Baby Name Trends for 2027 Show Growing Popularity of Pop Culture, Mythology, and Vintage Classics
Pop culture phenomena ranging from hockey dramas and modern westerns to ancient Greek mythology are heavily influencing what new parents are naming their newborns as trends emerge heading into 2027.
Data compiled from more than 350,000 babies born this year to parents registered on the BabyCenter app offers an early look at naming directions before official government figures are released. The digital parenting resource, which has tracked names for over 20 years, found that while the overall top spots remain unchanged with Noah and Olivia keeping their No. 1 rankings, significant shifts are occurring just beneath the surface.
Eliana has made a remarkable climb to secure the No. 2 spot for girls, a steep rise from No. 14 in 2024 and No. 7 last year. Baby name advisor Steph Coffield identified the surge as the year’s most surprising trend, noting that the name could claim the top spot next year if momentum continues.
Alphabetic preferences also show distinct patterns. The letter E leads as the most popular starting initial for girls, accounting for 15% of the top 100 names, while J dominates the boys’ list at 14%. Numerous E-names saw substantial gains, including Elsie up 23 spots, Evangeline rising 50, Elodie climbing 87, Elaine up 143, and Esme surging 222 spots. Among boys, Josiah jumped 33 spots to No. 21, and Jeremiah climbed 28 spots to reach No. 60.
New additions to the rankings include Magnolia as the sole brand-new girls’ name in the top tier, while Stetson, Archer, and Milo made their boy debuts. Dean also reappeared in the top 100 for the first time this century, building on popularity from the 1950s and 1960s. Overall, name length is increasing, with nearly 30% of top girls’ names and 31% of top boys’ names containing seven or more letters, led by Christopher at 11 letters.
Entertainment influences are proving particularly powerful. Ice-rink and hockey-themed streaming series and television dramas, coinciding with a heavily watched NHL playoff season, helped propel names like Garrett, Allie, Beau, and Jules upward. The standout performer was Ilya, which leaped more than 6,000 spots to No. 2,197 for boys.
Television and film inspirations extend to the open range and ancient history. The enduring cultural footprint of the ranch drama series “Yellowstone” pushed Stetson up 46 spots to No. 95, marking its first time in the top 100. Other cowboy-adjacent names gaining ground include Walker up 19, Callahan up 88, Wilder up 107, and Gunner up 151.
Concurrently, Greek mythology names are experiencing a wave of popularity boosted by cinematic releases such as “The Odyssey.” Rising boys’ names include Atlas up 5, Orion and Troy both up 9, Ares up 32, Evander up 128, and Perseus up 249. For girls, Iris rose 18 spots, Lydia climbed 38, and Daphne gained 42.
Television nostalgia is also playing a role, fueled by announcements surrounding a “Gilmore Girls” documentary and seasonal rewatches that lifted Stars Hollow-associated monikers. Lorelai increased 12 spots and Rory gained 31 among girls, while boys’ choices like Christopher rose 4, Luke up 7, Richard up 29, and Dean up 31.
Not all cultural references fared well, however. Taylor experienced a sharp decline following a combination of high-profile news events, including Taylor Swift’s wedding, agricultural lettuce recalls, and prominent births. The name dropped 24 spots to No. 399 for girls, while plummeting 262 spots to No. 1,093 for boys, pushing it out of the top 1,000 for the first time.
