diff --git a/__tests__/branch.test.ts b/__tests__/branch.test.ts
index 174b22b..2b8ad57 100644
--- a/__tests__/branch.test.ts
+++ b/__tests__/branch.test.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ describe('Branch', () => {
       name: 'v1.19',
       stableBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.<minor>',
       devBranchNamePattern: '',
+      ignoredBranches: [],
       majorVersion: 1,
       minorVersion: 19,
       nextMajorStableBranch: 'v2.0',
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ describe('Branch', () => {
       name: '1.18',
       stableBranchNamePattern: '<major>.<minor>',
       devBranchNamePattern: '',
+      ignoredBranches: [],
       majorVersion: 1,
       minorVersion: 18,
       nextMajorStableBranch: '2.0',
@@ -36,6 +38,7 @@ describe('Branch', () => {
       name: '1.17.x',
       stableBranchNamePattern: '<major>.<minor>.x',
       devBranchNamePattern: '',
+      ignoredBranches: [],
       majorVersion: 1,
       minorVersion: 17,
       nextMajorStableBranch: '2.0.x',
@@ -49,6 +52,7 @@ describe('Branch', () => {
       name: 'v1.19',
       stableBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.<minor>',
       devBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.x',
+      ignoredBranches: [],
       majorVersion: 1,
       minorVersion: 19,
       nextMajorStableBranch: 'v2.0',
@@ -62,6 +66,7 @@ describe('Branch', () => {
       name: 'v1.x',
       stableBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.<minor>',
       devBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.x',
+      ignoredBranches: [],
       majorVersion: 1,
       minorVersion: null,
       nextMajorStableBranch: 'v2.0',
@@ -69,6 +74,49 @@ describe('Branch', () => {
       nextMajorDevBranch: 'v2.x',
       nextMinorDevBranch: '',
       isStable: false
+    },
+    {
+      description: 'v<major>.<minor> with no dev branch and ignored branches',
+      name: 'v1.19',
+      stableBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.<minor>',
+      devBranchNamePattern: '',
+      ignoredBranches: ['v1.20', 'v1.21', 'v2.0'],
+      majorVersion: 1,
+      minorVersion: 19,
+      nextMajorStableBranch: 'v2.1',
+      nextMinorStableBranch: 'v1.22',
+      nextMajorDevBranch: '',
+      nextMinorDevBranch: '',
+      isStable: true
+    },
+    {
+      description: 'v<major>.<minor> with a dev branch and ignored branches',
+      name: 'v1.19',
+      stableBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.<minor>',
+      devBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.x',
+      ignoredBranches: ['v1.20', 'v1.21', 'v2.0'],
+      majorVersion: 1,
+      minorVersion: 19,
+      nextMajorStableBranch: 'v2.1',
+      nextMinorStableBranch: 'v1.22',
+      nextMajorDevBranch: 'v2.x',
+      nextMinorDevBranch: 'v1.x',
+      isStable: true
+    },
+    {
+      description:
+        'dev branch for v<major>.<minor> and ignored next major dev branch',
+      name: 'v1.x',
+      stableBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.<minor>',
+      devBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.x',
+      ignoredBranches: ['v2.x'],
+      majorVersion: 1,
+      minorVersion: null,
+      nextMajorStableBranch: 'v2.0',
+      nextMinorStableBranch: '',
+      nextMajorDevBranch: 'v3.x',
+      nextMinorDevBranch: '',
+      isStable: false
     }
   ]
 
@@ -78,6 +126,7 @@ describe('Branch', () => {
       name: 'v1.19',
       stableBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.<minor>',
       devBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.x',
+      ignoredBranches: [],
       existingBranches: [],
       nextBranchName: 'fallback'
     },
@@ -86,6 +135,7 @@ describe('Branch', () => {
       name: 'v1.19',
       stableBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.<minor>',
       devBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.x',
+      ignoredBranches: [],
       existingBranches: ['v1.20'],
       nextBranchName: 'v1.20'
     },
@@ -94,6 +144,7 @@ describe('Branch', () => {
       name: 'v1.19',
       stableBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.<minor>',
       devBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.x',
+      ignoredBranches: [],
       existingBranches: ['v1.x'],
       nextBranchName: 'v1.x'
     },
@@ -102,6 +153,7 @@ describe('Branch', () => {
       name: 'v1.19',
       stableBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.<minor>',
       devBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.x',
+      ignoredBranches: [],
       existingBranches: ['v2.0'],
       nextBranchName: 'v2.0'
     },
@@ -110,6 +162,7 @@ describe('Branch', () => {
       name: 'v1.19',
       stableBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.<minor>',
       devBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.x',
+      ignoredBranches: [],
       existingBranches: ['v2.x'],
       nextBranchName: 'v2.x'
     },
@@ -118,6 +171,7 @@ describe('Branch', () => {
       name: 'v1.19',
       stableBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.<minor>',
       devBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.x',
+      ignoredBranches: [],
       existingBranches: ['v1.20', 'v1.x'],
       nextBranchName: 'v1.20'
     },
@@ -126,6 +180,7 @@ describe('Branch', () => {
       name: 'v1.19',
       stableBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.<minor>',
       devBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.x',
+      ignoredBranches: [],
       existingBranches: ['v1.20', 'v1.x', 'v2.0', 'v2.x'],
       nextBranchName: 'v1.20'
     },
@@ -134,6 +189,7 @@ describe('Branch', () => {
       name: 'v1.19',
       stableBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.<minor>',
       devBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.x',
+      ignoredBranches: [],
       existingBranches: ['v2.0', 'v2.x'],
       nextBranchName: 'v2.0'
     },
@@ -142,6 +198,7 @@ describe('Branch', () => {
       name: 'v1.19',
       stableBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.<minor>',
       devBranchNamePattern: '',
+      ignoredBranches: [],
       existingBranches: ['v1.x', 'v2.x'],
       nextBranchName: 'fallback'
     },
@@ -150,6 +207,7 @@ describe('Branch', () => {
       name: 'v1.x',
       stableBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.<minor>',
       devBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.x',
+      ignoredBranches: [],
       existingBranches: ['v1.x', 'v2.0', 'v2.x'],
       nextBranchName: 'v2.0'
     },
@@ -158,9 +216,83 @@ describe('Branch', () => {
       name: 'v1.x',
       stableBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.<minor>',
       devBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.x',
+      ignoredBranches: [],
       existingBranches: ['v1.x', 'v2.x'],
       nextBranchName: 'v2.x'
+    },
+    {
+      description: 'Next minor version branch exists, but is ignored',
+      name: 'v1.19',
+      stableBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.<minor>',
+      devBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.x',
+      ignoredBranches: ['v1.20'],
+      existingBranches: ['v1.20', 'v1.x', 'v2.0', 'v2.x'],
+      nextBranchName: 'v1.x'
+    },
+    {
+      description: 'Next minor version branches exists, but is ignored',
+      name: 'v1.19',
+      stableBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.<minor>',
+      devBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.x',
+      ignoredBranches: ['v1.20'],
+      existingBranches: ['v1.20', 'v1.21', 'v1.x', 'v2.0', 'v2.x'],
+      nextBranchName: 'v1.21'
+    },
+    {
+      description: 'Next dev version branch exists, but is ignored',
+      name: 'v1.19',
+      stableBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.<minor>',
+      devBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.x',
+      ignoredBranches: ['v1.x'],
+      existingBranches: ['v1.x', 'v2.0', 'v2.x'],
+      nextBranchName: 'v2.0'
+    },
+    {
+      description: 'Next major stable version branch exists, but is ignored',
+      name: 'v1.19',
+      stableBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.<minor>',
+      devBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.x',
+      ignoredBranches: ['v2.0'],
+      existingBranches: ['v2.0', 'v2.x'],
+      nextBranchName: 'v2.x'
+    },
+    {
+      description: 'Next major stable version branches exists, but is ignored',
+      name: 'v1.19',
+      stableBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.<minor>',
+      devBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.x',
+      ignoredBranches: ['v2.0'],
+      existingBranches: ['v2.0', 'v2.1', 'v2.x'],
+      nextBranchName: 'v2.1'
+    },
+    {
+      description: 'Next major dev version branch exists, but is ignored',
+      name: 'v1.19',
+      stableBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.<minor>',
+      devBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.x',
+      ignoredBranches: ['v2.x'],
+      existingBranches: ['v2.x'],
+      nextBranchName: 'fallback'
+    },
+    {
+      description: 'Next major dev version branches exists, but is ignored',
+      name: 'v1.19',
+      stableBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.<minor>',
+      devBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.x',
+      ignoredBranches: ['v2.x'],
+      existingBranches: ['v2.x', 'v3.x'],
+      nextBranchName: 'v3.x'
     }
+    // TODO: The following test fails as we don't try stable branches for future major versions
+    // {
+    //   description: 'All existing branches for next major version are ignored',
+    //   name: 'v1.19',
+    //   stableBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.<minor>',
+    //   devBranchNamePattern: 'v<major>.x',
+    //   ignoredBranches: ['v2.x', 'v2.0'],
+    //   existingBranches: ['v2.0', 'v2.x', 'v3.0', 'v3.x'],
+    //   nextBranchName: 'v3.0'
+    // }
   ]
 
   describe('constructor', () => {
@@ -170,6 +302,7 @@ describe('Branch', () => {
         name,
         stableBranchNamePattern,
         devBranchNamePattern,
+        ignoredBranches,
         majorVersion,
         minorVersion,
         isStable
@@ -177,7 +310,8 @@ describe('Branch', () => {
         const branch = new Branch(
           name,
           stableBranchNamePattern,
-          devBranchNamePattern
+          devBranchNamePattern,
+          ignoredBranches
         )
 
         expect(branch.name).toStrictEqual(name)
@@ -191,7 +325,7 @@ describe('Branch', () => {
     )
 
     it("rejects branches that don't match ($description)", () => {
-      expect(() => new Branch('1.19', 'v<major>.<minor>', '')).toThrow(
+      expect(() => new Branch('1.19', 'v<major>.<minor>', '', [])).toThrow(
         new Error(
           `Ref name "1.19" does not match branch name patterns "v<major>.<minor>" or "".`
         )
@@ -206,12 +340,14 @@ describe('Branch', () => {
         name,
         stableBranchNamePattern,
         devBranchNamePattern,
+        ignoredBranches,
         nextMajorStableBranch
       }) => {
         const branch = new Branch(
           name,
           stableBranchNamePattern,
-          devBranchNamePattern
+          devBranchNamePattern,
+          ignoredBranches
         )
 
         expect(branch.getNextMajorStableBranch()).toStrictEqual(
@@ -228,12 +364,14 @@ describe('Branch', () => {
         name,
         stableBranchNamePattern,
         devBranchNamePattern,
+        ignoredBranches,
         nextMinorStableBranch
       }) => {
         const branch = new Branch(
           name,
           stableBranchNamePattern,
-          devBranchNamePattern
+          devBranchNamePattern,
+          ignoredBranches
         )
 
         expect(branch.getNextMinorStableBranch()).toStrictEqual(
@@ -250,12 +388,14 @@ describe('Branch', () => {
         name,
         stableBranchNamePattern,
         devBranchNamePattern,
+        ignoredBranches,
         nextMajorDevBranch
       }) => {
         const branch = new Branch(
           name,
           stableBranchNamePattern,
-          devBranchNamePattern
+          devBranchNamePattern,
+          ignoredBranches
         )
 
         expect(branch.getNextMajorDevBranch()).toStrictEqual(nextMajorDevBranch)
@@ -270,12 +410,14 @@ describe('Branch', () => {
         name,
         stableBranchNamePattern,
         devBranchNamePattern,
+        ignoredBranches,
         nextMinorDevBranch
       }) => {
         const branch = new Branch(
           name,
           stableBranchNamePattern,
-          devBranchNamePattern
+          devBranchNamePattern,
+          ignoredBranches
         )
 
         expect(branch.getNextMinorDevBranch()).toStrictEqual(nextMinorDevBranch)
@@ -290,7 +432,7 @@ describe('Branch', () => {
         return false
       })
 
-      const branch = new Branch('v1.20', 'v<major>.<minor>', '')
+      const branch = new Branch('v1.20', 'v<major>.<minor>', '', [])
 
       await expect(branch.getNextBranchName('')).rejects.toThrow(
         new Error(
@@ -305,6 +447,7 @@ describe('Branch', () => {
         name,
         stableBranchNamePattern,
         devBranchNamePattern,
+        ignoredBranches,
         existingBranches,
         nextBranchName
       }) => {
@@ -316,7 +459,8 @@ describe('Branch', () => {
         const branch = new Branch(
           name,
           stableBranchNamePattern,
-          devBranchNamePattern
+          devBranchNamePattern,
+          ignoredBranches
         )
 
         expect(await branch.getNextBranchName('fallback')).toStrictEqual(
diff --git a/__tests__/inputs.test.ts b/__tests__/inputs.test.ts
index dbaf541..e124b52 100644
--- a/__tests__/inputs.test.ts
+++ b/__tests__/inputs.test.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@ describe('Inputs', () => {
       'v<major>.<minor>',
       'v<major>.x',
       'main',
-      true
+      true,
+      ['v1.x']
     )
 
     expect(inputs.currentBranch).toStrictEqual('v1.19')
@@ -19,6 +20,7 @@ describe('Inputs', () => {
     expect(inputs.devBranchNamePattern).toStrictEqual('v<major>.x')
     expect(inputs.fallbackBranch).toStrictEqual('main')
     expect(inputs.enableAutoMerge).toStrictEqual(true)
+    expect(inputs.ignoredBranches).toStrictEqual(['v1.x'])
   })
 
   it('retrieves values from input', async () => {
@@ -33,6 +35,8 @@ describe('Inputs', () => {
           return 'v<major>.x'
         case 'fallbackBranch':
           return 'main'
+        case 'ignoredBranches':
+          return '["v1.x"]'
         default:
           return ''
       }
@@ -57,8 +61,9 @@ describe('Inputs', () => {
     expect(inputs.devBranchNamePattern).toStrictEqual('v<major>.x')
     expect(inputs.enableAutoMerge).toStrictEqual(true)
     expect(inputs.fallbackBranch).toStrictEqual('main')
+    expect(inputs.ignoredBranches).toStrictEqual(['v1.x'])
 
-    expect(getInputMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(4)
+    expect(getInputMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(5)
     expect(getBooleanInputMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
   })
 
@@ -72,6 +77,9 @@ describe('Inputs', () => {
           return 'v<major>.<minor>'
         case 'fallbackBranch':
           return ''
+        case 'ignoredBranches':
+          // Return an empty string on purpose
+          return ''
         default:
           return ''
       }
@@ -93,7 +101,7 @@ describe('Inputs', () => {
 
     expect(inputs.enableAutoMerge).toStrictEqual(false)
 
-    expect(getInputMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(4)
+    expect(getInputMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(5)
     expect(getBooleanInputMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
   })
 })
diff --git a/action.yml b/action.yml
index 039bceb..41c24b8 100644
--- a/action.yml
+++ b/action.yml
@@ -31,6 +31,10 @@ inputs:
     description: 'If non-empty, enables auto-merge on the pull request'
     required: false
     default: 'false'
+  ignoredBranches:
+    description: 'JSON list of branches to ignore'
+    required: false
+    default: '[]'
 
 outputs:
   branchName:
diff --git a/badges/coverage.svg b/badges/coverage.svg
index 23db6ef..38ecb1e 100644
--- a/badges/coverage.svg
+++ b/badges/coverage.svg
@@ -1 +1 @@
-<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="116" height="20" role="img" aria-label="Coverage: 47.13%"><title>Coverage: 47.13%</title><linearGradient id="s" x2="0" y2="100%"><stop offset="0" stop-color="#bbb" stop-opacity=".1"/><stop offset="1" stop-opacity=".1"/></linearGradient><clipPath id="r"><rect width="116" height="20" rx="3" fill="#fff"/></clipPath><g clip-path="url(#r)"><rect width="63" height="20" fill="#555"/><rect x="63" width="53" height="20" fill="#e05d44"/><rect width="116" height="20" fill="url(#s)"/></g><g fill="#fff" text-anchor="middle" font-family="Verdana,Geneva,DejaVu Sans,sans-serif" text-rendering="geometricPrecision" font-size="110"><text aria-hidden="true" x="325" y="150" fill="#010101" fill-opacity=".3" transform="scale(.1)" textLength="530">Coverage</text><text x="325" y="140" transform="scale(.1)" fill="#fff" textLength="530">Coverage</text><text aria-hidden="true" x="885" y="150" fill="#010101" fill-opacity=".3" transform="scale(.1)" textLength="430">47.13%</text><text x="885" y="140" transform="scale(.1)" fill="#fff" textLength="430">47.13%</text></g></svg>
\ No newline at end of file
+<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="116" height="20" role="img" aria-label="Coverage: 52.02%"><title>Coverage: 52.02%</title><linearGradient id="s" x2="0" y2="100%"><stop offset="0" stop-color="#bbb" stop-opacity=".1"/><stop offset="1" stop-opacity=".1"/></linearGradient><clipPath id="r"><rect width="116" height="20" rx="3" fill="#fff"/></clipPath><g clip-path="url(#r)"><rect width="63" height="20" fill="#555"/><rect x="63" width="53" height="20" fill="#e05d44"/><rect width="116" height="20" fill="url(#s)"/></g><g fill="#fff" text-anchor="middle" font-family="Verdana,Geneva,DejaVu Sans,sans-serif" text-rendering="geometricPrecision" font-size="110"><text aria-hidden="true" x="325" y="150" fill="#010101" fill-opacity=".3" transform="scale(.1)" textLength="530">Coverage</text><text x="325" y="140" transform="scale(.1)" fill="#fff" textLength="530">Coverage</text><text aria-hidden="true" x="885" y="150" fill="#010101" fill-opacity=".3" transform="scale(.1)" textLength="430">52.02%</text><text x="885" y="140" transform="scale(.1)" fill="#fff" textLength="430">52.02%</text></g></svg>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/dist/create-pr/index.js b/dist/create-pr/index.js
index ac420e8..34096d0 100644
--- a/dist/create-pr/index.js
+++ b/dist/create-pr/index.js
@@ -25426,11 +25426,13 @@ class Branch {
     minorVersion;
     stableBranchNamePattern;
     devBranchNamePattern;
+    ignoredBranches;
     isStable = true;
-    constructor(name, stableBranchNamePattern, devBranchNamePattern) {
+    constructor(name, stableBranchNamePattern, devBranchNamePattern, ignoredBranches) {
         this.name = name;
         this.stableBranchNamePattern = stableBranchNamePattern;
         this.devBranchNamePattern = devBranchNamePattern;
+        this.ignoredBranches = ignoredBranches;
         const stableBranchPatternRegex = (0, regex_1.createRegexFromPattern)(stableBranchNamePattern);
         const devBranchPatternRegex = (0, regex_1.createRegexFromPattern)(devBranchNamePattern);
         let versions = name.match(stableBranchPatternRegex);
@@ -25447,24 +25449,43 @@ class Branch {
         this.minorVersion = versions[2] ? Number(versions[2]) : null;
     }
     getNextMajorStableBranch() {
-        return this.stableBranchNamePattern
-            .replace('<major>', (this.majorVersion + 1).toString())
-            .replace('<minor>', '0');
+        return this.getNextNotIgnoredStableBranch(this.majorVersion + 1, 0);
     }
     getNextMajorDevBranch() {
-        return this.devBranchNamePattern.replace('<major>', (this.majorVersion + 1).toString());
+        return this.getNextNotIgnoredDevBranch(this.majorVersion + 1);
     }
     getNextMinorStableBranch() {
         return this.isStable && this.minorVersion != null
-            ? this.stableBranchNamePattern
-                .replace('<major>', this.majorVersion.toString())
-                .replace('<minor>', (this.minorVersion + 1).toString())
+            ? this.getNextNotIgnoredStableBranch(this.majorVersion, this.minorVersion + 1)
             : '';
     }
     getNextMinorDevBranch() {
-        return this.isStable
-            ? this.devBranchNamePattern.replace('<major>', this.majorVersion.toString())
-            : '';
+        if (!this.isStable) {
+            return '';
+        }
+        const nextBranchName = this.devBranchNamePattern.replace('<major>', this.majorVersion.toString());
+        // If the next minor dev branch is ignored, return an empty string to skip this branch
+        return this.ignoredBranches.includes(nextBranchName) ? '' : nextBranchName;
+    }
+    getNextNotIgnoredStableBranch(majorVersion, minorVersion) {
+        let nextMinorVersion = minorVersion;
+        let nextBranchName;
+        do {
+            nextBranchName = this.stableBranchNamePattern
+                .replace('<major>', majorVersion.toString())
+                .replace('<minor>', nextMinorVersion.toString());
+            nextMinorVersion++;
+        } while (this.ignoredBranches.includes(nextBranchName));
+        return nextBranchName;
+    }
+    getNextNotIgnoredDevBranch(majorVersion) {
+        let nextMajorVersion = majorVersion;
+        let nextBranchName;
+        do {
+            nextBranchName = this.devBranchNamePattern.replace('<major>', nextMajorVersion.toString());
+            nextMajorVersion++;
+        } while (this.ignoredBranches.includes(nextBranchName));
+        return nextBranchName;
     }
     async getNextBranchName(fallbackBranch) {
         // Assemble candidate branches, skipping empty branch names
@@ -25690,15 +25711,18 @@ class Inputs {
     devBranchNamePattern;
     fallbackBranch;
     enableAutoMerge;
-    constructor(currentBranch, stableBranchNamePattern, devBranchNamePattern, fallbackBranch, enableAutoMerge) {
+    ignoredBranches;
+    constructor(currentBranch, stableBranchNamePattern, devBranchNamePattern, fallbackBranch, enableAutoMerge, ignoredBranches) {
         this.currentBranch = currentBranch;
         this.stableBranchNamePattern = stableBranchNamePattern;
         this.devBranchNamePattern = devBranchNamePattern;
         this.fallbackBranch = fallbackBranch;
         this.enableAutoMerge = enableAutoMerge;
+        this.ignoredBranches = ignoredBranches;
     }
     static fromActionsInput(includeAutoMergeOption = true) {
-        return new Inputs(core.getInput('ref'), core.getInput('branchNamePattern'), core.getInput('devBranchNamePattern'), core.getInput('fallbackBranch'), includeAutoMergeOption ? core.getBooleanInput('enableAutoMerge') : false);
+        const ignoredBranches = core.getInput('ignoredBranches');
+        return new Inputs(core.getInput('ref'), core.getInput('branchNamePattern'), core.getInput('devBranchNamePattern'), core.getInput('fallbackBranch'), includeAutoMergeOption ? core.getBooleanInput('enableAutoMerge') : false, ignoredBranches ? JSON.parse(ignoredBranches) : []);
     }
 }
 exports.Inputs = Inputs;
@@ -25850,7 +25874,7 @@ async function getNextBranch() {
     core.setOutput('branchName', nextBranchName);
 }
 async function getNextBranchName(inputs) {
-    const branch = new branch_1.Branch(inputs.currentBranch, inputs.stableBranchNamePattern, inputs.devBranchNamePattern);
+    const branch = new branch_1.Branch(inputs.currentBranch, inputs.stableBranchNamePattern, inputs.devBranchNamePattern, inputs.ignoredBranches);
     core.debug(`Matched the following versions in branch name "${branch.name}" with patterns "${branch.stableBranchNamePattern}", "${branch.devBranchNamePattern}":`);
     core.debug(`Major version: ${branch.majorVersion}`);
     core.debug(`Minor version: ${branch.minorVersion}`);
diff --git a/dist/get-next-branch/index.js b/dist/get-next-branch/index.js
index d86b904..92e2816 100644
--- a/dist/get-next-branch/index.js
+++ b/dist/get-next-branch/index.js
@@ -25426,11 +25426,13 @@ class Branch {
     minorVersion;
     stableBranchNamePattern;
     devBranchNamePattern;
+    ignoredBranches;
     isStable = true;
-    constructor(name, stableBranchNamePattern, devBranchNamePattern) {
+    constructor(name, stableBranchNamePattern, devBranchNamePattern, ignoredBranches) {
         this.name = name;
         this.stableBranchNamePattern = stableBranchNamePattern;
         this.devBranchNamePattern = devBranchNamePattern;
+        this.ignoredBranches = ignoredBranches;
         const stableBranchPatternRegex = (0, regex_1.createRegexFromPattern)(stableBranchNamePattern);
         const devBranchPatternRegex = (0, regex_1.createRegexFromPattern)(devBranchNamePattern);
         let versions = name.match(stableBranchPatternRegex);
@@ -25447,24 +25449,43 @@ class Branch {
         this.minorVersion = versions[2] ? Number(versions[2]) : null;
     }
     getNextMajorStableBranch() {
-        return this.stableBranchNamePattern
-            .replace('<major>', (this.majorVersion + 1).toString())
-            .replace('<minor>', '0');
+        return this.getNextNotIgnoredStableBranch(this.majorVersion + 1, 0);
     }
     getNextMajorDevBranch() {
-        return this.devBranchNamePattern.replace('<major>', (this.majorVersion + 1).toString());
+        return this.getNextNotIgnoredDevBranch(this.majorVersion + 1);
     }
     getNextMinorStableBranch() {
         return this.isStable && this.minorVersion != null
-            ? this.stableBranchNamePattern
-                .replace('<major>', this.majorVersion.toString())
-                .replace('<minor>', (this.minorVersion + 1).toString())
+            ? this.getNextNotIgnoredStableBranch(this.majorVersion, this.minorVersion + 1)
             : '';
     }
     getNextMinorDevBranch() {
-        return this.isStable
-            ? this.devBranchNamePattern.replace('<major>', this.majorVersion.toString())
-            : '';
+        if (!this.isStable) {
+            return '';
+        }
+        const nextBranchName = this.devBranchNamePattern.replace('<major>', this.majorVersion.toString());
+        // If the next minor dev branch is ignored, return an empty string to skip this branch
+        return this.ignoredBranches.includes(nextBranchName) ? '' : nextBranchName;
+    }
+    getNextNotIgnoredStableBranch(majorVersion, minorVersion) {
+        let nextMinorVersion = minorVersion;
+        let nextBranchName;
+        do {
+            nextBranchName = this.stableBranchNamePattern
+                .replace('<major>', majorVersion.toString())
+                .replace('<minor>', nextMinorVersion.toString());
+            nextMinorVersion++;
+        } while (this.ignoredBranches.includes(nextBranchName));
+        return nextBranchName;
+    }
+    getNextNotIgnoredDevBranch(majorVersion) {
+        let nextMajorVersion = majorVersion;
+        let nextBranchName;
+        do {
+            nextBranchName = this.devBranchNamePattern.replace('<major>', nextMajorVersion.toString());
+            nextMajorVersion++;
+        } while (this.ignoredBranches.includes(nextBranchName));
+        return nextBranchName;
     }
     async getNextBranchName(fallbackBranch) {
         // Assemble candidate branches, skipping empty branch names
@@ -25690,15 +25711,18 @@ class Inputs {
     devBranchNamePattern;
     fallbackBranch;
     enableAutoMerge;
-    constructor(currentBranch, stableBranchNamePattern, devBranchNamePattern, fallbackBranch, enableAutoMerge) {
+    ignoredBranches;
+    constructor(currentBranch, stableBranchNamePattern, devBranchNamePattern, fallbackBranch, enableAutoMerge, ignoredBranches) {
         this.currentBranch = currentBranch;
         this.stableBranchNamePattern = stableBranchNamePattern;
         this.devBranchNamePattern = devBranchNamePattern;
         this.fallbackBranch = fallbackBranch;
         this.enableAutoMerge = enableAutoMerge;
+        this.ignoredBranches = ignoredBranches;
     }
     static fromActionsInput(includeAutoMergeOption = true) {
-        return new Inputs(core.getInput('ref'), core.getInput('branchNamePattern'), core.getInput('devBranchNamePattern'), core.getInput('fallbackBranch'), includeAutoMergeOption ? core.getBooleanInput('enableAutoMerge') : false);
+        const ignoredBranches = core.getInput('ignoredBranches');
+        return new Inputs(core.getInput('ref'), core.getInput('branchNamePattern'), core.getInput('devBranchNamePattern'), core.getInput('fallbackBranch'), includeAutoMergeOption ? core.getBooleanInput('enableAutoMerge') : false, ignoredBranches ? JSON.parse(ignoredBranches) : []);
     }
 }
 exports.Inputs = Inputs;
@@ -25850,7 +25874,7 @@ async function getNextBranch() {
     core.setOutput('branchName', nextBranchName);
 }
 async function getNextBranchName(inputs) {
-    const branch = new branch_1.Branch(inputs.currentBranch, inputs.stableBranchNamePattern, inputs.devBranchNamePattern);
+    const branch = new branch_1.Branch(inputs.currentBranch, inputs.stableBranchNamePattern, inputs.devBranchNamePattern, inputs.ignoredBranches);
     core.debug(`Matched the following versions in branch name "${branch.name}" with patterns "${branch.stableBranchNamePattern}", "${branch.devBranchNamePattern}":`);
     core.debug(`Major version: ${branch.majorVersion}`);
     core.debug(`Minor version: ${branch.minorVersion}`);
diff --git a/get-next-branch/action.yml b/get-next-branch/action.yml
index 430ed3c..b599b8a 100644
--- a/get-next-branch/action.yml
+++ b/get-next-branch/action.yml
@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@ inputs:
     description:
       'A branch to fall back on if no next branch matching the pattern was found'
     required: false
+  ignoredBranches:
+    description: 'JSON list of branches to ignore'
+    required: false
+    default: '[]'
 
 outputs:
   hasNextBranch:
diff --git a/src/branch.ts b/src/branch.ts
index 75df45f..df6bb8a 100644
--- a/src/branch.ts
+++ b/src/branch.ts
@@ -7,16 +7,19 @@ export class Branch {
   readonly minorVersion: number | null
   readonly stableBranchNamePattern: string
   readonly devBranchNamePattern: string
+  readonly ignoredBranches: string[]
   readonly isStable: boolean = true
 
   constructor(
     name: string,
     stableBranchNamePattern: string,
-    devBranchNamePattern: string
+    devBranchNamePattern: string,
+    ignoredBranches: string[]
   ) {
     this.name = name
     this.stableBranchNamePattern = stableBranchNamePattern
     this.devBranchNamePattern = devBranchNamePattern
+    this.ignoredBranches = ignoredBranches
 
     const stableBranchPatternRegex = createRegexFromPattern(
       stableBranchNamePattern
@@ -43,33 +46,66 @@ export class Branch {
   }
 
   getNextMajorStableBranch(): string {
-    return this.stableBranchNamePattern
-      .replace('<major>', (this.majorVersion + 1).toString())
-      .replace('<minor>', '0')
+    return this.getNextNotIgnoredStableBranch(this.majorVersion + 1, 0)
   }
 
   getNextMajorDevBranch(): string {
-    return this.devBranchNamePattern.replace(
-      '<major>',
-      (this.majorVersion + 1).toString()
-    )
+    return this.getNextNotIgnoredDevBranch(this.majorVersion + 1)
   }
 
   getNextMinorStableBranch(): string {
     return this.isStable && this.minorVersion != null
-      ? this.stableBranchNamePattern
-          .replace('<major>', this.majorVersion.toString())
-          .replace('<minor>', (this.minorVersion + 1).toString())
+      ? this.getNextNotIgnoredStableBranch(
+          this.majorVersion,
+          this.minorVersion + 1
+        )
       : ''
   }
 
   getNextMinorDevBranch(): string {
-    return this.isStable
-      ? this.devBranchNamePattern.replace(
-          '<major>',
-          this.majorVersion.toString()
-        )
-      : ''
+    if (!this.isStable) {
+      return ''
+    }
+
+    const nextBranchName = this.devBranchNamePattern.replace(
+      '<major>',
+      this.majorVersion.toString()
+    )
+
+    // If the next minor dev branch is ignored, return an empty string to skip this branch
+    return this.ignoredBranches.includes(nextBranchName) ? '' : nextBranchName
+  }
+
+  getNextNotIgnoredStableBranch(
+    majorVersion: number,
+    minorVersion: number
+  ): string {
+    let nextMinorVersion = minorVersion
+    let nextBranchName: string
+
+    do {
+      nextBranchName = this.stableBranchNamePattern
+        .replace('<major>', majorVersion.toString())
+        .replace('<minor>', nextMinorVersion.toString())
+      nextMinorVersion++
+    } while (this.ignoredBranches.includes(nextBranchName))
+
+    return nextBranchName
+  }
+
+  getNextNotIgnoredDevBranch(majorVersion: number): string {
+    let nextMajorVersion = majorVersion
+    let nextBranchName: string
+
+    do {
+      nextBranchName = this.devBranchNamePattern.replace(
+        '<major>',
+        nextMajorVersion.toString()
+      )
+      nextMajorVersion++
+    } while (this.ignoredBranches.includes(nextBranchName))
+
+    return nextBranchName
   }
 
   async getNextBranchName(fallbackBranch: string): Promise<string> {
diff --git a/src/inputs.ts b/src/inputs.ts
index 25d3bb6..7d50fdf 100644
--- a/src/inputs.ts
+++ b/src/inputs.ts
@@ -6,28 +6,34 @@ export class Inputs {
   readonly devBranchNamePattern: string
   readonly fallbackBranch: string
   readonly enableAutoMerge: boolean
+  readonly ignoredBranches: string[]
 
   constructor(
     currentBranch: string,
     stableBranchNamePattern: string,
     devBranchNamePattern: string,
     fallbackBranch: string,
-    enableAutoMerge: boolean
+    enableAutoMerge: boolean,
+    ignoredBranches: string[]
   ) {
     this.currentBranch = currentBranch
     this.stableBranchNamePattern = stableBranchNamePattern
     this.devBranchNamePattern = devBranchNamePattern
     this.fallbackBranch = fallbackBranch
     this.enableAutoMerge = enableAutoMerge
+    this.ignoredBranches = ignoredBranches
   }
 
   static fromActionsInput(includeAutoMergeOption = true): Inputs {
+    const ignoredBranches = core.getInput('ignoredBranches')
+
     return new Inputs(
       core.getInput('ref'),
       core.getInput('branchNamePattern'),
       core.getInput('devBranchNamePattern'),
       core.getInput('fallbackBranch'),
-      includeAutoMergeOption ? core.getBooleanInput('enableAutoMerge') : false
+      includeAutoMergeOption ? core.getBooleanInput('enableAutoMerge') : false,
+      ignoredBranches ? JSON.parse(ignoredBranches) : []
     )
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/main.ts b/src/main.ts
index 89c8146..9544f17 100644
--- a/src/main.ts
+++ b/src/main.ts
@@ -129,7 +129,8 @@ async function getNextBranchName(inputs: Inputs): Promise<string> {
   const branch = new Branch(
     inputs.currentBranch,
     inputs.stableBranchNamePattern,
-    inputs.devBranchNamePattern
+    inputs.devBranchNamePattern,
+    inputs.ignoredBranches
   )
 
   core.debug(