BabyCenter.com has released the most popular baby names of 2018.
Jackson leads the boys’ list for the sixth year in a row, and Sophia tops the girls’ list for the ninth year running, making it the decade-defining name for girls born in the 2010s, according to a press release.
“Sophia is the dominant girls’ name of the decade, with no signs of slowing down,” says Linda Murray, BabyCenter’s Senior Vice President of Consumer Experience and Global Editor in Chief. “It has worldwide appeal, it’s pronounceable in multiple languages, and it’s feminine and sophisticated all at once. As for Jackson, it’s a modern twist on the old classic Jack.”
Top 10 names of 2018
Girls Boys
1. Sophia Jackson
2. Olivia Liam
3. Emma Noah
4. Ava Aiden
5. Isabella Caden
6. Aria Grayson
7. Riley Lucas
8. Amelia Mason
9. Mia Oliver
10. Layla Elijah
Millennial and Gen Z moms and dads found name inspiration in their passions and values in 2018. The names they chose evoke wildly varied topics, such as peace and spirituality, foods and flavors, the second Kardashian generation, and the online game Fortnite.
“Parents are inspired by the things they love as well as the sound of a name,” says Murray. “In the past, we’d look to the Bible or royalty for name inspiration. Today’s parents turn to other sources. We’ve had two decades plus of ‘unique’ names, and anything goes. It’s not like the days when every other baby was named Jessica, Jason, or Jennifer.”
