Quick Answer
Olivia and Liam stayed on top of the Social Security Administration list for babies born in 2025, which the SSA released in May 2026. It is the seventh straight year Olivia has been the most popular girls’ name and the ninth straight year Liam has led the boys.
The biggest shake up in the Top 10 was Eliana, which jumped from number 18 all the way to number 10, bumping Ava out of the top tier on the girls’ side. Vintage revivals like Theodore, Henry, Charlotte and Evelyn continued to climb.
Why Liam Keeps Winning
Liam is an Irish short form of William. It has held the number one spot for American boys every year since 2017. The reason is mostly phonetic. The name is soft, two syllables, vowel forward and easy to say in almost any language.
It also sits in a sweet spot between traditional and modern. Parents who want a name with history get the William lineage. Parents who want something fresh get a name that does not feel dated. That combination has made it nearly impossible to dethrone.
Why Olivia Is Still Number One
Olivia first claimed the top spot for girls in 2019, ending a five year reign by Emma. The name comes from the Latin for olive tree, a long standing symbol of peace, which gives it cross cultural appeal.
Like Liam, Olivia is highly melodic. The soft "v" adds a touch of modernity while the classical roots keep it from feeling trendy. It works as well on a toddler as on a CEO, which is exactly the kind of versatility modern parents look for.
The Full Top 10 Boys Names for 2025
- Liam (held the number 1 spot)
- Noah (held the number 2 spot)
- Oliver (held the number 3 spot)
- Theodore (held the number 4 spot)
- Henry (up from number 6)
- James (down from number 5)
- Elijah (up from number 8)
- Mateo (down from number 7)
- William (up from number 10)
- Lucas (down from number 9)
The Full Top 10 Girls Names for 2025
- Olivia (held the number 1 spot)
- Charlotte (up from number 3)
- Emma (down from number 2)
- Amelia (held the number 4 spot)
- Sophia (up from number 6)
- Mia (down from number 5)
- Isabella (held the number 7 spot)
- Evelyn (up from number 9)
- Sofia (up from number 10)
- Eliana (new to the Top 10, up from number 18)
Eliana’s Breakthrough
The most dramatic move in this year’s list is Eliana climbing eight spots to enter the Top 10 for the first time. The name means "my God has answered" and has a flowing, four syllable cadence that fits the current preference for lyrical names ending in "a".
Eliana’s rise pushed Ava out of the Top 10 after a long run inside it. That kind of churn at the bottom of the list is rare and usually signals a name is about to keep climbing for several more years.
Sophia and Sofia: The Spelling Shuffle
Look closely at the girls’ list and you will see Sophia at number 5 and Sofia at number 9. Sociologists call this the "unique but not too unique" effect.
Parents love the sound but some swap the "ph" for an "f" to give their child a slightly distinct identity without picking a genuinely obscure name. If you combined the two spellings into a single entry, Sophia would arguably challenge Olivia for the top spot.
The Vintage Revival Is Not Slowing Down
Theodore, Henry, Charlotte and Evelyn all sit comfortably in the Top 10. These are names your great grandparents might have answered to. They evoke history, elegance and stability.
The vintage revival started gaining steam around 2015 and has only accelerated. It is partly a reaction to the very modern, made up names that peaked in the early 2010s. Parents are looking for names that already have a track record of aging well.
Fast Risers Outside the Top 10
The SSA also flags the fastest climbing names each year, regardless of where they land overall. For 2025, names like Kasai, Akari and Klarity made the biggest jumps.
These reflect a growing appetite for global influences, anime inspired choices and virtue words like Clarity respelled with a "K". Expect at least one of them to graduate into the broader Top 100 over the next few years.
How the SSA Compiles the Data
The Social Security Administration has published this list every year since 1997, with historical records stretching back to 1880, when John and Mary topped the rankings. The data comes directly from Social Security card applications, which the vast majority of parents complete at the hospital shortly after birth.
That sourcing makes the SSA list the most accurate national snapshot of US baby naming. It captures the legal first name on every newborn in the system rather than relying on surveys or hospital samples.
How to Use the List If You Are Expecting
If you want your child to share a name with very few classmates, the Top 10 is the part of the list to avoid. If you want a name that is universally recognised and easy to spell on the first try, the top of the list is exactly where to look.
A useful middle ground is to scan names ranked roughly 50 to 150. Those names are familiar enough to feel grounded but uncommon enough that your child is unlikely to share a name with three other kids at preschool.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Liam first become the number one boys’ name?
Liam first reached number one in 2017 and has held the spot every year since.
What name did Eliana replace in the Top 10?
Eliana’s jump from number 18 to number 10 pushed Ava out of the Top 10 for the first time in years.
Are Sophia and Sofia counted separately?
Yes. The SSA treats each unique spelling as its own entry, which is why both versions appear inside the Top 10.
