Baby names are serious business. When I was pregnant, I spent so much time searching for family names, considering popular monikers, and digging up unusual options—all with a mix of excitement and trepidation, to say the least. After all, a person’s name can help define who they are, and they tend to stick around for a while. As the new year approaches, baby experts everywhere are releasing their ever-popular lists of baby name trends, and BabyCenter is no different. They recently shared their top picks for the types of baby names you’ll see everywhere in 2025, and let’s just say pop culture is alive and well and inspiring parents more than ever.
“E” Names for Boys
BabyCenter parents love this baby name trend, as monikers like Emrys, Emir, Enrique, Edgar, Eliseo, and Eliel are all jumping in popularity and show no sign of slowing down.
2024 Summer Olympics-Inspired Names
Since things wrapped in August, the location of the Summer Olympics has been a major influence on baby names in the United States. Popular boy names like Raphael and Louis have shot up in popularity, rising 121 and 87 spots respectively. Girl names like Louise, Elodie, and Jolie are also gaining in popularity, and other French and French-inspired names (think Beaux, Remi, and Arlette) have also risen in the rankings.
Girl Names Ending in —lyn and —lee
While this isn’t a new trend, per se, BabyCenter is seeing unique takes on it. For example, Avalynn, Wrenlee, Lakelyn, Adalee, and Maelynn have all moved up in the rankings this year and there seems to be no end in sight for this set.
Drake vs. Kendrick
The ongoing beef between hip-hop megastars Drake and Kendrick Lamar isn’t slowing down, and while neither has technically claimed victory, it would seem that parents are siding with Lamar. The name Kendrick has risen 32 spots and now sits at number 402 for boy names, while Drake has fared less well, falling 103 spots to settle at number 807.
Related: 21 Baby Names That Have Plummeted in Popularity
Women’s Basketball Players’ Names
All eyes were on the women’s NCAA championship in 2024 and the WBNA had its highest viewer ratings in over 20 years. TBH, it’s high time these incredible athletes get the recognition they deserve. New parents seem to agree because they’re naming their newborns after superstars Caitlin Clark, Kamilla Cardos, and A’ja Wilson in vast numbers.
Celestial Names
The solar eclipse back in April was quite the event and caught the attention of BabyCenter parents as the name Sol rose 334 spots. Other sky-themed names are just as popular as ever: Luna holds the 10th spot, Aurora holds the 12th spot, Nova holds the 17th spot, and the name Orion jumped up 137 spots.
Super Bowl Athletes
Last year’s game was the most-watched TV program in history, so it makes sense that players’ names are gaining notoriety with new parents. And it should come as no surprise that most of the names BabyCenter is seeing rise in popularity are inspired by the reigning champs: the Kansas City Chiefs. Creed, as in Humphreys, a center, is up 209 spots to 551; Travis (you know the one) is up 18 points; and Isiah, as in Pacheco, a running back for the Chiefs, is up 184 points.
Main Character Energy
This was a huge baby name trend in 2024, and BabyCenter predicts it’ll be the same in 2025. Some of the “main characters” BabyCenter sees gaining traction include Riley from Inside Out 2, Carmen from The Bear, Ripley from Netflix’s Ripley, the names Deborah and Vance, in honor of Hacks’ Deborah Vance, and Rain from Alien: Romulus.
Names Inspired by Pop Artists and Hit Songs
From Sabrina to Chappell and Billie, female musicians are dominating the airwaves, and parents are listening! Sabrina is up 109 points, Billie is up 37 points, and the names Peter and Robin, titles from a certain superstar songwriter’s recent album, are up 95 and 82 spots.
Related: 17 Baby Names Inspired by Villains (Yes, It’s a Thing)
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