5 Baby Name Trends You're Going To See Everywhere In 2027

There might not be any guaranteed way to predict the future, but studying the past — as well as the present — can give us a pretty good idea. The state of baby names in 2026 is painting a pretty clear picture of what we can expect to become popular over the next 12 months. Some of the trends that have been gaining momentum this year are showing no signs of slowing down, but there are also some new baby-naming crazes that are just emerging on the horizon.

"We feature diverse trends in our annual trend reports," Nameberry editor-in-chief Sophie Kihm explained to HuffPost, whose predictions for 2027 are based on data gathered over the past year. "Parents may not recognize all of these trends in their neighborhoods, but that doesn't mean they're not trending elsewhere." So what does Kihm foresee in the near future? Among other trends that will likely continue indefinitely, the current phenomenon of embracing vintage-style names is set to last, but expect parents to look even further back in history for inspiration. Data recorded by Baby Center backs this up, pointing in particular to names not only taken from history, but from mythology, too. 

"The names we highlight in our trends report are those that will come to define the year ahead, not necessarily those that will be at the very top of the charts ― changes in the Top 10 tend to happen slowly," Kihm clarified. "These are the names that will rise the quickest in use and someday will be evocative of this era of baby naming." Whether you're looking for something in particular, or perhaps just gender-neutral baby names you might not have considered, read on to stay ahead of the curve in 2027.

Vintage names have taken center stage over the past few years, but 2027 is set to reach far back in time for inspiration. Baby Center predicts that Greek mythology is coming for our baby names, possibly off the back of the 2026 blockbuster hit "The Odyssey." Odysseus is the first name that comes to mind, but there are other boy names from the world of classical Greece that translate today, too. If you like names inspired by the gods, there's Hermes (the messenger deity, not the fashion house) and Apollo. From "The Iliad," consider Achilles, Hector, or Nestor. 

There are plenty of Greek mythology-inspired girls' names as well. From "The Odyssey" we have the ever-patient wife of Odysseus, Penelope, while some goddess names that won't raise eyebrows include Athena, Hera, and Rhea. You could go all out with a more iconic goddess, like Aphrodite, but expect that to be more of a conversation starter. From "The Iliad," there's Helen of Troy herself, along with Cassandra and Briseis. Back to Mount Olympus, there's the gender-neutral Ares and also Zephyr, the god of the west wind. 

Jumping through time, medieval names are also said to be making an unexpected return in 2027, according to Sophie Kihm. You could go for common names that were prevalent in the Middle Ages, and Kihm suggests Agnes, Luther, or Winifred, or you could dust off monikers that haven't been popular for centuries. Think the Old French Amée, or Cateline as an archaic alternative to Catherine. Úna is an historic Irish name far less common today than Luna, while for boys, there's the noble-sounding Elric, or even Judd, the medieval diminutive of Jordan. These are vintage names you can make feel fresh in 2026, or save them for 2027.

Pop culture in the 2020s has been shaped by cowboy culture; because of Taylor Sheridan's catalog of ranching shows, Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter" era, and fashion houses ushering in cowboy boots and fringe, the Wild West is alive and well. So we can't say we're surprised that baby names have been following suit (Western baby names made a huge comeback in 2026), and as Baby Center reports, will continue to do so in 2027. 

A clear-cut way to jump on this trend is to choose a place name that evokes the American frontier. Think Dakota, Carolina, Arizona, and Montana. Then there are names that have been traditionally associated with cowboy culture — country legend Johnny Cash famously sang about "a man in Reno," which makes this Nevada city a good choice, too. For boys in particular, there are lots of Western-inspired names that end in "er," from Archer and Wilder to Carter and Gunner. A gender-neutral alternative could be Ryder, along with Jesse, Billie, Charlie, and Kit. For something short and sharp, you could simply go with West, or the classic cowboy name Beau. 

Cowboycore also lends itself to plenty of girls' names, including Oakley (after markswoman Annie Oakley) and Cassidy (after Old West outlaw Butch Cassidy). They're a far cry from traditionally feminine and overly pretty names, but that's the exact reason why many parents love them. However, you can still opt for a more lyrical and girly Western name. There's Lucinda, Susannah, Lenora, and the more romantic Loretta, after country singer Loretta Lynn. Thanks to "Yellowstone" and other country influences, these Wild West-inspired baby names are growing increasingly popular. Any name that sounds at home on the ranch will do! 

Naming your baby after a place isn't necessarily a new trend, but Nameberry foretells that the most popular names in 2027 will be found in Europe. The beauty of this is that European names are varied and versatile; there are cities and countries that run the gamut of sounds and vibes, along with those that are expected, and those that are obscure. If you like to play it safe, there are names that have a long history of use: Florence, Paris, and Roma. But there are also place names for girls and boys that you probably hadn't considered before.

Rhodes, after the Greek city, is a good gender-neutral option, especially since it also hits the Greek mythology trend (Rhodes was said to be home to the Colossus, which was one of the wonders of the ancient world). Another gender-neutral choice is Bristol, which has a punchier sound than many of the frillier city names. Brexit may mean that the British Isles are technically no longer part of Europe, but there are too many cute names originating from the U.K. to consider. Go for Oxford if you love a preppy vibe, or Stirling for something strong and crisp. 

If you do prefer traditionally feminine names, you really needn't look past Italy. There's Capri for something familiar, but you could also go a bit bolder with Novara, Biella, Messina, Geneva, or Ravenna. You'll also find plenty of inspo for boys' names here: Luca (after the Tuscan city of Lucca, or the Calabrian village of San Luca), Marino, or Vittorio (after Vittorio Veneto). Otherwise, head west to France, which offers even more opulent-sounding names. Calais and Versailles both make for bold choices, or you can make like Madonna and go for Lourdes.

It might be because we're subconsciously seeking relief from the increasing stress of life, but naming trends are leaning towards all things carefree and relaxed as we close out 2026. Sophie Kihm told HuffPost that "coastal" names in particular are set to wash up on our shores. "Names that evoke tide waters, windswept dunes and rocky seashores are more popular than ever ― from simple nature picks like Cove to inventive spins like Clifton," she explained, suggesting names like Harbor, Reef, Fisher, and Coast itself. But the coastal umbrella is huge, and you could take this trend in any direction you want.

For girls, you could go for something sweet and pretty, such as Ariel ― the world's most famous red-headed mermaid ― or the fun and unparalleled sea name, Coral. Or you could hit two trends at once by choosing a Greek-inspired oceanic name. There's Larissa the sea nymph, along with Calypso, who was also a sea nymph appearing in "The Odyssey." For boys, you could meet both trends by going for Triton, who also appeared in "The Little Mermaid" and was a sea demigod. A coastal boy name with a similar vibe is Caspian, though this comes from the name of the Caspian Sea. Otherwise, there's the modern yet calming name Wave, chosen by Cardi B for her son.

There are plenty of gender-neutral coastal names, too. Skipper means "shipmaster" or sea captain and could be used for a boy or girl, as could Maris, a Latin name which literally means "of the sea." You could also go with Kai, a name with Polynesian roots that also has origins in Asian and European languages, which means, among other things, "ocean." Notably, Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik named their daughter Khai in 2020. 

When it comes to brainstorming baby names alphabetically, X is probably the most difficult letter in the English language. So there's good news for anyone who likes a challenge: Per Baby Center, names that feature this tricky letter are expected to be huge in 2027. For both boys and girls, the options are slightly more limited than they are for other letters, but you've still got plenty of choices. You can go classic for a boy, with something like Xander or Xavier. But you could also choose something with more of a modern feel, like Xaiden. Meanwhile, an X name for girls could be as simple as Xena, or it could be a little less common in the English-speaking world; think Ximena, Xolani, or Xiomara.

There's no shortage of gender-neutral names for this rare letter, either. Xia, Xeni, and Xavi are just a few that feel cool and fresh. Of course, the baby naming police aren't going to kick up a fuss if you embrace this trend in your own way — say, by selecting a name that features the letter X, even if it doesn't start with it. Going this route also opens up your options immensely. We have the classics: Roxanne and Maxine for a girl, or the simple Alexander and its many diminutives for a boy. Then there are less common monikers. For a girls' name, you might go with Nixie or Bexley, while a boy could be Jaxon, Knox, or to simultaneously embrace the Greek mythology vibes, Ajax. 

While names that feature X tend to feel modern and creative, like Huxley, Phoenix, Onyx, and Hendrix, which can all be gender-neutral, you can also get those that are giving old money. Think Lexington, the previously mentioned Oxford, or the aristocratic Fairfax.