Don’t you love a good list of lists?

I’ve shared the most popular boy names on the site last year, and the most popular girl names, too.

But – far and away – the most-viewed pieces of content here are lists. Some of those almost certainly contain some very popular names … but sometimes the lists succeed just because they’re fun and even thought-provoking. (Looking at you, swan names.)

So let’s review the twelve most popular lists on the site of last year!

Table of Contents

GIRL NAMES STARTING WITH V

There are 52 lists on the site based on the alphabet, but only one list makes the 12 most popular lists of 2025: girl names starting with V. From regal Victoria to wintry Vale, it’s an appealing initial.

BABY NAMES INSPIRED BY SWANS

Swans feature in folklore and myth across cultures, so maybe it’s not surprising that plenty of potential names mean swan – or have strong associations with the graceful, powerful birds. Should you name your baby Swanhilde? Probably not. But Hugo has an intriguing connection to swans that makes that name even more appealing.

BABY NAMES INSPIRED BY APPLES

Gwyneth Paltrow caused a stir when she named her daughter Apple way back when. Apple Blythe Alison Martin is now a 20-something, still occasionally in the spotlight, but the uproar over her name has subsided. (It tooks eons.) But it turns out that apple varieties come with dozens of gorgeous names for our daughters and sons – many quite popular, but some as rare as Apple itself.

Many of us want the same thing: a name that’s immediately familiar. Well-liked, but not so common that our child will be one in a crowd. We’re all like Goldilocks, looking for that elusive not too hot, not too cold choice. These are the boy’s names that get it just right.

Rory is a formal name, complete and storied. But it’s also a sound that works with a great many names. Ever since the world met Lorelai “Rory” Gilmore, we’ve been puzzling out what other long names shorten to Rory. It’s quite the list, and best all? From Aurora to Gregory, there are as many options for boys as for girls.

GIRL NAMES WITH BOY NICKNAMES

Alexandra called Alex, Charlotte called Charlie. It’s a common approach to pair a staggering classic of a girl’s name with a playful, more masculine nickname. After all, how many of us grew up with Jo March?

RARE 1885 BABY NAMES: LEDA, DEMPSEY, ROME

Antique names have endless appeal, and this list of gems from way back in 1885 is particularly rich. Don’t Leda, Dempsey, and Rome sound like they’re straight off the roster of some very fashionable neighborhood Montessori? Exactly.

When it comes to instantly recognized American writers, Edgar Allan Poe must be among the most familiar. He’s part of pop culture again, thanks to Netflix’s Wednesday, set at Nevermore Academy. Or maybe he’s never really went away. His character names span from the familiar Annabel to some delightfully dark and haunting names.

Every decade, there’s another chart-topping surname name for a daughter, from Taylor to Madison to Harper. But no matter how many surname-style names rank in the girls’ Top 100, there are always more waiting undiscovered. If you’re crushed that Sutton is catching on, a name like Hatton, Linden, or Padgett might be exactly right.

THE GREAT BIG LIST OF HIGH-FLYING BIRD NAMES

A perpetual favorite at Appellation Mountain, names inspired by birds have become a whole trend. Raven and Wren are popular picks, but names like Dove have potential, too.

BABY NAMES THAT MEAN NUMBERS: COUNTING FROM UNA TO FORTY

Not so long ago, naming a baby Seven was a punchline on sitcom Seinfeld. But actually, number names can serve so many purposes. They’re rich with meaning, signifying everything from an athlete’s jersey number to an anniversary date. And they’re word names, too – easily pronounced and spelled.

It’s not that we want to name our sweet baby after a candy bar. It’s just that so many great names are associated with confections! There’s something incredibly appealing about announcing the birth of our Reese with peanut butter cups, or thinking about how a name like Melissa might suggest sweetness.

And those were the most popular lists of 2025!

most popular lists of 2025; image of children looking over wall
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About Abby Sandel

Whether you're naming a baby, or just all about names, you've come to the right place! Appellation Mountain is a haven for lovers of obscure gems and enduring classics alike.

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