If you’ve been scrolling through social media the past few weeks, then you probably have witnessed the trend of people sharing all their 2016 highlights with throwback posts and memories. It was the time of Carhartt beanies, the iconic Snapchat dog filter, overfiltered-filters, and the origin of “millennial green.” Personally, I was jamming out to Taylor Swift’s Wildest Dreams and hashtagging everything. The year 2016 was undeniably a time of nostalgia, and it’s wild to think that a whole decade has passed. A lot of the trending 2016 to 2026 social posts I’ve witnessed have covered the fashion styles (hello, skinny jeans) and what was trending in pop culture at the time. But as a team of moms, we were also wondering what the most popular baby names were in 2016.
So, look no further. I researched the top 100 names for both boys and girls in 2016. Now I’m understanding why I’ve met a lot of 10-year-olds named Lucas and Harper. Whether you’re just curious to know what the *it* names were 10 years ago or want to give a nod to a favorite time in your life by naming a little one with one of these adorable names, keep scrolling for the most popular baby names in 2016—that are worth using in 2026, too.
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Popular Baby Names for Girls in 2016
Abigail
This adorable name means “my father’s joy” and is perfect if you’re having your firstborn girl this year. Call her Abby for short.
Ariana
The name Ariana was popular in 2016, and 2026 could be the opportunity to show some love for this beautiful name. The name Ariana means “most holy” or “very pure.”
Ava
The Avas of 2016 are equivalent to the millennial Ashleys (I see you counting how many Avas you know). But there’s a reason why this name is a sweet pick for a baby girl. In Hebrew, Ava means “life,” and in Persian, it means “melody.”
Camila
If you’re looking for a baby girl name that exudes independence, then Camila is a top contender from 2016. This lovely name means “freeborn noble” and symbolizes grace and strength. Plus, who doesn’t love the nicknames Cami, Millie, and Mila?
Clara
Were you a Swiftie in 2016 and need a Taylor Swift-inspired name for your little love? Add the name Clara from Taylor Swift’s popular song “Clara Bow” from one of her most recent albums. It’s totally an “it” girl name. After all, it literally means “famous” and “bright.”
Eleanor
Eleanor is a beloved name, and it’s been part of the top 50 girl names since 2016. This cute name means “bright, shining light” and “sun ray.” How cute is that?
Gabriella
This timeless and elegant name is worth bringing back for 2026. For the moms who grew up as die-hard fans of Disney’s High School Musical, show a bit of nostalgia in your baby girl’s name with the name Gabriella.
Harper
Harper is a sweet name for a baby girl and means “harp player.” It’s also a notable one to add if you’re searching for a name from a literary classic, like “Harper Lee” from To Kill a Mockingbird.
Hazel
After the book-to-movie adaptation of The Fault in Our Stars premiered in 2016, moms were adding the name of the protagonist, Hazel, to their list of baby names. And it’s still a lovely name for a baby girl today. The name Hazel is an earthy name that also means “hazel tree” or is used to describe a greenish-brown color.
Kinsley
Kinsley is said to be a royal name. It means “the king’s meadow” or “royal.” It’s definitely fitting if you already know that your baby girl will be ruling the house.
Lucy
The name Lucy is even more popular today than it was in 2016! While this adorable name was in the top 60 names in 2016, in 2024, Lucy was in the top 35 names for baby girls. Lucy is of Latin origin and means “light.”
Maya
Maya is a magical name for a little one in your life. In Sanskrit, Maya means “illusion” or “magic.” This name has been in the top 100 girl names since the early 2000s.
Nevaeh
This cool and angelic name is “heaven” spelled backwards. It’s a beautiful and dreamy name to add to your list if you’re expecting a baby girl sometime soon.
Olivia
It’s no surprise that the name Olivia is one of the top names from the last decade. Since 2016, it’s been ranked as one of the top two baby girl names. With Latin roots, Olivia means “olive tree.”
Quinn
Quinn has made the list of 100 girl names consistently over the last decade, and there are a few reasons why. Not only is it cute, but it also means “wisdom,” “intelligent,” and “counsel.”
Ruby
This precious name is of Latin origin, meaning “precious stone” and “red.” It’s also classified as a vintage name that’s truly a classic. And if you’re having a baby girl in July, then name her after the ruby birthstone.
Victoria
Give your little one a name from Roman mythology. Victoria is the goddess of victory, and it means “victory” and “conquer.” Nicknames also include Vic, Vicky, Tori, and Kiki.
Willow
This popular girls’ name is associated with empathy and compassion. It means “graceful” and “willow tree.” Since 2016, the name Willow has climbed its way to the top 100 list from number 96 to number 41.
Zoey
The Greek translation of the name Zoey means “life.” While its popularity has dwindled over the past 10 years, there’s no doubt that this name is cute enough to make a comeback.
More baby girl names we love from 2016
- Aaliyah
- Addison
- Adeline
- Alexa
- Alice
- Allison
- Amelia
- Anna
- Aria
- Arianna
- Aubree
- Aubrey
- Audrey
- Aurora
- Autumn
- Avery
- Bella
- Brianna
- Brooklyn
- Caroline
- Charlotte
- Chloe
- Claire
- Cora
- Elena
- Eliana
- Elizabeth
- Ella
- Ellie
- Emily
- Emma
- Eva
- Evelyn
- Faith
- Genesis
- Gianna
- Grace
- Hailey
- Hannah
- Isabella
- Julia
- Katherine
- Kaylee
- Kennedy
- Kylie
- Layla
- Leah
- Lillian
- Lily
- Luna
- Lydia
- Mackenzie
- Madeline
- Madelyn
- Madison
- Melanie
- Mia
- Mila
- Naomi
- Natalie
- Nora
- Paisley
- Penelope
- Peyton
- Piper
- Reagan
- Riley
- Sadie
- Samantha
- Sarah
- Savannah
- Scarlett
- Serenity
- Skylar
- Sofia
- Sophia
- Stella
- Taylor
- Violet
- Vivian
- Zoe
Popular Baby Names for Boys in 2016
Asher
Welcoming a little one can bring lots of happiness and joy. The name Asher means “happiness” and is adorably cute if you can’t wait to meet your little guy.
Austin
Was Congratulations by Post Malone the top song in your Spotify Wrap of 2016? Give a nod to one of our favorite artists during that time with Post Malone’s legal name, Austin. Austin means “great,” “majestic,” and “magnificent.”
Charles
This adorable boy’s name stands the test of time. It’s consistently been in the top 100 boy names since the 1940s, so it’s no surprise it was still popular a decade ago. The name Charles means “free man.”
Colton
This sweet-sounding name is cute if you’re expecting a baby boy this year. The name Colton means “coal” or “settlement.”
Easton
If you know a lot of 10-year-olds named Easton, it’s because it was a beloved name of 2016, and it means “east town.”
Ezra
We love an adorable name with a wonderful meaning. The name Ezra means “helper” in Hebrew and also means “God is my helper.”
Grayson
Grayson means “son of the steward.” This particular spelling of Grayson ranked as number 37 in the top 100 boy names of 2016. It’s equal parts cute and masculine.
Henry
Henry has been a long-standing popular boy name since the early 2000s. But if we’re going with the pop culture of 2016, heartthrob Henry Cavill starred in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice that year. I mean, who wouldn’t want to name a baby boy after the one and only Superman? Henry means “ruler of the home.”
Isaac
It’s undeniable that a baby’s laugh is one of the cutest things in the world, and if you love the name Isaac, then you’ll love knowing that it means “laughter” or “one who laughs or rejoices.”
Jackson
The last-name-first-name trend was huge 10 years ago: Carter, Mason, and of course, Jackson. This cute boy name means “son of Jack.”
Jose
The name Jose has made the top 100 names since the 1960s. Jose is of Spanish and Portuguese origin and means “God will give” and “God will increase.”
Leo
Whether you’re naming your little boy after his astrological sign or because it means “lion,”—symbolizing courage, leadership, and strength—you can’t go wrong with a name like Leo. For moms who were naming a little one in 2016, Leonardo DiCaprio won his first Oscar for his role in The Revenant.
Liam
The name Liam is adorably cute, and moms are certainly aware of it. Since 2016, it’s been the number one boy name. It means “unwavering protector” and “strong-willed warrior.” What a wonderful name for a baby boy!
Lucas
In 2016, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story came out and provided the perfect opportunity for parents to name their baby boys Lucas. It was the perfect in-between name since names like Noah and Liam were super popular at the time. Lucas means “light” or “bringer of light.”
Mateo
This classic, friendly-sounding name has the cutest nicknames, like “Teo” and “Matty.” Perhaps also why Mateo cracked the top 10 of the most popular boys’ names a few years back. The name Mateo is of Spanish origin and means “gift of God.”
Noah
The top name in 2016 was Noah. The name at the time was popular among millennial moms who were most likely influenced by the Noahs of pop culture in the 2000s and 2010s—Noah Puckerman from Glee, Noah Shaw from Pretty Little Liars, and we can’t forget the literary character, Noah Calhoun, from The Notebook.
Oliver
Oliver is one of the most adorable names that’s perfect for a little boy. Plus, it will grow well into his adult years, too. It’s gotten even more popular since 2016 because who doesn’t want to call their little one “Oli”?
More baby boy names we love from 2016
- Parker
- Aaron
- Adam
- Adrian
- Aiden
- Alexander
- Andrew
- Angel
- Anthony
- Ayden
- Benjamin
- Bentley
- Brandon
- Brayden
- Bryson
- Caleb
- Cameron
- Carson
- Carter
- Chase
- Christian
- Christopher
- Connor
- Cooper
- Daniel
- David
- Dominic
- Dylan
- Eli
- Elias
- Elijah
- Ethan
- Evan
- Gabriel
- Gavin
- Greyson
- Hudson
- Hunter
- Ian
- Isaiah
- Jace
- Jack
- Jacob
- James
- Jason
- Jaxon
- Jaxson
- Jayden
- Jeremiah
- John
- Jonathan
- Jordan
- Joseph
- Joshua
- Josiah
- Julian
- Kevin
- Landon
- Leonardo
- Levi
- Lincoln
- Logan
- Luke
- Mason
- Matthew
- Michael
- Nathan
- Nicholas
- Nolan
- Owen
- Robert
- Roman
- Ryan
- Samuel
- Sawyer
- Sebastian
- Theodore
- Thomas
- Tyler
- William
- Wyatt
- Xavier
- Zachary
Patty Schepel, Editorial Assistant
As the editorial assistant, Patty works with The Everymom’s team on pitches, creating original articles, updating existing content, photo sourcing, writing shopping product descriptions, inputting freelance articles, and more. With Patty’s passion for writing, experience as a mother of two, and expertise as a pediatric nurse, she brings a thoughtful and informative perspective to The Everymom.
