Fear is subjective, which makes ranking the scariest movies of all time a tricky task. The folks at GIGACalculator.com are all about numbers, and they’ve found a way to translate a film’s fear factor into hard data. Based on their findings, these are the horror movies most likely to get viewers’ hearts racing.
To compile their list of the most terrifying horror flicks, GIGACalculator.com showed movies to 150 first-time viewers while tracking their heart rates. The film selection was determined by a survey of 2500 self-proclaimed horror fanatics prior to the study.
Director Ari Aster’s 2018 movie Hereditary took the top spot with pulses rising to an average of 115 beats per minutes (BPM) during viewings. For comparison: A healthy average resting heart rate falls between 60 and 100 BPM. Taking the number 2 spot was the 2004 gore-fest Saw, which jacked up heart rates to an average of 113 BPM. The Babadook (2014), Insidious (2010), and A Quiet Place (2018) rounded out the top five. You can see the full ranking below.
As horror fans know, a movie that raises your heart rate in the moment won’t necessarily give you nightmares days later. For another perspective on the best scary movies, check out the favorite horror films of famous directors in the genre.
- Hereditary (2018)
- Saw (2004)
- The Babadook (2014)
- Insidious (2010)
- A Quiet Place (2018)
- The Descent (2005)
- Us (2019)
- It (2017)
- The Conjuring 2 (2016)
- The Exorcist (1973)
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The Top 10 Baby Names of 2026, From Olivia to Dean
Is your favorite name on this year’s list—or is a 1950s classic taking its place?
ByNitya Rao|Oct 24, 2026, 5:00 PM EDT
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“What’s in a name?” Not much, other than a lifetime of coffee cup misspellings, monogrammed accessories, and first impressions you didn’t ask for. Shakespeare famously wrote that “a rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” and yet, soon-to-be parents know there’s a difference in how Cate versus, say, Kate rolls off the tongue.
While some of it comes down to personal preference or history, the art of picking a baby name is inextricably linked to the linguistic trends of the time. In 2026, the most popular names are a mix of long-standing staples, newer monikers you might not see on every souvenir shop magnet just yet, and many, many names ending in –a.
Whether you’re predicted to pop before the ball drop, planning to start a family much further down the line, or simply looking for name inspiration for your new fur baby, you might be interested in reading BabyCenter’s latest list of the most popular baby names of 2026.
The Most Popular Baby Names of 2026
Once again, the vast majority of the top 10 girl names end in -a, with Olivia taking the top spot for the sixth consecutive year in a row. From Scandal‘s Olivia Pope to Olivia the Pig, this classic name is deeply ingrained in pop culture. On the other hand, second-place Eliana is both ancient in origin and fairly new in popularity. The predominantly Hebrew name means “My God has answered” and rose five spots from seventh place in 2025. Meanwhile, Eliana’s Latin and Greek roots stem from Helios, the Greek word for sun.
Those who want to preserve their little princess’s sense of individuality should steer clear of Amelia, Charlotte, and Sophia, which claim the third, fourth, and fifth most popular spots for girls in 2026.
On the flip side, if you’re hoping your baby boy won’t have to go by his last initial throughout grade school, Noah, Liam, and Oliver are the top three names to keep in mind. Famous for its Biblical ark roots, No. 1 Noah remains the most popular name for the third year in a row. Meaning “rest” or “repose” in Hebrew, Noah is trailed by the Irish classic Liam, which means “protector.”
Here’s a look at the full top 10 list for 2026:
| Rank | Boy Names | Girl Names |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Noah | Olivia |
| 2 | Liam | Eliana |
| 3 | Oliver | Amelia |
| 4 | Elijah | Charlotte |
| 5 | Mateo | Sophia |
| 6 | Lucas | Isabella |
| 7 | Elias | Emma |
| 8 | Levi | Aurora |
| 9 | Ezra | Evelyn |
| 10 | Leo | Mia |
While the top 10 boy names remained mostly unchanged save for slight rearrangements, Elias is shaking things up in 2026. The variant of Elijah means “The Lord is my God” and made the shortlist for the very first time, coming in at seventh. Not far behind is Leo (“lion”), which just barely made the cut at No. 10 after falling short last year.
Speaking of E names, BabyCenter reports that the letter leads among girls’ names, with 15% of the top 100 starting with E. Two more E names that made the top 10 girl names are Emma and Evelyn, the latter of which reclaimed its top-10 spot for the first time in three years and carries meanings ranging from “desired child” to “little bird.” For boys, J ranks first overall, accounting for 14% of the top 100 names—though the first J name on the list, James, falls behind 15 others.
Meanwhile, parents searching for something classic but not entirely overdone are looking to the past for answers. Leading the retro revivals is Dean, a 1950s staple that has made its way back into the modern top 100 for the first time this century at No. 100. It could also have something to do with Millennials’ penchant for pop culture: from comfort show Gilmore Girls to breakout hit Off Campus, hunky, romantic leads named Dean continue to keep the name in the spotlight.
On the girls’ side, vintage elegance is getting its flowers as well. Magnolia made history as the only brand-new girl’s name to debut in the top 100 this year at No. 88. The floral-inspired choice ranked among the most popular girl names from the 1880s through the 1930s, previously peaking around 1909 and immortalized in Edna Ferber’s 1926 novel Show Boat. Other mid-century and botanical names having a major moment are Iris (up 18 spots) and Daphne (up 42 spots).
More on Baby Names:
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The Top 10 Baby Names of 2024, According to the Social Security Administration
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The 20 Most Popular Baby Names of 2024
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Watch How Baby Name Popularity Changes Over Time
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How Bruce Springsteen Turned One of America’s Darkest Crimes Into a Haunting Classic
Springsteen composed and recorded his celebrated “Nebraska” by himself, in his bedroom.
ByTim Brinkhof|Jul 24, 2026, 7:00 PM EDT
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Between January 21 and 29, 1958, a 19-year-old garbageman from Lincoln, Nebraska, called Charles Starkweather went on a killing spree with his 14-year-old girlfriend, Caril Ann Fugate.
Described as a “swaggering good-for-nothing in blue jeans and a black motorcycle jacket” known to yell “go to hell” at strangers, Starkweather killed 11 people—including Fugate’s mother, stepfather, and half-sister—before he was caught and sent to the electric chair.
News of the seemingly random serial killings—a prelude to the likes of Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, and Jeffrey Dahmer—shocked many Americans, including singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen.
Today, the event is best remembered through the song “Nebraska,” the first in Springsteen’s album of the same name. Though told from Starkweather’s own perspective, it never properly explains his motives—and that’s precisely the point.
How a Murder Spree Inspired a Musical Masterpiece
Though widely regarded as the best album in Springsteen’s long and industrious career—including by Springsteen himself—the singer-songwriter didn’t know if any of its songs would resonate with people. His doubts weren’t unreasonable. Contrary to his previous albums, which were recorded in a studio alongside his E Street band, the songs on “Nebraska” Springsteen recorded by himself, in his bedroom.
Springsteen had tried recording them with his band, but felt that the high production quality didn’t suit their dark, intimate nature. Ultimately, he decided that his own recording—originally intended to be little more than a demo—was superior.
“Nebraska” marked an important turning point in Springsteen’s career. Although dashed dreams and harsh realities had always been a prominent part of his repertoire, this new album sounded much more hopeless.
Unlike with many of the songs on “The River,” Springsteen’s focus was less on celebrating man’s resilience in the face of unyielding hardship, and more on bemoaning the seemingly cruel nature of the universe.
As he sings in the opening song, which is best listened to with the knowledge that Starkweather never gave a proper confession of his crimes: “They wanted to know why I did what I did / Well sir I guess there’s just a meanness in this world.”
Springsteen later claimed that he did not create “Nebraska” with a political agenda in mind, concentrating instead on achieving a particular sound. True or not, his music is often placed in a political context—one that continues to resonate today.
Donald Trump frequently plays Springsteen’s music at his rallies, particularly “Born in the USA.” This he does to the great chagrin of Springsteen himself, who knows better than anyone that his songs do not applaud or criticize American nationalism.
The Album That Almost Stayed a Demo
Though certainly a response to current events, “Nebraska” also came into existence because of developments in Springsteen’s own career. Having become a superstar, he wanted to close the gap between him and his fans, and avoid turning into a sellout.
“All popular artists,” Springsteen wrote in his 2016 memoir Born to Run, “get caught between making records and making music.” Once he found himself in this very spot, he chose to make music.
Despite Springsteen’s doubts, “Nebraska” became both a critical and commercial success, topping U.S. and U.K. charts and selling millions of copies. Ultimately, though, it’s remembered for closing that aforementioned gap.
As E Street guitarist Steve van Zandt later said: “An artist could never get closer to his audience than this. Not because it was done with an acoustic guitar, but because he was literally singing for himself.”
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