The summer season brings long sunshiny days and firefly-filled nights. Oh, and the Great Summer Baby Names Showdown. Because friendly competition feels just right during these hazy, lazy summer days.
What is a New Names Showdown?
Every year, the US Social Security Administration releases the 1000 most popular baby names for children born in the US during the prior twelve months. The release typically happens the Friday prior to Mother’s Day in May.
One of the best intriguing parts of the list? The new names that debut or return to the rankings.
Why does that matter?
Simply put, the US Top 1000 is The List. Pretty much everyone writing or talking about names draws inspiration from that particular data set.
And while the Social Security Administration generously provides a wealth of additional data, including files of every single name given to five or more girls or boys in a single year, most of the attention goes to those top names.
Any name ranking in the Top 1000 is more likely to be noticed, and thus, more likely to rise in use during future years – even after the original spark that sent the name climbing in use has dimmed.
In May of 2025, the new data set for 2024 was released. It included 44 names that weren’t ranked on the prior list.
From those 44 names, I’ve narrowed it to just eight choices.
Names that feel particularly stylish. Potentially influential. Or just downright interesting.
And now you get to vote, bracket-style, until those eight names become just one.
Before we get to the voting, though, which names have won before?
WINNING GIRL NAMES: 2016 to 2024
From our first contest in 2016 to today, here are the names that have won each year.
- Seraphina (2024)
- Marigold (2023)
- Guinevere (2022)
- Etta (2021)
- Elodie (2020)
- Zora (2019)
- Marlowe (2018)
- Sylvie (2017)
- Arden (2016)
THE 2025 CONTENDERS
- Romy (#926)
- Honey (#935)
- Elsa (#938)
- Campbell (#951)
- Tilly (#953)
- Lyanna (#957)
- Arisbeth (#987)
- Mariella (#992)
GIRLS OPENING ROUND MATCHUPS: VOTE HERE
ROMY versus MARIELLA
HONEY versus ARISBETH
ELSA versus LYANNA
CAMPBELL versus TILLY
Thank you for voting! Polls remain open through July 20th. Please check back to see which names advance – and to vote in the next round!
