Top baby names for 2026 has been predicted - and one is a huge nod to 2015
Fantasy books are set to have the biggest impact on baby names next year
As we enter the last few months of the year, the baby name predictions for 2026 have been rolling in - and they're all very pop culture inspired.
While some names that had huge popularity in previous decades are on the verge of going extinct, other more unique monikers are entering the top lists for the first time ever.
And it looks like we're getting our inspiration from a wide variety of places - including TV show characters, book characters, and even musicians and sports stars.
The top boy name that's predicted to soar next year actually has a very interesting tie to the year 2015 that fantasy fans will be happy about.
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As per Plymouth Live and according to research by mynametags.com, the biggest-selling book of this year is set to have the largest influence on what Brits are naming babies next year.
The novel in question is Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros - the third book in the fantasy romance Empyrean series, after Fourth Wing and Iron Flame.
Yarros has sold over 2.7 million copies of the book so far this year, thanks to its huge popularity after going viral on social media, most notably TikTok.
And the girls' baby names that are predicted to top the 2026 list are a reflection of this, as it's the name of the main character - Violet.
While the name, which is of Latin origin and means purple, is already in the top 50 most popular, it’s anticipated to jump some places and make it into the top 30 for 2026.
And that's not all - as we say, another fantasy book has inspired the boys' name, which is predicted to come out on top - and this time, it was released a whole decade ago in 2015.
For boys, the top name is expected to be Rhys, with a huge surge in popularity coming from the character Rhysand in fantasy romance series A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas.
While the book first came out in 2015, BookTok has done its thing and the series has quickly gone viral, with millions of ratings on Goodreads and countless social media posts about it.
It's deemed to be so popular that people are planning to name their babies after the character - and the top two aren't the only bookish monikers.
According to the research, the name Maysilee, after the character in Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games spin-off Sunrise on the Reaping, is also set to climb in 2026 thanks to the novel's popularity and upcoming movie.
Music is also set to have a big influence, with the name Ophelia expected to pop up more after Taylor Swift's song The Fate of Ophelia.
According to the publication, The Life of a Showgirl's release last month sparked an 89% spike in Google searches for the unique name.
And TikTok-famous singer Alex Warren is set to have been the inspiration for a slew of little Alex's being born in 2026, as is the name Liam after Oasis' Liam Gallagher and the reunion tour.
As for sports, Lioness Chloe Kelly and golfer Rory McIlroy have both been huge names this year, possibly prompting a rise in babies being named Chloe and Rory.
And it comes as no surprise that The Summer I Turned Pretty is set to result in a slew of baby Conrads - Jeremiahs, less so.
Lars B Andersen, Managing Director at mynametags.com, said: "We’ve been tracking name trends for over twenty years and see how time and again parents’ choices are influenced by the media and pop culture. 2025 has been the year of escaping reality and leaning into the whimsical and otherworldly.
"Fiction has always been a strong indicator of baby name trends, but with younger parents more active on social media than ever before, ‘BookTok’s obsession over fantasy novels has taken it to new heights.
“Of course, other cultural moments from the past year will also be front of mind for expectant parents, with those who prefer sports or music looking to the Euros, major tournaments, and record-breaking tours for inspiration.”
Top baby girl name predictions for next year:
- Violet
- Ophelia
- Maysilee
- Lilo
- Chloe
Top baby boy name predictions for next year:
- Rhys
- Conrad
- Alex
- Liam
- Rory
Topics: Parenting, Books, TV And Film
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Madison Burgess