Every October, a new list of the year’s most popular baby names makes the rounds, and this week it landed in newsrooms across the country. On October 21, BabyCenter released its 2026 rankings, built from data on more than 350,000 babies born this year to parents who use its app. The headlines were simple: Olivia and Noah are still on top. But look a little closer, and something beautiful stands out.
Many of the names families are choosing right now come straight from the pages of Scripture.
What the 2026 list shows
According to BabyCenter’s rankings, as reported by Gray News and FOX Television Stations, the top ten names for boys this year are Noah, Liam, Oliver, Elijah, Mateo, Lucas, Elias, Levi, Ezra and Leo. For girls, the top ten are Olivia, Eliana, Amelia, Charlotte, Sophia, Isabella, Emma, Aurora, Evelyn and Mia.
A few highlights from the new data:
- Noah holds the No. 1 spot for boys, and the top five boy names did not change from the year before.
- Eliana jumped five spots to No. 2 for girls, just a year after debuting at No. 7. BabyCenter’s baby name advisor, Steph Coffield, suggested it could even challenge Olivia for the top spot next year.
- Elias entered the boys’ top ten for the first time, at No. 7.
- Evelyn returned to the girls’ top ten, and Leo came back to the boys’ top ten.
Coffield summed up the year this way, as reported by WBIW: “The trends this year show parents are ready to dig into the archives.” Families are reaching back for older, classic names and giving them fresh life.
Old names with deep roots
Five of the top ten boy names belong to men of the Bible: Noah, Elijah, Elias, Levi and Ezra. And the meanings behind some of them are worth slowing down for.
Elijah was a prophet in the northern kingdom of Israel, and his name in Hebrew is often translated “My God is Jah,” a short form of the Lord’s name. Elias, this year’s big climber, is simply the Greek form of Elijah, the same name carried into the New Testament. Ezra comes from a Hebrew root meaning “help.” And the rising star on the girls’ list, Eliana, is commonly understood in Hebrew to mean “my God has answered.”
Think about that for a moment. Across the country, parents are calling their children in for dinner with names that say, in effect, God has answered and my God is the Lord. Whatever the reason each family chose them, those words carry a quiet testimony every time they are spoken.
“But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.”
(Isaiah 43:1, KJV)
Long before any baby name list existed, God told His people that He knows them by name. That is a promise for every child, whether their name ranks No. 1 or is one of a kind.
Bring the trend home: four ideas for families
You do not need a newborn to enjoy this trend. Try these simple ideas at home:
- Tell the story of each name. At dinner, share why you chose your children’s names, who they were named after, or what you hoped for them.
- Look up the meanings together. Search the meaning of every name in the family, including grandparents. If a name comes from the Bible, read that person’s story together.
- Write a name blessing. Write a short note to each child that turns their name’s meaning into a prayer or a hope. For an Ezra, it might be a prayer that he will always be a help to others. Tuck it in a lunchbox or under a pillow.
- Remember that a good name is built, not just given. Talk with older kids about what it means to have a good reputation, and how kindness and honesty shape what people think when they hear your name.
That last idea has deep roots too. Scripture reminds us that “a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold” (Proverbs 22:1, KJV). A name is a gift we receive. A good name is something we grow into, one choice at a time.
More than a list
Baby name rankings are a bit of fun, but they also show what families are reaching for. This year, many are reaching for names that are old, steady and full of meaning. That is a hopeful sign.
Whatever your name, and whatever your children’s names, you are known and loved by the One who formed you. Through every storm, we rise together.
What is the story behind your name, or your children’s names? Share in the comments below.
Sources: Gray News / WBTV, “Here are the most popular baby names of 2026, according to BabyCenter” (October 21, 2026); FOX 5 New York, “Most popular baby names of 2026 revealed, according to new data” (October 21, 2026); WBIW, “BabyCenter reveals 2026’s Most Popular Baby Names and Trends shaping 2027” (October 22, 2026); Wikipedia, “Elijah,” “Elias,” “Ezra (name)” and “Eliana”; King James Bible, “Isaiah 43:1”; King James Bible, “Proverbs 22:1”.
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