Skip to content 
Important requirements
- Some unusual names – like Ella, Hazel, and Harper – are not uncommon, depending on where you live. In five states, Waylon is the #1 boy’s name today.
- If you want to avoid (or choose) a popular baby name, be sure to check out what’s happening in your area.
- In the end, you have to choose a baby name that you like, no matter what it is.
As a baby name specialist, my clients often ask me to come up with names that are familiar to them but unusual – so unusual that their child is the only one in the class with that name. One thing I look for is a list of the top baby names in the country, but I also like to know how popular names are in different countries.
For more than 20 years, BabyCenter has helped thousands of parents register their children’s names on the BabyCenter app in real time. That means we see what names are trending and falling, and we’re sharing the latest here.
Advertising | page continues below
Although popular names for girls such as Olivia, Amelia, Charlotte, Sophia, Isabella, Emma, Aurora, and Eveyln are the favorites of many countries, several names outside the list of the top 10 in the world are number 1 in other places:
-
Ella (No. 18 nationally) is ranked No. 1 in Alaska and Alabama
-
Kehlani (No. 87 in the country) and No. 1 in Hawaii
-
Isla (No. 31 in the country) and No. 1 in Montana
-
Anicia (No. 4,079 in the country) and No. 1 in North Dakota
-
Hazel (No. 17 nationally) and No. 1 in Nebraska and Oregon
-
Harper (No. 22 in the country) and No. 1 in New Hampshire
As for the boys, Noah, Liam, Oliver, and Elijah – all in the top five in the country – seem to be the most popular, but there are unusual names that are moving in some areas. Stands include:
-
Waylon (No. 18 nationally) is ranked No. 1 in Alabama, Idaho, Nebraska, Tennessee, and West Virginia
-
Atlas (No. 45 in the country) and No. 1 in Delaware
-
Henry (No. 12 in the country) and No. 1 in Maine and Minnesota
-
Asher (No. 13 nationally) and No. 1 in Mississippi
-
Andrew (No. 92 in the country) and No. 1 in North Dakota
-
Santiago (No. 34 nationally) is No. 1 in New Mexico
-
Hudson (No. 14 nationally) is No. 1 in Oklahoma
So what should expectant parents do with this information? My advice is to always use a name that you like – whether it is very unique or very popular – because we will choose the name of our child who speaks to us.
See the full report of the most popular boy and girl names in each region below.
The most popular baby names in each region
Advertising | page continues below
| Government | A very popular girl’s name | A very popular boy’s name |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Ella | Waylon |
| Alaska | Ella | Matthew |
| Arizona | Olivia | Noah |
| Arkansas | Amelia | Elijah |
| California | Olivia | Noah |
| Colorado | Olivia | Oliver |
| Connecticut | Sophia | Noah |
| Delaware | Charlotte | Atlas |
| District of Columbia | These | Elijah |
| Florida | Isabella | Noah |
| Georgia | Amelia | Noah |
| Hawaii | Get off | Liam |
| Idaho | Aurora | Waylon |
| Illinois | Charlotte | Noah |
| Indiana | Charlotte | Oliver |
| Iowa | Charlotte | Oliver |
| Kansas | Amelia | Oliver |
| Kentucky | Charlotte | Oliver |
| Louisiana | Amelia | Elijah |
| Maine | Amelia | Henry |
| Maryland | Olivia | Noah |
| Massachusetts | Charlotte | Liam |
| Michigan | Charlotte | Oliver |
| Minnesota | Evelyn | Henry |
| Mississippi | Olivia | Asher |
| Missouri | Amelia | Oliver |
| Montana | An island | Liam |
| Nebraska | Hazel | Waylon |
| Nevada | Aurora | Noah |
| New Hampshire | Harper | Oliver |
| New Jersey | Charlotte | Noah |
| New Mexico | Charlotte | Santiago |
| new York | Amelia | Noah |
| North Carolina | Amelia | Noah |
| North Dakota | Anicia | Andrew |
| Ohio | Charlotte | Oliver |
| Oklahoma | Charlotte | Hudson |
| Oregon | Hazel | Oliver |
| Pennsylvania | Amelia | Oliver |
| Rhode Island | Emma | Noah |
| South Carolina | Amelia | Noah |
| South Dakota | Sophia | Oliver |
| Tennessee | Charlotte | Waylon |
| Texas | Olivia | Noah |
| Utah | Charlotte | Oliver |
| Vermont | Emma | Oliver* |
| Virginia | Charlotte | Noah |
| Washington | Charlotte | Noah |
| West Virginia | Amelia | Waylon |
| Wisconsin | Charlotte | Oliver |
| Wyoming | Aurora* | Oliver |
The way
BabyCenter analyzed data submitted by users of the BabyCenter app for babies born between July 2025 and December 2026. When multiple names are linked, positions are sorted alphabetically.
*In areas where there is insufficient user data (especially girls’ names in Wyoming and boys’ names in Vermont), the most recent data from the Social Security Administration was used.