Top Baby Names 2025: The Playground Analysis

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?