This vintage baby girl name is officially the most popular one in 2016

By Alyssa thorne

December 2, 2016

By Alyssa thorne

December 2, 2016

Considering we’re all already, y’know…named, the fact that the most popular baby names list we get every year is something we’re utterly compelled to click on is a little inexplicable. Well, the most popular baby names of 2016 were just released, and things have definitely changed since the nineties when all girls were named Katie, Elizabeth, Samantha, or Sarah. (Not to knock Katies, Elizabeths, Samanthas, or Sarahs. They’re great names and we’re sure you kick ass.) Many of the names on this year’s list have a certain ~vintage~ feel, which we’re definitely crediting to the generation of nostalgia now being old enough to reproduce en masse.

The #1 most popular name for girls in 2016 is particularly old-fashioned sounding, and totally lovely: Sophia.

Definitely makes us think of Golden Girls at least a little bit, but it’s a pretty name for a little girl. The next few names (Emma, Olivia, and Ava) also have a certain classic feel to them, like they’re characters from Jane Austen novels or screen actresses before talkies.

We think it’s super interesting to think how older generations probably share more names in common with the most recent generation than those of us in the middle. Since it’s not uncommon for people to name their children after loved ones in their family, we’re not sure if the many vintage names are down to hipsters, or young people naming their daughters after their grandmothers.

According to Baby Center, here are the top 25 baby girl names this year: