6 Names for 2026

In honor of the new year, here are six names (three girls', three boys') that, based on the popular culture and naming trends, seem poised to rise.


Archer

Two Archers were born to celebrities in 2025: Archer James to Katie Peterson and Jesse McCartney in May and Archer Lancaster to Cassie and Charles Kelley in September. Rising around fourteen spots to #115 in 2024, and with the suffix of current favorites like Carter, Archer is most likely headed towards the top 100.


Eleanor

Another film adaptation of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, directed by Georgia Oakley, will hit theaters later this year. Even though the name is spelled Elinor in the story, parents seeing the film might still take inspiration from the character. Eleanor, after all, is close to the top 10 and can become the next Abigail (only much more formal). 


Heath

Emerald Fennell's film adaptation of Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights will hit theaters next month. Those who have read the novel or watched earlier adaptations know about the Gothic Heathcliff. Dark names are on the rise, but parents who don't want to go that far might simply choose Heath, who has returned to the top 1000 after a one-year absence.


Mabel

Disney and Pixar's Hoppers, which features a Mabel, is poised to hit theaters this spring. I do not need to argue the influence of Disney and Pixar on naming; Raya and Luca have risen tremendously in 2021, the year Raya and the Last Dragon and Luca came out. After all, Mabel has the same "may" sound as Maeve and is getting closer to a complete revival; she rose over fifty spots to #222 in 2024.


Nico

Niko Benjamin was born to Kealia Ohai and JJ Watt in June, and Nikolai came to Princess Claudia and Prince Josef-Emanuel of Liechtenstein over a week later. These can boost the rise of even Nico with the "c," who is nearing the top 200 and can fit in with other short Italian-Spanish hits like Luca and Enzo. 


Poppy

Carrie and Boris Johnson had a baby named Poppy Eliza Josephine this past May. Torrie Wilson and Justin Tupper also had a Poppi in November. Plus, the film adaptation of Emily Henry's People We Meet on Vacation, which features a Poppy, is soon to hit theaters. Poppy declined slightly this past year, but with Daisy now in the top 100, she won't be out of place. 


What names do you think will rise in 2026?


Sources:

Rosenstock, Ben. "The 38 Most Anticipated Movies of 2026." Entertainment, Time, 29 Dec. 2025, https://time.com/7342338/most-anticipated-movies-2026.

"2025 Celebrity Baby Names." Lists, Nameberry, https://nameberry.com/fameberry. Accessed 3 Jan. 2026.

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