9BabyNames Baby names with meanings & US popularity data

Privacy Policy

Last updated: October 16, 2026

1. Introduction

9BabyNames ("we", "us", "our") operates the website 9babynames.com, a free directory of baby names, and also publishes the Baby Names Expert iOS app. This Privacy Policy covers the website and the mobile app in one document, with clearly marked sections so you can find the part that applies to you.

By using 9BabyNames' website or mobile app, you agree to the practices described below.

Part A — Website (9babynames.com)

This section applies to everything you do in a web browser on 9babynames.com.

2. Information We Collect (Website)

We try to keep the amount of data we collect to a minimum. The information we may process when you visit 9babynames.com includes:

  • Usage data — pages you visit, names you click, time spent on the site, and the referring URL. Collected in aggregate to help us understand which names and categories are popular with parents and expecting parents.
  • Device and technical data — browser type, operating system, screen size, approximate location from your IP (typically country level), and language preference.
  • Search queries — the keywords you type into our search box, stored in aggregate to surface trending searches and improve results.
  • Private shortlist — names, Love/Maybe/Pass choices, full-name test fields, notes, and recent pages start in your browser's local storage. No account is required.
  • Shared shortlist — if you create a partner link or request cross-device restore, the shortlist is copied to our server under random public and owner tokens. A partner can see candidate names, your general preferences, and a surname only if you explicitly enable surname sharing. Private notes, due date, middle name, email address, and the owner token are never shown on the partner page.
  • Partner reactions — a partner may submit Love, Maybe or Pass, an optional display label, and an optional short reason. We store a hashed browser token and a rotating hashed IP value to prevent duplicate voting and abuse.
  • Optional email — if you ask for a one-time restore link, we store the address you enter. Reaction email notifications are separate and only enabled when you check that option.
  • Cookies and local storage — small files stored by your browser remember preferences, preserve your shortlist, distinguish partner reactions, and support advertising described in section 4.

We do not ask you to create an account for general browsing. We do not collect a phone number or payment information. An email address is collected only when you explicitly use the optional shortlist restore or reaction-notification feature.

3. How We Use Website Information

  • Deliver name pages, meanings, origins, naming tips, and browsing tools reliably.
  • Understand which origins, meanings, and categories are popular.
  • Power the search, generator, and naming-center features.
  • Save a shared shortlist, deliver partner reactions, send an optional restore link, and show mutual matches.
  • Display relevant advertising from approved partners.
  • Prevent abuse, spam, and automated scraping.
  • Comply with our legal obligations.

We never sell personal information, and we do not use collected data to build individual user profiles.

4. Third-Party Services on the Website

  • Google AdSense — displays advertising on 9babynames.com. Google and its partners may use cookies and similar technologies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this and other sites. You can opt out of personalized advertising at google.com/settings/ads or aboutads.info.
  • Google Analytics — helps us understand aggregated traffic patterns. IP addresses are anonymized where supported.
  • Google Fonts — we load typefaces from Google's font CDN. Requests to the CDN include standard browser information.

5. Cookies (Website)

Cookies and local storage are used on 9babynames.com to remember preferences, keep your shortlist saved locally, distinguish reactions on a partner page, and serve advertising. Most browsers allow you to block or delete this data through their settings. If you disable it, parts of the site such as My Shortlist, partner reactions, and personalized ads may not work as expected.

Part B — Mobile App

This section applies to our iOS app, available on the Apple App Store.

6. Baby Names Expert App

Baby Names Expert is an offline name-browsing app. It does not require an account, does not transmit personal data to our servers, and stores your saved names and personal notes locally on your device. Standard App Store diagnostics and crash reports are handled by Apple under Apple's privacy policy. For the full app-specific policy, see the Baby Names Expert privacy policy.

Part C — Both Website and Mobile App

7. Children's Privacy (COPPA)

9BabyNames is a parent-facing product. Our content — name meanings, origins, naming tips, and cultural background — is written for expecting parents, new parents, and other adults researching baby names.

9babynames.com is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect, use, or disclose personal information from children under 13 in compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and similar regulations worldwide. We do not require account registration, we do not ask visitors for their age, and we do not build user profiles.

If we learn that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child under 13, we will delete that information promptly. Parents or guardians who believe their child has provided personal information to 9BabyNames should contact us at [email protected] and we will remove it within a reasonable period.

Our Baby Names Expert iOS app is rated 4+ on the App Store and collects no personal data of any kind, making it safe for users of all ages.

8. Data Retention

Aggregated website analytics data is retained for up to 26 months. Search query logs are rotated periodically. Server logs are typically kept for no more than 90 days. Mobile app data stored on your device remains until you uninstall the app or clear its data. A website shortlist stored in your browser remains until you clear browser storage. A shared server copy remains while the service operates unless you use Delete shared server copy in My Shortlist or ask us to delete it. One-time restore links expire after 30 minutes.

9. Your Rights (GDPR & CCPA)

Depending on where you live, you may have rights under laws such as the GDPR (European Union) or the CCPA (California) to request access, correction, or deletion of personal data. Most browser-only information can be removed through your browser settings. If you created a partner link, the owner token saved on that device lets you delete the shared server copy from My Shortlist. For any other privacy request, contact us at [email protected].

10. Security

We take reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect the limited data we do collect, including HTTPS across the website and regular software updates. No method of internet transmission is 100% secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Continued use of 9BabyNames' website or mobile app after changes become effective means you accept the revised policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how 9BabyNames handles your information, please email [email protected].