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BabyCenter’s annual trend report draws on names registered in its app for more than 350,000 babies born in the United States from Jan. 1 to Oct. 5, 2026. It identifies rising interest in names associated with TV dramas, Western themes, Greek mythology and vintage styles, but the rankings are not a forecast or a measure of UK popularity.
BabyCenter’s 2026 baby-name trends report identifies several names gaining ground among US parents, including choices linked to television dramas, Western culture and Greek mythology. The findings draw on names registered through the BabyCenter app for more than 350,000 babies born between Jan. 1 and Oct. 5, 2026, offering a snapshot of changing interest—not a definitive prediction of the most popular names in 2027.
The rankings show sizable gains for some names associated with recent screen hits. In the boys’ list, Ilya rose more than 6,000 places to No. 2,197, while Garrett climbed 128 places to No. 659. Among girls, Jules jumped 1,271 places to No. 1,675, and Allie rose 39 places to No. 635. These are changes in BabyCenter’s rankings, not counts of babies given each name.
Other themes in the report include Western-inspired names and names featuring the letter X. Stetson entered the boys’ top 100 at No. 95, while Oakley returned to the girls’ top 100 at No. 85. Jaxson reached No. 93 among boys, and Ximena climbed to No. 178 among girls. The report also points to renewed interest in names associated with Gilmore Girls, such as Rory, Lorelai and Luke, and mythology-related choices including Atlas, Iris and Odysseus.
The figures describe names registered by BabyCenter app users for babies born during the stated period. They should not be read as official national birth-registration rankings. The source report says the results reflect US naming trends and do not establish how popular these names are in the UK.
What the Rankings Suggest for Parents
For parents building a shortlist, the report offers a timely view of the cultural references and styles drawing attention in BabyCenter’s user data. It groups name choices around familiar sources—television, entertainment, classic names and mythology—rather than suggesting that one style has taken over. Names such as Atlas, Oakley and Rory illustrate how very different influences can appear in the same set of rising rankings.
The distinction between a rising rank and broad popularity matters. A name can move sharply in a ranking while still appearing relatively low on the list: Ilya’s rise of more than 6,000 places puts it at No. 2,197, not near the top of the boys’ rankings. The data can help identify emerging interest, but it cannot say whether a name will suit a particular child or remain fashionable.
Because the sample comes from app users, the findings are best treated as one indicator of US parent interest, not a complete census. Parents elsewhere may find the themes useful for inspiration, but the rankings do not establish local trends or future popularity.
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How the 2026 Snapshot Was Built
BabyCenter describes the report as its annual look at baby-name trends. This edition uses data from babies born from Jan. 1 through Oct. 5, 2026, whose names parents registered through the company’s app. Rankings compare names within the report’s dataset; the source does not provide a population-wide count for each name in the supplied material.
The trends highlighted in the source include screen-inspired choices linked to hockey dramas and Gilmore Girls, a Western or outdoorsy style, names with X, mythology-related names and vintage or classic choices. The source also reports that 15% of the top 100 girls’ names begin with E, with Eliana at No. 2 and Evelyn at No. 9. This is a share of that report’s top 100, not a share of all babies born.
BabyCenter adviser Steph Coffield connected the results to renewed interest in older and historical names. The supplied report also mentions a planned second season of Off Campus in 2027 and a Gilmore Girls documentary as possible reasons those shows may keep names in public conversation. Those are potential influences, not evidence that rankings will continue to rise.
What the App Data Cannot Show
The report is a partial-year snapshot, ending Oct. 5, 2026. The supplied material does not give the final full-year rankings, the number of babies assigned each individual name, or details that would allow readers to judge how representative app users are of all US parents. It also does not provide a comparison with official birth-registration records.
It remains unclear whether the names with the biggest ranking gains will keep rising in 2027. Entertainment releases may prompt interest, but the source does not establish that a show or film caused a change in naming decisions. Nor do US app rankings confirm the popularity of the same names in the UK or other countries.
What to Watch in the Next Rankings
A fuller picture will depend on later data, including any updated BabyCenter rankings after the end of 2026. Parents and readers can compare those results with the current snapshot to see whether names such as Ilya, Jules, Stetson and Odysseus continue to gain ground or settle back. The source report gives no date for a follow-up ranking.
For now, the findings are best used as inspiration rather than a forecast. Any assessment of a name’s popularity should specify the dataset, period and geography being measured; official national statistics may differ from app-based rankings.
Key Questions
What data is behind BabyCenter’s 2027 trend suggestions?
The report uses names registered by parents in the BabyCenter app for more than 350,000 babies born from Jan. 1 to Oct. 5, 2026. It is a partial-year snapshot of app users.
Are these the most popular baby names in the UK?
No. The source says the findings reflect US naming trends, not UK popularity rankings. They may offer ideas for UK parents, but they do not measure UK births.
Does a big ranking jump mean a name is now common?
Not necessarily. Ilya, for example, rose more than 6,000 places but stood at No. 2,197 in the boys’ ranking. A movement in rank is not the same as a high overall position or a count of babies.
Which name trends does the report highlight?
It points to names associated with TV dramas, Western culture, the letter X, Gilmore Girls, Greek mythology, and vintage or classic styles. Examples include Oakley, Jaxson, Rory, Atlas and Iris.
Source: madeformums.com
