It seems like just yesterday Barbenheimer had parents naming their babies Barbara and Margot (and avoiding the names Robert and Cillian), but now that 2024 is almost halfway in the books, new naming inspiration has taken hold of moms- and dads-to-be. Caitlin Clark's championship performance has beget a new generation of Caitlins (and Clarks). Dune: Part Two 's arid world of Arrakis took hold of both movie screens and birth certificates. And who wouldn't name their April 8th baby something eclipse-themed?
For the past 20 years, BabyCenter has gathered baby name data from parents who register their babies' names on the BabyCenter app in real-time. This means we have an up-to-the-minute look at what names are trending and falling, and are sharing the latest here. (Take a live look at the top 100 baby names .)
We studied the top names of the year so far and found these five trends that have taken hold in 2024.
1. Fantasy epics take hold of parents' imaginations.
We love an epic tale that'll sweep us away to a world of fantasy – whether that's Dune: Part Two , the TV adaptation of Percy Jackson and the Olympians , or the Sarah J. Maas book House of Flame and Shadow .
We returned to the desert planet Arrakis in Dune: Part Two in March, where Paul Atreides sought freedom for the desert world alongside Chani , a fierce warrior played by Zendaya. The name Chani is a fan favorite among BabyCenter parents, rising more than 3,300 spots so far this year. Her secret name, Sihaya , is on parents' radar this year, too. It's ranking for the first time since 2012.
Meanwhile, Arrakis' more mundane names – like that of the protagonist Paul (Timothée Chalamet) and his mother Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) – are falling out of favor, both dropping at least 25 places in the rankings.
Back on Earth, author Rick Riordan's young adult classic Percy Jackson and the Olympians got a new TV adaptation in December – and became a source of name inspiration. The eponymous hero Percy charmed BabyCenter parents, and his name is on the rise for both boys and girls – up 296 spots to No. 1,304 for boys; and up 700 spots to No. 6,327 for girls. His full name, Perseus (also the name of a legendary Greek hero), has risen 206 places, to No. 1,394 for boys.
The Greek gods Percy tangles with are getting attention too. Ares , the name of the Greek god of war, has risen 58 spots, and the messenger god Hermes ranked this year for the first time since 2022.
House of Flame and Shadow , the third book in Sarah J. Maas' Crescent City series, isn't just adding spice to our imaginations this year – it's also spicing up baby names. Heroine Bryce has inspired parents to choose this traditional boys' name for their daughters. It's up more than 3,300 spots in the rankings for girls, and her surname, Quinlan , is up more than 500 spots for boys.
2. Women's college basketball smashes all sorts of records.
The women's NCAA basketball tournament this year set record viewership numbers – it was the first time a women's sport final got more viewers than the men's counterpart. It was also the most-watched basketball game (including the NBA!) in the past five years.
South Carolina won the title and finished a perfect season – one of only 10 NCAA Division I teams to do so. Star Kamilla Cardoso scored 15 points and 17 rebounds in the game, and her name is up 247 spots, to No. 1,213.
Iowa State star Caitlin Clark broke several records, too. In fact, she's the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I history; she won the Associated Press's National Player of the Year twice; and she's considered one of the greatest collegiate players of all time. Her name is also racking up the points: Caitlin is up 1,599 places, so expect to see more little Caitlins out on the court in a decade or two. (For what it's worth, Clark is also up 15 spots for boys to No. 510.)
3. The solar eclipse sends celestial names soaring.
This year's solar eclipse stirred up plenty of excitement among amateur astronomers – and parents – in the months leading up to it. Sol (which means "sun" in Spanish) is up 213 spots for girls, whereas Sunny is up 92 places for boys.
The names Stella and Aurora may bring to mind the path of totality, and they've also reached peak popularity. Stella is up 11 spots for girls and ranking at No. 42, whereas Aurora is up three spots to No. 11.
The name Eclipse is much rarer, but it's crossing into parents' orbit for the first time in a few years. It's ranking for girls for the first time since 2021.
4. Historical dramas inspire names fit for the bon ton.
The third season of Bridgerton premiered on Netflix last month, and fans of Shondaland (and Julia Quinn's books) have loved the newest installment of this Regency-era romance series. The spotlight has shifted this time around; last season's diamond, Edwina , has seen her name fall 419 spots to No. 4,036.
However, Penelope – this season's protagonist played by Nicola Coughlin – is sitting pretty at No. 33, as is Charlotte , which is the fifth most popular girls' name right now. (Queen Charlotte presided over her own spin-off show last year.) The Bridgertons themselves continue to prove popular; the sibling names Anthony (up five spots), Eloise (up 20), Francesca (up 84), and Gregory (up 40) have all been in good favor.
Fast-forward half a century to the Gilded Age, the inspiration for both HBO's same-titled costume drama and a number of parents-to-be. Carrie Coon's strong-willed portrayal of the newly moneyed socialite Bertha Russell has made people come around on this "grandma name" – it's up 700 spots this year.
The intrepid reporter Peggy might have made the biggest impact, however. Her name is up a staggering 4,934 spots.
5. Tech layoffs have parents hedging their bets on C-suite names.
Last year, Microsoft made a $13 billion investment in OpenAI. The big money move is already paying off for its CEO, Satya Nadella. His name is up 208 spots so far this year among BabyCenter parents.
Meanwhile, troubles at Amazon – including firings at holdings like Twitch, Prime Video, and more – have people down on founder Jeff Bezos and CEO Andy Jassy. The name Jeff plummeted 1,478 places and Andy tumbled 29. Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, who's overseeing similar layoffs and cost-cutting measures at Google, is seeing a similar blowback. His name has fallen 611 places.
The top 10 girl names of 2024 so far
As of right now, many of the top girl names from 2023 continue to reign supreme in 2024. Ellie is the only new entry in the top 10, replacing Evelyn .
- Olivia
- Emma
- Amelia
- Charlotte
- Sophia
- Ava
- Isabella
- Mia
- Luna
- Ellie
The top 10 boy names of 2024 so far
Noah continues its chart-topping dominance at No. 1 for boys, and the rest of the top 10 has also held fairly steady year-over-year, with the exception of Asher bumping Luca .
- Noah
- Liam
- Oliver
- Mateo
- Elijah
- Lucas
- Levi
- Ezra
- Leo
- Asher
Methodology
BabyCenter's baby name data is volunteered by parents who enter their babies' names in real time, revealing an up-to-the-minute look at which names are the most popular. Rankings for this article are current as of June 3, 2024.
BabyCenter is a part of Everyday Health Group – Pregnancy & Parenting (EHG P&P). EHG P&P reaches 91% of first-time pregnancies and 85% of pregnancies in the United States.
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