Professional Baby Namer Predicts the Most Popular Baby Name Trends Set to Dominate 2026

As 2026 officially arrives, millions of couples around the world are preparing to welcome new additions to their families. With the year once considered “the future” now firmly in the present, baby naming trends are evolving to reflect generational shifts, cultural nostalgia, and a desire for individuality. In the United States alone, more than three million babies are expected to be born this year, and while classic names like Noah and Olivia are likely to remain popular, experts say new trends are poised to take center stage.

Choosing a baby name has never been easy. For many parents, it involves months of discussion, compromise, and careful consideration of meaning, uniqueness, and longevity. To shed light on what’s coming next, professional baby namer Colleen Slagen has shared her predictions for the names set to define 2026.

Slagen, who has worked as a professional baby namer since 2022, spoke with People magazine about the trends she has observed while working with families across the country. A former nurse practitioner, she left her medical career to pursue her passion for names, which she now explores through TikTok, private consultations, and her book Naming Bebe: An Interactive Guide to Choosing the Baby Name You Love.

One of the strongest trends Slagen predicts for 2026 is a growing preference for short, four-letter names. According to her, these names feel “effortlessly cool” and are often “nickname-proof,” making them appealing to modern parents who want simplicity without sacrificing style. For girls, names such as Indi, Gwen, Lana, and Alba are expected to rise in popularity. For boys, Luca, Rome, Elio, Dean, and Bode are gaining traction.

“I’ve worked with so many families who accidentally start this trend with one child and then continue it with all of their kids,” Slagen told People, noting how cohesive sibling naming has become increasingly important to parents.

Another trend Slagen highlights is what she calls “Andi Anderson names,” inspired by early-2000s pop culture. The name references Kate Hudson’s iconic character in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, a film that continues to resonate strongly with millennial parents. As a result, more parents are choosing traditionally masculine or gender-neutral names for their daughters, reflecting broader shifts toward fluidity and self-expression.

Slagen also points to a renewed interest in French names, which she says offer a timeless elegance that many parents find appealing. She notes that trends often emerge when large groups of people independently gravitate toward similar ideas at the same time. “When everyone is looking the other way simultaneously, a trend is born,” she explained.

Celebrity-inspired baby names continue to influence naming culture as well, although Slagen emphasizes that this trend is more common among influencers than the general population. She cites Gwyneth Paltrow’s decision to name her daughter Apple as a pivotal moment that normalized word-based and unconventional names.

“This trend started with celebrities and gradually trickled down,” Slagen said. “It allows parents to choose something highly unique, but still familiar, easy to pronounce, and simple to spell.”

Overall, experts suggest that baby names in 2026 will reflect a balance between individuality and accessibility. Parents want names that stand out, but also ones that feel wearable throughout a child’s life. Whether inspired by pop culture, global influences, or minimalist aesthetics, the most popular names of 2026 appear to be rooted in both personal meaning and cultural connection.

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Sources

• People Magazine. Baby Name Trends and Expert Predictions

• Social Security Administration (SSA). Popular Baby Names in the United States

• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). National Birth Data

• The New York Times. How Pop Culture Shapes Baby Naming Trends

• BabyCenter. Baby Name Trends and Cultural Influences