With inspiration coming from fantasy books, noughties celebs and pop culture's favourite love triangle, baby names are hitting bold new heights in 2026.

Ad

Next year parents are expected to move further away from the traditional lists and opt for names with a fresh new angle; prizing difference, aesthetic and emotional meaning over the strategic choice.

Experts from My 1st years have especially zones in on fun, short names, with one or two syllables embodying that quirkiness.

Molly Ejdowski, spokesperson for My 1st Years, said: “We’ve seen a huge swing towards shorter names this year, particularly names which can’t be shortened.

“There is still a lot of love for Ye Olde names from days gone by and there are some gorgeous new vintage names coming through.”

Using their expertise, and our own knowledge from over 130 baby-name articles, we've broken down the biggest trends that are shaping 2026's babies.

Celebrity babies

Ziggy

Meaning: Believed to be of German origin and meaning 'victorious protector.’

Celeb couple Sophie Habboo and Jamie Lang welcomed their baby Ziggy this December, and in the process triggered a 5,000% increase in Google searches around the name. The name is thought to be inspired by David Bowie's famous character, Ziggy Stardust, although it can also be used as a shortened version of Zachary.

Palma

Meaning: 'Palm tree' or 'palm branch' in Latin, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese and symbolising victory, peace, and triumph in Christianity.

Palma is the name chosen by Michelle Keegan and Mark Wright for their baby girl in March. The name is believed to correspond with the capital of Mallorca, which the couple are known to have a strong connection with. The pair own an apartment just outside the city and it was also the spot of their beachside pregnancy announcement last December.

Noughties icons

NEW YORK - MAY 03: Actors Jude Law and Sienna Miller attend the Costume Institute Gala Benefit to celebrate the opening of the "American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity" exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 3, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

Jude & Sienna

Meaning:

  • Jude – of Hebrew origin, meaning 'praised' or 'to be praised' and derived from the name Judah.
  • Sienna – Italian, from the city of Siena and often related to the reddish-brown colour.

Nearly 20 years after their notorious romance and split, Jude Law and Sienna Miller are sharing a spot in the predicted baby name trends, albeit for separate reasons. Jude is back in favour thanks to the beloved Beatles song Hey Jude, as well as the popularity of England footballer Jude Bellingham. Meanwhile Sienna (or Siena) has been a popular choice recently for high-profile personalities like Love Island’s Olivia Bowen and Princess Beatrice.

Vintage roots

Bonnie

Meaning: A popular Scottish name meaning 'pretty, beautiful, or good,' derived from the Scots word bonnie.

Bonnie is a great pick for any parents with Scottish roots, and it will give your future little one a spring in their step when they realise it means beautiful.

Matilda

Meaning: Classic German name meaning 'mighty in battle' or 'strength in battle.'

Most commonly associated with the Roald Dahl heroine, Matilda has gently crept back into the mainstream. Plus, it's a fun one to shorten with Tilda or Tilly at your disposal.

Margot

Meaning: French diminutive of Margaret, derived from the Greek word margarites, meaning 'pearl.'

This elegant French name represents both the vintage and the modern, having become very popular through the work of Aussie actress Margot Robbie.

Romantasy heroes

Feyre & Lucien

Meaning:

  • Feyre – 'fair, beautiful', derived from Old English and French words for beauty
  • Lucien – a French name meaning 'light' or 'light bringer', derived from the Latin lux (light) and the Roman name Lucianus.

Any fans of Sarah J. Maas will know the names Feyre and Lucien come from the A Court of Thorns and Roses book series, in which a young girl travels into a fantasy land of Fae. Considering how popular Romantasy is as a reading genre at the moment, it's not too surprising to see these entries, but they're still obscure enough to have a quirky tinge.

Percy

Meaning: Of French origin, meaning 'one who pierces the valley.'

Another fantasy hero returning to centre stage is Percy Jackson, from the popular Rick Riordan book series and Disney Plus adaptation, which has recently returned for a second series.

Main character energy

Wicked Dolls tweet (1)

Isabel, Conrad & Jeremiah

Meaning:

  • Isabel – Means 'pledged to God' or 'God is perfection,' originating from the Hebrew name Elisheba.
  • Conrad – Germanic name meaning 'brave counsel' or 'bold advisor'.
  • Jeremiah – Means 'sent by God' and 'appointed by God,' deriving from an Old Testament prophet.

The Summer I Turned Pretty was a huge moment in pop culture this year, so it's no surprise that all three of its leads' names: Isabel (the full name for Belly), Conrad and Jeremiah have hit new heights. Just try not to stoke up any rivalries between siblings like in the show.

Elphie

Meaning: Derived from Elphaba or Elfreda, a Middle English name that means 'elf strength.'

The second Wicked movie has landed in cinemas, bringing with it a huge amount of popularity for the name of its titular witch Elphaba. However, the experts have predicted the shortening Elphie will also boom.

Old favourites

Freddie

Meaning: A nickname for Frederick or Frederica, a classic name of German origin meaning 'peaceful ruler.'

Whether it's Freddie or Freddy, this classic name is going nowhere in 2026.

Lily

Meaning: Coming from a lily flower and symbolising purity, innocence, and beauty.

Lily actually unseated Olivia as the top girls' baby name in 2025, and we don't see it losing popularity any time soon.

Names with aura

Ayla

Meaning: 'Halo of light around the moon' or 'moonlight' in Turkish.

Soft names with more of an ethereal meaning are also having a moment right now, blending the feminine with a more powerful feel.

Clara

Meaning: Comes from Latin (clarus), meaning 'bright and clear.'

Clara is a classic name that also evokes that feeling of romance. It's simple and strong but also so gentle.

Nora

Meaning: 'Honour' from its Latin root (Honora) and 'light' from its Greek (Eleonora)

Nora has that vintage vibe but also carries strong meanings behind. Perfect for your tough little one.

What did the 2015 ONS get right?

Back in 2015, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released their baby name predictions for the year 2026, which we covered– yes, we are that old!

At the time, the board predicted the continued popularity of royal names, like Charlotte, George and Louie, as well as move towards more modern names like Hallie, Harper, Ezra and Hunter.

On the vintage side, picks like Ivy, Aurora and Margot were anticipated to rise alongside old-fashioned boys' names like Wilf and Albie. Here's the full list of what was predicted:

Predicted girls’ names for 2026 (in 2015)

  • Charlotte
  • Harper
  • Aria
  • Alice
  • Penelope
  • Ivy
  • Aurora
  • Luna
  • Paisley
  • Hallie
  • Margot

Predicted boys’ names for 2026 (in 2015)

  • George
  • Arlo
  • Jaxon
  • Grayson
  • Hunter
  • Ezra
  • Albie
  • Arthur
  • Reggie
  • Louie
  • Wilf

Overall, it's older names with a hint of regal that have stayed strong 11 years later, like Margot and Arthur, while the softer vintage names like Wilf and Reggie have slipped away. We definitely still see a good number of Alice's, Charlotte's and George's but it looks like the official royal names haven't been as dominant as they once were.

For girls, this list definitely spotted some of the more aura-led names we're now seeing, like Aria and Aurora, and although Luna is still a popular choice, it's also become heavily associated with pets.

Meanwhile for boys, the modern boom we once foresaw didn't quite come true, although Ezra and Arlo are definitely on the up.

Ad

Make sure you also check out our lists of the top 200 British baby names and double barrel names.

Authors

Olivia Garrett
Ad
Ad
Ad