Baby name trends for 2027 are expected to be shaped by television dramas, Greek mythology, Western culture and a growing appetite for longer, more distinctive names, according to new BabyCenter data.
The forecast is based on information from more than 350,000 babies born in 2026 to parents registered with the BabyCenter app, allowing the company to track emerging choices before official government figures are released.
Television and mythology influence baby names
Names linked to hockey dramas including Off Campus and Heated Rivalry are beginning to gain ground. Garrett, Allie, Beau and Jules all rose in popularity, while Ilya climbed more than 6,000 places among boys to reach number 2,197.
The influence of Yellowstone is also continuing, with Western-inspired names gaining traction. Stetson rose 46 places to number 95, entering BabyCenter’s top 100 for the first time, while Walker, Callahan, Wilder and Gunner also moved up the rankings.
Greek mythology is providing another source of inspiration. Atlas, Orion, Troy, Ares, Evander and Perseus all became more popular among boys, while Iris, Lydia and Daphne rose among girls.
BabyCenter’s data also suggests parents are increasingly choosing longer names. Seven or more letters feature in nearly three in ten of the most popular girls’ names and 31 per cent of the boys’ names.
Names beginning with E accounted for 15 per cent of the top 100 girls’ names, while J was the leading initial among boys, making up 14 per cent of the list.
Steph Coffield, BabyCenter’s baby name adviser, said parents appeared to be revisiting older naming traditions while giving them a modern twist.
“The trends this year show parents are ready to dig into the archives with some modern appreciation for the ancient, the vintage, the classic,” she said.
Coffield added that names inspired by Greek mythology and the Wild West were “conquering the Gen Beta baby name frontier”, while parents were also embracing more elaborate names.
Nostalgia and the decline of Taylor
Nostalgia is expected to play a part in naming choices too, with renewed interest in Gilmore Girls coinciding with rises for Lorelai and Rory. Christopher, Luke, Richard and Dean also gained ground among boys.
Edgier names featuring the letter X are also on the rise. Bexley, Alexandra, Xena and Ximena were among the girls’ names gaining popularity, while Braxton, Knox, Daxton, Maximilian and Jaxson climbed among boys.
One notable fall was recorded for Taylor, despite Taylor Swift’s marriage in July. The name dropped 24 places among girls to number 399 and fell 262 places among boys to number 1,093, taking it out of the boys’ top 1,000 for the first time.
BabyCenter’s 2026 rankings placed Olivia as the most popular girls’ name and Noah as the leading boys’ choice. Eliana recorded the sharpest rise among girls, moving five places to number two, and could challenge Olivia for the top spot if its momentum continues.
Among boys, Stetson, Archer, Milo and Dean entered the top 100, while Magnolia was the only new girls’ name to make that group.
