These are my picks for the Best New Baby Names 2025.
There are plenty to choose from. In the May 2025 data update, 44 girls names’ debuted in or returned to the rankings, along with 45 new boy names.
From those lists, here are the eight boys’ names and eight girls’ names picked as the best of the best.
What does that mean?
It’s hard to explain, but they’re the names that seem bigger than just their letters and sounds. They’re interesting. The ones that seem like they’ll influence trends into the future. Names that should keep on rising, into the Top 500 and beyond.
Of course, these predictions aren’t always right.
But that’s the fun!
These sixteen names are the basis for every July’s New Name Showdown. More on that later this summer.
For now – the names!
Table of Contents
BEST NEW BOY NAMES
AZAI
We love a good AI-ending name. Azai means strength in Hebrew, but it also picks up on sounds of popular favorites, like Isaiah.
BRYER
First came Brian. Then Bryce. Nature name Briar continues to be a unisex favorite. But spell it Bryer and it’s more of a surname, and also predominantly masculine in use. Breyer is also seen – on children in small numbers, and in the ice cream section at grocery stores.
CARLO
Carlos, the Spanish form of Charles, has appeared in the US Top 1000 every year since the rankings started in 1880. The Italian Carlo had a good run, too, but had fallen in recent years. Two things are powering the name’s return: our love of O-ending choices like Arlo, as well as Carlo Acutis, called the first millennial saint. (As of this writing, his official canonization has yet to take place, but is expected in 2025.)
HEATH
A nature name that splits the difference between rugged Ridge and sunny August, Heath could be big now. It rhymes with 1960s style star Keith, and it trended back then, too – thanks in part to a character from television Western The Big Valley. Today, though, Keith is somebody’s grandpa and Heath is ready to step into the spotlight.
LAITH
An intriguing choice from Arabic, this name means lion. It fits in nicely with Leo and company, with a brave, bold image.
OZIAS
A possible formal name for Ozzy, Ozias comes from the Old Testament Uzziah.
ROWDY
A word name that fits in with Maverick and Wilder, but maybe goes a little bit farther. Is it too far? Calling it one of the best new baby names 2025 suggests that Rowdy is ready for mainstream success, but that’s still to be determined.
TRUCE
Peaceful modern virtue name that blends modern Tru and old school Bruce.
BEST NEW GIRL NAMES
ARISBETH
An Ari-meets-Elizabeth invention mostly heard in Mexico and among Spanish-speaking families, but with crossover potential.
ELSA
After the blockbuster Frozen, parents mostly let this name go. But now it’s a central character in the extended Yellowstone universe, which is bringing strong, lovely Elsa back.
CAMPBELL
Campbell is on the new girls’ list and the new boys’ names, too, for May 2025. It’s a worthy successor to Cameron, as well as Camila and Camden.
HONEY
A word name that’s undeniably sweet, Honey feels more wearable in a kindergarten full of girls called Clementine and Sage.
LYANNA
At first glance, it’s just another spelling of Leanne, a name that has always been a little hard to pin down. (Liane? Leigh Anne? Leeanna?) But it feels more name-like for two reasons: first, an appealing Game of Thrones character played by fan favorite Bella Ramsey. Second, and more importantly, the way it picks up on our love of Lyla, Lyra, and other Ly- names.
MARIELLA
A Maria elaboration that succeeds names like Ariella and Isabella.
ROMY
Strictly speaking, Romy is a contracted form of Rosemary or Rosemarie, made internationally known by 20th century screen legend Romy Schneider. But it follows the success of names like Remy, which makes it something a little different, too.
TILLY
Millie surged into the US Top 100. Hallie is rising fast. Other middle LL names could follow, and new-to-the-Top-1000 Tilly is rich with potential.
These names will return for July’s New Names Showdown. Do you agree with the best new baby names 2025? What would you add or take away?
What fun lists. I’ve had students named Laith and Campbell (a girl). They were both so well suited to their names.
I love the name Carlo! It’s the name of at least two literary dogs. Jane Eyre’s cousin, St John Rivers, has a dog named Carlo, which inspired the poet Emily Dickinson to use the same name for her beloved Newfoundland (who showed up in many of her letters and poems).
I think Carlo is the perfect way to make grandpa name Carl feel fresh and up-to-date.
Wait, what? I love a great literary dog fact – thank you!
I quite like Elsa. It was my grandmother’s name, and I’ve always liked the idea of incorporating it in a child’s name. I’d probably use Elspeth or Eliza instead, but I do love Elsa. I also really like Tilly, although I’d only use it as a nickname and Matilda is much too popular for me. And Campbell. I read a book with a character named Campbell ages ago, and ever since then it’s struck me as a very smart, self-assured, confident, and elegant name. Great names this year!
I know a Rowdy in his fifties. He’s a corporate, buttoned-down tech guy with a Californian cool attitude.
I know a Honey in her sixties. She does not appreciate having a term of endearment for her legal name because of all the ishy men who waggle their eyebrows and say, “Hey, Honey…”
I also know a girl Campbell in her teens. She’s completely self-assured, gorgeous, and smart.
It would be AWESOME to meet a Breyer! Would I maybe think his name was Briar? Yes. Definitely. Is that okay? Sure!
Elsa is lovely, and Truce is all sorts of intriguing.
Strong lists, Abby!
Thanks, Jenna – and oof, that story about Honey …
I’ve never liked the name Keith, but for some reason I really like Heath, Could that pave the way for the resurgence of Heather? (I might be biased because my name’s Heather, but I think it’s really pretty, has a great meaning, and is due for a revival)!
I never thought of Honey as a full, given name, but… I don’t know, it kind of works. I also love Elsa.
I think Heather would be big now … if it weren’t so, so popular in the past. (There are two in my circle of friends, in a way that we often refer to them by their first and last names, probably because we all also know so many more Heathers!) It’s very 2020s, so yes – I can imagine it could make an earlier-than-expected comeback. (Also I know a Heather with a son named Heath, and I love that so much!)