Most Popular Baby Names in California (2025)

In 2025, the most common boy's name registered in California was Liam (2,624 births) and the most common girl's name was Olivia (1,796).

California sits in the West region, Pacific division. Regional preference is visible in this data: neighbouring states often share a top name that the national list ranks lower.

Across 18 years of records (2008 to 2025), the top boy's name changed 5 times and the top girl's name changed 6 times.

The longest unbroken run at #1 belongs to Noah on the boys' side (8 consecutive years) and Sophia on the girls' side (5).

2025 Boys

  1. 1Liam2,624
  2. 2Noah2,607
  3. 3Mateo2,239
  4. 4Santiago1,991
  5. 5Sebastian1,954
  6. 6Julian1,680
  7. 7Oliver1,456
  8. 8Elias1,342
  9. 9Benjamin1,257
  10. 10Elijah1,257
  11. 11Luca1,257
  12. 12Ethan1,236
  13. 13Theodore1,211
  14. 14Ezra1,190
  15. 15Leo1,173
  16. 16Alexander1,169
  17. 17Lucas1,154
  18. 18Daniel1,145
  19. 19Levi1,142
  20. 20Ezekiel1,089

2025 Girls

  1. 1Olivia1,796
  2. 2Mia1,788
  3. 3Sophia1,685
  4. 4Camila1,682
  5. 5Emma1,641
  6. 6Isabella1,506
  7. 7Amelia1,370
  8. 8Sofia1,339
  9. 9Eliana1,323
  10. 10Valentina1,146
  11. 11Ailany1,058
  12. 12Charlotte1,037
  13. 13Luna998
  14. 14Gianna990
  15. 15Aria977
  16. 16Emily910
  17. 17Evelyn892
  18. 18Violet883
  19. 19Aurora853
  20. 20Penelope827

Number one by year in California

Top three each year, boys then girls.

YearBoysGirls
2025Liam, Noah, MateoOlivia, Mia, Sophia
2024Liam, Noah, MateoMia, Olivia, Camila
2023Noah, Liam, MateoOlivia, Mia, Camila
2022Liam, Noah, MateoOlivia, Emma, Camila
2021Noah, Liam, MateoOlivia, Emma, Camila
2020Noah, Liam, MateoOlivia, Camila, Emma
2019Noah, Liam, MateoOlivia, Emma, Mia
2018Noah, Liam, SebastianEmma, Mia, Olivia
2017Noah, Sebastian, LiamEmma, Mia, Olivia
2016Noah, Matthew, EthanMia, Sophia, Emma
2015Noah, Jacob, EthanSophia, Mia, Emma
2014Noah, Jacob, DanielSophia, Isabella, Emma
2013Jacob, Ethan, DanielSophia, Isabella, Mia
2012Jacob, Jayden, DanielSophia, Isabella, Emma
2011Jacob, Daniel, JaydenSophia, Isabella, Emily
2010Jacob, Daniel, AnthonyIsabella, Sophia, Emily
2009Daniel, Anthony, AngelIsabella, Sophia, Emily
2008Daniel, Anthony, AngelIsabella, Emily, Sophia

Other West states

Alaska · Arizona · Colorado · Hawaii · Idaho · Montana · New Mexico · Nevada · Oregon · Utah · Washington · Wyoming

All 50 states and DC

Frequently asked questions

What is the most popular baby name in California?
For births registered in 2025, Liam was the top boy's name (2,624) and Olivia was the top girl's name (1,796), according to Social Security card applications filed for California births.
Where does this California data come from?
The Social Security Administration publishes a state-specific file of names taken from Social Security card applications. It covers 2008 onward in the range shown here and is public domain.
Why are some names missing from the California list?
SSA withholds any name with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state and year. That is a privacy rule, not a gap in the records, so a missing name means "fewer than 5", never zero.
Do these counts include every baby born in California?
They include births with a Social Security card application that lists California as the state of birth. Names are counted as written on the application, so spelling variants are counted separately.
How often is the California ranking updated?
SSA releases the previous year's data annually, usually in the first half of the following year. Past years do not change once published.

U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) - Popular Baby Names (state-specific) · Names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state and year are withheld by SSA.