ComScore

Bring on the Olivers and Avas: 4 Takeaways from the Top Baby Names of 2020

baby names cat

BabyNames.com released its annual list of the year's most popular baby names, and the findings are interesting, with some pretty clear trends emerging. You can find the full list of the year's trendiest names here, but we've rounded up some general takeaways below. 

1. 2-Syllable -A Names for Girls 

From Ava and Luna to Isla and Freya, a bunch of the year's most popular names for girls are two syllable names that end in 'a.' Names ending in 'a' have long been popular for girls, but it's interesting to see shorter variations this year as opposed to longer ones like Isabella, which has reigned supreme over the past few years.  

2. Biblical Names for Boys 

Boy parents apparently turned to the Good Book for name inspiration in 2020, with Benjamin, Levi, Gabriel, Elijah, Caleb and Lucas all making the top 20. The trend didn't translate for girl parents, though, with nary a Mary, Ruth or Delilah in sight. 

3. Irish Names for All  

Perhaps parents were hoping for luck in 2020? Irish names for both boys and girls dominated the list, with Liam, Aidan and Declan being popular among boys and Maeve and Nora among girls. If you like the idea of an Irish baby name but want something a bit more unique, check out our list of 15 Irish baby names for boys and girls

4. Bye Bye, Emma?

Interestingly, the most popular baby name for girls of the past century, Emma (per the Social Security Administration), didn't even crack the the top 20 most popular girl names for 2020. Sophia, which was the second most popular name for girls in the last 100 years, also seemed to lose some steam, coming in at number 14 on this year's list.

Considering how kooky 2020 has been for all of us, it's it's a nice break to just think about cute little babies and their cute little baby names for a few minutes, no? 

12 Baby Names with Fantastic Nicknames



sarah stiefvater

Wellness Director

  • Oversees wellness content
  • PureWow's resident book reviewer
  • Has worked in lifestyle media for 11 years