For the seventh year in a row, Olivia and Liam have held their grip on the top spots in America's baby name rankings, according to newly released Social Security data for 2025. The annual list, based on Social Security card applications at birth, shows minimal churn at the very top but notable shifts just below.
Among boys, the top four names remained unchanged: Liam, Noah, Oliver, and Theodore. For girls, Charlotte overtook Emma as the runner-up, breaking Emma's six-year hold on the No. 2 position. Ava fell out of the top 10 entirely, replaced by Eliana. Other top girls' names—Amelia, Sophia, Sofia, Mia, Evelyn, and Isabella—held steady.
Fastest Risers and Fallers
While the top 10 sees little movement, names outside that elite group are climbing rapidly. The boys' name Kasai—meaning "fire" in Japanese and Swahili—jumped 1,108 spots to enter the top 1,000 for the first time, landing at No. 639. Other fast-rising boys' names include Akari, Eziah, Jasai, and Neithan.
For girls, Klarity led all risers, vaulting from No. 2,187 in 2024 to No. 791 in 2025. Rynlee, Ailanny, Naylani, and Madisson also saw significant gains.
On the decline, Aubrie dropped 354 spots and fell out of the top 1,000 to No. 1,353. Cattleya, Jaycee, and Zendaya also lost popularity. Among boys, Karim saw the sharpest drop, followed by Khaza, Khai, Landen, and Seven.
Decade Trends
Liam and Olivia are the undisputed champions of the 2020s so far, according to Social Security data—both were runners-up in the 2010s, when Noah and Emma held the top spots. The database allows users to track U.S. baby name popularity back to the 1880s.
Over the past 100 years (1926–2025), the most popular boys' names have been James, Michael, John, Robert, and David. For girls, Mary, Patricia, Jennifer, Linda, and Elizabeth top the list.
The Social Security Administration releases its list of the 1,000 most popular baby names each year in honor of Mother's Day. For more on political and policy debates, including the ongoing clash over security funding, read about Senate GOP clashes over a $1 billion security price tag for Trump's ballroom. Meanwhile, discussions about national security extend to other areas, as seen in a lawmaker's proposal to address the skilled labor shortage threatening national security.
These baby name trends offer a cultural snapshot, but they also intersect with broader policy conversations. For instance, the debate over Iran's use of social media as a weapon of influence highlights how even naming trends can be tied to digital narratives.
