Parenthood comes with a lot of responsibility, and one of the first things you'll be held accountable for is naming your baby. The task of naming a human cannot be taken lightly. Whatever name you select for your child will be associated with them for the rest of their lifetime. Choose a name for your son that sounds like an elderly gentleman and his teenage years will be traumatizing. Name your daughter something that sounds like you came up with it three days into a music festival and she'll hold it against you every time they go in for a job interview. If you're wondering what everyone is naming their kids these days so that you can choose something in between the extremes, we have the answer for you. Here are the top ten most popular names in 2018, for boys and girls.
#10 For Boys: Elijah
The name Elijah originates in Hebrew. The name of an Israelite prophet in the First and Second Books of Kings in the Bible, it translates to "Yahweh is God." While it used to mostly be common for Jewish boys, the name has since grown in popularity and was the tenth most popular choice for naming boys in 2018.
"Elijah" is a safe choice, as there aren't any negative associations with the name. Boys with this name can also go by "Eli" if it better suits them at different stages in their life.
#10 Girl's Name: Layla
In 1970, artist Eric Clapton released a hit song titled "Layla" but the name didn't become widely popular until the last decade. Now one of the most popular girls' names, we'll be meeting plenty of Laylas soon.
"Layla" translates to "dark beauty" and is associated with being enamored with the beauty of night. While the name can also be spelled "Leila," in 2018, more parents were opting to use "Layla" instead.
#9 Boy's Name: Oliver
"Oliver" is a boys' name derived from England. In the Bible, the dignified name is attributed to olive trees, which symbolize fruitfulness. The act of extending an olive branch also means that you're offering peace.
Celebrity couple Ginnifer Goodwin and Josh Dallas chose Oliver Finlay for their son's name. Maybe Dallas was inspired to give his first son an English name after taking parts at the English National Opera in London.
#9 Girl's Name: Mia
The girl's name Mia was first popularized by actress Mia Farrow and has increased in popularity in recent years. Mia has Latin roots, as well as Italian, and translates to "mine," "my beloved" or "wished-for child."
It's a sweet name for a girl, and a short one at that. It's also a name that may suit her well throughout the different stages of her life. Actress Kate Winslet named her daughter "Mia Honey."
#8 Boy's Name: Mason
While Mason literally means "one who works with stone" it's become a very popular boys' name in recent years. The two-syllable name is simple and fits a wide range of personalities and ages.
People tend to gravitate towards the name for its strength and masculinity, but men named Mason also have a reputation for being very sweet and easy going. While it's the eighth most popular boys' name of 2018, we don't see this name being phased out anytime soon, either.
#8 Girl's Name: Amelia
The girls' name Amelia is not only popular in the States, but in Australia as well. The name comes from Germany, where it translates to "work." Girls given this name are associated with hard work and fertility.
The name also comes with some prestige, as the great American aviator Amelia Earhart, Princess Amelia of Great Britain, and poet Amelia B. Coppuck Welby all hold the name. Nicknames for Amelia include Amy, Emma, Milly, and Mel.
#7 Boy's Name: Lucas
Lucas is a name that will never go out of style. The name carries across different countries, popular not only in the US but Argentina, Brazil. and Spain, too. The name is Latin, and means "light-giving" or "illumination."
Holding its place in history, Luke was the author of the third gospel of the New Testament, and the name consistently finds its way to the most popular list of baby names.
#7 Girl's Name: Riley
The name Riley has been used for both girls' and boys' names. In The States, it's mostly recognized as a girl's name, while in the UK, it's more commonly a boy's name.
Oddly enough, the name originated from a man who died in the 1014 Battle of Clontarf, in Dublin. The event changed the course of Irish history and Raghallach has since been converted to Riley. It's also a common last name.
#6 Boy's Name: Grayson
The boys' name Grayson made the list this year, as the sixth most popular boys' name in America. The name translates to "son of a steward" but most people don't make the connection.
Originating from England, the name has risen in popularity since 2010 and many parents select it for its attribution to well-rounded, multi-talented, independent characteristics. If you want to raise a well-rounded boy with plenty of talents, naming him Grayson may set him up for success.
#6 Girl's Name: Aria
"Aria" is a unique name that's made 2018's list of most popular baby names for girls. The name originates from multiple countries and is also used as a boys' name. In the Albanian language, Aria means "from gold," while in Hebrew it translates to "lioness of God."
The name is common in India and Iran but has made its way to the US. It also has a musical significance, for parents that wish for their baby girl to become musically-inclined. In music, an aria is a piece written for one voice.
#5 Boy's Name: Caden
The boys' name Caden is popular in both the United States and Canada, and holds the number five spot on this list. People have theorized that the popularity of the name was spurred by other similar sounding names gaining traction, like Aidan, Braden, Hayden, and Jaden.
In Arabic, Kadin means "friend" while in Old English, Cade means "round" and "gentle." There are several different spellings for the same name, so parents can choose to put their own twist on it.
#5 Girl's Name: Isabella
Is there any name sweeter than Isabella? There are so many nicknames for the name that parents are able to call their baby girl whatever best suits her. Translating to "my God is an oath" and "Pledged to God," Isabella originates from Italy.
A form of Elizabeth, the name has been cemented in history with its attribution to royalty. Give your baby girl this name and the world is her oyster!
#4 Boy's Name: Aiden
Aiden is a boys' name that sounds similar to another popular boys' name, Caden. Originating from Ireland and Scotland, Aiden means "born of fire" and your little one might live up to their fiery namesake!
Many notable men have been named Aiden, including several musicians, actors, artists, and authors. You really can't go wrong with this name for a baby boy, just be prepared to give him plenty of outlets to express himself if he ends up being a handful!
#4 Girl's Name: Ava
How precious is the name Ava for a baby girl? Simple and classic, this German-derived name has been used for centuries. Ava became popular in the US after socialite Ava Lowle Willing rose to fame and later named her daughter Ava, as well.
Ava Gardner is another famous lady who's brought attention to the name. She rose to stardom in the mid-40s and was one of Hollywood's leading actresses in the 50s, 60s, and 70s.
#3 Boy's Name: Noah
Noah has been a popular name choice for boys for a long while, and remains one of the most popular baby names in 2018. The name originates from the Bible, and is most well known for the story of the flood.
There are many variations of 'Noah' across a dozen languages, including Noè and Noë. The name has also appeared in many TV shows and films, as well as John Steinbeck's novel The Grapes of Wrath.
#3 Girl's Name: Emma
The girls' name Emma dates way back to the 11th century and is the third most popular name of 2018. Not only is it popular in the US, but also across the UK, the Netherlands, Australia, and more.
'Emma' consistently appears in the most popular baby names throughout the years, with many notable people holding the name. This is one girls' name that will never be mistaken or misspelled, and one that will suit her for a lifetime.
#2 Boy's Name: Liam
Another traditional name, 'Liam,' has soared in popularity in recent years. It may be related to Australian actor Liam Hemsworth's rapidly growing fame, but the name has been around for centuries. It originated in Ireland sometime in the 18th century.
For a long while, the name was strictly given to Irish boys, but by 1980, more boys in the UK were given the name and its popularity skyrocketed from there.
#2 Girl's Name: Olivia
If you ever wondered if the name 'Olivia' is related to 'olive,' we're here to tell you yes! The name dates back to thirteenth-century England and became popular after William Shakespeare's character in the Twelfth Night.
Olivia is a very popular girls' name in England and Australia, and is the second most popular girls' baby name in the US in 2018. There's a long list of notable women with the name Olivia, and it looks like it's never going out of style.
#1 Boy's Name: Jackson
Yep, it seems that classic names still take the cake in 2018. 'Jackson' exists in history as both a surname and a given name. Jackson as a surname originated in England, Scotland, and Wales, while using it as a given name gained popularity in the 1980's.
Politicians, musicians, writers and more have donned the name, so if you name your baby boy Jackson, there's no telling what he might get into.
# 1 Girl's Name: Sophia
The number one most popular baby girls' name of 2018 was Sophia. This name holds a lot of history, dating back to the 4th century! Sophia originates from Greece, meaning "wisdom" and can also be spelled Sofia.
Many girls were named Sophia in Europe during medieval and early modern times. In the US, the popularity of the name has made several comebacks over the years, including the 1960s to the 1980s.
