Now that another year is coming to an end, we finally have the data on a question that's on a lot of new parents' minds: What are the most popular baby names of 2021? Recently, BabyCenter released its ranking of baby names for the past year, and there have been a few big changes this time around — like Sophia losing the top spot it's been holding strong to for several years in a row.
This year, classic names are front and center as parents are opting for timeless options more often. With choices like Liam, Charlotte, and Emma in the lead, there's no doubt that these trends of more traditional choices are destined to continue.
Read on for the top 10 baby girl names and baby boy names of 2021. Whether you're looking to see where your child's name falls (or doesn't fall) on this list — or if you need a little inspiration for a baby-to-be — it's definitely interesting to see the way the trends have changed.
OLIVIA
Well, it happened: Olivia has officially overtaken Sophia as the No. 1 baby girl name, up from No. 2 in the rankings for 2020. Olivia, which is Latin for "olive tree," has shown some serious staying power in the last few years. It seems like this one isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
EMMA
Emma made a pretty big jump in popularity this year — prepare to hear this name a lot in the very near future if you aren't already! The name has Germanic roots and means "universal," and it may have began as a shortened version of the name "Emmaline."
AMELIA
Coming in at No. 3 on the list, Amelia is another Latin name that has quickly gained popularity over the last few years. It comes from the word "Amal," which means "work," which is what any baby girl is about to make her parents do as soon as she makes her arrival.
AVA
Ava is a cute, classic name — and easy for baby girl to spell once she learns how to write! A big trend in 2021 was going for simpler, more timeless names, and this one definitely fits the bill (just ask Reese Witherspoon, who chose this name for her daughter back in 1999).
SOPHIA
Sophia might have been the No. 1 most popular baby name in 2020, but this year, the name has fallen to No. 5 on the list. That doesn't mean it's not still being used all the time, though, and for good reason — the name comes from Greek, and means "wisdom."
CHARLOTTE
After Kate Middleton used this name for her daughter, we had a feeling that there would be a big spike in this name's popularity. And six years after Princess Charlotte's birth, it's still holding strong! It's a timeless and adorable choice.
ISABELLA
Isabella has remained almost as popular this year as it was last year, dropping just one spot lower in 2021. Meaning "pledged to God," this name comes with all kinds of adorable nickname potential — who doesn't want a baby Izzy or baby Bella?
MIA
Another three-letter name is climbing the charts this year. It barely made the top 10 in 2020, but in 2021, Mia is the eighth most popular baby girl name. It originally started as a shortened form of Maria, meaning "wished for child."
LUNA
After Chrissy Teigen chose this name for her daughter, it made sense that it got a lot more popular very quickly. Today, Luna is No. 9 on the list of baby girl names for 2021, and it's perfect for a little one who will keep you up at night (at least, at first).
HARPER
For a name that didn't even make the top 20 last year, Harper sure is soaring in popularity! It makes sense — gender neutral names are definitely trending right now, and Harper is a cute pick. We wouldn't be surprised to see it becoming even more popular in 2022.
LIAM
The most popular baby boy name this year is Liam — which also happened to claim the top spot in 2020. This name has Irish roots and a strong meaning behind it; Liam means "strong-willed warrior," so it makes sense why a lot of parents would choose it for their little guys.
NOAH
Noah has claimed the No. 2 spot for the second year in a row. A classic name that can be found in the Bible, it's no surprise that Noah has maintained popularity for so long. It comes from the Hebrew word noach, which means "rest."
OLIVER
Oliver became a lot more popular in 2021, and now, it's the third most popular baby boy name in the US. From the Latin word that means "olive tree," Oliver is thought to have derived from the name Olivier. Either way, it's a cute choice.
ELIJAH
Another biblical baby boy name tops the charts in 2021. Elijah, which means "Yaweh is God" in Hebrew, also happens to be the name of a prophet. This name isn't exclusively for parents who are looking for something with religious ties, though; just ask the moms of all the baby Elis who have been born this year.
LUCAS
The name Lucas became a little more popular this year, continuing on in the trend of more classic and traditional baby names beating out the creative ones this time around. Lucas, which means "light-giving," is often also used in the form of Luke or Luca.
LEVI
In 2020, the name Levi wasn't even in the top 20 baby boy names, but this year, it's the sixth most popular — whoa! It's easy to see why so many parents are choosing it, since it's a cute, easy to spell name that hasn't been common in recent decades (though that looks like it will change with so many baby Levis being born!).
MASON
The name Mason was certainly popularized 11 years ago when Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick chose it for their firstborn, Mason Disick … and today, it's still holding on strong. The name has roots in French, quite literally meaning "stone worker."
ASHER
Though Asher didn't even crack the top 30 most popular baby names in 2020, it's the eighth most popular baby boy name in 2021. In Hebrew, the name means "happy" or "blessed," and it's found in the Bible. Asher is a great choice for parents looking for something a little different with a strong meaning behind it.
JAMES
Though James has recently become more popular as a gender neutral name, it's still holding on pretty strong as a boys' name, too. It means "supplanter" in Hebrew, and there's no doubt that the nickname options here are plentiful — will your baby be a Jamie or a Jimmy?
ETHAN
Coming in at No. 10 on the baby boy list is Ethan. It comes from Hebrew and means "strong, firm," which aren't bad qualities to hope for in a baby boy as he grows. This is another name that wasn't quite as popular in 2020, but it seems like that's about to change in the coming year.
