Social Security Name Popularity: 2025 Rankings Reveal America’s Most Popular Baby Names

Social security name popularity remains a major source of interest for U.S. parents, families, researchers and anyone tracking changes in American naming habits. The latest official data, released in May 2026, show that Liam and Olivia remained the nation’s most popular baby names for births in 2025, extending their run at No. 1 to seven consecutive years.

The newest figures also reveal several notable changes below the top spots. Charlotte moved into second place among girls, ending Emma’s six-year run as the No. 2 name. Eliana entered the girls’ top 10, while Ava dropped out. Among boys, the leading four names remained unchanged from the previous year.

These results represent the latest complete national baby-name rankings available as of August 16, 2026. The official 2026 national rankings have not yet been released, so the 2025 figures remain the current benchmark for measuring baby-name popularity across the United States.

Latest 2025 Baby Name Rankings

The newest national list shows a strong degree of stability among the most popular names.

Liam continued to lead the boys’ ranking, while Olivia remained No. 1 for girls. Both names have occupied the top position every year since 2019.

Here are the 10 most popular names for boys and girls born in 2025:

The list shows that many familiar names continue to dominate American baby naming. Nine of the 10 boys’ names were already firmly established among the leading choices, while the girls’ list recorded more noticeable movement.

Liam Holds the No. 1 Boys’ Spot

Liam continues to be the leading boys’ name in the United States.

The name first reached No. 1 in 2019 and has remained there through the 2025 data. Its latest result gives Liam a seven-year consecutive run at the top.

Noah remained in second place, while Oliver stayed third. Theodore held fourth place, and Henry remained fifth.

The next five names were James, Elijah, Mateo, William and Lucas.

The stability of the boys’ ranking is especially noticeable at the very top. Liam, Noah, Oliver and Theodore all kept the same positions they held in the previous annual ranking.

That consistency shows that the leading boys’ names continue to have broad national appeal rather than experiencing major year-to-year changes.

Olivia Remains America’s Most Popular Girls’ Name

Olivia also maintained its position at No. 1.

Like Liam, Olivia has ranked first nationally every year since 2019. The 2025 results therefore mark seven consecutive years at the top for the name.

Charlotte moved into second place, followed by Emma at No. 3. Amelia remained fourth, while Sophia took fifth.

Mia, Isabella, Evelyn and Sofia completed the next four positions.

The biggest change came at No. 10, where Eliana joined the national top 10.

Charlotte Moves Ahead of Emma

Charlotte’s rise to No. 2 was one of the most significant changes in the latest national rankings.

Emma had held the second position for six consecutive years. The 2025 results ended that run as Charlotte moved ahead.

Emma still remained extremely popular at No. 3, showing that the change did not represent a major collapse in demand for the name. Instead, Charlotte’s continued strength pushed it into the runner-up position.

The result also demonstrates how rankings can shift even when the names involved remain firmly established among American families.

Charlotte has been a consistent presence near the top of the U.S. baby-name rankings in recent years. Its move to No. 2 confirms its continuing popularity nationwide.

Eliana Enters the Top 10

Eliana recorded another important milestone in the 2025 rankings by entering the girls’ top 10.

The name took the No. 10 position, replacing Ava.

Ava had been a familiar member of the national top 10 for years. Its departure made room for Eliana, giving the 2025 girls’ list a new name at the bottom of the leading group.

Eliana’s arrival is significant because the top 10 typically attracts considerable attention from parents looking for the names currently most widely used across the country.

The change also highlights the difference between long-term popularity and annual momentum. A name can remain recognizable for many years while another name gradually moves upward and takes its place.

The Fastest-Rising Boys’ Names

The biggest gains in the 2025 rankings occurred outside the top 10.

Kasai recorded the largest increase among boys. It climbed 1,108 positions, moving from No. 1,747 in 2024 to No. 639 in 2025.

That increase also brought Kasai into the national top 1,000 for the first time.

Akari recorded the second-largest rise among boys. It climbed 1,089 positions to reach No. 542.

Other major movers included Eziah, Jasai and Neithan.

Their rankings changed considerably even though none reached the national top 100. These results show why looking only at the most popular names does not capture every important movement in U.S. naming data.

Fastest-Rising Boys’ Names in 2025

Kasai stands out because its jump was large enough to move the name from well outside the top 1,000 into the national list.

Akari also made a substantial move, reaching No. 542 after ranking No. 1,631 in 2024.

These rankings measure changes in position, not simply the total number of babies receiving a particular name.

The Fastest-Rising Girls’ Names

Girls’ names also recorded several dramatic gains.

Klarity posted the largest increase among girls, rising 1,396 positions. It reached No. 791 in the 2025 rankings.

Rynlee had the second-largest increase, climbing 1,222 positions to No. 755.

Ailanny, Naylani and Madisson also recorded significant increases.

Klarity’s movement was the largest annual ranking increase recorded among girls in the latest data.

The results show that major changes can occur far below the most familiar names. Some names can gain hundreds or more than a thousand positions without immediately entering the national top 100.

Why Social Security Baby Name Data Matter

The Social Security Administration’s baby-name database has become one of the most widely used sources for tracking naming trends in the United States.

The rankings come from Social Security card application information submitted for births. The agency publishes an annual list of the 1,000 most popular names for boys and girls.

The database also provides tools that allow users to examine names by birth year, state and historical period.

That makes the data useful for more than identifying the current No. 1 name. Users can also examine whether a name is rising, falling or maintaining a long-term position.

The Database Reaches Back to 1880

The historical depth of the database makes it possible to compare current naming habits with earlier generations.

The searchable records go back to 1880. This allows users to examine how individual names have changed over more than a century.

The Social Security Administration began compiling its annual baby-name list in 1997, while its historical database provides popularity information for years dating back to the late 19th century.

That long history shows that naming preferences can change dramatically over time.

Names that once dominated American birth records can become uncommon, while names that were once relatively unusual can eventually reach the top of the national rankings.

Liam and Olivia Have Become Defining Names of the 2020s

The latest rankings also reinforce the strong position of Liam and Olivia during the current decade.

For births from 2020 through 2025, Liam ranks first among boys with 124,842 recorded occurrences in the six-year period.

Olivia ranks first among girls during the same period with 95,853 recorded occurrences.

Noah ranks second among boys, while Emma ranks second among girls for the 2020–2025 period.

Charlotte ranks third among girls over those years, followed by Amelia and Sophia.

The decade-level numbers provide a broader view than a single annual ranking. They show which names have consistently attracted parents over several years.

National Rankings Can Hide Regional Differences

Baby-name popularity is not identical across every part of the United States.

The Social Security database also provides state-level information, allowing users to compare naming preferences across the country.

A name that ranks first nationally may not rank first in a particular state. Regional differences can produce very different top-five lists.

For example, recent state-level data have shown Olivia, Charlotte, Amelia and Mia competing for leading positions in different parts of the country.

The same pattern appears among boys, where Liam, Noah, Oliver and other leading names can occupy different positions depending on the state.

State data therefore provide another way to understand U.S. naming trends without relying solely on the national ranking.

What the Latest Rankings Reveal

The 2025 results present a combination of stability and movement.

At the very top, the picture remains remarkably consistent. Liam and Olivia continue to lead their respective categories, while several other established names remain close behind.

The largest changes appear farther down the list.

Charlotte’s move to No. 2 and Eliana’s arrival at No. 10 changed the girls’ top 10. Among boys, the top four positions remained unchanged.

At the same time, names such as Kasai and Klarity experienced much larger percentage movements in the broader rankings.

This combination makes the latest data useful for anyone interested in current U.S. naming patterns. The leading names show long-term consistency, while lower-ranked names reveal faster changes in popularity.

When Will the 2026 Rankings Arrive?

As of August 16, 2026, there is no official national Social Security baby-name ranking for births in 2026.

The latest available national results cover births from 2025 and were released in May 2026.

The annual release normally arrives after the previous calendar year has ended and the relevant records have been processed. Until a new official list becomes available, the 2025 results remain the appropriate national reference point.

That means lists presented as official 2026 national rankings should not be treated as Social Security rankings unless they come from a future official release.

The Current U.S. Baby-Name Picture

The latest data establish several clear points:

• Liam is the most popular boys’ name for 2025.
• Olivia is the most popular girls’ name for 2025.
• Both names have held No. 1 for seven consecutive years.
• Charlotte moved to No. 2 among girls.
• Emma moved to No. 3 after six years at No. 2.
• Eliana entered the girls’ top 10.
• Ava fell out of the girls’ top 10.
• Kasai was the fastest-rising boys’ name.
• Klarity was the fastest-rising girls’ name.
• The searchable database reaches back to 1880.
• State rankings demonstrate meaningful regional differences.
• The 2025 list remains the latest complete national ranking available as of August 16, 2026.

The current numbers show that American baby naming remains stable at the highest levels while substantial movement continues among less-established names. Liam and Olivia have maintained an unusually long hold on the top positions, while Charlotte, Eliana and several rapidly rising names are changing the shape of the broader rankings.

Which 2025 baby names stand out to you? Share your thoughts and keep checking for the next official U.S. name-ranking update.