Choosing a baby name can turn an ordinary evening into a lovely little daydream. You say a name out loud, imagine writing it on a birthday card, then wonder whether it sounds right beside your last name. If you are welcoming a little one in 2027, this list is a place to start collecting possibilities, not a prediction you need to follow.
There are no official 2027 baby-name rankings yet. Our ideas below combine a clearly labeled look at the latest available Social Security Administration list with a few personal picks. The picks are simply names we like for the year ahead, not measured trends or official rankings.
A little name, a whole world of firsts. When it is time for first shoes, find their Little Love Bug pair.
The real starting point: SSA's 2025 list
The latest national top-ten list available when we checked is for babies born in 2025. The source is the Social Security Administration's Popular Baby Names page, checked on November 8, 2026. These are 2025 names, not a 2027 forecast.
The SSA lists these ten boy names at the top for 2025: Liam, Noah, Oliver, Theodore, Henry, James, Elijah, Mateo, William and Lucas. Its top ten girl names for 2025 are Olivia, Charlotte, Emma, Amelia, Sophia, Mia, Isabella, Evelyn, Sofia and Eliana.
We have kept the source year visible because a popular-names headline can easily sound more certain than it is. A name's place on a previous list does not tell us where it will rank in 2027. It does give you a real list to browse while you build your own shortlist.
Familiar favorites to carry into your shortlist
If you enjoy names that feel familiar, the 2025 list gives you plenty to try. Say Olivia, Charlotte and Emma aloud with your last name. Then try Liam, Oliver and Henry. You may find that one feels especially natural when you imagine using it every day.
Longer names such as Theodore, Amelia and Isabella can also be fun to consider alongside the shorter forms your family might use. You do not have to choose a nickname in advance. It is simply another way to picture how a name could sound around the breakfast table.
Our 2027 picks: a small, personal list
These are editorial picks, not a data-based ranking. We are not claiming that they are rising in popularity. They are just a few more possibilities for families who would like to look beyond the official top ten.
- Clara: a short, familiar option to try if you like a clear, simple sound.
- June: a one-syllable choice that is easy to test beside a longer middle name.
- Willow: an option for a family drawn to a nature-word name.
- August: a name to consider if calendar names appeal to you.
- Rowan: another possibility for a nature-inspired shortlist.
- Ellis: a two-syllable option to say aloud with your family name.
- Avery: a name to try in a few first-and-middle combinations.
- Leo: a short option if you enjoy a name with a simple ending.
There is no order of preference here. Put a star beside the ones you want to revisit, leave the rest behind, and add the family names you already love.
A gentle way to narrow the list
Try writing your favorites as a full name, including the middle and last names. Read the initials, say the whole combination aloud and think about any nicknames you would be happy using. If a name connects to a language or family tradition, take time to learn its pronunciation and story from a reliable source.
You might keep a shared note with a partner, or let the list sit for a week before looking again. There is no need to choose the most unusual name, the most popular name or the name everyone else votes for. Your shortlist can be personal and a little unfinished.
Names first, little adventures later
For more browsing, see our baby girl names guide and baby boy names guide. Keep checking the SSA source for official updates rather than treating anyone's predictions as facts.
A little name, a whole world of firsts. When it is time for first shoes, find their Little Love Bug pair.
