Noah and Olivia Hold Top Spots in 2024 Baby Name Rankings

Noah and Olivia continued their reign as America’s most popular baby names in 2024, according to the annual report released by the Social Security Administration this week. The Associated Press reports that while the top rankings show remarkable stability, the data reveals subtle shifts in naming trends that reflect broader cultural influences, including a notable rise in gender-neutral names and increasing diversity in naming patterns across different regions of the country.

The comprehensive report, which analyzes names given to all children born in the United States with Social Security numbers, offers a fascinating window into evolving parental preferences and cultural touchpoints, with experts noting that naming choices often serve as leading indicators of social change.

Stability at the Top, Movement Below

Noah maintained its position as the most popular boy’s name for the fifth consecutive year, while Olivia has now topped the girls’ list for four years running. The Social Security Administration’s official database shows that these two names have demonstrated remarkable staying power in an era where naming trends often shift rapidly.

“The stability at the very top of the list is somewhat unusual historically,” explained Dr. Laura Wattenberg, founder of Namerology, a site dedicated to name analysis and trends. “In previous generations, we typically saw more turnover in the top positions. What’s particularly interesting is the contrast between this stability at the very top and the significant shifts we’re seeing in the broader top 100.”

While the top five boys’ names remained relatively unchanged (Noah, Liam, Oliver, Elijah, and Mateo), the girls’ top five saw Charlotte rise to second place, displacing Emma, which had held that position for seven years. Amelia and Ava rounded out the top five for girls.

Cultural Influences Shape New Entries

Several names made significant jumps in popularity, often reflecting cultural phenomena and media influences. Luca continued its meteoric rise, jumping 12 positions to become the 15th most popular boy’s name, a trend analysts attribute primarily to the success of Pixar’s 2021 film of the same name.

“Entertainment media has become increasingly influential in naming choices,” noted Dr. Cleveland Evans, past president of the American Name Society. “What’s interesting about Luca is the unusual staying power it’s demonstrated. Unlike many media-influenced naming spikes that quickly fade, Luca has shown sustained growth over multiple years, suggesting it resonates beyond just the film’s immediate popularity.”

On the girls’ side, Maeve made the most dramatic jump, rising 24 positions to enter the top 50 for the first time. This surge has been linked to prominent characters in popular streaming series and increasingly visible Irish cultural influences. Pew Research Center’s analysis of naming influences found that streaming content now outranks all other media in its impact on naming choices, reflecting its dominance in contemporary cultural consumption.

Regional and Demographic Variations

The national rankings mask significant regional variations that highlight America’s cultural diversity. In states with large Hispanic populations, names like Mateo, Santiago, and Sofia rank significantly higher than their national positions. U.S. Census Bureau demographic analysis shows these patterns closely follow population distribution and immigration trends.

“When we break down naming patterns by state and demographic groups, we see much more diversity than the national rankings suggest,” explained demographer Dr. Jennifer Martinez of the Population Research Center at the University of Texas at Austin. “In states like California, Texas, and Florida, the top 10 lists look quite different from the national rankings, reflecting the cultural diversity of these regions.”

This regional variation extends beyond ethnic influences. Rural areas show stronger preferences for traditional names and family-based naming patterns, while urban centers tend to embrace more contemporary and innovative choices. BabyCenter’s regional analysis found that coastal urban centers typically lead naming trends that gradually spread to other regions over 3-5 years.

Rise of Gender-Neutral Names Continues

One of the most significant trends in the 2024 data is the continued rise of gender-neutral names. Names like Riley, Finley, and River appear on both boys’ and girls’ lists, with increasingly balanced distribution between genders.

“The growth in gender-neutral naming reflects broader social conversations about gender,” explained sociologist Dr. Michael Thompson of Columbia University’s Center for Gender Studies. “Parents are increasingly comfortable choosing names that don’t immediately signal gender, giving children more flexibility in how they present themselves.”

This trend is particularly pronounced among younger and more urban parents. Survey data from McKinsey’s 2025 Gen Z Parenting Report indicates that 38% of parents under 30 intentionally considered gender-neutral options in their naming process, compared to just 12% of parents over 40.

Pandemic-Era Babies Show Distinct Patterns

Children born during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2021 received distinctive naming patterns that continue to influence the current rankings. Names associated with strength, nature, and resilience saw particular growth during that period and have maintained their popularity.

“The pandemic created a distinct cohort of babies whose names reflect the unique circumstances of their births,” noted Dr. Pamela Redmond, co-founder of Nameberry. “We saw surges in names meaning strength, hope, and new beginnings, and many of those names have continued to rise in popularity rather than fading after the immediate crisis passed.”

Names like Ivy, Sage, and Rowan—all with nature connections—have shown particularly strong growth since 2020. Meanwhile, previously popular urban-associated names like Brooklyn and London declined significantly during the pandemic and have not recovered their previous positions.

Social Media’s Growing Influence

Social media platforms are playing an increasingly important role in name selection, with platforms like TikTok and Instagram exposing parents to a wider variety of names and creating new viral naming trends.

“We’re seeing the emergence of what we call ‘algorithm-influenced naming,'” explained digital trend analyst Sarah Johnson of Digital Culture Institute. “As parents spend more time on social platforms, they’re exposed to names through content recommendation algorithms that might not have entered their consideration set through traditional channels.”

This influence manifests in clustered popularity spikes for previously obscure names that suddenly appear in multiple regions simultaneously, often traceable to specific viral content creators or trends. The name “Wren,” for example, jumped 132 positions in a single year after a series of popular TikTok creators featured the name.

Social Security Administration officials note that their naming database has become one of the agency’s most popular online resources, reflecting Americans’ enduring fascination with naming trends. The complete dataset, including state-by-state rankings and historical comparisons, is available on the SSA’s website, providing a valuable resource for parents, researchers, and anyone interested in this unique intersection of personal choice and cultural trends.