Top baby name trends for 2027 revealed, according to new data
NEW YORK - From the influence of hit television dramas to a growing fascination with ancient mythology, parents are embracing a mix of influences when naming their babies.
BabyCenter’s latest report is revealing the trends expected to shape baby name choices in 2027.
The report, "The Top Trends That’ll Influence Baby Names in 2027," draws on data from more than 350,000 babies born in 2026 to parents registered on the BabyCenter app.
Top baby name trends of 2027
Big picture view:
The growing popularity of hockey-themed television dramas has coincided with increases in names featured in Prime Video’s "Off Campus" and "Heated Rivalry." Garrett, Allie, Beau and Jules all gained popularity, while Ilya surged more than 6,000 places to No. 2,197 among boys.
Western-inspired names also continued to gain traction amid the cultural influence of "Yellowstone." Stetson climbed 46 places to No. 95, entering BabyCenter’s top 100 for the first time. Other rising choices included Walker, up 19 spots; Callahan, up 88; Wilder, up 107; and Gunner, up 151.
Names inspired by hockey dramas, Western series and Greek mythology are gaining popularity, alongside edgier names featuring the letter X. (Credit: Getty Images)
Meanwhile, names drawn from Greek mythology are also gaining momentum as top trending baby names of 2027. Among boys, Atlas rose five places, Orion and Troy each climbed nine, Ares gained 32, Evander advanced 128 and Perseus rose 249 spots. For girls, Iris climbed 18 places, Lydia rose 38 and Daphne gained 42.
Nostalgia is another emerging influence. Ahead of a newly announced documentary, renewed interest in "Gilmore Girls" has coincided with increases for Lorelai, up 12 places, and Rory, up 31, among girls. Boys’ names associated with the show also gained ground, including Christopher, Luke, Richard and Dean.
Parents are also showing interest in names with an edgier sound, particularly those featuring the letter X. Rising choices for girls include Bexley, Alexandra, Xena and Ximena, while Braxton, Knox, Daxton, Maximilian and Jaxson are gaining traction among boys.
Taylor loses ground
The other side:
Despite Taylor Swift tying the knot this past July, one of the sharpest reversals in BabyCenter’s data involves the name Taylor, which has fallen in popularity for both boys and girls.
The name dropped 24 places among girls to No. 399 and plunged 262 spots among boys to No. 1,093, falling out of the boys’ top 1,000 for the first time, according to BabyCenter.
What they're saying:
"The trends this year show parents are ready to dig into the archives with some modern appreciation for the ancient, the vintage, the classic," Steph Coffield, baby name advisor for BabyCenter, said in a statement. "BabyCenter’s data shows names from the Greek mythos and The Wild West are conquering the Gen Beta baby name frontier. And these names are getting more elaborate by statistically using more letters as parents maximize and embrace longer names."
Most popular baby names of 2026
Dig deeper:
Meanwhile, another recent report from BabyCenter revealed the most popular baby names of 2026.
Olivia retained its position as the most popular girls’ name, while Noah continued to lead the boys’ rankings.
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Eliana’s rise was one of the most notable shifts among girls. After debuting last year at No. 7, it jumped 5 spots this year, to No. 2.
Other girls’ names gaining ground included Elsie, which climbed 23 spots; Evangeline, up 50; Elodie, up 87; Elaine, up 143; and Esme, up 222.
Magnolia was the only new addition to the girls’ top 100 in 2026. On the boys’ side, Stetson, Archer, Milo and Dean entered the top 100. Dean’s return was particularly notable, as the name last enjoyed its peak popularity in the 1950s and 1960s.
These name findings similarly mirror the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) findings released in May.
RELATED: Most popular baby names in US revealed: See the list
According to the data, Olivia and Liam were America's most popular baby names for 2025 – the seventh consecutive year both names held the top spot.
The baby names were drawn from Social Security card applications submitted at birth.
The Source: The information for this story was provided by BabyCenter’s proprietary name data, sourced from more than 350,000 babies born in 2026 to parents registered on the BabyCenter app. Because names are submitted in real time, BabyCenter is able to spot emerging trends before the Social Security Administration releases its annual list. This story was reported from Los Angeles. Previous FOX Local reporting contributed.