Naming your child is one of the most important decisions you'll make as a parent. It's not to be taken lightly. Not only will this likely be the name your child hears for the rest of their days, but many cultures also believe that what you name your child has a tendency to influence the person's character.
If you're looking for some inspiration, here are some of the most popular baby names for both boys and girls in 2022, according to BabyCenter. This list will give you an idea of what kinds of names other parents are into these days — or potentially which names you might want to avoid if you're looking for something that will make your child stand out.
OLIVIA
Olivia is the most popular name for baby girls, according to BabyCenter's annual list. It enjoys the top spot for the second year in a row. With many options for nicknames and references to popular characters like Olivia Pope from the TV show Scandal and Olivia Benson from Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, this name has been in the top 10 since 2001.
LIAM
A variation of the more common name William, Liam has been the most popular boy name in the United States since 2017. There were 20,000 Liams born in 2020, according to the Social Security Administration. It usually sits at the first or second spot on BabyCenter’s annual list.
EVELYN
This was the only new baby girl name to break into the top 10 for 2022 — the rest are repeats. It pushed Harper out of the top spot. It's also a name that deviates from the trend of girl names that end in “a” that are dominating the list.
EMMA
Emma means universal or whole. It has been in the top three baby names for girls since 2003. The name has been a favorite of writers, most notably it's the name of Jane Austen’s protagonist in her 1815 novel Emma. This character is smart, strong-willed and a little nosey. Parents would love for their daughters to embody at least two out of three of these characteristics.
AMELIA
Amelia means diligent or hardworking. It reminds us of the popular children's book character Amelia Bedelia, who had a penchant for making mistakes by taking things too literally. Still, in those stories she almost always managed to come out on top.
The name has been among the top 100 girl names since 2004. The 2001 movie Princess Diaries may have contributed to its popularity.
AVA
The origin of this name is unknown, but there is a strong chance it has Persian, Urdu, Hebrew, and Latin roots. In Persian and Urdu, Ava means voice. In Hebrew, Chavah means life. The name first enjoyed popularity in the late 1990s. Girl names with soft vowel sounds are popular, and this name has been reigning in the top 10 baby names since 2005.
SOPHIA
This name with Greek origins means wisdom. Girls with this name are often nicknamed Sophie. With actresses such as Sophia Loren and Sofía Vergara, we have a hunch that parents often associate it with beauty. It remains the fifth most popular name after clinching that spot in 2021.
LUNA
If you'd like your little girl's name to reflect the celestial, Luna is a wonderful choice as it means moon. The name is rising in popularity. Last year it came in at No. 9 on the list. This year, it's sitting at No. 7.
NOAH
If you want a name attached to religious origins, it doesn’t get any better than Noah. This name can be found in the Bible, the Torah, and the Quran. In Hebrew, the name means rest and comfort. It’s held the spot as the second most popular baby name since 2013 after first entering the top 10 list in 2009.
OLIVER
The male companion to Olivia, Oliver also means olive tree. It holds the spot for third most popular name. It was ranked in the same position in 2021 as well. We love that it sounds kind of old-fashioned without being too traditional.
ELIJAH
This Hebrew names means Yahweh is my God. The prefix El in Hebrew references God and can be found in names such as Michael, Samuel, and Eli. Elijah, after the prophet, became popular for boys in the United States in 2016. People believe the rise in popularity had to do with The Lord of the Rings trilogy and the actor, Elijah Wood.
MATEO
The Spanish equivalent to the name Matthew, Mateo means “gift of God.” The popularity of this name is attributed to the increasing Latino population in the United States over the last century. In just a year’s time it has climbed the list from 10th most popular boy name to the fifth.
LUCAS
This name, which literally means man from Lucania, is inspired by the word meaning shiny or bright or “bringer of light.” It became increasingly popular after the Star Wars films in the 1970s. It first entered the top 10 back in 2018.
LEVI
This is another Biblical name. Though it is Hebrew in origin and was mostly given to Jewish boys, others have adopted it as well. The name is popular not just in the United StatesÚ It’s in the top 50 names across 13 different countries. It’s catching on so well that parents are even starting to name their daughters Levi.
MASON
Mason means one who works with stone. This one’s a bit lower on the list, ranking at No. 20 this year. For whatever reason, it’s falling out of popularity. Just last year it was in the seventh spot on the list.
