Drumroll please… It’s time to reveal the most popular baby names of 2024, as well as the hottest naming trends of the year! Not only have we got the full rundown of top 100 boys' and top 100 girls' names chosen by BabyCenter parents, but our trendspotters can also reveal the names to watch, plus those that are falling out of favour.
The big news is that Charlotte and Oliver have taken out the number one spots in our top 100 baby names for 2024! Charlotte climbed six places from 2023, while Oliver moved from second place to first, knocking Noah off the perch (but only down to the number two spot).
There wasn’t much movement in this year’s top 10, with most names edging only slightly up or down. For the girls, Ella and Evie dropped out (falling to numbers 13 and 11 respectively), while Harper and Hazel took the number nine and 10 spots. Names ending in ‘a’ continue to dominate the girls top 10, with Amelia, Isla, Mia, Olivia and Ava taking spots two to six. For the boys, Henry slipped down to number 11 and Jack jumped up to number five. Leo, Lucas and Hudson all held onto their positions from 2023’s top 10 (numbers four, seven and eight in turn).
Movers and shakers
The girls names that rose the highest in 2024 were Luna (up 20 spots to number 24), Lucy (up 23 spots to number 25), Bonnie (up 23 spots to number 28), Emma (up 42 spots to number 33), Summer (up 24 spots to number 45), Imogen (up 23 spots to number 65) and Rose (up 32 spots to number 67).
The biggest falls were for Elsie (down 22 spots to number 37), Zoe (down 29 spots to number 46), Emilia (down 22 spots to number 58), Billie (down 23 spots to number 63), Audrey (down 55 spots to number 83), Rosie (down 27 spots to number 87) and Savannah (down 29 spots to number 93).
The boys names that climbed the highest in 2024 were Kai (up 29 spots to number 13), Lachlan (up 31 spots to number 33), Asher (up 31 spots to number 43), Ollie (up 42 spots to number 52), Roman (up 42 spots to number 53), Elias (up 30 spots to number 54) and Mateo (up 34 spots to number 56).
Those that fell the furthest were Alexander (down 35 to number 61), Samuel (down 28 to number 67), Xavier (down 41 to number 68), Beau (down 28 to number 75), Muhammad (down 29 to number 83) and Tommy (down 31 to number 86).
Back to nature
Parents embraced the beauty of nature when choosing names for their little ones in 2024. For girls, names inspired by flowers and trees were all the rage. Think delicate blooms like Lily, Violet, Daisy, Poppy and Rose, or graceful trees like Olive, Hazel and Willow. Even Ivy and Sage made the list, adding a touch of botanical elegance. Summer was the only season to crack the top 100, climbing 24 spots to number 45. Florence, meaning ‘to flourish’, remained a top 40 choice, while Isla, with its island roots, held strong at number three. It's like everyone's channeling their inner free spirit by giving their daughter a name that is as unique and beautiful as the natural world.
Biblical names
For boys, it seems like parents are turning back the clock! Biblical names were a major force in the top 100, proving that these classic choices still hold a powerful allure. Noah, Levi, Ezra, James, Elijah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Gabriel, Benjamin, Daniel and Thomas all made a strong showing – a testament to the enduring appeal of names with a timeless, almost mythical quality.
Cottagecore trend
The cottagecore aesthetic, which is centered on a romanticised interpretation of rural life and its rustic simplicity, is showing no sign of abating. It was a common theme for many of the big movers on the girls charts, including Hazel, Millie, Lucy, Bonnie, Emma, Eloise, Phoebe and Imogen. It seems everyone's dreaming of a simpler life, even if it's just in the form of a sweet, old-fashioned name.
Gender neutral
Unisex names are all the rage these days, with their cool, androgynous vibe. They're a trendy choice for parents who want a name that's both stylish and gender-neutral, breaking free from traditional expectations. Max, Charlie, Asher, Riley, Darcy, Parker, Little, Alex, Frankie, Remy/Remi, Billy/Billie and Quinn all made the cut.
Cosmic appeal
Many parents looked to the heavens when dreaming up a name for their new arrival. For the girls, celestial beauties like Aurora, Stella, Aria and Luna absolutely soared. Meanwhile, the boys' list was positively starry with names like Atlas, Archer and Leo shining brightly.
Short and sweet
Abbreviated forms of classic boys' names proved incredibly popular in 2024, offering a cool, contemporary edge while still retaining a touch of enduring charm. Luca (Lucas), Theo (Theodore), Tommy (Thomas), Eli (Elijah), Harry (Harrison), Billy (William), Ollie (Oliver) and Alex (Alexander) all appeared in the top 100 in both their long and shortened forms.
Newbies
There were some notable newcomers in 2024. The girls top 100 welcomed Kira at number 42, Phoebe at number 53, Thea at number 70, Adeline at number 76 and Elena at number 78. Sonny burst onto the boys charts at number 45, followed by Felix at number 70, Zayn at number 73 and Angus at number 74.
Out of the running
The girls’ names that dropped off the top 100 for 2024 were: Kiara, Little, Stevie, Aaliyah, Lottie, Heidi, Madeline, Maggie, Harriet, Madison, Pippa, Gabriella, Lilah, Madelyn, Mabel and Valentina.
The boys’ names that fell out of favour were: Louis, Finley, Hamish, Julian, Zachary, Fletcher, Finn, Grayson, Jaxon, Malakai, Edward, Matthew, Nathaniel, Wyatt, Chase and Ryder.
Find the perfect baby name
Need more help to find a name for your baby? We’ve got you covered. From articles specific to origin and inspiration, to getting opinions in our baby names community group, look no further for a name you’ll love.
Top boys and girls names of 2024
See all the ups and downs in 2024.
Baby boy names
Baby girl names
Note: Our article was written based on the top 100 baby names on December 31, 2024. However, our list of the most popular baby names of the year (below) is updated in real time, using data BabyCenter parents share with us as they choose their baby's name. As such, the list may change slightly as more parents record their baby’s name in the months after their birth.
Girls
Boys
