Apple enthusiasts have long speculated about the next macOS moniker as WWDC approaches. Since the early OS X era, releases migrated from big‑cat labels like Leopard to California‑inspired names beginning with Mavericks. This year’s unrevealed macOS 27 fuels fresh rumors, with two leading contenders emerging from the community. Speculation intensifies after a contributor spotted internal project tags, suggesting Apple may already be leaning toward one of the two.

The first possibility, macOS Emerald, nods to Emerald Bay on Lake Tahoe, echoing how High Sierra refined Sierra. A second hint, Big Bear, stems from a WWDC 2026 hashtag graphic whose file name reads “Project Big Bear,” pointing to California’s Big Bear Lake. Both options would keep the California‑nature motif alive.

Regardless of the label, macOS 27 is slated to debut a new Siri app and expanded Apple Intelligence features while prioritizing bug fixes and stability—a polished iteration of macOS Tahoe. Apple has previously resurrected abandoned trademark names, such as Big Sur, so any of the remaining filings—Condor, Redwood, or Shasta—could surface. The official announcement arrives at the WWDC keynote on June 8.