Baby Name Trends 2025: The Names Parents Are Choosing Right Now

Baby naming in 2025 reflects who we are as a culture – our values, our influences, our dreams for the next generation. And this year, some fascinating patterns have emerged.

Whether you're expecting, planning ahead, or just curious about what's popular, here's everything happening in baby names right now.

The Defining Trends of 2025

1. Vintage Names Hit Their Stride

The vintage revival isn't new, but 2025 is the year it went mainstream. Names that would have seemed old-fashioned a decade ago are now the top choices for stylish parents.

We're not just talking about gentle revivals like Eleanor and Henry. Parents are reaching deeper – to their great-grandparents' generation and beyond.

Top vintage choices for 2025:

• Girls: Hazel, Violet, Eleanor, Josephine, Beatrice
• Boys: Theodore, Arthur, Oscar, Felix, Jasper

The appeal? These names feel substantial. They have history, meaning, and a distinguished quality that trendy names sometimes lack.

2. Nature Names Flourish

Climate consciousness has changed how parents think about names. Nature-inspired choices represent hope, beauty, and connection to the earth.

Blooming in 2025:

• Botanical: Ivy, Willow, Sage, Fern, Rowan
• Celestial: Luna, Stella, Aurora, Orion
• Elements: River, Storm, Rain, Cliff
• Fauna: Wren, Robin, Fox, Bear

What's interesting: these names don't feel hippie or alternative anymore. They're mainstream choices for all types of families.

3. Short and Sweet Wins

In our fast-paced world, brevity has appeal. One and two-syllable names dominate the charts.

Popular short names:

• Girls: Mia, Ava, Ivy, Noa, Zoe, Lily
• Boys: Leo, Kai, Max, Eli, Finn, Jack

These names pack personality into minimal syllables. They're easy to say, easy to spell, and impossible to shorten further – which some parents see as a plus.

💡 Overwhelmed by options? Start matching names with your partner and let your favorites reveal themselves.

4. Global Names Go Mainstream

Cultural boundaries in naming are dissolving. Parents increasingly choose names from outside their own heritage, celebrating global diversity.

International names trending in 2025:

• Japanese: Hana, Yuki, Kai
• Spanish: Mateo, Sofia, Luna
• Italian: Luca, Aria, Dante
• Irish: Sienna, Finn, Maeve
• Arabic: Layla, Zayn, Zara

This trend reflects our interconnected world. Parents want names that signal openness while sounding beautiful.

5. The "Different But Not Too Different" Sweet Spot

Most parents want a name that stands out without being bizarre. In 2025, the ideal name is recognizable but not overused.

This explains why names ranked #30-100 are the new sweet spot. Popular enough to be accepted, rare enough to feel special.

The sweet spot names:

• Girls: Cora, Isla, Eliza, Margot, Thea
• Boys: Emmett, Silas, Beckett, Jasper, Hayes

2025's Top Names by the Numbers

Based on current data, these names are leading the pack:

Top 10 Girls' Names 2025

Top 10 Boys' Names 2025

The Biggest Risers of 2025

These names have jumped significantly in popularity:

Girls Rising Fast

• Maeve – Irish charm, one-syllable power
• Iris – Floral elegance, mythological roots
• Wren – Nature minimalism
• Margot – French sophistication
• Freya – Norse goddess appeal

Boys Rising Fast

• Theodore – "Theo" as nickname gold
• Felix – Happy meaning, international appeal
• Ezra – Biblical cool
• Milo – Playful and warm
• Silas – Literary and strong

💡 See which rising names you and your partner agree on. Find your matches and build your shortlist together.

Names Falling in 2025

What's going down? These names are declining (though still beautiful):

• Jayden/Jaden – Peak has passed
• Madison – Feels firmly 2000s
• Nevaeh – Creative peak has faded
• Addison – Following Madison down
• Brayden – The -ayden trend cools

Decline doesn't mean these are bad names. It means they'll feel more generation-specific over time.

Cultural Influences on 2025 Names

Television and Streaming

What we watch shapes what we name:

• Bridgerton boosted Regency-era names (Penelope, Eloise, Benedict)
• Fantasy series drive mythological choices
• K-dramas increase Korean name recognition

Royal and Celebrity Influence

• The British royals continue to impact naming (Charlotte, Louis, Archie)
• Celebrity baby names spark trends (though unusual celebrity names rarely go mainstream)

Social Media

Instagram and TikTok spread name trends faster than ever. A name can go from unknown to overused in months.

Regional Variations in 2025

Names trend differently by location:

The Gender-Neutral Movement

Unisex naming continues to grow in 2025. More parents want names that don't immediately signal gender.

Most popular gender-neutral names:

1. Charlie
2. Avery
3. Riley
4. Jordan
5. Quinn
6. Morgan
7. Rowan
8. Sage
9. Parker
10. Blake

For girls, traditionally masculine names are trending (James, Ryan, Dylan). The reverse is less common – parents are still hesitant to give boys traditionally feminine names.

What Makes 2025 Naming Different?

A few observations about this year's parents:

More research. Parents spend more time than ever researching names, checking popularity data, and reading meaning analyses.

Partner agreement matters. Couples are more intentional about finding names they both genuinely love, not just names one partner accepts.

Family pressure lessens. Parents feel less obligated to use family names, though honoring heritage remains important.

Meaning matters. The "what does it mean?" question is asked earlier in the process.

Ready to Find Your Perfect 2025 Name?

The best name isn't the most popular or the most unique – it's the one that makes you both smile. Start matching names together and discover which 2025 favorites feel right for your family.