The Playground Analysis groups the names from the SSA list according to their sound and then ranks the groups instead of the individual spellings. Grouping the various spellings together gives us a more accurate view of what the Number 1 name is in the country… these are the top names you will hear more often on the playground!

Top Girl Names 2025

The Top 3 on the girls’ side of the Playground Analysis stay the same from last year: Sophia, Amelia, and Olivia. Charlotte moved up one spot to #4, Eliana jumped four spots to #5, Emma dropped two spots to #6, Isabella stayed at #7, and Mia dropped two spots to #8. Isla enters the Top 10 at #9, moving up two spots, and Adeline drops two spots to #10. Evelyn falls out of the Top 10 to #11.

Within the Top 100, the biggest mover from 2024, for the second year in a row, is Ailany, which moved another 54 spots from #66 to #12. Other top movers are Eloise (#88 to #63), Iris (#108 to #85), Millie (#111 to #90), Clara (#100 to #80), and Madison (#47 to #30). The names that moved down the most are Kaylee (#74 to #98), Natalie (#76 to #95), Ariana (#61 to #77), Luna (#28 to #41), Maya (#40 to #51), and Addison (#89 to #100).

There are four new names to the Top 100 of the PA2025 compared to the previous year’s list: Iris (#108 to #85), Millie (#111 to #90), Eden (#105 to #97), and Daisy (#101 to #99). The names that dropped out of the Top 100 are Journee (#96 to #122), Cora (#97 to #107), Aubrey (#98 to #121), and Melanie (#99 to #108).

Two interesting notes: First, there are two separate spellings of Sophia in the SSA Top 10. Sophia is #5 and Sofia is #9, both of them moving up a spot from 2024. And second, Isabelle has overtaken Isabel as the most popular spelling.

Now, let’s compare the SSA list to the Playground Analysis to show how the combined spellings can affect a name's overall popularity. The names from the PA Top 100 influenced the most by combining the spellings are the following:

1. Kaylee — moved up 157 places to #98

2. Kehlani — moved up 120 places to #29

3. Amaya — moved up 104 places to #76

4. Isabelle — moved up 91 places to #75

5. Callie — moved up 86 places to #89

6. Alaia — moved up 73 places to #44

7. Wrenley — moved up 73 places to #86

8. Charlie — moved up 65 places to #68

9. Alana — moved up 58 places to #82

10. Emerson — moved up 58 places to #64

See the Top 100 most popular girl names 2025, according to our Playground Analysis, below.

Names on the PA list are given in their most popular form, together with their SSA rankings and total combined births, plus some variant spellings.

All variant spellings given to more than 5 babies are included in the figures, but I have only listed those with 50 or more births due to length (for example, Sophia has nine alternate spellings used in 2024, but only 3 are listed here).

It requires a fair amount of discretion to decide where to place each spelling. As with several names in the Playground Analysis, there is some debate over whether Aaliyah and Alaia are the same name and should be combined. In my analysis of names and their pronunciations, I go with my gut, while recognizing that parents may pronounce these names however they choose.

I hear Aaliyah pronounced uh-LEE-uh and Alaia as uh-LAY-uh and have categorized spellings accordingly. These decisions can impact these rankings. If Aaliyah and Alaia were combined, for example, the name would be in the Top 10.

Playground Analysis Top 100 Girl Names

1. Sophia (5) — 20924 births — Sofia, Sofiya

2. Amelia (4) — 18335 births — Emilia, Emelia, Amilia

3. Olivia (1) — 14393 births — Alivia, Alyvia

4. Charlotte (2) — 13553 births — Charlette

5. Eliana (10) — 13252 births — Elliana, Elianna, Ellianna, Elyana, Eliyanah, Elyanna, Elianah, Eliyana, Ellyana, Eleana

6. Emma (3) — 12923 births — Ema

7. Isabella (7) — 11823 births — Izabella, Isabela

8. Mia (6) — 11438 births — Miah, Miya

9. Isla (28) — 11260 births — Ayla, Iyla, Ila, Aila, Aylah, Eila, Iylah, Aiyla, Islah, Ilah

10. Adeline (59) — 11053 births — Adalynn, Adaline, Adalyn, Adelyn, Adelynn, Addilyn, Addilynn, Adilene, Addelyn, Addalyn, Adilynn, Adalyne, Adelyne, Addalynn

11. Evelyn (8) — 10703 births — Evelynn, Evalyn, Evalynn, Evelin, Evelynne

12. Ailany (14) — 10688 births — Ailani, Aylani, Ailanny, Aylany, Eilany

13. Aria (26) — 10300 births — Arya, Ariyah, Ariya, Ariah, Aarya, Aryah

14. Madelyn (71) — 9521 births — Madeline, Madeleine, Madilyn, Madelynn, Madilynn, Madalyn, Madalynn, Madelyne, Madelin

15. Zoe (31) — 9421 births — Zoey, Zoie

16. Elena (42) — 9417 births — Alaina, Elaina, Alayna, Alena, Aleyna, Elayna

17. Camila (19) — 8600 births — Kamila, Camilla, Kamilla, Kamilah

18. Lily (18) — 8475 births — Lilly, Lillie, Lili

19. Riley (48) — 8475 births — Rylee, Ryleigh, Rylie, Rhylee, Reilly

20. Eleanor (12) — 8430 births — Eleanore, Elinor, Elanor, Eleanor

21. Layla (36) — 8309 births — Leila, Laila, Leyla, Laylah, Lailah, Leilah

22. Ava (11) — 8033 births — Avah, Ayva

23. Violet (13) — 7988 births — Violette, Violett

24. Nora (20) — 7582 births — Norah

25. Chloe (23) — 7561 births — Khloe, Cloe

26. Aurora (15) — 7106 births

27. Elizabeth (17) — 7077 births — Elisabeth

28. Lyla (80) — 7070 births — Lilah, Lila, Lylah

29. Kehlani (149) — 7033 births — Kaylani, Kailani, Kailany, Keilani, Keilany, Keylani, Kelani, Kaelani, Kylani, Klani, Kaylanie

30. Madison (40) — 6973 births — Madisson, Maddison, Madisyn, Madyson

31. Harper (16) — 6792 births

32. Lainey (30) — 6769 births — Laney, Laynie, Lainee, Laynee, Lanie, Lainie

33. Emily (34) — 6616 births — Emely, Emilie, Emilee, Emilly

34. Scarlett (32) — 6594 births — 6594 births — Scarlet, Scarlette, Scarleth, Skarlett

35. Ellie (24) — 6527 births — Elly, Elli

36. Hazel (21) — 6463 births

37. Lucy (25) — 6450 births — Lucie, Luci

38. Gianna (33) — 6375 births — Giana, Jianna, Jiana

39. Penelope (22) — 6252 births

40. Leah (58) — 6238 births — Lia, Lea, Liah, Liya, Lya

41. Luna (27) — 6124 births

42. Avery (37) — 6041 births — Averie, Averi

43. Ella (29) — 6028 births — Ela

44. Alaia (117) — 5825 births — Alaya, Alayah, Alaiya, Aleia, Alaiyah, Alaiah, Aleyah, Alahia, Aleya, Eleia, Elaya, Elaia, Aalayah

45. Aaliyah (101) — 5725 births — Aliyah, Alia, Aliya, Aleah, Aliah, Alya, Alyah, Eliyah, Alea, Aleigha

46. Emery (74) — 5652 births — 5652 births — Emory, Emerie, Emry, Emeri, Emori, Emmarie, Emrie, Emorie, Emmery

47. Ivy (39) — 5557 births — Ivey, Ivie

48. Naomi (47) — 5516 births — Nyomi, Nahomi, Nahomy, Naiomi, Nayomi

49. Leilani (60) — 5472 births — 5472 births — Leilany, Laylani, Leylani, Lailani

50. Vivian (72) — 5440 births — Vivienne, Vivianne, Vivien

51. Maya (62) — 5431 births — Maia, Mya, Myah, Maiya, Mayah

52. Valentina (35) — 5360 births

53. Everly (91) — 5151 births — Everleigh, Everlee, Everley, Everlie

54. Grace (38) — 5149 births

55. Abigail (41) — 5146 births

56. Mila (43) — 5035 births — Milah

57. Hannah (56) — 5022 births — Hanna, Hana

58. Nova (46) — 4657 births — Novah

59. Lillian (57) — 4925 births — Lilian, Lilyann

60. Liliana (78) — 4818 births — Lilliana, Lilianna, Lilyana, Lillianna, Lilyanna, Lilyana, Lillyanna

61. Willow (44) — 4803 births

62. Delilah (51) — 4670 births — Dalilah, Dalila, Delylah

63. Eloise (49) — 4659 births — Elouise

64. Emerson (122) — 4565 births — Emersyn, Emmerson, Emmersyn

65. Sarah (90) — 4381 births — Sara

66. Paisley (67) — 4317 births — Paislee, Paisleigh

67. Allison (103) — 4289 births — Alison, Alisson, Allyson, Alyson, Allisson

68. Charlie (133) — 4266 births — Charlee, Charli, Charley, Charleigh

69. Sadie (50) — 4256 births

70. Sophie (55) — 4173 births — Sofie

71. Josephine (53) — 4150 births

72. Stella (52) — 4144 births

73. Victoria (54) — 4104 births

74. Genesis (66) — 3955 births — Jenesis

75. Isabelle (166) — 3917 births — Isabel, Isabell, Isobel, Izabelle

76. Amaya (180) — 3910 births — Amaia, Amiyah, Amayah, Amiah, Amia, Amiya, Amya, Amaiah, Ameya

77. Ariana (128) — 3887 births — Arianna, Aryana, Aryanna

78. Anna (107) — 3866 births — Ana

79. Claire (68) — 3861 births — Clare, Klaire

80. Clara (63) — 3847 births — Klara, Claira

81. Juliette (110) — 3837 births — Juliet, Julieth, Juliett

82. Alana (140) — 3827 births — Alanna, Alannah, Elana, Ilana, Alanah, Allana

83. Ruby (64) — 3826 births — Rubi

84. Maria (87) — 3753 births — Mariah, Mariyah

85. Iris (61) — 3748 births

86. Wrenley (159) — 3697 births — Wrenlee, Wrenleigh, Wrenly, Renley, Renlee, Renleigh

87. Alice (65) — 3672 births

88. Hailey (104) — 3668 births — Haley, Hayley, Hailee, Haylee, Hailie

89. Callie (175) — 3656 births — Kali, Cali, Kallie, Kalli

90. Millie (73) — 3563 births — Milly

91. Kinsley (93) — 3543 births — Kinslee, Kinsleigh, Kinzley, Kynslee, Kinzlee

92. Raelynn (116) — 3529 births — Raelyn, Raylynn, Raylyn

93. Kennedy (85) — 3518 births — Kennedi

94. Gabriella (105) — 3516 births — Gabriela

95. Natalie (89) — 3497 births — Nataly, Nathaly, Nathalie, Natalee

96. Amira (132) — 3488 births — Amirah, Amyra, Ameera, Ameerah, Amyrah

97. Eden (70) — 3415 births

98. Kaylee (255) — 3412 births — Kaeli, Kayleigh, Keily, Kailey, Kaylie, Kailee, Caeli, Caylee, Keyli, Kailea, Kaleigh

99. Daisy (75) — 3403 births

100. Addison (84) — 3334 births — Addyson, Addisyn

Top Boy Names 2025

The first four names on the boys’ side of the Playground Analysis stay the same from the PA2024: Liam, Noah, Oliver, and Mateo. Luca rose by one spot to #5, Theodore rose by two spots to #6, and Jackson fell two spots to #7. Henry entered the Top 10 by rising 3 spots to #8, and James and Elijah switched places for #9 and #10, respectively. Lucas fell out of the Top 10 to #12.

This year’s biggest movers up within the Top 100 are Atlas (#115 to #88), Cooper (#56 to #31), Bennett (#72 to #52), Weston (#66 to #51), and Malachi (#89 to #74). The biggest droppers are Christian (#60 to #77), Logan (#53 to #69), Cameron (#54 to #70), and Dylan (#28 to #42).

There are three new names to the Top 100 of the PA2025 compared to the previous year’s list: Atlas (#115 to #88), August (#102 to #97), and Jeremiah (#105 to #99). The names that dropped out of the Top 100 are Ryan (#93 to #104), Leonardo (#99 to #105), and Zayn (#100 to #107).

Compared to the SSA list, the names from the PA Top 100 influenced the most by combining the spellings are the following:

1. Kayson — moved up 205 spots to #59

2. Kayden — moved up 115 spots to #20

3. Elliot — moved up 76 spots to #75

4. Malachi — moved up 60 spots to #74

5. Nicholas — moved up 48 spots to #64

6. Jace — moved up 48 spots to #66

7. Aiden — moved up 46 spots to #16

8. Giovanni — moved up 32 spots to #91

9. Jackson — moved up 29 spots to #7

10. Grayson — moved up 27 spots to #24

10. Miles — moved up 27 spots to #17

Playground Analysis Top 100 Boy Names

1. Liam (1) — 21094 births — Lyam

2. Noah (2) — 20647 births — Noa

3. Oliver (3) — 14977 births

4. Mateo (8) — 13930 births — Matteo, Matheo, Mattheo

5. Luca (14) — 13519 births — Luka, Lucca, Lukah

6. Theodore (4) — 13436 births — Theodor

7. Jackson (36) — 12666 births — Jaxon, Jaxson, Jaxxon, Jaxen, Jaxyn

8. Henry (5) — 12135 births — Henri

9. James (6) — 11966 births

10. Elijah (7) — 11899 births — Alijah, Elyjah

11. Ethan (24) — 11742 births — Eithan, Eythan

12. Lucas (10) — 11490 births — Lukas

13. William (9) — 10565 births

14. Benjamin (11) — 9800 births

15. Levi (12) — 9781 births — Levy

16. Aiden (62) — 9775 births — Ayden, Aidan, Adan, Eiden, Aden, Eidan, Eyden, Aydin, Eydan, Aydan

17. Miles (44) — 9596 births — Myles

18. Elias (13) — 9559 births — Ilyas, Elyas, Alias, Ilias

19. Michael (21) — 8831 births — Mikael, Micheal, Mikel, Mykel

20. Kayden (135) — 8787 births — Caden, Kaiden, Kaden, Cayden, Caiden, Keyden, Kaidyn

21. Jack (15) — 8785 births

22. Sebastian (16) — 8743 births — Sebastien

23. Hudson (17) — 8728 births — Hudsyn

24. Grayson (51) — 8611 births — Greyson, Graysen, Greysen

25. Ezra (20) — 8390 births — Ezrah

26. Samuel (18) — 8384 births

27. John (23) — 8352 births — Jon, Jhon

28. Leo (19) — 8201 births

29. Daniel (22) — 8147 births

30. Julian (25) — 8029 births — Julien

31. Cooper (27) — 7690 births — Kooper

32. Santiago (26) — 7624 births — Santhiago

33. Alexander (30) — 7558 births — Aleksander, Alexzander

34. Asher (28) — 7538 births

35. Joseph (29) — 7382 births

36. Carter (45) — 7351 births — Karter

37. Thomas (34) — 7311 births — Tomas

38. Matthew (32) — 7245 births — Mathew

39. Owen (31) — 7221 births

40. Josiah (54) — 7047 births — Jasiah, Jesiah, Joziah, Jessiah, Jaziah

41. Luke (33) — 6981 births

42. Dylan (41) — 6845 births — Dilan, Dillon

43. David (35) — 6834 births

44. Mason (39) — 6755 births — Maison, Mayson

45. Gabriel (37) — 6575 births

46. Wyatt (38) — 6485 births

47. Isaac (47) — 6471 births — Issac

48. Caleb (58) — 6455 births — Kaleb

49. Jacob (43) — 6445 births — Jakob, Jaycob

50. Jayden (70) — 6432 births — Jaden, Jaiden, Jadon, Jeyden, Jaydon

51. Weston (55) — 6426 births — Westin, Westyn, Westen

52. Bennett (40) — 6368 births — Bennet

53. Roman (42) — 6214 births

54. Ezekiel (61) — 6182 births — Ezequiel

55. Beau (60) —6153 births — Bo, Beaux

56. Maverick (49) — 6143 births — Maverik, Mavrick

57. Wesley (52) — 6124 births — Westley, Weslee

58. Isaiah (57) — 6102 births — Izaiah, Isiah, Izayah

59. Kayson (264) — 6052 births — Kaysen, Kasen, Kaison, Kason, Kaisen, Cayson, Casen, Cason, Kaycen, Caysen, Kacen, Kasyn, Kaisyn, Caison, Kaeson, Caisen

60. Thiago (50) — 6037 births — Tiago

61. Rowan (59) — 6006 births — Rowen, Rowyn, Roen

62. Anthony (46) — 5980 births

63. Charles (48) — 5898 births

64. Nicholas (112) — 5866 births — Nicolas, Nikolas, Niklaus, Nickolas

65. Waylon (56) — 5855 births — Waylen, Waylan

66. Jace (114) — 5731 births — Jayce, Jase

67. Nathan (63) — 5662 births — Neithan, Neythan

68. Silas (71) — 5612 births — Sylas, Sylus, Cylas, Sylis

69. Logan (53) — 5596 births

70. Cameron (76) — 5544 births — Kameron, Kamryn, Camron, Kamron, Camryn, Kamran

71. Christopher (68) — 5229 births — Kristopher, Cristopher, Cristofer

72. Aaron (80) — 5108 births — Aron, Eren, Arin, Aren, Ahron

73. Nolan (65) — 4947 births — Nolen

74. Malachi (134) — 4934 births — Malakai, Malaki, Malikai, Malakhi, Malachai

75. Elliot (151) — 4894 births — Elliott, Eliot, Eliott

76. Brooks (64) — 4882 births

77. Christian (96) — 4873 births — Cristian, Kristian, Cristhian

78. Lincoln (69) — 4863 births — Linkin

79. Joshua (66) — 4793 births

80. Angel (67) — 4766 births

81. Axel (79) — 4731 births — Axl, Aksel, Axle, Axell

82. Adrian (74) — 4724 births — Adrien

83. Jonathan (89) — 4699 births — Johnathan, Jonathon, Johnathon

84. Enzo (72) — 4567 births

85. Andrew (73) — 4505 births

86. Amir (105) — 4504 births — Emir, Ameer, Ahmir, Aamir

87. Everett (77) — 4487 births — Everette, Everhett

88. Atlas (75) — 4478 births

89. Colton (103) — 4400 births — Kolton, Colten, Kolten

90. Damian (109) — 4282 births — Damien, Damion

91. Giovanni (123) — 4217 births — Jovanni, Jovani, Giovani, Jiovanni, Geovanni, Giovanny, Jovanny, Giovonni

92. Walker (78) — 4204 births

93. Kai (93) — 4197 births — Khai, Kye, Cai

94. Micah (90) — 4098 births — Mikah

95. Dominic (106) — 4064 births — Dominick, Dominik, Domenic

96. Ian (83) — 4056 births — Ean

97. August (81) — 3986 births

98. Carson (124) — 3968 births — Karson, Karsyn, Karsen, Carsen, Carsyn

99. Jeremiah (88) — 3961 births

100. Theo (82) — 3945 births

Does this list reflect what you are hearing on the playground?