What are NC’s most popular baby names? See the top picks for boys & girls
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- SSA drops annual lists of most used baby names nationally and by state.
- Olivia was the number one girl's name in the United States in 2025.
- Noah overtook Liam to top North Carolina boys' names in 2025.
The Social Security Administration drops lists of the most used baby names in the country and by state each year, and it’s that time of year again. Let’s see what North Carolinians are naming their babies.
Baby girl names
The No. 1 girl’s name in the country in 2025 was Olivia. While popularized by William Shakespeare in the play Twelfth Night, the name predates his work. It means “Olive” or “Olive branch” in Latin.
The top 5 girls names in NC in 2025:
- Amelia
- Charlotte
- Olivia
- Sophia
- Emma
These are the same five names as 2024– but in a different order. Queen City residents may rejoice, as Charlotte has jumped from No. 4 to No. 2. Olivia was the top name in 2023, The Observer previously reported.
Baby boy names
The number one boy’s name in the country in 2025 was Liam. The name is an Irish diminuitive of William, according to Ancestry.
The top 5 boys names in NC in 2025:
- Noah
- Liam
- Oliver
- William
- James
As with the girl’s names, this is the same North Carolina top five as 2024, aside from Noah overtaking Liam. Liam was also the top name in 2023.
Check and see
So far, Liam and Olivia are the most popular baby names not only of 2025, but of the 2020s. Your little one may be a Liam or an Olivia, or be running around with several on the playground.
To see how popular your name or your baby’s name was in 2025, go to ssa.gov/OACT/babynames.
Inspired by a story from The Sacramento Bee in California.
This story was originally published May 15, 2026 at 7:00 AM with the headline "What are NC’s most popular baby names? See the top picks for boys & girls."
