Somewhere in a delivery room, a new parent is weighing a name that sounds like a Greek hero, a Montana ranch hand or a brooding hockey player from a streaming series.According to BabyCenter’s latest data, they’re far from alone.BabyCenter, a digital parenting resource that’s been reporting on baby names and trends for more than 20 years, just released its annual lists of the most popular baby names of 2026 and the trends it expects to shape 2027.
The findings, shared with NBC News, draw on more than 350,000 babies born this year to parents registered on the BabyCenter app.Because parents submit names in real time, the company can predict trends before the Social Security Administration releases its official list.At the very top, little has changed from last year.
Noah and Olivia both keep their No.1 spots.Just beneath them, though, one name is making a lot of noise.
Eliana has shot up to No.2 for girls, a remarkable climb from No.
14 in 2024 and No.7 last year.
BabyCenter’s baby name advisor, Steph Coffield, calls it the year’s most surprising trend and predicts that if the momentum holds, Eliana could take the top girls’ spot next year.If there’s a theme running through this year’s data, it’s with that first letter E.E is the most popular starting initial for girls, making up 15% of the top 100 girls’ names.
For boys, J leads, with 14% of the top 100.The E-names are having a moment well beyond the top 10.Elsie rose 23 spots, Evangeline 50, Elodie 87, Elaine 143 and Esme a whopping 222.
Among the boys, Josiah surged 33 spots to No.21 and Jeremiah climbed 28 spots to reach No.
60, while Jaxon, Jaxson and Jasper all hold spots in the top 100.Scroll further down the list and you’ll find some fresh faces.Magnolia is the only brand-new girls’ name.
But on the boys’ side, Stetson, Archer and Milo all debuted, joined by Dean, which is making its first top 100 appearance this century after a heyday in the ’50s and ’60s.Length is trendi...