Baby Names
Choosing a baby name is one of the first big decisions you make as a parent — and one of the most fun. This page gathers more than 95 of our favorite baby names, from today’s chart-toppers to rare gems, each with its meaning and origin, grouped by the styles parents search for most.
Every group links to a full list: popular baby names, unique baby names, cute baby names and more. For gender-specific ideas, visit our girl names and boy names hubs.
Baby Names: browse all lists
Popular baby names parents keep choosing
These names have been consistently among the most popular in the US in recent years (SSA data). See the full ranking-style list in popular baby names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin · gender |
|---|---|---|
| Olivia | “Olive tree” | Latin · girl |
| Emma | “Whole, universal” | Germanic · girl |
| Charlotte | “Free” | French · girl |
| Amelia | “Work” | Germanic · girl |
| Sophia | “Wisdom” | Greek · girl |
| Mia | “Mine” or short for Maria | Italian / Scandinavian · girl |
| Isabella | “Pledged to God” | Hebrew, via Spanish · girl |
| Evelyn | Possibly from Aveline, “hazelnut” | English / Norman · girl |
| Liam | Short for William, “resolute protector” | Irish · boy |
| Noah | “Rest, comfort” | Hebrew · boy |
| Oliver | “Olive tree” | Latin · boy |
| Theodore | “Gift of God” | Greek · boy |
| Henry | “Ruler of the home” | Germanic · boy |
| Lucas | “From Lucania” or “light” | Latin · boy |
| Elijah | “My God is Yahweh” | Hebrew · boy |
| Mateo | “Gift of God” | Spanish · boy |
Cute baby names
Soft sounds, sweet diminutives and names that make everyone smile. Hundreds more in our cute baby names list.
| Name | Meaning | Origin · gender |
|---|---|---|
| Posy | “Small bunch of flowers” | English · girl |
| Millie | Short for Millicent or Amelia | English · girl |
| Poppy | The poppy flower | English · girl |
| Daisy | “Day’s eye” | English · girl |
| Lulu | Pet form of Louise or Lucy | English · girl |
| Coco | Nickname made famous by Coco Chanel | French · girl |
| Teddy | Short for Theodore or Edward | English · boy |
| Ollie | Short for Oliver | English · boy |
| Benji | Short for Benjamin, “son of the right hand” | Hebrew · boy |
| Milo | Possibly “merciful” or “soldier” | Germanic · boy |
| Remy | “Oarsman” or from Reims | French · unisex |
| Bodhi | “Enlightenment, awakening” | Sanskrit · boy |
Unique baby names
Distinctive but wearable names that are rarely in the top 1000. For more, browse unique baby names and our rare names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin · gender |
|---|---|---|
| Marigold | The golden flower | English · girl |
| Clementine | “Merciful” | Latin · girl |
| Seraphine | “Fiery ones” | Hebrew · girl |
| Isolde | Possibly “ice ruler”; heroine of Tristan and Isolde | Celtic / Germanic · girl |
| Wilhelmina | “Resolute protector” | Germanic · girl |
| Oriel | “Golden” | Latin · girl |
| Caspian | The Caspian Sea | English · boy |
| Thaddeus | Possibly “heart” or “courageous” | Aramaic · boy |
| Lysander | “Liberator” | Greek · boy |
| Cassius | Possibly “hollow” | Latin · boy |
| Evander | “Good man” | Greek · boy |
| Ignatius | Possibly “fiery” | Latin · boy |
Short baby names
One- and two-syllable names that are hard to misspell and easy to call across a playground. More in our short baby names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin · gender |
|---|---|---|
| Ava | Possibly “bird” or “life” | Latin / Hebrew · girl |
| Ivy | The climbing plant | English · girl |
| Mae | Form of May or Mary | English · girl |
| Zoe | “Life” | Greek · girl |
| Ada | “Noble” | Germanic · girl |
| June | The month of June, named for Juno | Latin · girl |
| Kai | “Sea” | Hawaiian · unisex |
| Jude | “Praised” | Hebrew · boy |
| Max | “Greatest” | Latin · boy |
| Eli | “Ascended, high” | Hebrew · boy |
| Rhys | “Ardor, enthusiasm” | Welsh · boy |
| Finn | “Fair, white” | Irish · boy |
Strong baby names
Names with powerful meanings: warriors, lions and protectors. See our full list of strong baby names and names that mean strength.
| Name | Meaning | Origin · gender |
|---|---|---|
| Valentina | “Strong, healthy” | Latin · girl |
| Matilda | “Mighty in battle” | Germanic · girl |
| Bridget | “Exalted one; strength” | Irish · girl |
| Audrey | “Noble strength” | Old English · girl |
| Louise | “Famous warrior” | Germanic · girl |
| Gabriel | “God is my strength” | Hebrew · boy |
| Ethan | “Strong, firm” | Hebrew · boy |
| Leon | “Lion” | Greek · boy |
| Everett | “Brave as a wild boar” | English · boy |
| Maximus | “Greatest” | Latin · boy |
| Andrew | “Manly, brave” | Greek · boy |
| Brian | Possibly “high, noble” | Irish · boy |
Hipster baby names
Vintage revivals, nature words and literary picks with an artsy edge. Find more in hipster baby names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin · gender |
|---|---|---|
| Juniper | The juniper shrub | English · girl |
| Margot | French pet form of Marguerite, “pearl” | French · girl |
| Wren | The wren bird | English · unisex |
| Hazel | The hazel tree | English · girl |
| Beatrix | “She who brings happiness” | Latin · girl |
| Arlo | Possibly “fortified hill” | English · boy |
| Atlas | “To endure”; the Titan who held up the sky | Greek · boy |
| Otto | “Wealth” | Germanic · boy |
| Ezra | “Help” | Hebrew · boy |
| Rowan | “Little red one” | Irish · unisex |
| Silas | “Of the forest” | Latin · boy |
| August | “Great, venerable” | Latin · boy |
Gender-neutral baby names
Names that suit any baby, whatever the future holds. More in our unisex names and gender-neutral names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin · gender |
|---|---|---|
| River | The river | English · unisex |
| Avery | “Elf counsel” | English · unisex |
| Quinn | “Descendant of Conn” | Irish · unisex |
| Sage | “Wise” | Latin · unisex |
| Emery | “Brave, powerful” | Germanic · unisex |
| Hollis | “Near the holly trees” | English · unisex |
| Marlowe | “Remnants of a lake” | English · unisex |
| Ellis | Form of Elijah or Elias | Welsh / English · unisex |
Royal baby names
Names worn by kings, queens and princesses through the centuries. See our royal baby names and princess names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin · gender |
|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth | “My God is an oath” | Hebrew · girl |
| Victoria | “Victory” | Latin · girl |
| Catherine | Possibly “pure” | Greek · girl |
| Alexandra | “Defender of the people” | Greek · girl |
| Anne | “Grace” | Hebrew · girl |
| George | “Farmer” | Greek · boy |
| Louis | “Famous warrior” | Germanic · boy |
| Edward | “Wealthy guardian” | Old English · boy |
| Frederick | “Peaceful ruler” | Germanic · boy |
| Albert | “Noble and bright” | Germanic · boy |
| Charles | “Free man” | Germanic · boy |
How to choose the perfect baby name
- Make a shortlist together. Each partner writes ten favorites, then compare — the overlaps are often your best candidates.
- Say it with the surname. Check rhythm, initials and how the full name sounds when called out loud.
- Check popularity trends. A name climbing fast may be much more common by the time your child starts school.
- Think about nicknames. If you love Theodore but not Ted, consider whether you can live with the nickname others may use.
- Look at meaning and heritage. Browse our name meanings or names by country to find names with a personal story.
- Sleep on it. Live with a name for a week or two before announcing it; if it still feels right, you’ve found it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular baby name?
In recent SSA data, Olivia has been the top or near-top girl name for years, and Liam has led the boy rankings, with Noah and Oliver close behind.
How do I choose a unique baby name?
Look for names outside the top 1000, revive vintage names, try nature or place names, or explore names from your family’s heritage. Our unique baby names list is a good starting point.
When should I pick a baby name?
There’s no rule. Many parents shortlist names in the second trimester and decide after meeting the baby. Hospitals usually need a name for the birth certificate within days, though rules vary by state.
What are good gender-neutral baby names?
Rowan, Wren, Kai, Remy, River, Avery and Quinn are popular choices. See our unisex and gender-neutral name lists for many more.
Should a baby name have a meaning?
It isn’t required, but many parents enjoy choosing a name with a meaningful origin, such as Clementine (“merciful”) or Ezra (“help”).