Most Popular Baby Names of 2016
In 2016, these were the names US parents chose most. The lists below rank the top 25 girls’ and boys’ names by the number of babies who received each name that year, from US Social Security Administration data (about 1.8 million girls and 1.9 million boys recorded).
The most popular names of 2016 were Emma for girls and Noah for boys.
Top 25 girls’ names
- #1 Emma 19,550
- #2 Olivia 19,414
- #3 Ava 16,354
- #4 Sophia 16,185
- #5 Isabella 14,863
- #6 Mia 14,464
- #7 Charlotte 13,118
- #8 Abigail 11,796
- #9 Emily 11,006
- #10 Amelia 10,809
- #11 Harper 10,803
- #12 Evelyn 10,116
- #13 Elizabeth 9,607
- #14 Sofia 9,179
- #15 Madison 9,057
- #16 Avery 8,774
- #17 Ella 7,940
- #18 Scarlett 7,720
- #19 Grace 7,617
- #20 Chloe 7,484
- #21 Victoria 7,329
- #22 Riley 7,159
- #23 Aria 6,949
- #24 Lily 6,610
- #25 Aubrey 6,552
Top 25 boys’ names
- #1 Noah 19,188
- #2 Liam 18,277
- #3 William 15,810
- #4 Mason 15,287
- #5 James 14,920
- #6 Benjamin 14,686
- #7 Jacob 14,559
- #8 Michael 14,145
- #9 Elijah 13,982
- #10 Ethan 13,855
- #11 Alexander 13,446
- #12 Oliver 13,066
- #13 Daniel 12,996
- #14 Lucas 12,906
- #15 Matthew 12,665
- #16 Aiden 12,269
- #17 Jackson 11,315
- #18 Logan 11,278
- #19 David 11,153
- #20 Joseph 10,969
- #21 Samuel 10,621
- #22 Henry 10,390
- #23 Sebastian 10,309
- #24 Owen 10,305
- #25 Gabriel 10,279
Counts are US births recorded by the Social Security Administration. Numbers show babies given each name that year.
Frequently asked questions
What was the most popular girls’ name in 2016?
Emma was the most popular girls’ name in 2016, according to US Social Security Administration data.
What was the most popular boys’ name in 2016?
Noah was the most popular boys’ name in 2016.
Where does this ranking come from?
These rankings are compiled from US Social Security Administration records of names given to babies born in the United States, counted separately for girls and boys.