Baby Names Are Entering Their Maximalist Era

As a Babylist editor who covers baby names, I spend a lot of my time reading through Babylist Babes—the names Babylist parents share with us.

I’m always looking for patterns, and lately, I've been seeing a lot of long, multisyllabic names in the ones submitted by Babylist parents. Think Evangeline, Alexander and Esmeralda. Say them out loud—they have a rhythm that makes you want to use the whole name.

If you’ve followed our baby name coverage, you might remember us highlighting short, nickname-style names like Kit and Millie. Those certainly still have their fans. But in our 2027 predictions, we also called out “romantic maximalism”: flowing names with a little more room to play. I don’t see longer names totally replacing the short ones. Frankie has personality on its own; Francesca gives you Frankie and a longer option, too.

Part of the appeal is having options. Josephine could be Josie, Jo or Joey, and Sullivan could be Sully. Or you might love saying every syllable. I chose three-syllable names for both my kids and don’t use nicknames, so I’m firmly in that camp. You don’t have to decide ahead of time, either—some of the best nicknames come about organically.

There are practical considerations, too. Depending on the name, spelling it or saying it may take a little practice for your child or their siblings. A nickname can make those early introductions easier, but it’s worth choosing a full name you enjoy using, too. Try saying it with the middle and last names, writing it out and imagining yourself calling it across the playground.

Among these longer picks, a few themes caught my eye: romantic names with flowing sounds, vintage finds, familiar classics and last names that are too good to come last. Whether you’re building your shortlist or just love seeing what other people name their babies (🙋🏻‍♀️), here are the names I’ve taken note of over the last year and a half.

Flowing Names With a Little Romance

Annalise, Seraphina and Valentina share soft sounds and flowing syllables that give them a romantic feel. There’s room for a playful nickname, too—a little Cosette called Coco or Cosy!

• Vivianne

• Cosette

• Esmeralda

• Francesca

• Gabriella

• Caterina

• Evangeline

• Penelope

• Angelina

• Cristiana

• Delilah

• Annalise

• Seraphina

• Aurelia

• Valentina

Old-Fashioned Names We’d Love to Hear More Often

Bernadette, Lorraine and Gwendolyn bring an old-fashioned warmth to the Babes list. Marceline adds a little Old Hollywood glam, while Fredrick gives you Freddie. A baby Freddie? Very cute.

• Josette

• Nicolette

• Josephine

• Wynona

• Genevieve

• Florence

• Bernadette

• Matilda

• Fredrick

• Lorraine

• Clementine

• Marceline

• Gwendolyn

Familiar Names Worth Saying in Full

Long names show up among the familiar classics, too. Charlotte, Alexander and Margaret offer a full name you’ll recognize, with Charlie, Alex or Maggie as everyday options.

• Charlotte

• Alexander

• Matthew

• Caroline

• Margaret

Names That Make an Entrance

Maximiliano, Thaddeus and Aletheia stand out for their distinctive sounds. These picks show how much variety there is within long names, from the crisp ending of Thaddeus to the flowing syllables of Emiliano.

• Aletheia

• Santiago

• Giovanni

• Francisco

• Cassandra

• Cassian

• Bernardo

• Leonardo

• Yaretzi

• Maximiliano

• Emiliano

• Thaddeus

Too Good to Save for Last

Whitaker, Callahan and Campbell bring a tailored surname style to the first-name spot. Whit and Cal offer shorter options, while the full names have plenty of presence.

• Sullivan

• Lafayette

• Bentancourt

• Channing

• Callahan

• Fletcher

• Greyson

• Carrigan

• Whitaker

• Jamison

• Sheridan

• Campbell

Names From the Garden and the Map

Magnolia, Marigold and Rosemary bring the garden into the Babes list, alongside place names like Savannah, Washington and Willamette. The inspiration ranges from a single flower to a whole destination.

• Magnolia

• Willamette

• Stanford

• Washington

• Savannah

• Marigold

• Rosemary

• Juniper