Looking for the Perfect Name for Your Baby? Experts Share the 8 Biggest Trends for 2026
Looking for the Perfect Name for Your Baby? Experts Share the 8 Biggest Trends for 2026
Hannah SacksThu, February 19, 2026 at 9:52 PM UTC
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Choosing the perfect baby name can be tough
However, according to Today, there are eight different baby trends for 2026 that parents can look to
The outlet profiled five different baby naming experts to learn the latest trends
Choosing the perfect name for your little one is no easy task.
It can take months to decide on the right moniker for your baby. And now with the rise of more unique names, it can feel like there are endless options. Narrowing down the right ones can be a challenge, but there are a few trends this year that can help make the task a little less daunting.
According to Today, who spoke with five different baby naming experts, there are eight different baby name trends they're seeing become more and more popular.
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90s Boy Band Names
Baby name trend specialist Rebekah Wahlberg at BabyCenter tells the outlet that boy bands are officially back in town. Wahlberg says that parents are "naming their babies after the aging heartthrobs."
This year, the name Lance from *NYSNC went up 115 spots in the most popular boy names, while Howie from Backstreet Boys climbed 299 spots. There are even a few K-Pop names in the mix — BTS's Jin is now up 699 spots, and Seventeen's June is up 1,397.
But the most popular boy band baby name? That honor falls to Nick.
"Not only is there Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys, but also Nick Lachey of 98 Degrees and Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers," says Wahlberg. "Collectively, they've boosted their name three spots for boys this year."
Stock photo of baby names. Jamie Grill / Getty ImagesAncient History Names
According to Nameberry, ancient civilization names are proving popular in 2026 already.
"We see parents looking into their own history to find names tied to their heritage," says Nameberry's editor-in-chief Sophie Kihm.
For parents with Latin American heritage, this can look like ancient Mayan and Aztec names like Aztlan, Meztli and Xiada. Those with ancient Greek and Roman heritage could choose names such as Aurelian, Marcella and Olympia.
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Showgirl Names
Kihm also says that Taylor Swift's most recent album might inspire a shift in Swiftie parents to think in a more Broadway-esque direction for baby names.
This can include both fictional and historical names, such as Marilyn, Farrah and Roxie — which are all on the rise. Kihm adds that names with "showgirl sparkle" like Azura, Reverie and Solana are also more popular.
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Soulful Baby Names
Next up are names that are spiritual without being biblical. According to Kihm, these can include names like Olive, Dove, River and Palmer. Others might be Jubilee, Shepherd, Soul and Verse.
Romantic Baby Names
Baby name expert Laura Wattenberg says parents might be interested in more romantic, lyrical names for girls.
"Smooth, flowing romanticism is a top style for girls," she tells Today. "Names that pair that lyrical sound with a sense of timelessness appeal to both contemporary and classic naming tastes."
Names in this category can include Aurora, Eliana and Amelia, the latter of which Wattenberg says is "making a run at becoming America's favorite girl's name."
Gentlemanly Names
According to Wattenberg, "stately, gentlemanly old names" have been out of style for too long. Now, they're making a comeback.
In this trend, Theodore is the most common, "thanks to the lively nickname Theo," says Wattenberg. Arthur and Frederick are also among the noble men in this category.
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Cottagecore Names
Colleen Slagen, a professional baby name consultant, tells Today that cottagecore names have a vintage feel. For girls, these include names like Hattie, Elsie, Flora, Willa and Edie. For boys, names like Percy, Sonny, Franklin and Winston.
Nature-Inspired Names
In this category, Slagen says there are two different types of nature baby names.
"There are nature names that feel a little more refined and classic, like Forest or Woods," she explains. "And then there's the more hippie, whimsical names like Coast, Cove, Cedar, Ocean."
Why Choose a Baby Name That Falls Under a Trend?
Some might worry that choosing a name that falls under one of these eight trends might mean that their little one will have the same moniker as others in their class. But Slagen says that she believes there's actually a feeling of relief in picking one of these.
Slagen explains that it's like "being adventurous within a safety net" and says that parents often want their kids to have a name that is one in 100,000 rather than one in a million.
"We want to be unique. But not that unique," says Slagen of parents.
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