31 Best Baby Names of 2015

I named my last baby a few years back and since there’s no such thing as an “oops!” adoption, my baby naming days are over. Which is too bad, as there are some really amazing new and refreshed names out there. The best baby names of 2015 were inspired by pop culture, from the year’s biggest movies (hello, Star Wars) to the most highly anticipated celebrity births. (But sorry, Saint West, you did not make this list.) The hot trends of the year played a part too, including unisex baby names, casual baby names, and alternatives for super popular baby names.

So here it is: My pick of the best baby names of 2015. Are there any that you think should have made this list that didn’t?

More Baby Name Ideas:

The Best Baby Names of 2015

Girls: Adele

The Brit with the killer pipes has lovely classic name with an equally lovely meaning (noble). The name hit the big time when Adele did, and I’d expect it to make a big showing with the spectacular success of her new album.
Girls: Pauline

Vin Diesel picked this feminization of Paul for his daughter, in honor of his late friend (and fellow Fast and Furious star) Paul Walker. But it’s a lovely pick for paying homage to a Paul in your family tree—and a long underused name for girls.
Girls: Charlotte

Charlotte’s been on everyone’s radar since it was used for fan favorite Charlotte Yorke in "Sex & the City"—and it’s currently #10 on the top names list. But now that it has that royal seal of approval, expect it to rise even higher this year.
Girls: Edie

This more casual nickname from the old-fashioned classic Edith was chosen by actress Keira Knightley for her daughter—and has a few intriguing namesakes, including fashion icon Edie Sedgwick and actress Edie Falco.
Girls: Edith

Don’t love casual names? Consider going for the full-on Edith, as Cate Blanchett did for her daughter this year. It’s a name with plenty of history behind it, including two First Ladies, fashion designer Edith Head, and author Edith Wharton. It’s been on a big resurgence thanks to Downton Abbey in the past few years.
Girls: Poppy

Celebs have favored this bright bloom for their daughters for the past few years, but now that a former First Family member (Jenna Bush Hager) picked it for her daughter, it could be a fresh pick for those who love floral baby names.
Girls: Aranza

This was the top mover and shaker in 2015, rising more than 3000 places from #4232 in 2013, to #607 the following year. You can thank famous Mexican singer Aranza Becerra Meza and a telanovela character for making it trendy.
Girls: Monserrat

You can also thank telenovelas (specifically, Lo que la vida me robo) for the sudden popularity of this place name, which is both a mountain range in Spain and a Caribbean island.
Girls: Rey

You may not know any Reys yet, but you can bet that there will be a whole slew of them after the new Star Wars movie hits theaters: It’s the name of the mysterious heroine of the new installment. The name means king in Spanish—could that be a clue to her royal parentage (we’re looking at you, Princess Leia and Han Solo!)?
Girls: James

This timeless boys’ classic is now red hot for girls, as it seems like nearly every celebrity has picked it for either the middle name or the first name (as Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds did).
Girls: Chanel

I’m not a huge fan of brand names for girls, but Chanel is suddenly in vogue as a name, thanks to the bevy of Chanels in Fox’s "Scream Queens" and the brand new daughter of rapper-actor Ice-T and his wife, Coco.
Girls: Freya

The Norse goddess of beauty and love sports this pretty name, which is finally back in vogue here in the U.S. (at number 584 and on the rise).
Girls: Cordelia

By rights, this classic name deserves greater acclaim than its current just-inside-the-top-1000 ranking, with its lovely meaning (heart), and its ties to the Shakespearean heroine of King Lear and the mean-girl-turned-good from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel."
Girls: Jolene

This country classic (featured in a song by Dolly Parton) is currently experiencing a resurgence, on an uptick since 2010.
Girls: Everly

Everly has had a meteoric rise since it first appeared in the top 1000 back in 2012—it’s now at #178 on the baby name list. And since Channing Tatum picked it for his daughter, I’d expect it to continue its hot streak toward the top of the popularity charts.
Boys: Bode

No matter how you spell it, it’s on the rise in a major way, so expect it to be all over kindergarten classes in a few years. (Alternative spellings: Bodie and Bodhi)
Boys: Gannon

This Irish classic may be the new Aidan, as it recently jumped more than 400 spots into the top 500.
Boys: Finn

Finn’s been popular for boys ever since it was used for football player and glee club hero Finn on Glee (it’s currently in the top 250). Expect Star Wars to give it another big boost toward the top of the charts.
Boys: Poe

This is yet another potential Star Wars pick, which also pays homage to the classic horror author.
Boys: Remington

This surname name means “on the riverbank,” and has ties to a gun manufacturer and a popular 1980s TV show Remington Steele. It’s unclear which one has helped contribute to its current run in popularity—it’s nearly into the top 300 and still on the rise.
Boys: Glenn

"Walking Dead" fans finally have the answer as to whether this long-running (and long-beloved) character lived or died after a run-in with a zombie horde. I’m thinking all the attention on Glenn could do wonders for this classic (but a little fusty) baby name.
Boys: Hendrix

This rock-and-roll inspired name is up more that 200 places in the last year alone, making it a cool choice for more daring parents.
Boys: Augustus

Readers of The Fault in Our Stars clearly loved Augustus Waters—I’d pin its current resurgence on the star-crossed lover. But this name has a long and storied history, including its ties to one of the most famous emperors of ancient Rome.
Boys: Stetson

Clearly, some folks are looking for a name with lots of cowboy swagger that isn’t Wyatt. And they found it with this moniker, tied to the iconic cowboy hat of choice.
Boys: Arlo

It was used this year for a celebrity daughter, but Arlo’s part of the new “o” name craze for boys—a nice alternative to Milo and Leo.
Boys: Clyde

Proof positive that (nearly) any name can make a comeback—fusty classics like Clyde and Harvey are currently making a run toward the top.
Boys: Dashiell

With its cool nickname Dash and its association with classic detective novel author Dashiell Hammett, it's no wonder stylish stars like Cate Blanchett and Milla Jovovich picked it for their sons.
Boys: Alfred

This timeless English name has been on the rise as of late. It has ties to British royalty, legendary director Alfred Hitchcock, and of course, Batman’s trusty butler.
Unisex: Lennon

The surname of the “thinking man’s Beatle” has become popular for both boys and girls.
Unisex: Saylor

Three celebs recently picked these two variants on the occupational name for their sons and daughters—and this could be a cool and less popular choice if you like job names like Mason and Cooper. (Alternative spelling: Sailor)
Unisex: Snow

We may know nothing about whether (or how!) "Game of Thrones’" Jon Snow will come back from the vicious (and seemingly deadly) attack by his Night’s Watch crew. But what we do know is that Snow is becoming a popular pick (especially for the middle spot) for boys and girls.