Expecting a new bundle of joy this year? Congratulations! The thought of all that sleep deprivation has us flagging already. And amidst the constant noise, diaper changings, and round-the-clock feedings, you even have to think of a name for this new demand on your attention – something that isn’t too old fashioned or obscure, and that won’t leave baby shower attendees looking bemused.
Fear not, however. Despite the less glamorous moments we’ve singled out above, becoming a new parent is, nonetheless, a thrilling event. Even if it can be daunting, it’s still rewarding, and getting the chance to christen your new arrival is all part of the fun. To make it a bit easier for you, then, we’ve compiled a list of the most popular baby boy and girl names from 2023, based on rankings from the Social Security Administration. Even if you somehow manage to veto all of these names, the SSA’s list might still provide the inspiration you need to pick the right name (or to veto a whole host of others). Then, when you’ve finally decided on a suitable namesake, you can announce it to the world with personalized keepsakes that allow you to feature the baby’s name.
Whether you’re on the hunt for an old reliable or on the prowl for a modern favorite, it’s time to dive into a batch of the most popular and charming baby names for boys and girls this year (along with ways to showcase them).
Top Baby Girl Names
• Olivia
As in previous years, Olivia still reigned supreme in 2023. Spurred on, perhaps, by the success of stars like Disney Channel alumnus Olivia Rodrigo, this is a name that has always exuded elegance and grace. Think of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, for instance!
• Emma
Emma, which is derived from the Germanic word ermen, means “whole” or “universal.” Appropriately, then, it’s been universally beloved for generations, whether we’re talking about Jane Austen’s eponymous heroine in the 1815 novel or the multiple Hollywood Emmas (Thompson, Stone, Roberts, Watson).
• Amelia
Amelia is another name that’s been derived from German, though it also has links to Hebrew and Latin. Typically believed to mean “industrious” or “hardworking,” Amelia strikes a balance between strength and femininity – as it did for Amelia Mary Earhart, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic in 1932.
• Sophia
If you want to imbue your baby girl with a love of learning and a thirst for knowledge, then you can’t go wrong with a name that means, in Greek, “wisdom.” Regarded in some religious movements as the name of the goddess of wisdom, in fact, Sophia is a name that carries a regal weight. It’s perfect for a little girl who’s destined for greatness.
• Ava
Short, sweet, and sophisticated, Ava is a simple name that has been variously translated as “bird,” “life,” and “voice.” Regardless of its exact connotations, however, there’s a vitality about the name Ava (along with Eve and Eva) that expectant parents continue to find charming in 2024. It also brings to mind classic Hollywood stars: think of Ava Gardner, and All About Eve (1950).
Our Independent Creators have used several of these names in their nursery décor designs so you can visualize how each one will look in your new playroom.
• Isabella
Isabella is a name that ranks among this writer’s personal favorites – it both sounds and looks beautiful, with a dramatic rise and fall towards the end of the word. It’s a Spanish and Italian variation of Elizabeth, which, in Hebrew as the name Elisheba, means “devoted to God.” Even if you aren’t the spiritual type, however, Isabella is a strong, romantic name, à la Isabella Rossellini.
• Mia
The roots of the name Mia are hard to pinpoint: some sites and languages read it as “moon,” while others translate it as “beloved” or “wished-for child.” In European Romance languages, however, it’s commonly understood to mean “mine.” It’s a cute, concise name that carries a lot of love, then.
• Charlotte
Because of its relationship to the boy’s name Charles, Charlotte, a French name, can be interpreted to mean “free man.” Despite this, Charlotte is a graceful, royal name that has been attributed to many queens and princesses since the 14th century (and even to accomplished female novelists in the 19th, as with Charlotte Brontë, author of Jane Eyre in 1847).
• Luna
Luna, which means “moon” in Latin, is a name with a magical, mystical quality. This is one of the more avant-garde names on our list – there aren’t many celebrities or historical figures with the name Luna – but you can still bestow it upon a little girl that you know is destined to shine brightly.
• Evelyn
Predominantly a British name (though with its origins in French), Evelyn can be translated as “desired” or “beautiful.” Evelyn is also a versatile name: it can be used as both a first and last name, it’s often abbreviated to Eve or Lynn, and it’s both a girl and boy’s name, which makes it the perfect segue to our next list.
Top Baby Boy Names
• Liam
Leading the charge for boys’ names in 2023 was Liam, which, appropriately, means “strong-willed warrior.” This powerful Irish name is a shortened version of William, which also appears on this list, and the former has been popularized in the U.S. by Liam Neeson and Liam Hemsworth.
• Noah
As the name of a prominent figure in the Old Testament, Noah is a name with a long history. Derived from Hebrew, and said to mean “rest” or “comfort,” this could be one way to instill your wailing baby boy with peace and serenity in those early months of parenthood.
• Oliver
Oliver is a sophisticated, versatile name – it can be both a first and last name, and the female equivalent, Olivia, topped the list of girls’ names, as we’ve seen. In French, Oliver comes from the “olive tree,” lending the name a fresh, zesty quality, and symbolizing peace (‘extending an olive branch’).
• Elijah
Elijah is arguably the most commanding name on this list: the biblical Elijah was a miracle worker and mighty prophet of God in the Old Testament. The name means “Yahweh [Jehovah] is God,” in reference to the Hebrew name for God revealed to Moses, and his namesake lives on through Elijah Wood, who played Frodo Baggins in Lord of the Rings.
• James
From kings of England to locomotives in Thomas the Tank Engine, James is one of the world’s most enduring boys’ names. Hollywood is filled with actors bearing this classic, masculine name, from James Dean and James Caan to James Cameron and James McAvoy. Derived from Hebrew and meaning “supplanter,” James is both familiar and distinguished.
Our Independent Creators have put some of these top-ranking boys’ names at the forefront of their baby boy décor and baby shower party supplies.
• William
If the top-ranking name on this list, Liam, didn’t sit right with you, then perhaps the extended form, William, will do the trick. This Germanic name – think of Prussian kings and German emperors called Wilhelm – means “helmet” or “resolute protector,” and therefore it exudes strength and fortitude. And if you still aren’t swayed by the name, then we’d appeal to your hard-headed nature by pointing out the success of William Faulkner and William Shakespeare.
• Mateo
Mateo is another name with a biblical past: it translates from Spanish as “gift from God” and is a variant of Matthew, one of the names of Jesus’s apostles and of the Evangelists. While obviously, every child is a gift or miracle, the idea that a boy named Mateo is particularly precious makes it another one of this writer’s favorite names.
• Lucas
Given that the birth of a new baby can often be an illuminating experience, it’s apt that one of the most popular boys’ names in the U.S. last year was Lucas, which in Greek means “bringer of light.” This bright, friendly name would be perfect for a little boy with a big personality – and it can be shortened to the equally popular Luke, too.
• Henry
Eight kings of England have been called Henry, and thus it should come as no surprise to learn that the Germanic name means “house ruler.” Despite being a noble, stately name, it remains friendly and approachable, and is often abbreviated to Harry or Hank. For a name with historical significance and modern appeal – think Henry Cavill – look no further than this ninth entry on our list.
• Theodore
Like Mateo, Theodore also means “gift from God” (in Greek, this time, as Theodore is a compound of Theos meaning “God” and doren meaning “gift”). Famous Theodores include Theodore Roosevelt Jr., 26th President of the United States, and the name can also be affectionately abbreviated to Teddy.
Finding the Perfect Name
These top baby girl names and baby boy names are popular for good reason. They balance traditional roots with contemporary appeal, ensuring they’ll feel fresh and relevant for years to come, and they blend together a host of different cultures and languages, such as Greek, Latin, French, Irish, and Hebrew. Each name carries a beautiful meaning that can inspire your child’s future.
Choosing a name is a personal and special experience, however. Don’t even feel obliged to follow these aforementioned trends (despite the fact we’ve articulated them at length)! Consider how a name sounds with your last name, any family or cultural significance, and, of course, how much you love it! Don’t be afraid to mix and match or even come up with your own unique twist. You can also salvage runner-up names by using them as a middle name.
Personalize Your Baby’s Name: Creative Ideas for Parents
Now that you’ve chosen your baby’s name (or are at least further ahead in your deliberations), you might want to consider ways in which you can showcase that choice, or in which you can make that name the unifying theme for your nursery décor and baby shower planning. Here are some ideas for how to feature your baby’s name in their surroundings and in the lead-up to the birth.
Custom Name Products
Creating products that have the baby’s name on them may seem unnecessary – everyone will know their name anyway, without needing it pointed out to them. However, putting the baby’s name on a shirt, blanket, or stuffed animal is a cute way of making everything they own unique; as if it had been designed specifically with baby Amelia or Theodore in mind. Furthermore, because expectant parents spend so much time trawling websites and flipping through magazines to arrive at just the right name, custom name products can help you to commemorate the decision.
By the way, we’re awfully fond of these baby bath robes from Wicked Stitches: they’re perfect for bathtime, and even come with a rubber duck Ernie from Sesame Street would be proud of.
Personalized Nursery Décor
Even from an early age, the importance of creating a warm, welcoming environment for your baby can’t be understated. Indeed, not only it is helpful for a child to have their own space, but it can even nurture their development to have a stimulating, colorful, and educational environment in which to roll around their crib. Our Independent Creators have been hard at work fashioning fetching nursery clocks, nursery wall decals, and nursery pillows to aid little ones with their visual development (and to make the space fun and comfortable for their big brothers and sisters to frequent, too).
Building blocks are a staple of most nurseries, and while Bitsy Blocks’ cubes aren’t toys, they make excellent photo props for your nursery or baby shower. We’d also like to recommend Personal Creations’ elegant step stools, each of which can be personalized with Emma, Sophia, or Henry’s name, and will help your child reach new heights, in time.
Baby Name Shower Ideas
Of course, perhaps the decision-making process wasn’t so difficult for you, and you’ve known since you were a child yourself that the baby would be called Lucas. If so, then you should be able to factor that name into your baby shower planning (or advise a helpful sister, friend, or future godparent to do it for you). While you might have to adapt some of the baby shower games – there won’t be any prizes here for guessing what the newborn’s name will be – you could include the name on the baby shower décor or in the baby shower invitations. You can even preserve anything you create as a cherished keepsake that your child will be able to admire when they’re older! For the moment, however, you’ll have to admire these Zazzle Ideas articles: “Baby Shower Trends to Try in 2024” and “Who to Invite to a Baby Shower and What to Write in the Invite.”
Create Your Own Custom Keepsakes for Baby
You’ve brought new life into the world, you’ve conceived of a name for them, and now it’s time to create something else: custom keepsakes, designed entirely by you. While our Independent Creators have provided thousands of templates for you to customize and adapt, it can be easier, sometimes, to work with a blank canvas. Take our custom Christmas ornaments page, for example, where you can click on any of the 36 thumbnails shown to start designing a one-of-a-kind ornament for your baby’s first Christmas (or even to reveal the good news in the first place, as with our birth announcement ornaments). Once you’ve chosen a style and material, click on ‘Customize This Design’ to open our state-of-the-art design interface: from there you can input the baby’s name, upload a photo (it could even be an ultrasound scan), or list interesting birth details (the date and time, their weight, their middle name). Click ‘Done’ and ‘Add to Cart’ when you want to finalize your order, and repeat the feat with our custom baby blankets and custom feeding supplies.
Whether you’re looking for classic elegance or modern flair, we hope this article on the top baby names for 2024 has inspired you. If you’re not expecting yourself but know someone who is, you might also want to add these articles to your research: “How to Say Congrats on a New Baby” and “17 Old Wives’ Tales to Predict [Their] Baby’s Gender.” If you have any favorite tips or unique name ideas, share them in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you!
Eoin is a Content Specialist at Zazzle in Cork. He’s recently bought a house with his fiancée, and thus most of his time these days is spent trying to keep the walls from caving in and the wolves from the door. Still, he’s always open to book, game, and movie recommendations, so if you have some, let him know: he’ll add them to a very, very long list.
