousands of times, sign their name with for decades, and carry through every stage of life.

This guide covers the 100 most popular baby names for 2026 — ranked from reliable trend data, with meanings, origins, and honest notes on what makes each name work. Whether you want a timeless classic, a fresh rising star, or something perfectly in between, you'll find it here.

Note: This article is reviewed against Social Security Administration, UK ONS, and Nameberry trend data.

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Top 25 Girl Names for 2026

These names rank consistently at the top across the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. They're popular for good reason — they're beautiful, versatile, and hold up well across cultures.

1. Olivia — Latin, "olive tree." Represents peace and dignity. Has held the #1 spot in the US and UK for six consecutive years. Nickname: Liv.

2. Emma — Germanic, "whole" or "universal." A timeless choice with global appeal. Strong yet soft-sounding.

3. Sophia — Greek, "wisdom." One of the most popular names worldwide for over a decade. Nickname: Sophie.

4. Amelia — Germanic/Latin, "work" and "industrious." Consistently top-five across all English-speaking countries. Nickname: Amy or Mia.

5. Charlotte — French feminine form of Charles, "free woman." Timeless with a royal association. Nickname: Charlie or Lottie.

6. Mia — Scandinavian/Italian, "mine" or "beloved." Short, punchy, and easy to say in any language.

7. Luna — Latin, "moon." One of the fastest-rising names of the decade, now firmly in the top 10. Beautiful celestial feel.

8. Isabella — Hebrew/Italian, "devoted to God." Romantic and elegant. Nicknames include Bella, Izzy, and Ella.

9. Ava — Latin/Hebrew, "life" or "living one." Clean, simple, and internationally friendly. One of the most popular names globally.

10. Ella — English/Germanic, "all, completely." Short and sweet — works beautifully as a stand-alone or as a nickname for Isabella or Eleanor.

11. Ellie — English diminutive of Eleanor. Warm and friendly. Increasingly used as a given name rather than just a nickname.

12. Harper — English, "harp player." Originally a surname, now one of the most popular given names for girls.

13. Evelyn — English, "wished-for child." Vintage revival name that has climbed steadily for ten years. Nickname: Evie.

14. Grace — Latin, "grace, goodness." Classic and understated. Still one of the most elegant one-word names.

15. Isla — Scottish, "island." Pronounced EYE-la. Rapidly rising — captures the current taste for short, nature-inspired names.

16. Abigail — Hebrew, "father's joy." A strong biblical name with cheerful nicknames (Abby, Gail).

17. Sofia — Greek variant spelling of Sophia. Equally popular as an alternative spelling, especially in Spanish-speaking countries.

18. Camila — Latin/Spanish, "helper to the priest." Strongly trending, particularly in the US and Latin America.

19. Eleanor — Greek/Old French, "bright, shining one." One of the strongest vintage revivals of the decade. Nickname: Ellie or Nell.

20. Aurora — Latin, "dawn." The name of the Roman goddess of dawn. Beautiful, mythological, and tied to the northern lights. Nickname: Rory.

21. Penelope — Greek, "weaver." Literary and charming. Nickname: Penny — itself a chic modern choice.

22. Lily — English, from the flower. Simple, clean, and enduringly popular. One of the most beloved flower names.

23. Aria — Italian/Persian, "air" or "song." Lyrical and modern. Gained massive popularity through pop culture.

24. Riley — Irish/Old English, "courageous." Popular for both girls and boys, though currently trending more strongly female.

25. Violet — Latin, "purple/violet flower." Vintage feel with modern appeal. Associated with creativity and individuality.

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Top 25 Boy Names for 2026

Boys' names in 2026 lean toward short, strong names with classic roots. The "soft classic" trend (Theo, Milo, Leo) is dominating alongside traditional heavyweights.

1. Noah — Hebrew, "rest, comfort." Has held the top spot for US boys for a decade. Timeless and universally pronounceable.

2. Liam — Irish form of William, "strong-willed warrior." The other perennial #1 contender. Short and punchy.

3. Oliver — Latin, "olive tree." The dominant name in UK and Australia. Soft-sounding but strong. Nickname: Ollie.

4. Elijah — Hebrew, "my God is Yahweh." Biblical with serious gravitas. Strong across all demographics.

5. James — Hebrew, "supplanter." One of the most consistent names in recorded history. Never falls out of fashion.

6. Aiden — Irish, "little fire." Has been popular for 15+ years and shows no decline.

7. Lucas — Latin/Greek, "light." The sleek modern cousin of Luke. Currently top-five in multiple countries.

8. Henry — Germanic, "estate ruler." A strong vintage revival — royal, dignified, and universally liked.

9. Mason — English occupational name, "stoneworker." Modern but established. Now a firm classic.

10. Ethan — Hebrew, "strong, firm." Enduringly popular since the 1990s. Clean and unpretentious.

11. Theodore — Greek, "gift of God." One of the biggest climbers of the decade. Nickname: Theo — which is itself top-20.

12. Alexander — Greek, "defender of the people." Powerful classical name with the brilliant nickname Alex.

13. Sebastian — Greek/Latin, "venerable." Literary and elegant. The name of a Shakespeare villain turned baby favourite.

14. Jack — English diminutive of John. Timeless British staple — the most popular boy's name in the UK for years. Direct and dependable.

15. Owen — Welsh, "young warrior." Short, friendly, and Welsh origin adds charm. Rising steadily.

16. Daniel — Hebrew, "God is my judge." A perennial top-10 name across generations and cultures.

17. William — Germanic, "resolute protector." Royal, classic, and enduringly popular. Nicknames: Will, Liam, or Bill.

18. Samuel — Hebrew, "told by God." Biblical with warmth. Strong nickname options: Sam or Sammy.

19. Matthew — Hebrew, "gift of God." A 20th-century classic that has settled into reliable top-20 territory.

20. Leo — Latin, "lion." Short, bold, and rising fast. Currently the #1 boys' name in several European countries.

21. Michael — Hebrew, "who is like God." One of the most popular male names of the entire 20th century. Timeless.

22. Wyatt — English, "brave in war." Western American feel that has gone mainstream globally.

23. Ezra — Hebrew, "help." One of the fastest-rising names of the decade. Soft sound, strong meaning.

24. Asher — Hebrew, "fortunate, blessed." Biblical with a modern, breezy feel. Climbing fast across all English-speaking countries.

25. Caleb — Hebrew, "faithful, devoted." Strong biblical name with a warm, approachable sound.

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Top 25 Gender-Neutral Names for 2026

Unisex and gender-neutral names are the fastest-growing category in baby naming. These choices work beautifully for any child.

1. River — Nature name, "flowing water." One of the most evocative unisex nature names. Trending strongly for all genders.

2. Quinn — Irish, "descendant of Conn." Crisp and modern. Works equally well for girls and boys.

3. Avery — French/English, "elf ruler." Was originally male but is now predominantly used for girls while remaining genuinely unisex.

4. Sage — Latin, "wise." The name of an herb and a virtue. Short, calm, and nature-inspired.

5. Rowan — Gaelic, "little red one." Also a tree name. Beautifully balanced between masculine and feminine energy.

6. Jordan — Hebrew, "flowing down." One of the earliest gender-neutral success stories. Still fresh and modern.

7. Finley — Scottish/Irish, "fair hero." Warmly popular for all genders. Nickname: Finn.

8. Phoenix — Greek, "dark red" (the mythical fire bird). Dramatic and powerful. Growing fast for all genders.

9. Logan — Scottish, "little hollow." Originally male, now equally used for girls. A solid unisex classic.

10. Remy — French, "from Rheims." Sophisticated and European. Rising fast in English-speaking countries.

11. Skylar — Dutch, "scholar." The sky association gives it an open, aspirational feel.

12. Reese — Welsh, "enthusiasm." Known internationally through Reese Witherspoon. Clean and appealing.

13. Blake — Old English, "fair-haired" or "dark." Strong short name. Crosses gender lines effortlessly.

14. Emerson — Old English, "Emery's son." A surname-as-first-name trend pick. Nickname: Emmy.

15. Hayden — Old English, "hay valley." Popular in the late 1990s, now resettling as a modern unisex choice.

16. Wren — English bird name. Tiny but striking. One of the most fashionable nature-name choices for any gender.

17. Ellis — Welsh, "benevolent." Surname style with an approachable sound. Trending particularly in the UK.

18. Marlowe — Old English, "driftwood." Artsy and literary feel. Popular in creative families.

19. Sawyer — English occupational name, "one who saws wood." Warm and adventurous. Strong gender-neutral choice.

20. Oakley — English, "oak meadow." Nature + surname trend combined. Growing fast.

21. Kendall — Old English/Scottish, "valley of the Kent River." Established unisex name with a stylish edge.

22. Morgan — Welsh, "sea circle." A classic Welsh name that has been comfortably unisex for decades.

23. Peyton — Old English, "Paega's town." Started as a boys' name, now predominantly used for girls while remaining genuinely both.

24. Cameron — Scottish, "crooked nose." A solid name with Scottish heritage that works for all genders.

25. Dana — Hebrew/Gaelic, "arbiter" or "from Denmark." Quietly unisex and internationally readable.

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25 Rising Names to Watch in 2026

These names haven't hit the top 25 yet but are climbing fastest based on registration data.

Girls rising: Maeve (Irish, "she who intoxicates"), Clementine (Latin, "merciful"), Saoirse (Irish, "freedom"), Beatrice (Latin, "bringer of joy"), Cordelia (Welsh/Latin, "heart"), Imogen (Celtic, "maiden"), Ottilie (Germanic, "prosperity in battle"), Willa (Germanic, "will"), Cleo (Greek, "glory"), Astrid (Norse, "divinely beautiful"), Margot (French form of Margaret), Freya (Norse, "noble woman"), Elowen (Cornish, "elm tree"), Thea (Greek, "goddess"), Calliope (Greek, the muse of epic poetry).

Boys rising: Bodhi (Sanskrit, "awakening/enlightenment"), Caspian (literary, from the sea), Rafferty (Irish, "abundance"), Lysander (Greek, "liberator"), Edmund (Old English, "wealthy protector"), Alistair (Scottish form of Alexander), Dashiell (French, literary), Barnaby (Hebrew/Greek, "son of consolation"), Cormac (Irish, "charioteer"), Leif (Norse, "heir/descendant").

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How to Choose the Right Name

With so many beautiful options, narrowing down can feel impossible. A simple framework helps:

Say it aloud — a lot. You'll say your child's name thousands of times. Say the full name, say just the first name, then say "[Name], come here!" and see how it feels in the real world.

Check the flow with your surname. Names with the same ending as your surname can blur together. A name ending in a vowel sound pairs well with a surname starting with a consonant, and vice versa.

Think about nicknames. Most names generate nicknames organically. Decide whether you love the inevitable nickname or whether you'd rather pick a name where the short form is already the name itself.

Consider the full arc. Baby Beau, toddler Beau, teenager Beau, Senior Partner Beau — does it hold up? Classic names tend to age well. Highly trendy names sometimes don't.

Check the popularity rank in your area. A name ranked #3 nationally might be #15 in your city — or it might feel like every second child at nursery shares the name. Local registration data (often published by state/county or local authority) shows the real picture.

Don't tell people until it's decided. Sharing names before birth opens them to unsolicited opinions from well-meaning relatives. Most parents find it easier to announce the chosen name after birth, when everyone's delight at the baby overrides any name opinions.

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Regional Differences: US vs UK vs Australia

The same name can rank very differently by country. Olivia is #1 in all three, but after that the rankings diverge. In the UK, Poppy and Isla make the top 10 for girls — they barely register in the US top 50. In Australia, Amelia and Charlotte have dominated for years. US names like Madison and Brooklyn are almost unknown at the top of UK charts.

If you have family across multiple countries, it's worth checking how a name lands in each culture — including how it's pronounced and whether it has any unintended meanings in another language.

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Data sourced from Social Security Administration (US), ONS (UK), Australian Bureau of Statistics, and Nameberry trend reports. Popularity rankings reflect 2024–2025 registration data projected forward to 2026.