Just days before WWDC, one question is circulating through the Mac community: What will Apple name the next macOS version? Two candidates have emerged as strong contenders – and an old trademark archive provides plenty of further possibilities.
Before every WWDC, the guessing game about the next macOS name is a firmly established ritual. This tradition dates back to the early days of Mac OS X, when Apple named its systems after big cats like Leopard. With the introduction of OS X Mavericks, the company switched to Californian place names and landscapes – a pattern that continues to this day. There's no official name for macOS 27 yet, but two possibilities are currently being hotly debated. The system is just one of numerous innovations expected at WWDC 2026.
macOS Emerald as a refined Tahoe
The leading contender is macOS Emerald. This is based on the expectation that macOS 27 will reportedly focus primarily on bug fixes and stability – meaning it would be more of a polished version of the current macOS Tahoe than a radical overhaul. However, there are expected to be some major new features, including a redesigned Siri app and further improvements to Apple Intelligence.
The name would fit this direction well: Emerald Bay is part of Lake Tahoe, so macOS Emerald would thematically continue the previous system. There's already a parallel, as macOS High Sierra was initially launched as a refined version of macOS Sierra. Should Apple choose this path again, Emerald would be an obvious choice (via MacRumors).
macOS Big Bear as a track from an image file
The second candidate is called macOS Big Bear. This clue comes from a rather incidental discovery: the name "Project Big Bear" reportedly appeared in the filename of the WWDC 2026 hashtag graphic that Apple distributed on X. Big Bear would refer to Big Bear Lake in California, thus fitting into the established naming scheme.
This lead, however, is not reliable. Such a filename could ultimately be completely independent of the macOS naming convention and simply reflect an internal project abbreviation. Therefore, the finding is not suitable as conclusive evidence – but as a clue, it keeps the debate alive.
An old trademark law repository
Beyond the two frontrunners, a whole host of other possibilities exist, stemming from Apple's own groundwork. As early as 2014, more than 20 California-inspired trademark applications came to light, filed through various shell companies, almost certainly backed by Apple. Some of these trademarks later became actual macOS names, including Yosemite, Sierra, Mojave, Monterey, Ventura, Sonoma, and Sequoia. Apple, however, allowed other applications to lapse.
It's noteworthy that Apple has also used names whose trademark applications had actually been abandoned – such as Big Sur in 2020. This raises the possibility that macOS 27 will use one of the names the company registered years ago. These names include, among others:
- California
- Condor
- Diablo
- Farallon
- Grizzly
- Mammoth
- Miramar
- Pacific
- Redtail
- Redwood
- Rincon
- Shasta
- Skyline
- Tiburon
Of course, there's no guarantee that any of these terms will ever be used. The appeal lies in the annual review of the options.
Certainty will only come at the keynote
The question will be answered on Monday, June 8th, when Apple officially unveils macOS 27 during the WWDC keynote. Until then, any mention of the name remains speculation – whether it's Emerald, Big Bear, or a name from the old brand archive. The keynote starts at 7:00 PM CEST and can be watched via livestream. (Image: Shutterstock / 9dream studio)
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