Experts have made predictions on the most popular baby name trends for 2026, highlighting a focus on escapism.
The team at Nameberry has compiled a list of anticipated naming trends for the upcoming year. As the world deals with challenging news, expectant parents are inclined towards names with a touch of fantasy or those drawn from beloved books and reality TV series.
The names have been sorted into themes, featuring mystical options like Marcella, Evara, Palmer, Robin, and Oriane.
Let’s delve deeper into these trends.
According to Nameberry, some parents are gravitating towards historical names to create a connection to their heritage, while others are drawn to Roman-inspired names.
This includes names like Adhara, Cassander, Isidore, Linus, Olympia, and Tihui.
Following the success of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and her album, The Life of a Showgirl, whimsical and glamorous names are expected to gain popularity, including Ophelia, Cecily, Elodie, Emiliana, Lielle, Nomi, and Vivienne.
Additionally, soulful and spiritual names such as Alma, Dove, Cedar, Creed, Vera, and River are anticipated to be popular choices, alongside others with biblical connotations.
Nameberry suggests that baby names often re-emerge every hundred years, which might explain why names from the boomer era could be in vogue this year.
Expect to see names like Betsy, Beverly, Bruce, Gloria, Joni, Nancy, and Richie making a return.
Names with a European flair inspired by fantasy literature, such as works by J.R.R. Tolkien, might see a surge in popularity. Predicted names include Calista, Cordelia, Elspeth, Leontel, Magnus, and Soraya.
According to Nameberry, the trendiest names for 2026 will feature the ‘vowel hiatus’, characterized by the pronunciation of two adjoining vowels.
Names like Deia, Leonie, and Eziah are rapidly climbing the charts, with celebrities also adopting this trend, further boosting its potential in 2026.
Inspired by Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker’s son, Rocky Thirteen, there is a growing trend of including numbers directly in names, rather than using traditional Roman numerals.
Names inspired by numbers, such as Billion, Eleven, and Octavia, might also gain traction this year.
Utah-inspired names like Dottie, Covey, Radley, Rockwell, Bodee, and Aven might become more popular in 2026, influenced by the success of shows like Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.
Experts anticipate that anime names will enter the mainstream, with names such as Anya, Jinu, Kaito, Kota, Rin, and Yumi rising in prominence.
The popularity of anime on platforms like Netflix, along with celebrity endorsements, contributes to this growing trend.
A renewed interest in iconic British literature is expected to drive an increase in classic English names.
Names from works like Wuthering Heights, Sense & Sensibility, and Pride and Prejudice—such as Bram, Bronte, Celia, Darcy, Eyre, Fielding, and Tess—are likely to inspire parents.