Choosing the perfect name for your newborn can feel overwhelming. 

Now, a team of name experts has released fresh predictions for the baby names set to surge in 2026, giving parents one less thing to stress over.

Nameberry, the largest baby-name site run by experts, has unveiled its top trend forecasts for next year, with names inspired by ancient civilizations leading the pack.

For girls, rising favorites include Olympia, Adhara and Marcella, while boys may see Ramses, Isidore and Linus climb the charts.

Sophie Kihm, an expert at Nameberry, said: 'Parents who choose ancient-civilization names are often seeking to connect their children to history. For some, that means honoring their own heritage with Mesoamerican or ancient Asian names.

'For others, these names offer a way to cope with an uncertain future by rewinding to a romanticized past, especially through ancient Greek and Roman choices.'

Other themes on the rise include 'Showgirl' names such as Marilyn, Roxie and Ophelia, along with 'Soulful' picks like Cypress, Jubilee, Creed and Shiloh.

And while millennials and Gen Z now make up the bulk of new parents, Nameberry predicts some classic boomer names will stage a comeback, including Betsy, Nancy and Judith for girls, and Bruce, Monty and Wes for boys.

Nameberry included a total of 10 trends set to rise in 2026, with number five being 'Romantasy' names.

For girls, Kihm listed Calista, Cordelia and Tamsin, and for boys, names like Alistair, Dashiell and Thoren could see a rise.

'When naming characters, romantasy authors draw from a few central themes,' Kihm said.

'Romantasy baby namers follow the same tropes. They gravitate toward ornate names with an otherworldly aura and strong European influence — mostly the most ethereal archaic choices.'

The next trend is dubbed vowel-hiatus names, meaning the name contains more vowels than consonants.

Anaia, Aya and Lyanni were picked for girls, while the experts suggested Eirian, Romeo and Tadeo could be popular next year.

Nameberry also predicted that number names will climb, with girls' picks like Eleven, Una and Sevyn.

The list of boys' names included Four, Amillion, Billion and Octavian.

'Previously relegated to 'tragedeigh' forums, Utah baby names are now commanding respect, and imitation,' Kihm said.

'The cultural obsession with all things Utah, from Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and 'MomTok' to The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, has sparked fascination with the state's distinctive names.'

For girls, the list included Brighton, Fern and Lettie, while parents could choose Aven, Covey and Jones for boys.

Anime-inspired names are the ninth trend, fueled by 'a surge of travel to Japan and the proliferation of anime on streaming platforms like Netflix,' according to Kihm.

'Their breakout hit is KPOP Demon Hunters, a film that takes inspiration from anime and Korean dramas.' 

Anya, Riyo and Rumi are among the girls' names, while Jinu, Saja and Kiro are listed for boys.

And the last trend, Brit-lit names, is expected to rise as 'renewed interest in these quintessentially English stories sparks a fervor for British literary names past and present,' Kihm said.

Tess, Darcy and Virginia are predicted to be popular for girls, while Bram, Edmund and Winston stand out among boys.

'New parents in 2026 will also look to the authors themselves. Brontë, already on the rise in the UK, will cross the pond, along with contemporary British author names,' Kihm added.