Full Breakdown
SSA Releases 2025 State Baby Name Rankings
5/17/2026, 8:18:08 AM
Core Event: Nationwide Release of 2025 State Baby Name Lists
The Social Security Administration (SSA) published its annual list of the most common baby names for 2025, providing separate rankings for each U.S. state. The release includes the top five boys’ and girls’ names for Minnesota, New York, Wisconsin, and Texas, as well as the national top-ten lists compiled from Social Security card applications filed during the year.
Background & Context: Decades of Name Tracking
The SSA has compiled baby-name data since 1997, drawing on records that extend back to 1880. Each year the agency aggregates the names submitted on Social Security cards to generate state and national rankings, a practice that allows analysts to observe long-term naming patterns and cultural shifts.
Data & Statistics: Top Names by State and National Trends
- Minnesota: Theodore (boys) and Charlotte (girls). Other leading boys’ names include Henry, Oliver, Liam, and Noah; girls’ names include Evelyn, Violet, Eleanor, and Nora.
- New York: Noah (boys) and Emma (girls). The remaining top boys are Liam, Theodore, Lucas, Oliver; top girls are Olivia, Mia, Sophia, Charlotte.
- Wisconsin: Oliver (boys) and Charlotte (girls). Additional popular boys’ names are Theodore, Henry, Liam, Noah; girls’ names include Eleanor, Sophia, Evelyn, Emma.
- Texas: Liam (boys) and Emma (girls). The other top boys are Noah, Mateo, Santiago, Sebastian; top girls are Olivia, Isabella, Mia, Sophia.
- Nationally: Liam ranked first among boys for the ninth consecutive year; Olivia held the top spot among girls for the seventh year. The national top-five boys are Liam, Noah, Oliver, Theodore, Henry; the top-five girls are Olivia, Emma, Amelia, Sophia, Charlotte.
Official Statements & Responses: SSA’s Purpose and Methodology
The SSA explained that the rankings are derived from the names entered on Social Security card applications for newborns, a requirement for tax, banking, and benefits purposes. Agency officials noted that the annual lists “reveal the effect of pop-culture on naming trends,” and that the data serve researchers, policymakers, and the public in tracking cultural and demographic changes.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps: State vs. National Rankings and Missing Data
State rankings diverge from the national list: Minnesota’s leading boy name is Theodore, while the nation’s leader is Liam; New York’s top boy is Noah, not Liam; Wisconsin’s number-one boy is Oliver. The sources do not provide the exact number of occurrences for each name, limiting quantitative comparison. Additionally, while the Texas article mentions a decline in overall U.S. births, the other state reports omit birth-rate context.
Why It Matters: Cultural Influence and Demographic Context
The variation among state favorites illustrates regional cultural preferences, possibly reflecting local media, ethnic communities, or naming fashions. The continued dominance of names like Liam and Olivia nationally suggests enduring popularity, while the rise of names such as Theodore and Oliver indicates evolving trends. The reported national birth-rate decline adds demographic relevance, as fewer births may amplify the visibility of popular names.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Minnesota's top baby names of 2025 Local perspective: Theodore and Charlotte are officially Minnesota’s most popular baby names of 2025, according to new data released by the Social Security Administration on Friday.” — Fox 9, Minnesota Report
- “Noah and Emma were the most popular baby names for the state for 2025, based on Social Security card applications filed for newborns.” — WGRZ, New York Announcement
- “Oliver was the number one baby boy name and Charlotte was the number one baby girl name for 2025.” — Fox 11, Wisconsin Release
- “According to the agency, the top five boys names in New York for 2025 were Noah, Liam, Theodore, Lucas, and Oliver.” — Dallas Express, Texas Report
- “Each year, the list reveals the effect of pop-culture on naming trends.” — Social Security Administration (quoted by WGRZ)
- “Top Baby Names in Texas In Texas, the top five boys’ names for 2025 were: • Liam • Noah • Mateo • Santiago • Sebastian The top five girls’ names for 2025 were: • Emma • Olivia • Isabella • Mia • Sophia Nationally, Liam held the top spot for boys for the ninth consecutive year, while Olivia remained the top girls’ name for the seventh straight year.” — Dallas Express, National Summary
What’s Next: Ongoing Monitoring and Future Releases
The SSA will update its online database with the full list of the 1,000 most popular names and the fastest-rising names later this year. Researchers and the public can track subsequent shifts as the agency continues its annual reporting, providing a longitudinal view of naming preferences across the United States.
