After what felt like the longest year in human existence, 2021 is finally right around the corner, and that means another year of babies being born. There's only one issue: For expectant parents, that means that time is running out to choose the perfect baby name, which can be a difficult task. But fortunately, the most popular baby names for next year could end up being a big help in choosing which name is right for a future baby boy or a baby girl — or, at the least, provide a dash of inspiration.
For some parents, lists like this are a good jumping-off point for figuring out what name might be The One, and for others who are hoping to choose something that's uncommon for their baby-to-be, it's a list of what to avoid. Either way, it's definitely interesting to find out what names have been becoming more popular over the past couple of years, and how that might indicate the names that future babies are being born with in the year ahead.
Here are the baby names we think will end up being popular in the coming year — 10 for boys and 10 for girls. Our predictions could be wrong, but that's part of the fun.
LIAM
Liam was the most popular boys' name of 2019, so we have a feeling it'll still be hanging in there strong for the next few years. Fortunately Liam is a strong, classic name that will stand the test of time … and will always remind us of one of our favorite Hemsworth brothers.
NOAH
Looking for a name with biblical roots? There are few with a stronger meaning than Noah, which comes from the story of the flood. And even without the ties to the Bible, Noah is still a strong name that is becoming more and more popular.
OLIVER
Oliver is such a cute name for a baby boy that it's no surprise it's surged in popularity. It comes from the Latin word "olivarus," which means "olive tree planter." Those looking for earthy names for a boy might not have to look much further … and Ollie would make an adorable nickname.
WILLIAM
William: A strong, traditional name. No matter what year it is, we have a feeling this one will remain a name that's passed on to baby boys for years to come — and there are so many variations on the name, like Bill or Will, that come with it that make this one a particularly versatile choice.
ELIJAH
The name Elijah comes from Hebrew and means "My name is Yahweh," but given how popular it's become in recent years, there's no doubt that even people who aren't looking for a biblical name are loving this one for their baby boys.
JAMES
Though James is topping the boys' name charts in popularity, we can't help but point out that this name would make a great choice for a baby girl, too — it works either way! Just ask Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, who picked this name for the oldest of their three daughters.
BENJAMIN
There are plenty of Benjamins out there, and it seems like there may be even more of them in 2021! The name Benjamin comes from Hebrew, meaning "son of my right hand" or "son of my days." That sounds like a sweet meaning to give a baby boy whose arrival has been so anticipated.
LUCAS
We've heard a lot of variations on "Lucas" lately, like Luca and Luke, but the original name is just as good (and even more popular). This one also has ties back to the Bible, and is also known as meaning "light-giving." Sounds like a perfect name for a sweet baby boy.
MASON
There's a reason Kourtney Kardashian chose this one for her first son: It's a really cute name. Of course it's popular! Of course, an actual mason is someone who works with stone, but don't tie any career choices to a future baby boy based on his name alone!
ETHAN
Though Ethan seemed to be a lot more popular in the '90s, these days, it's making a comeback, and we wouldn't be surprised if we met a few more babies with this name in 2021. Ethan means "strong" and "firm," which are attributes some parents may wish upon their little ones.
OLIVIA
One of the most popular girls' names right now is Olivia. While it's trendy, it's also classic enough that it will never sound dated — that can be a tough hurdle when looking for the perfect name for a baby girl. And who can deny that Libby would make an adorable nickname?
EMMA
Emma has always been a super popular name (we blame Ross and Rachel on Friends, who used this name for their daughter), and we have a feeling it's not going anywhere in 2021, due to its steady rise. Look out for more Emmas!
AVA
Ava began to gain popularity around 2010, and it's been steadily climbing ever since … and by the looks of things, 2021 could end up being the year of Ava. It's cute, easy to spell, and easy to pronounce — all important qualities in a name for a baby girl.
SOPHIA
Sometimes spelled Sofia, we don't see this baby name going anywhere in 2021! It comes from the Greek language and means "wisdom." It's dipped a bit in popularity in the past few years, but it definitely seems to be making a comeback in the year ahead.
ISABELLA
Another cute baby girls' name that's overtaking the charts — and this one comes with just as adorable nicknames like Izzy or Bella. Interestingly enough, this name comes from the Hebrew form of "Elizabeth."
CHARLOTTE
It's no wonder that Charlotte is becoming more and more popular by the year — it's such a sweet name. Although the UK's Princess Charlotte definitely influenced the increase of popularity when Prince William and Kate Middleton welcomed her into the royal family in 2015, it's a great name for baby girls whose parents aren't royal watchers, too.
AMELIA
Another classic baby girl name that's becoming just as popular now as it once was years ago … and like a few other names on this list, we can't deny that the nickname potential for Amelia is a huge reason to choose it. Amy, Mellie, Ellie, Melia — the list goes on and on, allowing parents to pick whatever fits their baby girl most.
MIA
Mia is a name that sometimes comes from "Maria," but we think it stands on its own — and it seems like a lot of future parents will agree come 2021, judging by the way this name has been growing in popularity.
HARPER
Here's one of the more quirky and trendy names that definitely seems to be rising in popularity in recent years. Though this one is more traditionally feminine, it would definitely work for either a girl or a boy.
EVELYN
We've heard the name Evelyn a lot lately, and it sounds like it's here to stay — especially since it has the perfect meaning for a baby whose parents can't wait to meet. Evelyn, with roots in French, means "wished for child." It's also gender neutral. So sweet!
