Choosing the perfect baby name can take plenty of time — and for many parents, the search starts long before their child arrives.
Each year, the Social Security Administration tracks the most popular baby names by state using data from Social Security card applications.
The agency’s baby name records date back to 1960.
The federal agency just released its list of the most popular baby names for boys and girls in the United States for 2025, including rankings for California.
While many of California’s top baby names mirror nationwide trends, a few names stand out as especially popular in the Golden State.
Here were the most popular baby names for boys and girls in California for 2025:
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McClatchy’s service journalism team, focused on helping our readers navigate daily life, works in communities across the state, including San Luis Obispo, Fresno, Merced, Modesto and Sacramento.
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Choosing the perfect baby name can take plenty of time. Dann Tardif Getty Images What are most popular baby names for boys in California?
According to the Social Security Administration, these were the top 10 baby names for boys in California in 2025:
LiamNoahMateoSantiagoSebastianJulianOliverEliasBenjaminElijahWhat are California’s most popular baby names for girls?
The Social Security Administration said these were the 10 most popular baby names for girls in 2025:
OliviaMiaSophiaCamilaEmmaIsabellaAmeliaSofiaElianaValentinaWhat were the top 10 baby names of 2025 in the US?
According to the Social Security Administration, these were the top 10 baby names for boys in the country for 2025:
LiamNoahOliverTheodoreHenryJamesElijahMateoWilliamLucas
These were the top 10 most popular baby girl names in the country for 2025:
OliviaCharlotteEmmaAmeliaSophiaMiaIsabellaEvelynSofiaEliana 
A mother gives the bottle to her baby on October 8, 2012. FRED DUFOUR AFP via Getty Images How have baby name trends changed over the years in California?
According to the Social Security Administration, California’s most popular baby names have remained fairly consistent over the past five years.
For boys, Liam and Noah have continued to battle for the top spot since 2020.
Noah ranked No. 1 in 2020, 2021 and 2023, while Liam took the top position in 2022, 2024 and 2025.
Mateo has consistently held onto the No. 3 spot for boys since 2020, while Sebastian has remained a regular in the top five.
Other boys names rotating through the top five rankings in recent years include Julian, Oliver and Santiago.
For girls, Olivia reclaimed the No. 1 spot in 2025 after briefly slipping to No. 2 behind Mia in 2024.
Olivia had previously been California’s top name for baby girls every year since 2019.
Sophia, Camila and Emma have also remained among California’s most popular girls names, frequently swapping places within the top five rankings over the years.
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Angela Rodriguez is a service journalism reporter for The Bee. She is a graduate of Sacramento State with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. During her time there, she worked on the State Hornet covering arts and entertainment.