FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 24, 2026
Media Contact: Tristen Franklin, tristen.franklin@vdh.virginia.gov
Virginia Department of Health and Office of Vital Records Release Top Baby
Names for 2025, Other Interesting Virginia Birth Data
RICHMOND, VA. – For many parents, choosing a name for their child is a joyful yet significant decision. Last year, a few names dominated the charts in Virginia. From timeless classics to trendy picks and cultural gems, these names captured the hearts of families across the state. But among the 96,683 babies born in 2025, the real chart-topper is the name you chose for your own little one.
“Choosing your child’s name is more than a tradition—it’s a defining moment,” said Virginia Health Commissioner B. Cameron Webb, MD, JD. “It might carry the weight of a family legacy, echo a name heard long ago that never left your heart or emerge as the perfect fit when you finally see their face. No matter how you choose it, the name will start the first chapter of a lifelong story.”
“What I love about these names is that they never feel outdated,” said Celes Davis, chief deputy state registrar for the Commonwealth of Virginia. “They’ve stood the test of time, and there’s a reason families continue to choose them—they’re strong, beautiful, and meaningful in every stage of life.”
Today, the Office of Vital Records (OVR) in the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) unveils its lists of top 15 baby names for children born in the Commonwealth in 2025. Curious to see if your favorite made the list?
Liam and Charlotte continue to hold their reign as Virginia’s most popular baby names in 2025, just as they did in 2024. Liam remains the top choice for boys, while Charlotte keeps its crown as the most popular name for girls, marking another year at the top.
| Overall Ranking for 2025 | Boys | Girls |
| 1 | Liam | Charlotte |
| 2 | Noah | Emma |
| 3 | Oliver | Sophia |
| 4 | Theodore | Olivia |
| 5 | Henry | Amelia |
| 6 | William | Isabella |
| 7 | James | Evelyn |
| 8 | Elijah | Mia |
| 9 | Lucas | Elizabeth |
| 10 | John | Eleanor |
| 11 | Benjamin | Ava |
| 12 | Levi | Eliana |
| 13 | Samuel | Ailany |
| 14 | Thomas | Lily |
| 15 | Daniel | Sofia |
Data also reveals the most popular baby names for Asian, Black, Hispanic and White parents.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| Asian
|
Boys | Muhammad | Noah | Liam | Theodore | Lucas |
| Girls | Emma | Chloe | Sophia | Charlotte | Sofia | |
| Black | Boys | Noah | Elijah | Josiah | Ezra | Kairo |
| Girls | Naomi | Ava | Nova | Serenity | Eliana | |
| Hispanic | Boys | Liam | Noah | Thiago | Mateo | Ethan |
| Girls | Ailany | Isabella | Mia | Emma | Camila | |
| White | Boys | Theodore | Henry | William | James | Oliver |
| Girls | Charlotte | Eleanor | Emma | Olivia | Amelia |
Baby name trends are always evolving, and over the past five years, we’ve seen some exciting shifts. From 2020 to 2025, new favorites have emerged, classic names have made comebacks, and unique picks have skyrocketed in popularity. Whether inspired by pop culture, nature, or timeless elegance, these rising baby names are shaping a whole new generation. Curious which names are climbing the charts? Let’s take a look at the baby names on the rise.
Boys
| Rank | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
| 1 | Liam | Liam | Liam | Liam | Liam | Liam | |
| 2 | Noah | Noah | Noah | Noah | Noah | Noah | |
| 3 | William | James | James | James | James | Oliver | |
| 4 | James | William | Oliver | Oliver | William | Theodore | |
| 5 | Oliver | Oliver | William | William | Oliver | Henry |
Girls
| Rank | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
| 1 | Charlotte | Charlotte | Charlotte | Charlotte | Charlotte | Charlotte | |
| 2 | Olivia | Olivia | Olivia | Olivia | Olivia | Emma | |
| 3 | Ava | Emma | Emma | Emma | Sophia | Sophia | |
| 4 | Emma | Ava | Ava | Sophia | Emma | Olivia | |
| 5 | Amelia | Sophia | Amelia | Amelia | Amelia | Amelia |
In 2000, more than a quarter of a century ago, parents were choosing names that would define a generation. Jacob and Hannah topped the charts as the most popular baby names when 869 baby boys were named Jacob, and 708 baby girls were named Hannah. Other classics like Christopher, Madison, Joshua and Elizabeth followed close behind. Information about popular names in each of the 50 states going back to 1960 is available from the Social Security Administration by using its Popular Names by Decade tool.
Ever wondered when most babies make their grand entrance into the world? Turns out, some days, months, and even weekdays are busier than others when it comes to birthdays! From the most common birth date to fun twin and triplet stats, here are some fascinating birth facts from 2025:
- Month Most Births Occurred In: August (8,310)
- Least Number of Births Occurred In: November (7,111)
- Day Most Births Occurred on: September 5 (351 births)
- Most common birthday of the week: Wednesday (15,144 births)
- Least common birthday of the week: Sunday (9,314 births)
- Total Born as Twins: 2,837
- Total Born as Triplets: 55
- New Year’s Eve Births (December 31, 2024): 177
- New Year’s Day Births (January 1, 2025): 220
- Babies sharing a birthday with Mom: 267
- Babies sharing a birthday with Dad: 268
If you are looking for more records like this for the state of Virginia, the Office of Vital Records is Virginians’ one-stop shop for any number of personal records requests including birth and death certificates, and marriage and divorce records.
Data is produced and processed from sources believed to be reliable and accurate at that point of time. No warranty expressed or implied is made regarding accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. Additionally, not all data elements are reported at the source. Please see Virginia Code §32.1 for information on data mandated to be conveyed by the patient and/or facility. This disclaimer applies to both isolated and aggregate uses of the data.
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