8 Baby Name Trends To Look Out For In 2026

As we move through the final months of 2025, the folks at BabyCenter are looking ahead to what the new year will hold in the realm of baby names. A new report from the parenting website and app predicts the trends that will shape name choices in 2026. According to the report, parents will be drawing inspiration from current prestige TV, basketball stars, cottagecore vibes and more. “These trends show us that parents today aren’t just sticking with the classics,” Rebekah Wahlberg, a baby name trends specialist at BabyCenter, told HuffPost. “They’re willing to look anywhere and everywhere for baby name inspiration, from literature to music to sports to celebrities.”BabyCenter’s predictions are based on data from the more than 350,000 babies born between November 2024 and November 2025 to parents who shared their names with the website and/or app.The experts at BabyCenter believe Y2K nostalgia and today's prestige TV are among the trends shaping parents' name choices.“Names from The Great Gatsby and The Catcher in the Rye were not on my bingo card,” Wahlberg said. “But when we saw them climbing the charts, we knew that parents today are leaning into the nostalgia from the classic literature they read in school growing up.”The experts also keep an eye on the discourse among users. “Trends are usually identified as our highly active BabyCenter Community launches discussions on a wide variety of pop culture topics that give us insight into what parents are watching, listening to, reacting to and more that might factor into their baby name choices,” Wahlberg noted.“Being in the know about what’s trending in baby names is so important, whether you’re looking to embrace the trends or avoid them. We want our reports to equip parents with everything they need to make informed, inspired decisions about their baby’s future.”So whether you’re looking to follow or avoid baby-naming fads, continue scrolling for eight trends to look out for in 2026 – and visit BabyCenter for the full report.Prestige TVShows like Severance, The White Lotus and The Pitt seem to be putting multiple monikers on the map. BabyCenter reported popularity surges for character names from these series – including Helena, Belinda, Chelsea, Valentin, Samira, Heather and Cassie. CottagecoreFrom home decor to fashion, the cottagecore aesthetic is increasingly appealing to people who dream of escaping to a cozy countryside retreat to get away from the stresses of modern life. That cottagecore vibe is also making a mark on the world of baby names with rising picks like Juniper, Flora, Sienna, Eloise, Reed, Rowan and Heath.Classic LitAs Wahlberg noted, many families are drawing inspiration from classic literature. Both author and character names are having a moment – see: Sawyer, Finn, Holden, Daisy, Jay, Ishmael, Ernest, Sylvia and Octavia. Basketball MVPsMoving into the present day, the BabyCenter report identified today’s basketball stars as another source of name inspo. Specifically, there have been name boosts for NBA Championship-winning Oklahoma City Thunder players like Jaylin Williams, Jalen Williams, Dillon Jones, Isaiah Joe and Isaiah Hartenstein. The same goes for WNBA all-stars Courtney Williams, Kelsey Plum, Natasha Cloud and Erica Wheeler. Y2K Pop NostalgiaThe Backstreet Boys’ buzzy Las Vegas Sphere residency highlights the strength of Y2K nostalgia. Indeed, there’s also been an increase in popularity for the band member names Howie and Nick (with the latter associated with boy banders Nick Lachey and Nick Jonas as well). Plus, *NSYNC members Lance and Joey are also seeing name rises. Pope FrancisThe late Pope Francis’ messages of compassion, environmental stewardship and inclusivity live on as many parents aim to honour his legacy with their baby-naming choices. According to BabyCenter, the name Francis and variants like Francesco, Frankie, Franz, Francine, Frances and Francesca are on the upswing. Cowboy CarterConsidering Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter won the Grammy for Album of the Year and the accompanying tour shattered ticket sales records, it’s perhaps unsurprising that the album’s influence has spread beyond music. Names featured on the album (shoutout to Rose and Jane) – as well as those of featured artists like Miley and Willie – are apparently on the rise. The Summer I Turned PrettyAlthough everyone has been buzzing about Conrad and Jeremiah, the names of the show’s female characters appear to be having more of an impact. Belly’s real name, Isabel, is climbing in BabyCenter’s rankings, and the same goes for another significant figure: Susannah. Related...Top Baby Names For 2025: See What’s TrendingOld-Fashioned And Fabulous: 55 Baby Names Making A Comeback In 2025So THAT's Why Babies' Eyes Change Colour

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