Baby name experts predict biggest trends for 2026 but some say they are 'rogue'
Experts at Nameberry have revealed the top baby name trends for 2026 - and some of the monikers have sparked a debate among parents
The baby name experts at Nameberry have revealed some of the top trends they predict for 2026, and it's safe to say they've stirred up quite a conversation. According to baby name specialist Sophie Kihm, the most fashionable names of 2026 are influenced by escapist media - the books, music, movies, and more that parents turn to when reality seems too bleak and uncertain.
Think along the lines of romantasy series, historical novels, or reality TV shows. These names draw from idealized pasts and envisioned futures, giving them a somewhat magical and optimistic vibe.
Some of the names you'll find on the lists are inspired by ancient civilizations, like Adhara, Agastya, or Cassander. There are also some 'showgirl names', such as Azura, Caliana, and Elodie.
Parents are also gravitating towards soulful names, including Cedar, Dove, and Jubilee.
The baby name experts have also labeled one of the groups as A-OK Boomer names, which includes Beverly, Bruce, and Darla. Some of the romantasy names include Bronwen, Cordelia, and Elspeth, and another category is 'vowel hiatus' names, including Amael, Aya, and Deia.
Some names, like Billion, Cinco, and Four are inspired by numbers, while others are dubbed as 'straight out of Utah', such as Brighton, Bronson, and Coast. Some names, like Aura, Issei, and Jinu are anime-inspired, while Briony, Bronte, and Conrad are classified as 'Brit lit names'.
Sonya, a baby name consultant from New Zealand who goes by the BB Namer, recently took to her @thebbnamer TikTok account to share her thoughts on various names. Several of the names had her totally "obsessed", especially the showgirl names Ophelia, Roxie, and Farrah.
Even though they weren't exactly her cup of tea, she found herself attracted to the soulful names Vera and Kyrie.
She was also quite taken with the A-OK Boomer choices Bonnie, Bruce, and Ginny, although she wasn't particularly fond of the romantasy picks Azlan and Lilivere. Sonya confessed that she liked "more of the number names than anticipated" - but only two made the cut - Ivy and Octavia.
She was equally enchanted by several of the anime-inspired names, particularly Mira, Rinji, and Rumi.
The name collection also sparked a debate among commenters. "Some of these are soo rogue," one user noted.
However, others were thoroughly impressed, with another commenting: "My Cordelia is 14, crazy to see her name on a list. But I never understood why it wasn't more common it's such a beautiful name."
See Nameberry's full list of top 10 baby name trends for 2026 below:
Ancient Civilisations
Nameberry described these names as ones that "connect children back to history".
- Adhara
- Agastya
- Azad
- Cassander
- Eulalia
- Johari
- Nefertari
- Tenoch
- Vita
- Zyanya
Showgirl Names
The baby naming experts predict names from Taylor Swift's latest album The Life of a Showgirl will become popular in 2026, along with real-life and fictional performers.
- Azura
- Caliana
- Elodie
- Navani
- Nomi
- Ophelia
- Reverie
- Roxie
- Sakina
- Tallulah
Soulful Names
"Soulful names reference spirituality but are not biblical or overtly religious", says Nameberry.
- Cedar
- Dove
- Jubilee
- Kyrie
- Olive
- Purpose
- River
- Samadhi
- Shepherd
- Truce
A-OK Boomer Names
These monikers represent the "latest iteration of clunky-cool, counterculture baby names favored by trendsetting parents".
- Beverly
- Bruce
- Darla
- Hal
- Judith
- Nancy
- Patti
- Ralph
- Ronald
- Wayne
Romantasy Names
These names "sound like they could be the hero or heroine of a romantic fantasy novel".
- Bronwen
- Cordelia
- Elspeth
- Emrys
- Esmarie
- Leontel
- Magnus
- Rune
- Tamsin
- Thoren
Vowel Hiatus Names
The "vowel hiatus is the enunciation of two distinct adjoining vowels". These contain "one (at most, two) consonants, and sometimes none at all. The consonants that are used tend to be soft and glide-enhancing, like common choices L, M, N, and R."
- Amael
- Aya
- Deia
- Elio
- Eloa
- Eziah
- Koa
- Layal
- Riya
- Tadeo
Number Names
- Billion
- Cinco
- Four
- Eleven
- Octavia
- Prima
- Quade
- Seven
- Tres
- Una
Straight Out of Utah
According to the experts, the recent cultural fascination with all things Utah has sparked an interest in the state's unique baby names.
- Brighton
- Bronson
- Coast
- Dottie
- Elden
- McCrae
- Scotlyn
- Swayze
- Valley
- Zealand
Anime Names
Nameberry stated: "Anime names are fueled by a surge of travel to Japan and the proliferation of anime on streaming platforms like Netflix."
- Aura
- Issei
- Jinu
- Kaya
- Kiro
- Kota
- Kyomi
- Renji
- Rumi
- Suzu
Brit Lit Names
The upcoming year will see numerous television and film adaptations of British literary classics, which will reignite enthusiasm for "quintessentially English stories," including iconic character names.
- Briony
- Bronte
- Conrad
- Crusoe
- Elinor
- Estella
- Eyre
- Heath
- Kazuo
- Wilde