Top 2020s Baby Names

The smooth, attractive Ariana is on the rise along with the fame of pop princess Ariana Grande. Also famous is twin spelling Arianna, which is associated with Greek-born online presence Arianna Huffington. Both Ariana and Arianna are widely used names and are equally acceptable spellings.

Ariana

Peaceful, calm, and untroubled: these are qualities parents may be hoping for, either on their parenting journey or in their child’s life. The name Serenity encapsulates these hopes, conjuring up a sense of balance, composure, and ease. 
A virtue name of Latin origin, Serenity means "peaceful" or "tranquil." The pretty, melodic sounds reflect that, but it isn’t a meek or retiring name; it has plenty of flair too and a hint of breezy confidence. 
Used occasionally from the 70’s onwards, Serenity entered the US Top 1000 in 1997, and by 2009, it was in the Top 100, where it has stayed ever since. 
While recent years have seen it begin to drop back down the charts, it has fared better than its once popular virtue cousins, Destiny and Trinity. Given to nearly 3000 girls every year, it remains in the Top 100 for now. 
Notable pop culture references for Serenity include a character in the Sailor Moon franchise and the title of the 2005 movie spinoff of the TV show, Firefly. 
If you like the vibes of Serenity but worry about the expectations it brings with it (or just concerned it will guarantee that your child is the least tranquil child to ever exist), then you could consider the less wordy and more international variant, Serena. 
You could also take a look at <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/411/baby-names-that-mean-peace">names that mean peace</a> but aren’t in your face about it, such as Irina, Shiloh, or Fenna.

Serenity

Hunter has been dropping a bit for the past few years but is still one of the leaders of a distinctive band of boys' names that combines macho imagery (Hunter, Austin, Harley) with a softened masculinity. Hunter was for years attached to gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson; Josh Holloway used it for his son.

Hunter

Jordan became one of the top <a href="https://nameberry.com/unisex-names">unisex baby names</a> in the heyday of basketball's Michael Jordan, and is still among the most popular <a href="https://nameberry.com/search/unisex-names/j">unisex names starting with J</a>. The name was originally given to those baptized in holy water brought back by Crusaders from the River Jordan, the only river in Palestine, and the one in which Christ was baptized by John the Baptist.
 Celebrities with sons and daughters named Jordan include Taylor Hanson, Dierks Bentley, Dr. Phil and Kenny Rogers.

Jordan

Eva is a simple, classic <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/489/hebrew-names-for-girls">Hebrew name for girls</a> that recently slipped out of the US Top 100 for the first time in more than a decade. Pronounced either like her more popular sister Ava or less popular sister Eve, Eva is one of the elite group of <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/607/girls-names-that-mean-life">girl names that mean life</a>.
 
Eva is found in many different languages as a variation of Eve—the Old Testament name recognizable as the first woman in Abrahamic religions. Short forms of the name include Evie and Evita. The diminutive Evita is still strongly associated with Evita Peron, wife of the Argentine President Juan Peron.
 The 1852 publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin, the bestselling novel of the nineteenth century, whose tragic figure Little Eva (short for Evangeline) made an enormous impression on the Victorian reading public, propelled the name to popularity.
 Some well known Evas include actresses Evas Marie Saint, Gabor, Green, Longoria and Mendes, sculptor Eva Hesse, singer Little Eva, and model Eva Herzigova
 Eva is a highly popular <a href="https://nameberry.com/girls-names">girls’ name</a> throughout the Western World, ranking in the Top 100 of most English-speaking countries along with a wide range of European nations, from Spain and Italy to France and Germany to Scandinavia. This makes Eva one of the most internationally versatile names today.

A place name with a deep Southern accent, the once-obscure Savannah shot to fame, with others of its genre, on the heels of the best seller Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, which was set in the mossy Georgia city of Savannah. Originally a substitute for the overused Samantha, Savannah is now popular itself, long among the top <a href="https://nameberry.com/search/girls-names/s">girls' names starting with S</a>.
 
Derived the Spanish sabana, itself borrowed zabana, a Taino word used by the indigenous people of the Caribbean, Savannah refers to areas of flat grasslands that exist in hot climates.
 A name with a trail of pop cultural references, there were Savannahs in the novel and movie The Prince of Tides, in the Terry McMillan hit novel and film Waiting to Exhale, played by Whitney Houston and, even earlier, in a 1982 movie called Savannah Smiles.
 Savannah has actually been on the popularity list since records started being kept in the 1880's; she's been in the Top 100 since 1993, though recent years have seen her decline slightly. Desperate Housewives' Marcia Cross chose Savannah for her twin daughter, and it's the name of Queen Elizabeth's first great-grandchild. And Savannah Guthrie can be seen every morning on the Today Show.

Savannah

Everything ella, from Ella to Bella to Arabella, is red hot right now. Bella is one of the most, well, beautiful <a href="https://nameberry.com/search/girls-names/b">girl names starting with B</a>. It carried a hint of a nice Old World grandmotherly veneer, until it became attached to Twilight's Bella Swan. 
Bella derived as a diminutive of Isabella and other names with the suffix -bella, such as Anabella and Arabella, but has a meaning all its own: beautiful.That's because Bella is related to the word for "beautiful" in languages including Spanish, Italian, Latin, Portuguese, and Greek. Belle means "beautiful" in French.
 
If you're thinking of naming your daughter Bella, be aware that there are a lot of little girls whose proper names are Isabella, Arabella etc. who are called Bella, so you may hear the name more frequently than you'd guess judging by popularity statistics.
 In pre-Twilight literature, Bella Wilfer is the central character in Charles Dickens's Our Mutual Friend.
 Mark Ruffalo, Billy Bob Thornton, David Boreanaz and Eddie Murphy are all dads to Bellas. A strong feminist namesake is Bella Abzug. One current Bella is child star turned pop star Bella Thorne, born Annabella.
 Bella was in use as far back as the thirteenth century, then disappeared until the eighteenth when it became fashionable. 
 Today, Bella is among the <a href="https://nameberry.com/popular-names/dogs">most popular dog names</a>.

Bella

This substitute spelling of Riley has been popular with parents for a decade. Rylee entered the charts in 1994, and is solidly within the Top 200 for the last 2 decades. Ryleigh is another spelling that has gained significant popularity.

The "-Lee" ending is particularly trendy, and many parents are picking spellings such as Rylee (or Aubree, Everlee, and Marlee) over the originals.

Rylee

This is a strong new James varietal, sometimes shared by girls. An original way to honor Grandpa Jim, Jameson is swiftly moving up the charts, entering the Top 100 for the first time ever in 2017. Jameson is one of the hottest <a href="https://nameberry.com/search/boys-names/j">boy names starting with J</a>, still the most popular first initial for boys' names. One small caveat: Jameson is also a brand of whiskey.

Jameson

Natalia was derived from the Latin word natalis, meaning "birthday." It refers to the birthday of Jesus Christ, and thus originated as a name for girls born on Christmas Day. Related forms include the French Natalie, Portuguese Natalina, and Russian diminutive Natasha.
 
More romantic that Natalie, more unusual than Natasha and heard frequently in Spain, Portugal, and the Slavic countries, this is a distinctive, strong but feminine member of the Natalie/Natasha family, with the appealing short form Talia. 
 
Like her cousins, Natalia is a name often given to girls born around Christmas.
 
Natalie Wood was born Natalia. Other namesakes include renowned Russian-born prima ballerina Natalia Makarova and supermodel Natalia Vodianova.

Natalia

Almost like a fusion between vintage Audrey, bubbly Ruby, and unisex Avery, Aubrey has been a popular choice for girls since the mid 2000’s. 
Once an exclusively masculine name, Aubrey tipped towards feminine in 1974, and is now given to girls 96% of the time. 
Derived from the Old French name Auberi, a variant of Alberich, Aubrey means "elf ruler" or "elf king." 
It was a common name for men in England during the Middle Ages and it saw a revival in the 19th century, with the artist and illustrator Aubrey Beardsley being a notable bearer. Across the pond in the US, it remained in the Top 400 for boys until the 50’s. 
Its shift into a mostly feminine name has been accredited to the release of the song "Aubrey" by the rock group Bread in 1972. Before the song was released, less than 10 girls were given the name every year, however, by 1973, it was in the Top 1000. 
David Gates, leader and music producer of the group. wrote the song after watching Breakfast at Tiffany’s, starring Audrey Hepburn, and it is likely that Aubrey stuck around due to its similarity to the cozy-but-stylish name of the actress. 
Besides the song, Aubrey might also be seen as following in the footsteps of names like Kelly, Leslie, Lindsay, and Shelby, historically masculine but used more often for girls from the 1940’s onwards. 
One of the most prominent bearers today is Aubrey Plaza, the deadpan comic actress and breakout star of the show Parks & Recreation. Child actress Aubrey Anderson-Emmons, TV Host Aubrey Miles and soccer player Aubrey Kingsbury are other notable wearers. 
In recent years, the once Top 20 name has seen a decline in popularity however, with newer entries such as Quinn, Aurora, and Emery rising to take its place. Nevertheless, Aubrey is climbing up the charts in England and Wales and is still given to 3000 babies in the US every year. 
Are you interested in Aubrey but still wanting to explore other options? You could consider Indigo, Ashby, Darby, Darcy, August, or Libby.

Aubrey

Greyson and Grayson, nephews of Jason, are both on the fast track. Both variations have made their way all the way up to the Top 100 since 2016. Gray/Grey makes a nice nickname.

The name of the child in The Nanny Diaries is Grayer, and actor Tyler Christopher opted for the unusual spelling of Greysun for his son. Some parents are considering Grayson -- or Gracen or Gracyn -- for girls as an androgynous spin on Grace.

Greyson

The origins of Samantha are not entirely clear, although it is commonly thought to be a feminization of Samuel with the suffix derived from the Greek anthos, meaning "flower." Samantha has been in English-speaking use since the eighteenth century, particularly in the American South, and drew attention via Grace Kelly's Tracy Samantha Lord character in High Society, featuring the song "I love you, Samantha."
 
Though still a lovely name, Samantha is finally beginning to fade after years of widespread use. The modern-day popularity of Samantha was originally inspired by the nose-twitching heroine of TV's Bewitched. It was revitalized by the sensual Kim Cattrell character on Sex and the City.
 
Some of today's parents may well go directly to nickname Sam, or consider an alternative like Samara.

Samantha

Piper is a bright, musical name that entered the list in 1999, one year after the debut of the TV series Charmed, which featured a Piper, and it's been a consistent riser since. Piper Kerman is the memoirist whose prison experiences provided the basis for the hit Netflix series Orange is the New Black.
 Piper has been chosen by several celebs for their daughters, including Gillian Anderson and Cuba Gooding, Jr., and is now one of the top <a href="https://nameberry.com/search/girls-names/p">girls' names starting with P</a>.
 One of the first Pipers on the scene was Piper Laurie (born Rosetta), after whom actress Piper Perabo was named.

Piper

One of several phonetic spellings of Jackson moving up the charts, Jaxson entered the Top 100 in 2013 and has remained there since. It's also picking up steam in England and Wales.. Actor Eric Mabius used it as his son Rylan's middle name.

Jaxson

Nevaeh: an already bold word name with the unusual twist of being spelled backwards; a nightmare for those who love traditional, classic names; a divisive option on name forums across the internet; and a spelling and pronunciation that aren’t quite intuitive at first glance. 
Nevaeh has a lot stacked against it, and yet it’s maintained a surprising level of popularity and unexpected longevity in recent years. 
Given to just a tiny handful of babies before the 2000’s, Neveah shot up the US charts in 2001, after singer Sonny Sandoval from the rock group P.O.D used it for his daughter. He introduced the name during an MTV appearance, with the explanation that it was heaven spelled backward. 
An edgy, celebrity-style choice, fitting for the daughter of a rockstar – but what was it about Nevaeh that made it catch on in the non-celeb world and what has kept it in the US Top 100 since 2004? 
Perhaps it’s simply the heavenly meaning, made more discreet and name-y by spelling it in reverse. 
Perhaps it’s the fact that visually, it bears resemblance to classic Biblical names, such as Hannah, Leah, or Sarah, while also feeling new and on trend. 
Maybe it’s the popular end sound or the similarity it bears to other favorites – both from the 2000’s and from now. Reminiscent of Savannah, Ava, Avery, Delilah, Aaliyah, and Kayla, it feels less surprising perhaps, that Nevaeh appealed in 2001 and holds sway now. 
Alternatively, Neveah may have been brought to people’s attention because it was so often discussed on forums across the internet. As a result, it likely showed up in searches when parents were looking for baby names and they might have just liked the sound of it. 
Whatever the reasons, Neveah certainly caught parents’ eyes and its popularity spread across other English-speaking countries, including Canada, Australia, and the UK. 
In the last decade Nevaeh has seen a steady decline in use, and while it is still given to over 2000 babies in the US each year, newer favorites such as Nova, Luna, Ayla, and Aurora have pushed it back. 
What the future holds for Nevaeh is uncertain then, but its rise to fame demonstrates the power of a pop culture association and the possibility of modern, invented names to become mainstream.

Nevaeh

Connor, the appealing name of an early semi-legendary king of Ulster in Irish mythology, sits firmly in the Top 100 and taken together with its alternate spellings would rank even higher. In its native Ireland the Conor version is one of the highest charting <a href="https://nameberry.com/boys-names">boys’ name</a>.
 Connor MacLeod was the name of the title character in the 1986 film The Highlander, which helped promote the name.
 Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise have a teen-aged son named Connor, while Eric Clapton has a younger Conor; the name of the Irish writer and historian is spelled Conor Cruise O'Brien.
 Since Connor means 'lover of hounds,' it might make a good choice for a dog-loving family. In fact, one of the sons in Marley and Me is given that name.

Connor

Skylar is a name with a hint of both edginess and whimsy and it makes for a nature-inspired choice that is neither too wordy nor too floral. Popular since the 90s, Skylar has remained in the US Top 100 for over a decade and is the most popular spelling of the name for girls. 
Derived for the Dutch surname "Schuyler" meaning "Scholar", this 80s spelling variant likely emerged by combining the sounds and letters of Tyler with the vibes of word- and nature-inspired choices, like Crystal and Heather. 
Skylar is then left feeling somewhere between All-American preppy and mainstream trendy, with an academic meaning, but a spelling and sound that seem like a modern invention. 
Entering the US Top 1000 back in the 1980s, Skylar was briefly more popular for boys, however, after it was used in the American soap Opera The Young and Restless in 1989, it rose rapidly in the ranks for girls. 
The movie Good Will Hunting gave it another boost up the girls’ charts in 1997, and the character Skyler White from hit TV series Breaking Bad gave it the final push into the Top 100 in 2012. 
 A name with numerous spellings, Skylar is the most popular choice and the one used nearly exclusively on girls. Skyler by contrast ranks in the #500s and remains more (statistically) unisex, while the rarer Schuyler is given only to a small handful of girls and boys each year. 
The name has seen increased usage in the UK recently and has made New Zealand Top 100, however, in the US, it has been on a downward trend since it peaked in 2015. Still given to 2500 baby girls every year, it may just find itself neglected in favor of rising stars like Lyla, Juniper, Kaia, and Myla.

Skylar

Like Ashley before it, on-trend Everly has been followed by a range of spelling variants, and among them, Everleigh is the most popular. 
Opinions are divided as to whether the "-leigh" ending makes the name more distinctive, contemporary, and stand-out, or whether it just looks clunky and more complicated, but enough parents prefer that it has joined Everly in the US Top 100. 
Given to nearly 3000 girls every year, Everleigh derives from an Old English place name, meaning "wild boar in a woodland clearing." 
Actor Cam Gigandet, who starred in "The O.C." and "Reckless" was ahead of the trend when he used Eveleigh for his daughter in 2009, but it took Channing Tatum naming his daughter Everly in 2013 for Everleigh to gain any real traction. 
Following in Everly’s footsteps, it did climb the charts, and its popularity was perhaps boosted by the YouTubers, the LaBrants, and their daughter Everleigh. 
Rising up the charts in Canada and the UK, Everleigh is now a familiar and well-established spelling option for the name. 
Though it is only just in the Top 100 and nowhere near as popular as Olivia or Emma, it is worth remembering that when all the Everly variations are put together, it starts to feel more like a Top 20 name, in line with Harper or Sofia. 
So if you do love Everleigh but were aiming to be a bit more unique by choosing this spelling, you could consider the alternatives: Elowen, Waverly, Leighton, Oakley, Haven, or Keeley.

Everleigh

Peyton is a unisex surname that rose to fame in the 90s, with parents drawing inspiration from football star, Peyton Manning, and, oddly enough, from "Peyton Flanders", the villainess of the 1992 film, The Hand That Rocks The Cradle. Combining gentle sounds with contemporary style and the naughtiness of Peyton Place, the name remains a popular choice in the US today. 
 Derived from an English place name, Peyton could mean "Pæga's town" or "fighting man's estate", though other sources associate it with Patton and Patrick, giving it the meaning "nobleman's town". In tune with Avery, Paisley, and Harper - and an updated honor for Grandpa Patrick or Aunt Patricia - Peyton is in the US Top 200 and given to nearly 2000 girls every year.
 
Obscure until the 90s, solidly unisex in the early 2000s, a feminine-leaning, Top 100 choice in the 2010s, and now seemingly in decline, Peyton has had a turbulent time in the charts over the last three decades. 
 Whether it continues to fall or rise back up remains to be seen, but for now, it still feels like a familiar option, with namesakes ranging from the literary Peyton Loftis to the actress Peyton Roi List.

Peyton

 represent the current decade. If you are having a baby this decade, this list will give you a picture of the names you can expect to be common among your child's peers. These include names such as Olivia, Charlotte, and Luna for girls and Liam, Oliver, and Jack for boys.

 that are at their peak this decade include Camila, Eleanor, Hazel, and Nova. In addition to Liam, other 

 that are more popular than ever before include Sebastian, Levi, Wyatt, and Asher.

. The youngest members of Gen Alpha were born in the early 2020s.

 are used relatively more often for babies born in the US in the 2020s than they ever were before. If the Hundred-Year Rule continues to hold, we can expect to see these 2020s names on babies at the beginning of the 22nd century.

Top names of the 2020s including origins and meanings (Page 10)

2020s Names