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A new snapshot of America’s most popular baby names reveals subtle but telling shifts across New York and the nation, even as longtime favorites continue to dominate. Parents scanning the 2025 rankings from the Social Security Administration are seeing familiar names at the top, but with a few surprising swaps that hint at changing trends in how families are naming their children.

National Baby Name Trends Stay Remarkably Steady

The Social Security Administration’s latest data confirms stability at the very top of the charts.

For the seventh straight year, Liam and Olivia topped the national list. According to the SSA, America's most popular baby names for 2025 "remained consistent with years past with minimal shifts in the top 10 rankings."

While the leaderboard barely moved, the smallest shifts reveal ongoing competition among classic names that continue to define a generation.

New York Baby Names 2025 Show Small But Notable Swaps

In New York, the top baby names for boys and girls saw familiar favorites reshuffled rather than replaced, signaling continuity with a hint of change.

Among boys, Noah climbed to the No. 1 position after swapping places with Liam. Theodore rose to No. 3, pushing Lucas down to fourth. Oliver entered the top five this year, securing the fifth spot.

Top 5 male baby names in New York in 2025:

• Noah
• Liam
• Theodore
• Lucas
• Oliver

For girls, the top tier also shifted without introducing entirely new names. Emma rose to No. 1, overtaking Mia. Charlotte replaced Isabella in the top five, while the remaining names shifted positions.

Top 5 female baby names in New York in 2025:

• Emma
• Olivia
• Mia
• Sophia
• Charlotte

U.S. Top Baby Names Remain Dominated by Familiar Favorites

Across the country, the rankings show even less movement, reinforcing the staying power of long-time leaders.

Top 5 male baby names in the U.S. in 2025:

• Liam
• Noah
• Oliver
• Theodore
• Henry

Top 5 female baby names in the U.S. in 2025:

• Olivia
• Charlotte
• Emma
• Amelia
• Sophia

The data suggests American parents continue to favor traditional, widely recognized names, with only minor reshuffling year to year.

Fastest Rising Baby Names Reveal Emerging Trends

While the top rankings remain steady, some names saw sharp rises in popularity nationwide, reflecting more experimental naming trends.

Among boys, names with unique cultural or linguistic roots led the surge. The male name that means "fire" in Japanese and Swahili and the female name that is a contemporary spelling of “clarity” evoking brightness and light, led all risers, according to the SSA.

Here's which male baby names increased the most in popularity nationwide in 2025:

• Kasai
• Akari
• Eziah
• Jasai
• Neithan

Here's which female baby names increased the most in popularity nationwide in 2025:

• Klarity
• Rynlee
• Ailanny
• Naylani
• Madisson

These rising names highlight a growing interest in modern spellings, global influences, and meaning-driven choices.

Baby Names of the Decade Show Long-Term Stability

Looking at the broader trend from 2020 to 2025, the most popular names of the decade reinforce how consistent naming preferences have been across the United States.

Top 5 male baby names in the U.S. between 2020 and 2025:

• Liam
• Noah
• Oliver
• James
• Elijah

Top 5 female baby names in the U.S. between 2020 and 2025:

• Olivia
• Emma
• Charlotte
• Amelia
• Sophia

These names have defined the naming landscape for years, with little indication of dramatic change at the top.

How Baby Name Rankings Are Compiled

The rankings are based on official federal data tied directly to new births across the country.

"The baby names are drawn from Social Security card applications submitted at birth," SSA noted.

Social Security has tracked baby name popularity since 1997, and its database allows users to explore naming trends by year, decade, and state, with records stretching back to 1880.