The year 2026 has arrived, marking a new era where many couples will welcome babies into a world that once felt like a distant future.
In the United States, it is anticipated that over three million babies will be born this year, with names like Noah and Olivia continuing their popularity.
Deciding on a name for a newborn is no easy task, often leading to lengthy discussions between partners.
Colleen Slagen, a professional baby namer since 2022, shared insights with People magazine regarding the name trends expected to dominate in 2026.
Four years ago, Colleen transitioned from her career as a nurse practitioner to focus on her passion for baby names. She frequently shares her expertise on TikTok and in her book, Naming Bebe: An Interactive Guide to Choosing the Baby Name You Love.
According to Colleen, 2026 will see parents favoring ‘short, four-letter names’ due to their ‘effortlessly cool and nickname-proof’ nature. For girls, names such as Indi, Gwen, Lana, and Alba are expected to trend, while for boys, Luca, Rome, Elio, Dean, and Bode will be popular choices.
“I have worked with so many families who have accidentally started this trend with their children and then continued it for the whole set!” Colleen shared with People.
She also foresees a rise in ‘Andi Anderson names,’ which pay tribute to early 2000s entertainment.
Colleen elaborated: “Us millennials have never forgotten Kate Hudson’s iconic role as Andi Anderson in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. So much so that it’s influencing our baby naming. Parents are using names for their daughters that are traditionally used for boys.”
She went on to say: “When everyone is looking the other way at the same time, a trend is born along with the baby. French names have a classic elegance that people are really drawn to.”
Additionally, names inspired by celebrities are expected to gain traction, particularly among influencers rather than the general US populace, Colleen noted.
She commented: “This is a trend that gained traction from celebrities — everybody remembers where they were when Gwyneth Paltrow named her daughter Apple — and has trickled down to us normal folk.
“It’s a way for people to pick something that is very unique as a baby name, but a word that is familiar/easy to say and spell.”