Baby Names of 2016: Sophia and Jackson Hold Top Spots

Top Baby Names of 2016

BabyCenter, a pregnancy and digital resource, released Wednesday the results of its Baby Names Survey and the Top 100 Names of 2016.

Jackson held on as the top boys’ name for the fourth year, and Sophia leads the girls for the seventh year in a row.

“We saw five new names break into our top 10 lists this year, though the top five names held steady,” said Linda Murray, BabyCenter Global Editor in Chief. “It’s rare to see so much movement in just 12 months. It’s a direct reflection of millennial parents’ enthusiasm for shaking up the status quo.”

Reflecting the varied interests and values of millennial moms and dads, STEM jargon emerged as a major name influencer, along with powerful women. In another twist, characters in horror series and flawed superheroes are propelling parents’ choices.

“Millennials have grown up in tumultuous times, they see the world in its complexity, and they revere authenticity,” said Murray. “It’s no longer good versus evil—horror can be mixed with humor, and heroes can have flaws and struggles, too.”

Top 10 Baby Names of 2016