Best Baby Names 2025

It’s that time of year again — where I take all the babies names I’ve seen all year and I boil them two ten boy names and ten girl names — I share WHY I liked them, and maybe it sparks some ideas for names for YOUR adorable bundle of joy.

Just remember that bundle of joy is going to grow up and go to school…. be an adult. 🙂

Before we get started I gotta say that baby names stressed me out BIG time. However, it really wasn’t anything compared to how nervous I was about giving birth, how bad I was about asking my provider tricky questions, or how woefully unprepared I was to bring that baby home.

Honestly, I should’ve stressed a lot less about the name and been more aware of how my life (and body) would change after this baby was born.

I wish I’d taken a class that actually prepared me. And then I found The Online Prenatal Class for Couples. It’s not a surprise that a nurse expert can really help you understand how to talk with your provider, or the basics of birth but most ESPECIALLY what to expect (and watch for) when you go home.

If you’d like to have a smoother transition into life with this new so far, un-named baby I can’t recommend this class any more. I can promise you that a baby name is just a tiny bump in a very long road that you are likely not prepared enough for. But it’s not too late.

Why I make a Baby Name List

Many of you might know me as The Pregnancy Nurse® — I do pregnancy all day every day all year.

I see a LOT of baby names as I interact with pregnant couples during the year. I just jot down some of my favorites throughout the year and then I consolidate to a top 10 for boys and girls. I just probably hear a lot more baby names than the average joe. I think these lists are fun to make and people really enjoy them. SO, here it is!

But first, a few qualifiers on names — these are a few things I think about as a mom to adults when I read the names people are choosing….

Kindergarten

How will this name be to spell in Kindergarten?

Will the teacher easily be able to say it without a pronunciation guide

Will the child easily learn how to spell it be mid-year.

As a mom to three and a former PTO president I have spent a LOT of time in school and I’ve seen these struggles first hand. It’s important to me that my child be able to hit all those three milestones.

And now, a word on….

Unique Spellings

I see a LOT of “unique spellings” out there, and as someone who’s name is spelled wrong about 90% of the time it ends up being awkward for all of us.

Honestly, I don’t care but sometimes people profusely apologize….

Ultimately, I think moving forward as a society we’ll have to ask everyone how to spell their names constantly, if we place value on spelling them right.

But, my question for you — why? My parents did that, because only one L in Hilary is the English spelling — then Hillary Clinton came along and wiped that out. They didn’t mean to be unique with it. Personally, I named one of my sons with an -ER — and everyone and their dog spells it with an -OR — which I never even considered.

My goal isn’t to have kids who have to spell their names every time they get on the phone. I already live on a street that absolutely no one can pronounce and it makes me want to move. That, at least, is easier than changing my name. 🙂

And finally….

The Yell Test

I’ve also heard this called the “front porch test” earlier this year. It was where you go outside and yell it into the front of your yard and see how it feels.

For me, because I knew I’d yell at my kids more than just asking them to come home when it’s dark — so I’d yell it out angry and see how it worked.

My uncle was named Randall Maynard and that is SUCH a good yelling name. It’s the standard for which I aim.

Oh, and while you’re here — can I just beg you to prepare a bit more for life after baby? Grab my postpartum plan right here:

If you’re pregnant and looking for more info on that, here are some of my most popular pregnancy posts:

• Signs Your Water Is Going To Break
• Gifts for Pregnant Women
• Did my Water Break Quiz
• What does a contraction feel like?
• Best Ways to Shave While Pregnant

And, with that — let’s get first to the Top Boy Names. Want to skip to girls, click here.

Top Boy Names

(in no particular order)

Joshua

I do like biblical names, but mostly because they’ve been used for a long time. This name is short, to the point. I am a fan.

Daniel

I picked this name out, and I just realized it is also my college boyfriend’s name…. which had no impact, just a fun aside.

Again, a solid name that’s been used for a while.

Waylon

Ok, here we step out a bit — at least in the United States. I don’t hear this name often, but I think it’s cute — especially with the right last name.

I definitely want you to say the whole name together a few times. See how it flows. For instance, my last name is Erickson so I tried to stay away from anything that ended in an -n sound. Waylon Erickson. Nah…. not the best.

Jayce

This could easily be a nickname, or an actual name for a baby. I feel like I and trending more towards the shorter, easily to spell names because I want that for my kid.

My last child has the shortest name, and I wasn’t sad about it. Much easier to teach how to write.

Tobias

This felt like an older name, and I was a fan. Plus, there was a nice kid with this name in high school….

I think we all have pre-thoughts about a name. I was trying to name a child as a labor nurse who’d seen hundreds of names, alongside a high school teacher who’d seen thousands of names and had very strong feelings towards some of them.

You gotta acknowledge that some people ruined names for us — and move on. Of course, some people made names better, so there’s that!

Elliot

I think this is sweet. However, I somehow have a harder time picturing Elliot as a C-suite executive going to a business meeting. I do think it’s a very sweet little boy’s name though.

Randall

Yup, my uncle’s name made the list.

May I offer Maynard as the middle name.

Seriously, pretend to yell it in your brain — it just feels good, doesn’t it.

Plus, I think it’s a very solid name that goes from infant to older man.

As a note, my uncle Randy was one of my favorite people in my life growing up. Funny as all get-out. I promise you want your kid to be like him.

Landon

I feel like I wouldn’t have liked this name as much last year, but somehow I like it this year. I honestly don’t know why.

Mason

This one used to be more popular than I think it is now, but I think it’s worth a solid consideration — except the fact that it’s also a jar, and I worry about that somehow becoming a joke….

BTW, you GOTTA think of all the jokes and rhymes with for your kid’s name.

My kids suddenly found Hilary Pillary (which is the stocks you keep someone in back in colonial America). They find it amusing, but prior to now Hilary really hasn’t rhymed with much — Hilary celery was about as bad as I got it in elementary school, and that felt pretty easy compared to what some people’s names rhymed with.

Jasper

I’m a huge fan of the town in Canada that had fire at it this year, but I just thought it was a cute name.

I do worry about Jasper the friendly ghost, but I feel like most kids have no idea who Casper is….

And, as a transition into our lady friends — are you making sure this baby is kicking? I’m a huge fan of kick counts but SO many providers explain them wrong to really help (for instance, 10 kicks in two hours is NOT kick counts). Grab my cheat sheet here:

Top Girl Names

Ok, onto the little ladies in our midst!

(in no particular order)

Judy

I just think this is a short, sweet name. Beyond Garland who I absoutely adore, you gotta hope she doesn’t follow that path — unless it’s the Yellow Brick Road.

Rebecca

There were a TON of Rebecca’s a few years after I was born. I have so many Becky or Becca friends… but I think there were so many that maybe this name has fallen out of favor.

Personally, I’d call her Rebecca, rather than Becky — but even if you THINK you’re going to call them xyz, sometimes that doesn’t end-up happening.

As a note — just because a name was really popular when we were kids doesn’t mean we can’t consider it now. And yes, every Jessica out there reading, I’m looking at you.

Stella

I just want to say Stella like a boxer every time I hear this name. I think it’s cute, and short — and you could add a fun middle name to it.

Autumn

Maybe because it is 100% my favorite season here in Arizona because we’re finally cooling down — I just like it.

Avery

I don’t hear this very often, but I think it’s short and sweet.

Nora

Ditty for Avery. Short and sweet, and I really think that it would be the sweetest little toddler. Can you just imagine her waking up with sweet sleep in her eyes.

Sweet little Nora.

Courtney

There were a good number of these growing up, but I don’t hear this name too much.

I feel like this was one of the first names I learned that could be used for a boy or a girl… in case that’s important to you.

Amelia

one word — Bedelia. She’s literally the best. I adore her. Anyone read those books?

Marianne

I also had a Marianne that was one of my favorite baby sitters growing up. I don’t hear many of this name and the ones I know have always been sweet women.

Hallie

A final H name… Honestly, there aren’t a lot of H names out there, so I’ve definitely been called Holly or Heidi because — H. I guess this could be like a Hay-lee, but I read it as a ha-lee.

But you do you.

That’s the thing with names. You always sort of think that it’s insane that they just allow you to just pick a name that your child is stuck with throughout the rest of their lives.

But we do — and somehow we all live with it.

I also somehow wish changing your name was an easier process, especially in that first couple of years. But, it’s not — it’s pricey and annoying, so pick one you love!

Want to see my names from 2024 — here are the boy ones, and the girl ones.

And, in case a name isn’t the only thing stressing you out about a baby — come join me in The Online Prenatal Class for Couples — the easy way to get prepared for birth!

Not sure we’re a good fit check out my free class — It’s your first step towards being your own birth boss.