Top Baby Names 2018: These Names Are Most Popular In NC

NORTH CAROLINA — The top baby names in the U.S. for boys and girls born in 2018 are once again Liam and Emma, the same names that topped the Social Security Administration’s annual list last year.

The name Emma is enjoying its fifth year as Americans’ favorite name for girls this year, while Liam has been a preferred name for boys for the second year in a row. When Liam made it to the top of the list in 2017, it overtook Noah, which had been the No.1 name for boys since 2013.

In North Carolina, Noah and Ava were the top baby names for 2018.

North Carolina’s top five baby names for boys in 2018 are:

• Noah
• William
• Liam
• James
• Elijah

North Carolina’s top five baby names for girls in 2018 are:

• Ava
• Emma
• Olivia
• Charlotte
• Harper

There were some changes to the popular list released every year by the Social Security Administration.

According to the agency, Jacob and Abigail — two names that have been longtimers on the list — dropped out of the top 10 for the first time since 1992 and 2000, respectively.

Nationally, the top 10 baby names for boys in 2018 were:

1. Liam
2. Noah
3. William
4. James
5. Oliver
6. Benjamin
7. Elijah
8. Lucas
9. Mason
10. Logan

For girls, the top 10 baby names for 2018 were:

1. Emma
2. Olivia
3. Ava
4. Isabella
5. Sophia
6. Charlotte
7. Mia
8. Amelia
9. Harper
10. Evelyn

The Social Security Administration began compiling the list in 1997, with names dating back to 1880. The agency also notes that popular culture influences baby names.

In 2018, parents appeared to have been influenced by Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex. Meghan was the fastest rising girls' name in 2018.

The agency is already anticipating what effect the name Archie will have in 2019, the name given to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's newborn son. Archie already had a gain in popularity in 2018, making it to the top 1,000 for the first time since 1988.

You can read more about the top baby names here.