America’s 20 Most Popular Baby Names in 2026

Naming a baby is one of those jobs where suddenly everyone has an opinion. Grandma has a favorite. Your best friend has already claimed a name for a future child she may or may not have. And then there is the internet, which has approximately 47 million suggestions.

So what are American parents actually naming their babies?

The Social Security Administration released its latest official baby-name rankings in May 2026, giving us the clearest look at the names dominating the charts right now. And while some names are climbing, a few familiar favorites are showing absolutely no interest in giving up their spots.

Here are the 20 most popular baby names in the U.S., with the top 10 for girls and boys.

1. Olivia
Olivia is still sitting comfortably at No. 1. At this point, Olivia has practically earned a reserved parking space at the top of the baby-name list.

2. Charlotte
Charlotte made a big move, jumping to No. 2 and knocking Emma out of the runner-up spot.

3. Emma
Emma may have slipped to No. 3, but this classic is hardly going anywhere.

4. Amelia
Amelia continues to have that old-fashioned-but-not-too-old-fashioned appeal parents seem to love.

5. Sophia
Sophia remains a favorite, bringing a classic, elegant feel to the list.

6. Mia
Short, sweet and easy to say, Mia continues to hold strong.

7. Isabella
Isabella keeps its place among America's favorite girls' names, combining a traditional feel with plenty of nickname possibilities.

8. Evelyn
Evelyn continues its impressive run, proving that vintage names are still having a very modern moment.

9. Sofia
Yes, Sofia and Sophia are both in the top 10. Apparently one spelling wasn't enough.

10. Eliana
Eliana is one of the biggest stories on the girls' list. It entered the top 10 for the first time, replacing Ava, which dropped out of the top 10.

1. Liam
Liam continues its reign at No. 1. It has now been America's most popular boys' name for seven consecutive years.

2. Noah
Noah holds firmly at No. 2, proving that parents still love a classic biblical name.

3. Oliver
Oliver continues its climb and now sits comfortably in the top three.

4. Theodore
Theodore has become one of the biggest modern favorites, helped by its vintage charm and the very popular nickname Theo.

5. Henry
Henry is another classic that refuses to go out of style.

6. James
James remains one of those names that somehow works equally well for a baby, a teenager and a guy signing important documents.

7. Elijah
Elijah continues to rank among America's favorite biblical boys' names.

8. Mateo
Mateo stands out as a strong Spanish-language name in the national top 10, reflecting the increasingly diverse naming choices of American families.

9. William
William remains a dependable classic, with plenty of nickname options ranging from Will to Liam.

10. Lucas
Lucas rounds out the boys' top 10 with a name that feels both traditional and modern.

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The biggest takeaway? Classic names are still winning.

Olivia, Charlotte, Emma, Amelia, Henry, James and William all have decades, or even centuries, of history behind them. But parents aren't simply recycling the names of previous generations. They are choosing names that feel familiar while still sounding fresh.

There is also a noticeable preference for names that are easy to pronounce, easy to spell and work across different cultures and languages. Mateo, Sofia, Lucas and Isabella are good examples.

And then there is the rise of names like Eliana and Theodore, which feel a little less expected while still being recognizable.

The other interesting thing about today's rankings is that being a top-10 name doesn't necessarily mean your child will be one of five Olivias in kindergarten. Baby naming has become much more spread out than it was decades ago. The most popular names now represent a much smaller percentage of total births than the blockbuster names of previous generations.

So if you are currently staring at a baby-name list with 73 possibilities circled, take comfort in this: America has spoken, but you absolutely don't have to listen.

After all, your baby probably isn't going to care whether their name was Thing 1 or Thing 2!