Children born in 2025 bear the names of their ancestors. What do these names mean?

As genealogists, we usually look back. We search for names in 19th-century records and marvel at the Teklas, Valentines, and Pelagias of yesteryear. But a family tree is a living organism – it continues to grow. Children born in 2025 are the youngest buds on our family branches. Let’s look at the lists of the most popular names of the past year. What do they tell us? One thing is certain: history has come full circle. The names of our ancestors are back on top.

Girls: the grand return of a classic

In 2025, the “big three” that we have known in recent years still dominated, but names that would have been considered too old-fashioned a decade ago are becoming increasingly popular.

Zofia (long-time leader)

• Origin: From the Greek language (sophia).
• Meaning: “Wisdom.”
• From a genealogist’s perspective: This name was very popular at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Zuzanna

• Origin: From Hebrew (Shoshana).
• Meaning: “Lily.”
• Interesting fact: A biblical name that has been popular in Poland since the Middle Ages, although it had its “lean years” in communist Poland.

Laura

• Origin: From Latin (laurus).
• Meaning: “Laurel” (symbol of victory).
• Trend: This name combines tradition with modernity – it sounds good in every language, which is important for contemporary parents.

Hanna

• Origin: From Hebrew (channah).
• Meaning: “Grace” or “charm.”
• Retro trend: Hania is a classic name that was replaced by the popular Annas of the 1980s.

Rising stars of 2025: We are seeing more and more little Wanda, Helena, and Rozalia in strollers. These are names straight out of 19th-century novels!

Boys: biblical strongmen and knights

Among boys in 2025, parents opted for “tough” names that sounded dignified and had strong historical roots.

Nikodem

• Origin: From Greek (Nike – victory + demos – people).
• Meaning: “He who wins for the people.”
• Phenomenon: Just 20 years ago, this name was rare. Today, it is absolutely dominant.

Antoni

• Origin: From Latin (the Antonius family).
• Meaning: Often translated as “priceless” or “wonderful.”
• From a genealogist’s perspective: Antoni is an iconic name in pre-war Polish villages and towns.

Jan

• Origin: From Hebrew (Jochanan).
• Meaning: “God is gracious.”
• Stability: This name is a rock. It was popular in 1500, in 1800, in 1950, and is in 2025.

Ignacy

• Origin: From Latin (ignis).
• Meaning: “Fire.”
• The big comeback: Ignacy is a symbol of 19th-century Warsaw intellectualism (think of Rzecki from “The Doll”). Today, it sounds proud again.

The two-generation rule

Why are names such as Andrzej, Krzysztof, Małgorzata, and Agnieszka not among the most popular names in 2025?

In onomastics (the study of names), the “two-generation rule” is cited.

• We consider our parents’ names to be “ordinary” and “outdated.”
• We consider our grandparents’ and great-grandparents’ names to be “noble,” “classic,” and “beautiful.”

That is why today’s parents (born in the 1990s) are avoiding the names of their parents (born in the 1960s/1970s) and turning to the generation born before the war. In 20-30 years, we can expect a return to the fashion for… Darek, Piotr, Beata, and Monika!

What will you write in the tree? The names of your ancestors?

When, in 100 years, our great-great-grandchildren browse through the digital archives of 2025, they will see the generation of Zofia and Nikodem. They will see that in the age of artificial intelligence and space flights, we were still searching for our identity in the names of our ancestors. And what name appears most often in your family?