Every spring since 1997, the Social Security Administration has delighted name enthusiasts and soon-to-be parents alike by releasing its annual data on the most favored baby names in the United States. As we look at 2018, the results are in: Emma and Liam hold their positions at the top!
Emma has now been the most popular name for girls for five consecutive years. Meanwhile, Liam dethroned Noah to become the preferred name for boys last year. Here’s a look at the top 20 baby names for 2018, as shared by the SSA:
Boys:
- Liam
- Noah
- William
- James
- Oliver
- Benjamin
- Elijah
- Lucas
- Mason
- Logan
Girls:
- Emma
- Olivia
- Ava
- Isabella
- Sophia
- Charlotte
- Mia
- Amelia
- Harper
- Evelyn
Comparing these names to the previous year’s data reveals some interesting shifts. On the boys’ list, the top four names maintained their positions, but Jacob fell out of the top ten. Mason dropped from #7 to #9, while Elijah moved up one spot to #7. Oliver made a notable leap from #9 to #5, causing Logan to slip from #5 to #10.
For girls, the top five names remained unchanged, and Amelia also held steady at #8. However, Abigail was replaced by Harper, who now sits at #9. Charlotte and Mia switched places, with Charlotte moving from #7 to #6. Evelyn also saw a slight decline, landing at #10.
Additionally, there were significant changes further down the lists. Notably, Meghan, inspired by the Duchess of Sussex and new mom Meghan Collins, made a remarkable jump from #1,404 in 2017 to #703 in 2018. Other fast-risers for girls included Dior and Adalee, climbing 566 and 370 spots, respectively.
For boys, Genesis saw the most dramatic rise, soaring 608 positions from #1,592 to #984. Saint also gained traction, moving up 438 spots, while Baker rose 431 spots. Conversely, Aaden experienced the steepest decline, falling from #888 to #1,120, followed by Dilan and Craig, who dropped 211 and 203 spots, respectively.
On the girls’ side, Audrina suffered the largest fall, dropping 322 spots from #856 to #1,178. Courtney and Angelique followed closely behind, falling 242 and 227 spots, respectively.
It’s essential to note that the SSA treats similar names as separate entities—so names like Sophia and Sofia are counted individually. This means that the overall popularity of certain names might be greater than their individual rankings suggest.
Whether you’re looking for inspiration for your baby’s name or trying to avoid the most common choices, the SSA’s data offers a helpful perspective on what names are trending among parents. For a wider array of baby names, from the popular to the obscure, check out the extensive database on our other website, Home Insemination Kit.
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In summary, the latest baby name rankings reveal continued trends and shifts, offering insights for parents making naming decisions in the coming year.