Emma, Liam soar to most popular baby names of 2025

Emma topped the list as the most popular name for girls born at Sanford Health in 2025. Liam jumped two spots from 2024 to take the top name for boys in 2025.

Lainey and Charlotte tied for the second most popular girls’ name while Oliver came in second for boys. In 2024, Lainey and Oliver were the most popular names. Coming in third place for boys was Theodore, up one spot from 2024.

Ella claimed the No. 4 spot for girls and Ellie finished off the top five. For boys, Leo came in No. 4 and there was a four-way tie for the No. 5 spot. William, Noah, Jack and James all tied for the fifth most popular name.

The top five 2025 baby names born at Sanford Health are as follows. Watch the full reveal on Facebook and Instagram.

Boys:

1. Liam
2. Oliver
3. Theodore
4. Leo
5. William, Noah, Jack and James

Girls:

1. Emma
2. Lainey and Charlotte
4. Ella
5. Ellie

Sanford Health has delivered nearly 9,000 babies so far in 2025, with July being the month with the highest number of births. The average weight for babies born in 2025 is 7 pounds 3 ounces.

Learn more

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• Help older siblings adjust to a new baby
• New name surges to most popular girl’s name of 2024

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Posted In Children's, News, Pregnancy

Jon Berg

Jon Berg is a lead media relations specialist for Sanford Health in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He grew up in Sioux Falls and graduated from South Dakota State University with a degree in broadcast journalism. Jon spent seven years working in television news in both Sioux Falls and Bismarck, before joining Sanford Health in 2014. Jon is married to his wife, Abbi, and has two boys, Connor and Eli. In his spare time he enjoys being outside and spending time with his family. You can reach him on the Sanford Health media line at (605) 366-2432 or jon.berg@sanfordhealth.org.