Ahh, back to school. Time for a fresh start, pristine school supplies, and new friends. And with new friends come new names to learn.

If you’ve got a child in elementary school or happen to work in a school yourself, you’re probably seeing a few very common names. We looked at the top baby names in 2017 through 2019 to determine the most popular elementary school names in 2025.

For boys, Liam, William, Noah, James, Benjamin, Mason, Elijah, and Oliver came in as the top choices all three years.

Top girls’ names all three years included Emma, Olivia, Ava, Isabella, Sophia, Mia, Charlotte, Amelia, and Evelyn.

A few names got top billing one or two years but not all three. You’re apt to encounter a Lucas, Harper, or Logan, all of which appeared on two years’ top name lists. And while not quite as popular, you may meet a Jacob, Abigail, or Alexander, which were all on one list.

Let’s dig into each of these names and what they mean.

Top Elementary School Boys’ Names in 2025

Alexander

Alexander is a name of Greek origins meaning “Defender of the people.” Famous Alexanders include United States founding father Alexander Hamilton and ancient conquerer Alexander the Great.

Benjamin

Benjamin is a Hebrew name that means “Son of my right hand.” Another founding father name, Benjamin brings to mind Benjamin Franklin, but also actors like Ben Affleck and Ben Stiller.

Elijah

Elijah is a name of Hebrew origins that means “My God is Yahweh.” The prophet Elijah was a Biblical figure.

Jacob

Jacob is a Hebrew name that means “Supplanter.” The Biblical figure Jacob was the father of the 12 tribes of Israel. This name was also used for the character Jacob Black of Twilight fame.

James

James is also a Hebrew name meaning “Supplanter.” James Bond is a well-known fictional spy.

Liam

Liam is a name of Irish origins that means “Desired helmet/protector.” Famous Liams include actors Liam Neeson and Liam Hemsworth and musicians Liam Payne and Liam Gallagher (Oasis).

Logan

Logan is a Scottish name meaning “Little hollow.” X-Men superhero Wolverine’s given name is Logan.

Lucas

Lucas is a name of Latin origins meaning “From Lucania, Italy.” Well-known characters with the name Lucas include Lucas Sinclair from Stranger Things and Lucas Scott from One Tree Hill. 

Mason

Mason is an English name meaning “Stone worker, brick layer.” Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick used this name for their son.

Noah

Noah is a Hebrew name meaning “Rest, peace.” Another Biblical name, this was bestowed upon the figure who built the ark. There are also plenty of actors with this name: Noah Centineo (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before), Noah Schnapp (Stranger Things), Noah Wyle (ER andThe Pitt).

Oliver

Oliver is an English name meaning “Olive tree.” Famous Olivers include Oliver Twist from the titular novel by Charles Dickens.

William

William is a name of English origins that means “Will, desire,” and “helmet, protection.” Well-known Williams include playwright William Shakespeare; William, Prince of Wales; actor and musician Will Smith; and William Wallace, the Scottish knight portrayed in Braveheart.

This article is from BabyNames.com

Top Elementary School Girls’ Names in 2025

Abigail

Abigail is a Hebrew name meaning “Joy of the father.” Abigail Adams was a First Lady and an advocate for women’s rights.

Amelia

Amelia is a name of Latin origins meaning “Brave, fearless.” Amelia Earhart was a famous female aviation pioneer. Also, The Princess Diaries heroine Mia was actually named Amelia Mignonette Thermopolis.

Ava

Ava is an English name that means “To breathe, to live.” Ava Gardner was an Old Hollywood actress.

Charlotte

Charlotte is a French name meaning “Free.” The daughter of Prince William and Princess Kate is Princess Charlotte of Wales. Other famous Charlottes include novelist Charlotte Brontë and Charlotte York from Sex and the City.

Emma

Emma is a German name that means “Universal.” Famous Emmas include Emma Watson, Emma Stone, and Emma Roberts.

Evelyn

Evelyn is an English name meaning “Desired, beautiful.” Commonly used as a feminine name today, it originated as a male name and is considered gender-neutral by some.

Harper

Harper is an English name meaning “Harp player.” To Kill a Mockingbird author Harper Lee used this name, and David and Victoria Beckham gave this name to their daughter.

Isabella

Isabella is an Italian name that means “God is my oath.” Isabella Swan is one of the main characters of the Twilight franchise, but this name is also known for actress and model Isabella Rossellini and historical queen Isabella I of Castile.

Mia

Mia is a name of English origins meaning “Of the sea,” or “Bitter.” It’s best known for the aforementioned character Mia Thermopolis, actress Mia Farrow, and soccer legend Mia Hamm.

Olivia

Olivia is an English name meaning “Olive.” Famous Olivias include singer Olivia Rodrigo, actresses Olivia Wilde and Olivia Colman, and Law & Order: SVU lead character Olivia Benson.

Sophia

Sophia is a Greek name meaning “Wisdom.” Sophia Loren was an Italian actress and one of the last living stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Other Sophias include One Tree Hill actress Sophia Bush, Game of Thrones actress Sophie Turner, and Golden Girls character Sophia Petrillo.

2025 Elementary School Name Trends

There are a few standout trends from this name list. First, Biblical names dominate. Clearly, parents still love traditional, longstanding names that may be grounded in faith. Two of the most popular names tie back to the olive, which connotes peace, friendship, and goodwill. There was also (still!) a Twilight connection, with both Isabella and Jacob appearing. And while these names are segmented out by gender, many could actually cross over to gender-neutral, such as Harper, James, and even Evelyn.

How many of these names are in your class?

This article is from BabyNames.com