AI is a Tool. Prompt Punch.
Last year, we asked AI to predict the top baby names of 2025. It delivered.
Predictable? Yes.
Technically correct? Also yes.
Soul-stirring? Not exactly.
So this year, we decided to try something different.
Instead of just asking AI for the “top baby names of 2026,” we asked two groups:
- AI on its own
- Creative humans (our team) — armed with taste, context, culture, and point of view
Because at Punch, we believe one thing:
AI is a tool. Prompt Punch.
AI can generate. But creatives curate.
AI suggests. But artists shape.
And as it turns out… the same is true for baby names.
First: What AI Thinks 2026 Babies Will Be Named
When prompted for “Top Baby Names of 2026,” AI gives us what you’d expect: trend-forward, vowel-heavy, softly modern names that feel optimized for Instagram birth announcements.
Here’s a sample of what AI tends to suggest:
AI’s 2026 Girl Picks
- Aria – melody, air
- Nova – new, bright star
- Luna – moon
- Isla – island
- Everly – meadow of boars (yes, really)
AI’s 2026 Boy Picks
- Kai – sea
- Atlas – bearer of the world
- Ezra – helper
- Milo – soldier or merciful
- Orion – hunter, constellation
They’re clean. Stylish. Optimized.
They feel like they were trained on the last five years of Pinterest boards.
There’s nothing wrong with them. They’re just… algorithmically safe.
Now: What Happens When You Prompt Punch
We asked our team — designers, writers, strategists, motion artists, and producers — to choose their favorite baby names.
No SEO.
No trend forecasting.
No optimization.
Just taste.
Here’s what they chose.
The 2026 Punch Team Baby Name List
Mary Beth
A classic double name meaning “beloved” (Mary) and “pledged to God” (Beth). Southern. Strong. Soft but grounded. A name with roots.
Agnes
Greek for “pure” or “holy.” Quietly powerful. The kind of name that writes poetry and runs a company.
Bernadette
“Brave as a bear.” Dramatic. French. Unapologetically maximalist.
Ines
A Spanish and Portuguese form of Agnes. Elegant. Understated. Timeless.
Blanche
“White” or “fair.” Vintage glamour. Main-character energy.
Sophia
“Wisdom.” A classic for a reason. It earns its popularity.
Dorothy
“Gift of God.” Feels literary. Kansas-tested. Yellow-brick-road approved.
Rose
Simple. Iconic. Endlessly versatile. A designer’s favorite neutral.
Antonio
Priceless. Operatic. Charismatic from birth.
Francisco
Free. Worldly. Carries history and poetry in equal measure.
Pancracio
“All-powerful.” Rare. Bold. Refuses to be auto-corrected.
Salam
“Peace.” Soft-spoken strength.
Tae Ho (태호)
Often interpreted as “great and heroic.” Strong. Balanced. Confident.
Tae Jun (태준)
“Great and talented.” Composed. Focused. A future architect of something important.
Selina
“Moon.” A little mysterious. A little feline.
Hazel
The hazel tree. Warm. Earthy. Vintage resurgence done right.
Riley
Courageous. Friendly. Adaptable.
Tyler
Maker of tiles. Builder. Practical creativity.
Sierra
Mountain range. Steady. Expansive.
Micah
“Who is like God?” Thoughtful and steady.
Rory
“Red king.” Short. Energetic. Memorable.
Robin
Bright fame. Soft and strong at the same time.
Theo
“Divine gift.” Compact wisdom.
Aiden
“Little fire.” Passion-forward.
Evan
“God is gracious.” Clean. Reliable.
Eden (이든)
“Delight.” A name that feels like light.
Haram (하람)
Often associated with “God’s grace” or “calling.” Gentle but powerful.
Max
Short. Direct. Impossible to overdesign.
Evelyn
“Wished-for child.” Romantic, but grounded.
Ellie
Bright light. Familiar. Endearing.
So What’s the Difference?
If AI suggests names based on pattern recognition,
humans choose names based on meaning, memory, and feeling.
AI looks backward at trend lines.
Creatives look sideways — across culture, history, nuance.
AI optimizes for popularity.
Artists optimize for resonance.
And that’s the difference.
AI Is a Tool. Prompt Punch.
When someone without training prompts AI, the result is often competent.
When a designer, writer, or filmmaker prompts AI, the result is crafted.
Because:
- They know what to ask.
- They know what to reject.
- They know when it’s “almost right.”
- They know how to push further.
AI alone gives you Nova.
A creative might give you Pancracio.
AI alone gives you Isla.
A creative gives you Blanche — and a mood board to go with it.
The Bigger Point
The real story isn’t about baby names.
It’s about what happens when powerful tools meet people with taste.
In the hands of someone untrained, AI replaces effort.
In the hands of a creative professional, AI amplifies craft.
That’s the heart of our 2026 campaign:
AI is a tool. Prompt Punch.
We don’t compete with AI.
We direct it.
We shape it.
We sharpen it.
We make it hit harder.
Because great work doesn’t come from prompts alone.
It comes from people who know how to punch them up.
