Neither Emma nor Oliver: these were the most popular baby names in 2024, and there are already changes in the top so far in 2025
The list of the most popular baby names for 2024 has been released just as naming trends in 2025 begin to emerge.
Each year, the Social Security Administration (SSA) publishes a list of the most popular baby names for boys and girls, based on the registered births for that year. This resource is invaluable for expecting parents who face the challenge of selecting a name.
By reviewing recent naming trends, parents can discover whether their child might share a name with many Liams or Olivias. Furthermore, after examining the data, they may opt for a common name simply because they can’t resist its popularity.
In 2024, parents continued to favor names that were already popular, with the top two names for boys and girls remaining unchanged.
What were the most common baby names in 2024?
In 2024, Liam and Olivia remained the most common baby names, with Noah and Emma holding onto the second-place spot.
The most common baby names for girls were:
- Olivia
- Emma
- Amelia
- Charlotte
- Mia
- Sophia
- Isabella
- Evelyn
- Ava
- Sofia
As for boys, the most popular names were made up of this list:
- Liam
- Noah
- Oliver
- Theodore
- James
- Henry
- Mateo
- Elijah
- Lucas
- William.
Shifts within the top five most popular baby names in 2024
For girls’ names, the first change to the 2023 list comes in the third slot, where Amelia has replaced Charlotte, which has been knocked into fourth place. Meanwhile, it takes until the fourth most popular name for the boys list to see a change, with Theodore jumping in from the 7th position.
The 2025 baby name trends tracked by experts
The enduring popularity of certain baby names underscores their affection among parents. However, real-time information from various platforms reveals emerging trends. BabyCenter, which compiles a list based on the favorite names of expectant parents using the platform, has identified “Theodore” as the top-ranked name on their 2024 list. This significant rise may suggest a continued increase in its popularity this year.
Baby Center published a blog about naming trends in 2025, and found that for girls, parents thinking “Cottage Core,” with names like Juniper and Marigold popping up on potential lists more frequently. “Indeed, flower names have been growing in popularity over the last decade, but the names themselves have become more unique,” noted Mallory Moss, co-founder of the website.
For boys, Moss spotted an increase in ‘Celtic’ or ‘Grandpa’ names in early 2025. Liam leads that list on the increase in Celtic names, but has been joined by others like “Declan, Callum, Lachlan, and Rowan.” As for grandpa names, Moss highlights Theodore, which we saw rise to the top five in 2024, as well as Edgar, Caleb, August, Otto, and Felix. The baby naming expert is not surprised by the resurgence of older names for boys, “since the grandma trend became huge a few years back.”
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