Hey, Berries! Our 2026 name trends are finally here 
Take a look at Baby Name Trends 2026[name_f][/name_f] and share your thoughts here. Did we get it right? Are there any trends we’re missing? And most importantly, what are your favorite names that we featured?
[name_f][/name_f]Looking forward to hearing from you! 
oh, these are amazing! 
as someone who had a baby in 2025, and is planning to start ttc again in 2026, i can say that you’ve hit the mark with so many on my husband’s and my lists. evangeline, odelia, fern, [name_f][/name_f] flora, hosanna, valley, oaks, shiloh, shepherd, rafe, and river are some of my favorites, as well as elowen of course.
[name_f][/name_f]wondering if my daughter’s name would be categorized as “romantasy straight out of utah” since we opted for the invented spelling, elowyn 
Hah! [name_f]Elowyn[/name_f] is a perfect intersection [name_f][/name_f]— definitely “romantasy straight out of utah!”
Oh! So many lovelies on these lists! I love [name_m]Aurelian[/name_m], [name_f]Chiara[/name_f], [name_f]Tallulah[/name_f], [name_f]Vivienne[/name_f], [name_f]Alma[/name_f], [name_f]Shiloh[/name_f], [name_f]Blair[/name_f], [name_m]Wes[/name_m], [name_m]Alistair[/name_m], [name_m]Ambrose[/name_m], [name_f]Elowen[/name_f], [name_m]Emrys[/name_m], [name_m]Evander[/name_m], [name_m]Rafe[/name_m], [name_m]Rhys[/name_m], [name_m]Elio[/name_m], [name_f]Noa[/name_f], [name_f]Fern[/name_f], [name_m]Bram[/name_m], [name_m]Cedric[/name_m], [name_m]Ellis[/name_m], [name_f]Jane[/name_f], and [name_f]Tess[/name_f]!
Oh, interesting. Let’s see…
[name_f][/name_f]The Ancient Civilization names are fascinating, but entirely too grand to use for me. I love [name_f]Marcella[/name_f], [name_f]Cressida[/name_f], [name_m]Isidore[/name_m] and [name_m]Cassander[/name_m] though, and am intrigued by [name_m]Johari[/name_m].
[name_f][/name_f]Showgirl is not my style at all – and yet, the list has several of my favourites! [name_f]Farrah[/name_f], [name_f]Vivienne[/name_f] and [name_f]Salome[/name_f] have been on various lists of mine, and I might give [name_f]Evara[/name_f] a chance as well. From the [name_m]German[/name_m] perspective, it’s funny to see [name_f]Sabine[/name_f] in this category: It topped the charts all through the 60s here, making it the[name_f][/name_f] grandma name right now – so more suited for category 4.
[name_f][/name_f]The Soulful names are a hard-to-grasp category. Like it says in the post, spirituality can mean a lot of things, and I think you’re right that that’s a great part of their appeal, especially the potential to mean different things to different people. The search for purpose and stability during interesting times probably adds to it further. From the list, I enjoy [name_f]Dove[/name_f], [name_m]River[/name_m], [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f], [name_f]Selah[/name_f], [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] and [name_f]Vera[/name_f], although I wouldn’t have thought to sort some of them into this category.
[name_f][/name_f]The [name_m]Boomer[/name_m] revivals show that trends used to be more different across countries than they are now – faster communication has made the world a lot smaller. I like several of these names, but don’t associate them with the older generation: [name_f]Gloria[/name_f] I would have sorted in the previous category, [name_f]Gwen[/name_f], [name_m]Lenny[/name_m], [name_m]Jay[/name_m] and [name_m]Robin[/name_m] actually feel quite youthful to me, and while I am aware that [name_f]Nancy[/name_f] and [name_f]Cynthia[/name_f] are granny names, they don’t feel[name_f][/name_f] that way. It’s not that I don’t see the appeal of “old people names” on babies though, there are several [name_m]German[/name_m] [name_m]Boomer[/name_m] names I’d totally use: [name_m]Wolfgang[/name_m], [name_f]Kerstin[/name_f], [name_m]Norbert[/name_m], [name_m]Joachim[/name_m], Berry-favourite [name_f]Ingrid[/name_f], as well as the the included here [name_f]Judith[/name_f] and [name_m]Ralph[/name_m].
[name_f][/name_f]Romantasy seems like it’s almost[name_f][/name_f] my style: [name_m]Evander[/name_m], [name_m]Lysander[/name_m], [name_f]Bronwen[/name_f] and [name_m]Ambrose[/name_m] are just ever so slightly too grand for everyday life. I also enjoy the somewhat “quieter” [name_m]Emrys[/name_m], [name_f]Carys[/name_f] and (especially!) [name_f]Tamsin[/name_f], although I wouldn’t describe any of them as “strongly gendered, fanciful choices”. [name_m]Magnus[/name_m] I could even see myself using. And, again, hilarious to see [name_f]Sabine[/name_f] on this list.
[name_f][/name_f]The Vowel Hiatus is a great example of the world getting smaller: It was the[name_f][/name_f] name trend that [name_m]Knud[/name_m] Bielefeld (the blogger responsible for the closest thing we have to official name data here) pointed out two years ago. They’re not for me though. They feel childish to me – unsurprisingly given that they’re currently trending. I have to say though, [name_f]Eloa[/name_f] and [name_f]Riya[/name_f] from this list have caught my interest.
[name_f][/name_f]The Numbers aren’t for me at all. While I love the idea of a IV going by [name_m]Quade[/name_m] or [name_f]Ivy[/name_f], they’re just not birth certificate material. If I had to pick one, I’d go with solid and simple [name_f]Una[/name_f].
[name_f][/name_f]I thought the [name_m]Utah[/name_m] names would be entirely too wild for me, but I guess I’ve either softened (as in letting names be names) or hardened (as in nothing can shock me) over the years. I love [name_f]Fern[/name_f] and [name_m]Rockwell[/name_m], [name_f]Coco[/name_f] even used to be on my list (until I heard, no idea if it’s true, that that’s the [name_m]South[/name_m] American equivalent of what US-based children would call a number two 
[name_f][/name_f] ). [name_m]Oaks[/name_m] and [name_m]Bronson[/name_m] aren’t bad either, and [name_f]Scotlyn[/name_f] is perfect character name material.
The [name_f]Anime[/name_f] names are nice. I wouldn’t use them, not just because I have zero connection to anime, but I love how they have character without being complicated. [name_f]Momo[/name_f] used to be on my list, a friend of mine used [name_m]Kaito[/name_m] in the middle spot last year (I’ve been wondering if anime was the inspiration there!), and I also enjoy [name_m]Jinu[/name_m], [name_f]Nami[/name_f], [name_m]Renji[/name_m], [name_f]Rin[/name_f], [name_f]Rumi[/name_f] and [name_f]Yumi[/name_f] – so, most of them, even if only from afar. [name_m]Rudo[/name_m] could be an interesting update on Rudy/Rudolph.
[name_f][/name_f]I’ve noticed the Lit names trending, too! Especially [name_f]Bronte[/name_f] seems to be popular on the forums. [name_f]My[/name_f] favourite here is [name_m]Bram[/name_m], although [name_m]Fielding[/name_m] is a close second. A (different) friend used [name_m]Konrad[/name_m] in the middle spot some years ago, and [name_m]Cedric[/name_m] almost made our shared list for if R had been a boy.
These are fun!! Going to list my favourites from each category, maybe they would make cute sibsets… we’ll see!
[name_f][/name_f]Ancient Civilisations
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Cressida[/name_f] + [name_f]Eulalia[/name_f]
Showgirl Names
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Cecily[/name_f], [name_f]Elodie[/name_f], and [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f]
Soulful Names
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Alma[/name_f], [name_m]Cedar[/name_m], [name_f]Dove[/name_f], [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f], [name_f]Olive[/name_f], [name_m]River[/name_m], [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m], and [name_f]Sunday[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]!
A-OK [name_m]Boomer[/name_m] Names
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Bonnie[/name_f], [name_f]Connie[/name_f], [name_f]Gwen[/name_f], [name_m]Hal[/name_m], [name_f]Joni[/name_f], [name_f]Nancy[/name_f], [name_m]Ralph[/name_m], and [name_m]Robin[/name_m] [name_f][/name_f]!
Romantasy Names
[name_f][/name_f][name_m]Ambrose[/name_m], [name_f]Bronwen[/name_f], [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f], [name_f]Elowen[/name_f], and [name_f]Isolde[/name_f]
Vowel Hiatus Names
[name_f][/name_f][name_m]Elio[/name_m]
Straight Out of [name_m]Utah[/name_m]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Dottie[/name_f], [name_f]Fern[/name_f], [name_f]Honey[/name_f], and [name_f]Lettie[/name_f]
[name_f]Anime[/name_f] Names
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Anya[/name_f]
[name_m]Brit[/name_m] Lit Names
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Bronte[/name_f], [name_f]Darcy[/name_f], [name_f]Dolly[/name_f], [name_f]Dorothea[/name_f], [name_m]Edmund[/name_m], [name_f]Flora[/name_f], [name_m]Heath[/name_m], [name_f]Jane[/name_f], [name_f]Louisa[/name_f], and [name_f]Tess[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]!
Such a fun read! [name_m]Loving[/name_m] these names below are my favourites
[name_f][/name_f]Ancient civilisation
[name_f][/name_f][name_m]Isidore[/name_m], [name_f]Marcella[/name_f] [name_f]Olympia[/name_f], [name_m]Linus[/name_m] + [name_f]Vita[/name_f]
Showgirl names
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Elodie[/name_f], [name_f]Emiliana[/name_f], [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f], [name_f]Holiday[/name_f], [name_f]Reverie[/name_f], [name_f]Seraphina[/name_f], [name_f]Tallulah[/name_f], [name_f]Solana[/name_f] & [name_f]Vivienne[/name_f]
Soulful names
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Alma[/name_f], [name_m]Cedar[/name_m], [name_m]Cypress[/name_m], [name_f]Dove[/name_f], [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f], [name_f]Olive[/name_f], [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m], [name_f]Shiloh[/name_f], [name_f]Sunday[/name_f] [name_f]Jubilee[/name_f] & [name_m]River[/name_m]
A Ok [name_m]Boomer[/name_m] names
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Bonnie[/name_f], [name_f]Blair[/name_f], [name_f]Connie[/name_f], [name_f]Judith[/name_f] + [name_m]Robin[/name_m]
Romantasy names
[name_f][/name_f][name_m]Ambrose[/name_m], [name_f]Carys[/name_f], [name_m]Cassian[/name_m], [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f], [name_m]Dashiell[/name_m], [name_f]Elspeth[/name_f], [name_m]Evander[/name_m], [name_m]Lysander[/name_m], [name_m]Magnus[/name_m], [name_f]Odelia[/name_f], [name_m]Rhys[/name_m], [name_f]Tamsin[/name_f] & [name_f]Soraya[/name_f]
Vowel Hiatus names
[name_f][/name_f][name_m]Koa[/name_m], [name_f]Leonie[/name_f], [name_f]Noa[/name_f] + [name_f]Anaia[/name_f]
Number names
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Octavia[/name_f], [name_m]Octavio[/name_m], [name_f]Ivy[/name_f] + [name_f]Una[/name_f]
Straight out of [name_m]Utah[/name_m]
[name_f][/name_f][name_m]Coast[/name_m], [name_f]Dottie[/name_f], [name_f]Fern[/name_f], [name_f]Honey[/name_f], [name_m]Oakes[/name_m] + [name_f]Valley[/name_f]
[name_f]Anime[/name_f] names
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Anya[/name_f] + [name_f]Rumi[/name_f]
[name_m]Brit[/name_m] lit names
[name_f][/name_f][name_m]Bram[/name_m], [name_f]Brontë[/name_f], [name_m]Conrad[/name_m], [name_f]Dorothea[/name_f], [name_m]Edmund[/name_m], [name_m]Ellis[/name_m], [name_f]Estella[/name_f], [name_m]Heath[/name_m], [name_f]Jane[/name_f], [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] + [name_m]Wilde[/name_m]
I find these articles so interesting! I’m so glad they’re created and shared here!
[name_f][/name_f]The Ancient Civilization names are very interesting! I’d be very surprised to meet anyone with those names in real life. I do like [name_m]Linus[/name_m] and [name_f]Vita[/name_f] though.
[name_f][/name_f]Showgirl Names feel like they have some of that vintage revival feel while also being overly trendy? Not my style, but I do like a few of them: [name_f]Emiliana[/name_f], [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f], [name_f]Tallulah[/name_f], and [name_f]Vivienne[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f]Souful names are interesting! I actually have noticed a trend of people veering more away from Biblical names and more to spiritual names so that’s interesting that’ it’s been a trend overall. [name_f]Alma[/name_f], [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f], [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m], and [name_f]Vera[/name_f] are all nice
[name_f][/name_f]The name A-OK [name_m]Boomer[/name_m] had me chuckling. These feel vintage, but not in the same way the grandma names have felt to me. So it’s interesting that these will be the new “grandma” names soon. [name_f]Betsy[/name_f], [name_f]Beverly[/name_f], [name_f]Darla[/name_f], [name_m]Lenny[/name_m], [name_m]Monty[/name_m], and [name_m]Wayne[/name_m] are all cool!
[name_f][/name_f]Romantacy Names must be my category because I like so many of these 
[name_f][/name_f] [name_f][/name_f] Alistar, [name_m]Ambrose[/name_m], [name_m]Cassian[/name_m], [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f], Elowemn, [name_m]Lysander[/name_m], [name_f]Odelia[/name_f], and [name_m]Rhys[/name_m] all have great vibes to them
'I’m also laughing at the straight out of [name_m]Utah[/name_m] 
[name_f][/name_f] that’s such an accurate description and all those names fit the category so well
I like a sprinkling of names from each category (looking at you Scotlyn, Lilivere, Bronwen, Cedar, River, Ophelia, and Jubilee), but my fave is Brit Lit Names (I was an English major, and my dog’s name is Bronte).
I learned that MLB player Bryce Harper recently gave his son the middle name Three, after his jersey number. Of course, I remember the episode of Seinfeld where George wanted to name his son Seven, after Mickey Mantle’s number. It was played for laughs, but I actually like the sound of “seven.”
A friend of mine had a new grandchild–a boy– a couple of months ago with a name that defies these categories–Peregrine. Well, SEEMS to defy, as I have no idea if this name is from a romance-fantasy series or anime. My friend didn’t explain why this name was chosen. I’m thinking the nickname is going to be Perry. Cute!!
I love a few names from a few categories but none are like ‘that’s me’. Favs as follows:
[name_f][/name_f]Ancient Civilizations:
[name_f][/name_f]Showgirl Names
[name_f][/name_f]Soulful Names:
[name_f][/name_f]A-OK [name_m]Boomer[/name_m] Names
[name_f][/name_f]Romantasy Names:
[name_f][/name_f]Vowel Hiatus Name
[name_f][/name_f]Number Names
[name_f][/name_f]Straight out of [name_m]Utah[/name_m]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Anime[/name_f] Names
[name_f][/name_f][name_m]Brit[/name_m] Lit Names
[name_f][/name_f][name_m]Quincy[/name_m] is the one name here that I’ve had on my short list in the past. [name_m]Rhys[/name_m] and [name_f]Cynthia[/name_f] are both the names of family members, so I’d never use them but I do really like them.
It’s not romance[name_f][/name_f] fantasy, but [name_m]Pippin[/name_m] in [name_m]Lord[/name_m] of the Rings is actually named [name_m]Peregrine[/name_m]! I’d personally sort it with the Soulful names though, as flying birds symbolize freedom.
Thank you for finding that out. When I texted my friend to ask her if the baby was going to be nicknamed [name_m]Perry[/name_m], she responded by saying “Pipen or Pip.” I thought that was very strange, but now I know why! I wonder if it’s on the rise.
going by sections! I loved the article!
, Agastya , Eulalia, Cressida, Farrah, Elodie, Vivienne, Kaya, AnyaAs someone who’s lived in both Ireland/UK, Australia and ended up in [name_m]Utah[/name_m] in the states, the first thing I noticed was just how bizarre [name_m]Utah[/name_m] names are!! The fact it’s becoming a trend crushes my soul 
