Well, 2020 is shaping up to be a banner year. We’re living through a global health crisis and the subsequent economic downturn. Nothing is certain. Everything’s in flux. There is no toilet paper. But, wait! We have baby name predictions for you! We can know things!
The folks at Names.org compile a predictive list of the most popular baby names for the upcoming year and last year, they were able to do it with 95% accuracy. The site uses up-to-date data from the Social Security Administration to track and then forecast baby name trends. They’ve released their predictions for the top 20 baby names for boys and girls in 2020. What will the future hold? These 20 baby names! Take a look at the future and find a name for your quarantine baby.
20. Harper
The name Harper is a charming name for a little girl. The team at Names.org predicts the name will be the 10th most popular name for girls in 2020. The name Harper is English and means “harp player.” The name was popularized by the To Kill a Mockingbird author, Harper Lee.
19. Alexander
For boys, 2020 will see the name Alexander as the 10th most popular name. Alexander is a Greek name that means “defender of men.” Commonly, the name is shortened to Alex or Xander and both are very cute monikers for boys.
18. Mila
The 9th most popular name for girls in 2020 is Mila. America’s feeling the Mila Kunis effect! Mila is a Slavic name that’s popular across Eastern Europe in many forms. The name Mila means “gracious” or “dear.”
17. Henry
Coming in at number 9 on the most popular names for boys, Henry is a classic. The name Henry comes from the Germanic name Heimirich meaning “home-ruler.”
16. Mia
Not too different from Mila (actually a Slavic diminutive), Mia is a beautiful name for a little girl. The name is set to be the 8th most popular name for girls in 2020. In both Italian and Spanish, the word “mia” means “mine.”
15. James
“James, James, James, how are ya? Isn’t it a lovely day!” James is another classic name for boys that’s set to make the top 10 in 2020. James is derived from the Hebrew name Jacob and means “one who follows.”
14. Amelia
Amelia Bedelia! Amelia is predicted to be the 7th most popular name for girls in 2020. Amelia is an English-language variant of Amalia, derived from the Germanic word amal meaning ‘work’, and connotes industriousness and fertility.
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13. Elijah
Elijah is on track to be the 7th most popular name for boys in 2020. Elijah comes from Hebrew and means “my God is YAHWEH.” Some notable Elijahs include late congressman Elijah Cummings and actor Elijah Wood.
12. Sophia
Sophia’s popularity is slipping, but it’s still a trending name for girls that’s set to be the 6th most popular name. The name Sophia is Greek and means “wisdom” and “skill.” The name is popular around the world and in Spanish and Portuguese the name is commonly spelled Sofia.
11. Benjamin
The tried and true name Benjamin has been the 6th most popular name for boys for the past couple of years and it’s tracking to score the same in 2020. Benjamin comes from Hebrew and means “son of the right hand.”
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10. Charlotte
The name Charlotte is ascending. In 2020, the name for girls is set to be the 5th most popular name, improving on last year’s rank of 6th. The name Charlotte is the female form of Charles and comes from French. The name means “petite” or “free man.”
9. Lucas
Lucas is another name that’s really climbing the charts. It’s slated to be the 5th most popular given to boys in 2020. Lucas has roots in both Greek and Latin and traditionally has meant “man from Lucania.” Lucania is a region of southern Italy. The name means “bright.”
8. Isabella
The gorgeous name, Isabella is set to be the 4th most popular name for newborn girls for a second year. Isabella is the Latinate spelling of Isabel which comes from the Hebrew name Elisheba. The name Isabella means “pledged to God.” It’s commonly shortened to cute nicknames like Izzy or Bella.
7. Oliver
Oliver has improved its ranking for 2020 and is expected to be the 4th most popular name for little boys. The name Oliver comes from Latin and as you might expect, the name means “olive tree.” Olive trees connote peace, beauty, and dignity.
6. Ava
Ava has steadily ranked in the top 5 baby girl names for a few years now. The name Ava comes from Latin and means “life.” It’s also debated that the name is associated with the Latin word avis which means “bird.” Ava is a beautifully simple name that’s perfect for a baby girl.
5. William
William is predicted to be the 3rd most popular name for boys for the second year in a row. William is an English name (Oh, hey! William Shakespeare) and means “resolute protector.” William has a ton of nicknames and many of which are fun. There’s Bill, Billy, Will, Willie, etc.
4. Olivia
Looks like the female counterpart to Oliver is making the list too! Olivia is set to be the 2nd most popular name for girls in the US again! Of course, the name Olivia means “olive tree” as well. Olivia is a lyrical and charming name for little girls.
3. Noah
For boys, the second most popular name for 2020 is going to be Noah. Noah comes from Hebrew and means “rest” or “repose.” The name is most commonly associated with the builder of the big ol’ ark. Noah is a very handsome name for boys and it’s easy to see why it’s very popular among new parents.
2. Emma
Drumroll! The most popular name for little girls in 2020 will be Emma. The name Emma began gaining steam in the late 1980s and by 2003 it had exploded in popularity. Since then, the name has been in the top 5 most popular names for girls. The name Emma comes from German and means “universal.”
1. Liam
Drumroll, please, again! For boys, the name Liam will be the most popular name in 2020. Since the early 2000s, Liam began gaining popularity. It has now exploded and been one of the US’s top picks for little boys for years. The name Liam means “helmet of will” and is a shortened form of the Frankish name Willahelm. The name is also commonly taken from the Irish Uilliam or the English William. We love the name Liam and are pleased that so many parents are favoring it.
There you have it! The top 20 baby names of 2020 as predicted by Names.org. 2020 is going to be an insane year, but at least the baby names are still tracking to be rather normal. Normalcy is such a commodity right now! We hope you’ll consider one of these names for your baby or, at least, use them as inspiration.