We are in the middle of moving house, and it is overwhelming and stressful and sad and happy and THERE IS SO MUCH WORK AND IT WILL NEVER END, so I am hoping we can find some temporary ways to keep this blog up and running even while I am cleaning out from under the refrigerator (“Hey, there’s that dinosaur magnet we lost ten years ago!”) and trying to find which box I packed the postage stamps in (shouldn’t they be with the bills and address labels? why AREN’T they?).
For today, what if we talk about any name or names we’ve been noticing recently, for whatever reason. Is there a name you feel like you’re recently hearing a lot more of, or a name you think is due for a comeback, or a name you recently added to your Sad I Can’t Use It list, or a name you heard in real life for the first time, or a name you noticed in a book you were reading and have some thoughts about, or a name that is growing on you from hearing it in use?
We will try to keep things relatively positive overall, but I think it would be fine to tactfully/gently make less-positive remarks, as long as we are keeping in mind that there could be some dearly loved ones in our midst who have used the very names we have recently been wondering if they will EVER drop gracefully back out of fashion.
I have been listening to the audio book of Wolf Hall and was reminded of the name Morgan. It may currently be more popular for girls but I like it for anybody. It’s also the name of a lovely variety of draft horse.
I’m sad I won’t get to use Bronwen. I have loved it forever, and it was one of two final names for our daughter (who is one week old today!) We went with Im0gen, and I’m thrilled! But also sad not to have a Bronwen.
Can we please mention the name Abcde? (pronounced Ab-city for those who haven’t seen the news). I’m hoping that name gracefully steps out of of the limelight…
I keenly miss my youngest’s original name– June. They came out as non-binary about fifteen months ago and changed it to North. The name was the hardest part of this transition. Honestly, I haven’t gotten any less sad about it, though I have gotten more used to it. The ironic part is I took it harder than my wife and it’s a family name from her side of the family.
OH! I have been thinking about this a lot lately! In fact I almost sent this in as a question for Swistle because I think it’s a pretty big topic. I’m not expecting yet but I’ve been thinking a lot about what I need to do to prepare for a scenario like yours.
For the most part I don’t favour unisex names but I’ve been considering that it might be a good idea to have a middle name be unisex or oppositely gendered (opposite to the sex they are assigned at birth, unless I can figure out how/if it’s better to parent in a non-gendered way, I still have a lot of figuring out to do). This is another reason I love names with lots of nicknames so my kid could test out identity and persona in a way that encourages them that Josephine the person is allowed to be any/all of the personalities of Jay, or Joss, or Posey, or Fifi. But I imagine that in the case of gender transition, a new name would be more fulfilling and reconciling than a nickname.
I know a lot of people, myself included, have names they wouldn’t have chosen for themselves or don’t even like at all, but that’s not the same as having a name that you don’t feel connected with in the essence of your being, or that publicly declares something about yourself that you don’t feel to be true. I recently read a blurb (can’t remember where I saw this) that talked about how your name was gifted to you, but, like all gifts, you don’t have to keep it. While I agree with this principle, deep down I know I would feel a sense of loss or even rejection if my child renamed themselves.
I wonder if including a unisex/oppositely gendered name as a middle would appease my selfish want to gift my child their name, and also pave the way for my child’s self-expression and acceptance if they know that part of their perfect name gift from me was a name that lovingly embraced who they are or could be or might be.
I’m more than a little uneducated about trans culture so I’m unsure if unisex/oppositely gendered middle names are a good solution here, or if the experience of renaming yourself is an essential right of passage so to speak. I wouldn’t want to put my child in a position where they felt obligated to accept my name gift just because I built in a plan for whatever gender identity they realized.
I’d love to get more insight on this if anyone can chime in!
Also interested in hearing from people who changed their name not to align with their gender or because of a family falling out but for whatever other reason. As a potential future baby-namer I’m trying to weigh all the factors that can help me make my name gift to my child the best it can be.
I’m sure that must be difficult. Transition is such a huge, complex , painful process, for more than just the individual involved. Good for you for supporting your son, but I absolutely understand that point of view.
My daughter, who’s still quite young, has had gender … issues? Not sure that’s the right word… and the other day, she got mad at a picture of her 2yo self because it was too girly. Yikes. Those feelings in a much larger scale? Must be so hard, even as I acknowledge the struggles your son himself has had.losing the name I picked out would definitely be a part of that.
Actually, North’s middle name is Dell. Dell is predominantly a male name but for some reason, in my extended family it’s given to eldest daughters as a middle. Not everyone in the family uses it but it’s my middle name and I share it with a grandmother, aunt, and a cousin..and North. One of their many old nicknames was Junie Dell.
I suggested going by Dell, or by their initials (what could be more gender neutral than initials?) or Taylor which was a name was on both our boy and girl lists and is also a family surname on my wife’s side, but they wanted something completely new.
I can’t say it doesn’t make sense for them to want not just a gender-affirming name but a totally new name as they remodel their outward life. As I mentioned I’m not a parent yet so I can only hope this is one of those parental sacrifices that is easier once you are in the situation. Steph you seem to be as gracious as I could hope to be, loving your child while grieving the name loss. The plus side is that North is happy, and North is a pretty solid name choice as well!
I’ve known several AFAB (assigned female at birth) trans-folk (identifying both as male and non-binary) who had unisex or even traditionally masculine names who nonetheless changed them to different unisex/male names during their transition because they associated their birth name with being expected to be female. It makes sense, but I do feel a little sad, thinking about the years I’ve spent making lists and pouring over family trees, that if my future child doesn’t identify as the sex assigned as birth, they might refer to that name as their “dead name” — even though I very much subscribe to the “I gave you this name as a gift, I hope it is one that you love and that will grow with you, but I also respect your right to choose your own name someday” camp.
I am cisgender and bisexual, but from what I’ve experienced with homosexual and trans/non-binary friends and acquaintances in regards to their name, even most who start out with relatively gender neutral names want a new name–not just because of the associated gender, but because they associate the name with their old selves. It’s sort of a rebirth, and the old name kind of has to “die” so the new person has the weight off their shoulders. I know this mostly applies to trans people, but I do know a few people who chose to change/go by a different name after coming out as well.
That being said, if my own children realize they need to change their names, I hope they would ask my opinion. I’d love to help them choose something that means so much to them and their identity, just as I love choosing their birth names.
Thanks for sharing Steph. And Lee, i have been thinking about this as well. The very selfish conclusion I came to is if my daughter, who has a very feminine name, is trans or non-binary and would like to change her name, I really really hope I get to be involved in the process. Picking her name brought me a lot of joy, and while I would miss her name greatly, it would be an honor to help pick a new one. I know it’s dreaming that a young adult would want their parents’ input on something like that, but I can think of a lot of good reasons, provided their parent is supportive of their transition and identity, that it would be great to have that input. Thanks for sharing!
Oooof. That’s so tough, to balance what your kiddo needs and grief at the loss of the name you loved and chose. Especially for us name nerds.
I have an Aimee (she), who used to be Bram (he). The name Bram makes me kind-of happy/sad/nostalgic every time I see it. Aimee’s gender has been quite fluid for years, and I still can’t say for sure where she will end up. If I had another child I would 100% chance pick a gender neutral first name. I can’t say for sure whether it would be beneficial to the kid, but it feels to me like it would be. I’m so over the constant questions we get (with both names!) when people don’t think the name we are using fits our child presenting a certain way.
We have a 9-month-old Clementine, and have been hearing that name all over the place since we named her! We thought it was so uncommon, and now I’m worried it’s going to skyrocket in popularity. We have also heard of a horse and a zebra named Clementine, which….fair enough.
My 5 year old daughter has a top 20 name in our state. 40s nationwide. Right around the time we named her, I felt like we heard her name EVERYWHERE. But after a few months, it no longer felt like it was everywhere. My 2 kids have been in 4 different daycares and we’ve only once had another kid in the same school with the same name. We occasionally run into name twins at the playground, but it’s not too frequent. All of which is to say, you’re probably catching a snapshot of clementines.
When I was a kid and my mom was pregnant with my youngest sister my parents liked to tease us that they were going to name her Matilda. At the time we were like, MATILDA?!? NOOO!!!
And yet….it seems like it’s starting to be a bigger contender for a lot of people. Isn’t it crazy how time passes and our tastes change?
I have similar feelings about the name Penelope.
I was never a fan of Harper because it became so popular, and still is, a decade ago. But now, I would definitely consider using it, despite the popularity. I’m also coming around to Hunter and Jackson, in spite of how used those are.
I’ve long loved the name Winston, but will never be able to use it on a baby for a number of reasons, not the least of which is because I dont plan on having any more kids. My husband doesn’t like it, it wouldn’t work with our last name, and i don’t really like it with Theodore, my younger son’s name (too themey/world leader-ish). Our dog passed away a couple months ago, and we’re thinking of getting another dog in the spring,and I’ve already claimed the name Winston for this new (potential) dog. (I dont think any of the problems are a real issue with a dog, as opposed to a kid). Now I just need to find a dog that fits with our family and the name. It makes me happy to think about.
I think that’s a great solution. I have a great uncle Arch (short for Archibald) in my family tree. We didn’t have any sons and my husband said he couldn’t support saddling any baby with Archibald. But the next cat we adopt…
I’ve got 3:
1) Vail/Vale. My brother used it on his babygirl. Since then, I’ve noticed it on 5 or 6 lists. Had NEVER heard if it before.
2) Saw Lilinoe on Appellation Mt. List & it blew my mind a bit. I realize in Hawaii, it’s Lee lee-NO-Ay, but I’m from Kentucky where all vowels are subjective, ha. “Lily-Noa” is so pretty!
3) Beatrice in Italian is “BAY-a-TREE-chay” . ☆☆
I know a toddler named Vale! Her dad is also from KY but I’m pretty sure not your brother. I had never heard it before.
I finally did one of those DNA tests and jumped obsessively into creating a family tree. Ethers! All over the place! Swedish Esters, Swiss-German Esthers, turn-of-the-century American Esthers. Now I love the name more :)
Whoa that first Ether is an Esther obviously, although I love the cosmic Freudian slip of some ancestral ethers.
Best Reply To One’s Own Comment Award!!!
Our daughter’s middle name is Ester, named after her Swedish great-great-aunt! I love it. And I’m expecting Baby #2 and going through the family tree for names, and see even more Esthers. It makes me happy.
I love Caroline and Noelle. I’ll never get to use those names on babies.
We have a baby Leona in our family, and I love her name.
Two names that seem to be more popular in Texas than in other states where I have lived: Rhett (I know one in his 40s and one who is three), and Paisley (preschool age girls). I say we branch out and add some more patterns: Madras, Ditsy Floral, Ticking Stripe. Dottie and Heather are already out there… any other pattern names?
When my husband and I were first name seeking we joked about using themes…his favorite pattern, plaids – Madras, Tartan, Glen, Gingham, my favorite color, green – Jade, Sage, Hunter, Forest, or Spices – Basil, Rosemary, Thyme, Sage again. Alas, we used none of those.
Oooh, I like Gingham!
I was making a list of musical instruments that could be wearable names just last week! Banjo is already in use, and Viola is a name, but why not Violin? Cello, Harmonica, Clarinet, Timpani, Marimba, Mandolin, Oboe, Xylophone (especially if the pronunciation was changed to mimic the stress patterns of Hermione), …
Freya, I feel like I hear Freya a lot these days. Perhaps it’s more popular in Minnesota than the rest of the country?
I know of a little Freya (in CO), but I suspect it’s more popular in Minnesota because of the region’s high concentration of people of Scandinavian descent. I think it’s a really beautiful name.
I know of a Freya (she is 5). I would guess it is more common in MN than anywhere else in the country (although it is a pretty name and could be used elsewhere).
How is it pronounced? Free-uh or Fray-uh?
Fray-uh
https://www.google.com/search?q=freya+pronunciation&rlz=1CAASUJ_enUS754US754&oq=freya+pronunciation&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l4.6728j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
I don’t know how to pronounce it! It’s one of those names that make me hesitate! And I’m sure the Scandinavians have something to do with it :)
I’m in New Zealand,and read your comment this morning, and thought to myself that i hadn’t heard Freya for a long time–then when i was in the line at the market the 2 or 3 year old in front of me was called Freya…lol
Ha ha ha!
I live in Minneapolis and have a 5 year old Freya (named, in part, as a nod to her Norwegian heritage). When we named her, though, we lived in Brooklyn–and all our Minnesota/Wisconsin family and friends were kind of shocked by the name. I’ve encountered a few other young Freyas since we moved to MN a few years ago.
Ashleigh, I love that the Midwest family members were like, “Whaaaat?” :) The equivalent name, I think, when I was growing up, was Kjerstin or Anja, sort of international in vibe but loosely tied to the young women’s surnames (think Knutson or Nelson or whatever). FUN!
I went to college with a Freya (10ish years ago, in Massachusetts). At the time I’d never heard the name before. I’ve still never met any other Freyas, but I’ve seen the name all over name blogs in the past couple of years.
I’d like to talk about Aria. I remember first coming across it in a book almost 20 years ago. I thought it was so pretty, but also quite unusual and I wasn’t sure if I was brave enough to use it. It was ranked around 700 then. Now it’s ranked #20. Apparently everyone else started noticing it around the same time and many of them did use it even though I didn’t. I still have a hard time thinking of it as a common/popular name.
Also, back before I had a kids, I had SO MANY names that started with A on my girls names list. I wanted my kids to have different initials and I thought I’d likely have a hard time with that since I had so many A names that I loved. I now have 4 kids (3 of them girls). And how many of them have A names? 0.
It’s funny how things work out.
I loved this name for my daughter (now 4) and was shocked to see it so high on the list so we passed on it. My theory is that there was a main character on the show Pretty Little Liars that started in 2010. Still a beautiful name.
Also Arya in Game of Thrones!
Ahhhhhh…I don’t watch GOT, but that explains the 2 little girls called Arya (spelled that way) in my grandsons small daycare group
I just ran into an Aria at the library today! Probably 3 years old!
My daughter’s preschool class in the year ahead of her had two Arias and an Arianna. I had no idea it was that popular. It’s a beautiful name, I can see why so many love it.
One of my absolute favorite girl names is Thea. Never got the chance to use it.
Thea was the girl name we chose for our second child.
He turned out to be a boy, though, so we have a Calloway instead.
We named our second daughter Amaya. We had never heard anyone use it & were prepared for it to be a bit unusual… Until the first person asked us if it was Amaya like on PJ Masks. We are now familiar with that show and are noticing that especially among kids Amaya is seen as totally normal and common thanks to TV!
I am DYING!!! So cute. My 5 yo is really into PJ Masks.
We fell in love with the name Maverick before we even conceived this baby, and were really hoping for a boy so we could use it. We had our ultrasound and they said Congratulations, Boy! We were so so so thrilled.
Six weeks later at a follow-up ultrasound…..SURPRISE, SHE’S DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY A GIRL. The facility does more than 1,000 a month, and they said we were the first one they’d gotten wrong in MORE THAN A YEAR.
Weirdly crushing! We’re excited for our girl now, but I’m STILL bummed that we can’t use the name we were so excited about.
There is a 7 year old Maverick (girl) in our acquaintance group. She’s great.
You could at least use it as a middle name for a girl! And I think Maverick would be a really cool girl name. “Mav” as a nickname certainly sounds feminine, like Maeve.
Since a cousin named her son Maverick a could of years ago, I have heard and seen it in more than a few places. Iris is another name that I hearing of far more often than in the past.
I was thinking about this recently, because I had a conversation with a woman who I was friends with in high school (more than a few decades ago), and I remember loving the then extremely unfashionable name Isabel. I had read the name in the Jane Austen book Emma (the sisters were Emma and Isabella, how things come back into style…)
I was going to name my girls Isabel and Amelia and she was going to name her girls Daniella and Rebecca. We both have children and none of them are named these things. I have two boys and would not have used these two names, and she has two girls and named them more androgynous names (Parker, Shelby).
I recently settled on my third daughter’s name (you know, the one I will never ever have.) it’s Margot Faye, and it’s perfect because: a. Margot; b. all 3of the girls in my mom’s family, and me, have M middle names. My mom’s is Marguerite, my aunt’s is Margaret. So it’s not an honor name per se, but it plays into it; c. I had a dearly beloved great aunt, Ofelia, who never had a namesake and deserves one.
I can’t see either of my existing daughters as a Margot, but oh, this name has me (almost) wishing for a third. Then I come to my senses!
I live in the Northeast. Recently, among teens, I am noticing spelling variations that are subtle in confusing (to me) ways. I have a student named Madisen. If her name was Madysyn than it would be very clearly a creative spelling, but this type of variation, to me, it just reads “typo”. Similarly I have a Breana (pronounced “Brianna”). In the current preschool crowd I see a lot of: Max, Sebastian, Oliver, and Ben. Also preppy/earl-like names like Sheffield and Harrison. For girls, lots of vintage names like Amelia, Olivia, Evelyn. Interestingly, I personally only know a single Emma and no baby named Emily, Isabella, or Sophie.
I’d love to see a baby named Hayley. So pretty and underused.
I picked up Outlander to pass the time while breastfeeding my newborn and came across the name Murtagh. I’m really liking it. Not sure if we’ll go for a third kiddo so I also added the name to my list of names for future pets. Haha! I also agree with a previous poster on Morgan. I considered it for this latest boy.
I always wonder if I’m crazy for having two separate lists of baby and pet names in my phone. Haha!
Rowan! I know of three boys born in the last year named Rowan! It must be particularly popular in my area or circle of acquaintances. Funny coincidence that the last blog post was also about a brother name for Rowan.
I’m rather impressed by the -variety- of names in my son’s pre-k. I think there’s one repeat between the morning and the afternoon classes.
There is an odd coincidence between my daughter and another child we know. One is Susan and the other Suzette, and they are both 2. Suzette goes by Susie, and Susan by Susan. Mine is after my late mother
I’m sure its just because I had a daughter, and she has an -ora name, but I’m noticing that more and more. My college roommate had a Nora at the beginning of the year. Other friends had Cora and Zora this year, and people have mistaken mine for Dora and Laura. Never noticed this before. Or it might be part of the larger trend of short, vowel-heavy names ending in “a” for girls, like Ava, Emma, Mia, Maya, Amelia, etc.
My oldest daughters has an -ora name too and yes, there are a LOT of them and I also didn’t really notice it this until after we had named our daughter. I was more careful about “rhymes with” names with our next two kids, but at the same time I don’t regret our oldest daughter’s name.
I have noticed a lot of Augie and August going around.
I named my 10 year old daughter Hadley and thought I was so unique. There are at least five Hadley’s in our school district I have come across since then! My 12 year old daughter is named Brooke and we haven’t come across a peer named that even once!!!
In our school district there seems to be a MacKenna and an Avery in every single class. More than one class has two Averys or two MacKennas. This goes K-6. I find it very interesting.
I would like to mention some names that are seen regularly in Australia that I rarely see mentioned on american sites. They are all Celtic imports and I have no idea why they are not more popular in the USA.
Lachlan (peaked about 10 years ago here but still seen regularly)
Hamish (friend had a Hamish William a couple of weeks ago)
Angus (normally nicknamed Gus which is a great alternative to August.
My youngest is in daycare and I have noticed that there are no Mc/Mack/Mad/Ad girls. These topped the charts in our area for so long and now there seem to be none. Mackayla/Madeline/Madison/Addilyn and all of their variants seem to be on the out. There is also not a single _ayden boy.
I have also seen a shift in girls to what I think of as Germanic style names. I have met little Heidi, Mathilde, Esther, Hilda, Freya. I love these!
Lachlan I could see becoming more popular here. Not Angus or Hamish though. Angus is on too many grocery store meat packs (certified angus beef) and Hamish would be read as Ham – ish, like the pork product, by too many.
ooh, I’m so interested to hear you’ve met a Mathilde. It’s a family name I’d love to use, but our family pronunciation (Dutch) is Muh-teel-duh, and Matilda is so popular I’m afraid her name would be forever misspelled. Love Hilda and Heidi, too!
On first reading, yes, but I think folks are much more sensitive to pronunciation issues nowadays. It’s lovely. And Teal is a wonderful nickname
Isham. I’ve been reading Lucy Maud Montgomery lately, and she had a character named Isham. Two days later, I was doing geneology research, and *BOOM* another Isham.
Then there was Murray. Isn’t he distinguished? I know of one Murray, and he’s got to be in his seventies. He’s friendly and easily spelled. Ray is a retro nickname. I just plain LIKE him.
And Salome! She’s feminine and elegant, biblical and rare. Her meaning is gorgeous (peace), too. Sally is a peppy, girl-next-door nickname. Why isn’t she being used more?
Excellent idea, Swistle. And best wishes with your transition! Bittersweet and exciting…but, man, moving is HARD.
Aww, Salome! I love it too! I was actually thinking about this name a week ago or so (well, about it’s Polish version, Salomea, to be exact). It seems that it was especially popular here in the 19th century, and it’s also Maria Skłodowska-Curie’s middle name. And the nickname Sally is perfect too!
P.S. A pair of twin girls named Penelope & Salome (Penny & Sally) would be so cute:)
Salome in the Bible requested the head of John the Baptist on a platter though. But then Delilah is getting popular so who knows…
But Salome was also the wife of Zebedee, the mother of apostles James and John.
Strong woman!
My grandparents are Ray and Sally!! :)
I have been thinking about Christmas/winter names this month. I had two December babies and gave neither one a seasonal name, but recently I have enjoyed imagining children Holly, Ivy, Noel, Star, Nicolas, Solstice, and (my favorite) Carol. I have to laugh at how much I love word/concept names in any season!
Or Natalia!
I have a new appreciation for the names Daniel and Henrietta after Captain Awkward bestowed the Mister Roger’s Neighborhood names on her two kittens. I’d forgotten how much I loved Daniel Striped Tiger and Henrietta Pussycat, and the nickname Hen is just so cute to me. Meow MEOW meow-meow.
Nolan is a name that is seemingly everywhere – I feel like the past 4 or 5 baby name posts have included this name as a contender.
My husband’s name is Daniel and I am cracking up at the idea of a cat named Daniel!! Hahaha! I dont think I could ever do it but on the other hand, my SIL named her pet turtle after herself… so, maybe!
My husband had an aunt named Henrietta who went by Penny. We talked about naming our third after her, but he turned out to be a boy. She was a wonderful woman so the name gives me warm feelings.
So as a teen I liked the name Beau/Bo. Manly and romantic, fun yet could be a Senator. I toyed with Robert nicknamed Bo but with a Joe in the house it seemed too much.
However with the movie Dumplin out: Bo!! Maybe this will make a comeback (not that it was super popular before). I’m rooting for Bo.
I’m fond of Bo, too…and I’m pretty sure it’s because I had a big crush on John Schneider ;)
I came to say that I know two little Beaus that have been born in the past couple months. I think it’s a great name!
I passed a street the other day named Bexley and thought what a great name that was. Nickname Bex! Feels androgynous to me.
I was recently mulling over the name Isadora. It seems to be one of these elegant, old-fashioned names that are popular in recent years, it would also be a great alternative for overly popular Isabella. Nickname options are also nice: Issy or Dorrie. The most famous Isadora seems to be Isadora Duncan, the ballet dancer, and there’s also a cosmetic brand named IsaDora (with a capital D), but it’s nothing off-putting… So, I wonder why isn’t it more popular? Any thoughts?
P.S. Polish version of this name is Izadora, but the only Polish woman with that name that I’m aware of is Izadora Weiss (oddly enough, she’s a former ballet dancer and choreographer). And Isadora/Izadora does not appear on a long list of names used in Poland in 2017* at all, even though there’s plenty of unusual names, and even two baby Ivankas;)
* If anyone was curious, here’s the link: https://www.gov.pl/web/cyfryzacja/statystyka-imion-za-2017-rok-podsumowanie (it’s official government site so it’s safe to click)
I went to school with an Isadora (so she’d be mid-30s now), but I think she’s the only one I’ve met. Good question though, it’s is a lovely name with some great nicknames.
In the Isa- name vein, I also really like Isabeau, even though (or maybe because ) it seems like a weirdly cross-gendered name (since beau is the masculine version of belle).
I recently saw the roster for a small preschool class and there were two Tuckers — I thought that was so surprising!
I like the sound of the name Tucker, but there’s some unfortunate rhyming/mispronouncing opportunities there.
We have friends who named their son Roy a couple of years ago. It seemed a little strange to my ear since I don’t think it’s been in fashion since the 1960s. But then my daughter started kindergarten this fall and she had a Roy in her class as well. It definitely wasn’t one I was expecting to come back!
I have a brother Roy! One of my favorite names!
I have 5 grandsons and 1 granddaughter, it’s funny that 2 of the most uncommon names to me at the time they were born made the comments here, and then 1 other grandson’s name someone commented they have seen all over, and he is 9 yrs old and has only ever met one person with his name. So the 2 grandson’s are Maverick ( I was surprised at this choice from my super conservative kid and spouse ) he has a little brother named Tucker ( I have never met or heard of another, except on TV ) They get all positive feedback from Tucker’s name. My older grandson Nolan is 9 yrs old and he has only met one older child with this name, and we never hear people talk about it in our area. We also have a Davis ( who is the same age as Mav ) which I have seen pop up here quite a bit in the past year, yet we have never met or heard of one near us. Yet there are 2 Maverick’s at the preschool with Davis. ( 4 years ago I thought this was such an unusual name ) The oldest GS is Landon which I really love and he has never run across another, except for once at a Starbucks. Now the baby girl we have is Frances, which I simply love! Steph, I love the name June, that was a contender for our Frances.
This is so interesting. In my area, I run into Nolans and Landons all the time!
Heard “Ruger” called out in a waiting room this morning for a little boy (I’m presuming boy–he was about 2 and had long hair, but that’s common around here). I find the gun names a little disconcerting, but hadn’t heard this one in real life.
I’ve seen Talia and been struck by how lovely it is.
I’ve wondered why Sabine has never had a moment. I love it.
I love both of those names! I know a few adults named Talia (as well as Talya and Tali), but no Sabines.
I just had my final baby in June, so I’ve been thinking a lot about the names I won’t use.
No girls for me, so Athena, Muriel, Rosemary and Patience ( and Leona, but my 2nd son is Lee so I gave up on that before we knew we’d have a 3rd, but #3 was a boy too anyway) are lost and I feel a little teary when I hear those names still. I already made the rule that we must get female pets from now on since even our current cat is a boy . . .
The boy name pine after is Wilfred, but I got to use 2 of my all time favorite names on our last son (Hugh Somerled! I still love it!), so it’s not so sad to think of because I don’t actually want any more sons (or children in general) the same way I still wish I had at least 1 daughter.
As for names that I keep hearing it is Elijah (in every conceivable spelling) for boys and Amaya in my oldest’s school.
I seems I’ve come across and been holding on to a few names that meet the topics Swistle noted.
In my particular pocket of California, Paisley has had a surprising surge the past couple years, to the point the I’ve lost count of how many I’ve met.
Due to the surname Beard, I sadly cannot use one of our favorites, Henry, d/t worry that “Harry Beard” will be bestowed on him. Also, “Shay” as it reminds too many people of “shave” with the facial hair surname. Oh well!
Names I’ve come across in books that seem to be due for a comeback or for a first run at higher usage are: Bianca (why is this so uncommon??!?), Rose, Gwen, Faye, Jane, Naomi and Ramona. As well as, Rex, Dean, Freddy (Frederick), Rhys, and Jones (as a first name!)
I dream of having a household with Bianca, Rex, Gwen, and Dean running around. Swoon.
Great names! So funny that Bianca and Gwen have the same meaning- nice for sisters since the names themselves arent “matchy” at all.
I love Bianca, Naomi, Gwen, and Ramona. I have a friend named Bianca and I know a few Naomi’s.
Other names that seems to fit in this group:
Dexter (Dex)
Jonas or Jonah
Ray/Rae
Jay/Jae
Jean
Jude
Dennis
Deanne or Deanna
Lena
Nadia
Tenzing is a moniker that I feel could find a solid reception. He climbed Mt. Everest with Sir Edmund, carries a high-value Scrabble letter, and comes with the nickname Zing. I mean, really. Tenzing is COOL!
We’re trying to find a good “R” name and both of our top two choices are outside of the top 1000 US names: Rupert and Rufus. With a new Royal British baby on the way, I’m wondering if any of their selections will affect the popularity of names here.
Any “R” name suggestions for us?
I would love to hear “Raymond” more often for little guys. I also really like Reid. And Rudy.
Rory is one of my favorites.
Maybe Russell?
Side note – my cousin recently named her baby Rae Anne (one word, and spelled differently). I thought it was a surprising but fresh choice.
Reeve
Reese
Rutherford
Ridley
Raleigh
Raylan
Riordan
There’s a Rex in my daughter’s preschool, it suits him so well!
Reid / Reed
Randall
Regis
I LOVE Rufus!!! Use it! Start a trend.
Rufus and Rupert are lovely.
Maybe:
Roscoe
Robin
Ralph
Raphael
Rafferty
Roderick
Roger
Reynard
Ruben or Raphael!
I’ve been obsessed with the name Marigold recently. OBSESSED. I want to have twin girls just so I can name them Marigold and Magnolia. (Magnolia is another favorite.)
I always thought twins named Marigold and Tansy would be lovely.
I know a marigold who recently turned 1!
For me, the newest name is Declan. I had one last year and I really liked saying it. This year there are three more at my school. From 0-4 in one year! But it is my new favorite name now! Although I named my new cat Hattie and I love that too!
Declan is a name I’ve seen popping up a lot lately (coworker’s baby and some others).
How about Roland as an R name? It’s what we would have named our final baby had she been a boy. (And now it’s a name I’ll never get to use, except maybe for a pet.) I also always liked Russell and definitely would have used it if it hadn’t already been used in my husband’s family.
There’s a little girl in my daughter’s ballet class named Shannon. It sounds surprisingly fresh to my ear in the sea of Lilys, Arias, Isabellas, and Sophias.
Another thing that stood out to me recently was the two boys named Gary in my daughter’s preschool class. I wouldn’t expect to meet any 3-year-olds named Gary, much less two in the same small class (both are apparently named for their grandpas).
Over ten years ago, an acquaintance named their baby Lois for a recently-departed grandma, and I still haven’t gotten over it. Baby Lois! Head of Baby HR.
Have we ever made a “what was your name list when you were in middle/high school” compendium? I remember Tristan, Julian, Oliver, Larissa, and Hazel. I still get all “I loved it first!!” about the Olivers and Hazels that are everywhere / popping up everywhere (respectively), then have to give myself Swistle’s lecture about how we all generationally formed similar tastes.
I probably won’t end up having a bio baby / infant baby, and if that’s the case, will always, always regret not getting to use the name Cleo. For an AMAB baby, I’ve always dreamed of using my father’s middle name, Pierce. That one is particularly poignant because it can’t really carry the same honor when used for a pet!
I met a waitress named Laramie the other day, and thought what an AWESOME name that would be—such a neat sound; rare but established; a lovely androgynousness—if it hadn’t been the name of the town in which Matthew Shepard was killed. Did her parents know? How did that happen? Good god. I thought that maybe it was a memorial, or a Forrest Gump thing, like how his mom named him after an evil military official to remind him that people make mistakes and to strive to be better, but even that seems…callously light, and too soon.
I am really loving the animals given popular 80’s names—that actor from Please Like Me has a dog named John (I guess that’s more of a perennial than an 80’s name but it’s still hilarious); we seriously considered Jennifer and Todd for cats. Todd the cat! Yes please. I guess that means that those are coming back at some point! I’m definitely not ready for THAT.
And can we poke fun at Swistle for suggesting the name Eliza in every name list she makes from the beginning of time and forever into the future? Swistle! Name a puppy Eliza already! <3
I am hoping for a granddaughter Eliza someday!
My friend grew up with cats named Peter and Laurie! (in the late 80s/early 90s)
I met a couple whose youngest baby is named Winston! It’s so unexpected but when the dad mentioned the baby’s name, every single person at our dinner table went, “his name is Winston? That’s AWESOME!”
I met toddler twins named Roy and Judy the other day. Roy and JUDY!
I was charmed. Not names I’d every choose myself, but it works so weirdly well and also is a precursor to the next round, right? When Roy/Judy/Lois/Bob are great-grandparent names and therefore vintage hip?
I wonder if Agatha or Gertrude will ever make a comeback. These are two names that I think of in the Matilda category, but I haven’t seen them on any lists.
We’re really considering Agatha! But I’m in the UK where old lady names in general are much more normal.
…. and Mildred?
…..Bertha? Can’t see it making a come back anytime soon.
Maybe not, but Martha sounds plausible to me. And they’re only 2 letters different!
My beloved grandmother was Gertie. Not Gertrude but Gertie. Needless to say all of her namesakes used her middle name.
My great grandmother had a sister Euphosina who died young. She offered $100 (a lot of money back then) to any of her children or grand children who named a daughter Euphosina. Three generations of children later, no takers.
My husband recently worked with a woman named Mylenne (M’lenne, kind of like Madeleine without the Adel, and using the pronunciation that doesn’t sound like -line.)
So pretty, I think, but wow, talk about a name no one could be sure how to spell from hearing it or know how to pronounce on reading it.
I never had kids of my own to name but when I was young and dreaming I had whole lists. See if you can guess my age by the names. Devin Elizabeth was my favorite girls name. My great grandparents were Jessie and John and my father was Harrel John (Harrel was his grandmother’s maiden name and his father’s middle name but Grandpa went by Harrel) so I always wanted boy/girl twins named Jessica Nell (my mother’s middle name) and Harrel John called Jessie and John. I have a nephew who is named James Harrel Jr (my brother is the original James Harrel) Jim was going to call the little guy Jimmy but that seemed confusing since we call him Jim/Jimmy. He ended up going with JJ with a little prompting from the family. I was rooting for Harry as a nn for Harrel. I have a great niece named Phoenix and another named Rogue and great nephews named Killian and Declan. My roommate has a 14 year old Richard who goes by Ricky and all the other Rick/Rich/Richards we know are adults. He has never had another Ricky in any of his classes. She has an 11 year old Shayleigh who goes by Shay and she also is the only Shay in all her classes. I teach a very small church choir group of preschoolers and we have a Greyson, Wayson, Warran, and Emmy. Last year we had two Jacks so one added his middle name Ross and goes by Jack Ross now.
We named our daughter Louise (1), and in the past year, of the 400ish people I follow on Instagram, there has been another Louise, a Louisa, and 2 Lucys!
We have a Louise (3) and one of her good friends has a baby sister Louisa (1) and there is a Louis in her class (both go by Loulou at home, to make matters even more confusing). It’s funny to think that I didn’t like the name, originally (and was only convinced bc of an important family connection), because I thought it sounded so out of date! My husband is a French expat and L’s name typifies Swistle’s theory mentioned above: even being largely disconnected from current pop culture in France, the name he chose for his daughter was #1 in France that year. We nearly died laughing when we found out, because the reaction here was uniformly, ‘…must be a family name.’
The name I keep coming across is Silas. I’m hearing it everywhere lately.
I’m also noticing what I consider a lot of odd/unusual names for my son’s age group. The names themselves aren’t odd, just completely unexpected for 4 year olds. My son has classmates named Rusty, Doug and Brad, which I find so strange for kids that age.
Everyone at work was talking about the Netflix show The Haunting of Hill House and/or reading the book. The next week I met a Theodora, a professional woman in 60s and was surprised how well the name worked in real life. I’m wondering if we’ll see an uptick in that name this year.
I’m also surprised by how uncommon Bianca is. Also how I never hear Ruth.
My grandmother is Ruth, her 100th birthday is this month! Bianca was my teacher in both first and second grade.
Other Grandmother/Teacher names that are in this vein: Sylvia, Irene, Ilene, Judy, Gertrude, Hilda, Esther, Lillian, Evelyn, Estelle
I know a little Teadora called Tea, with a little accent mark over the “e”. Also a Theodora who goes by Teddy (heart eyes).
I was thinking of a similar topic last weekend. My oldest (7) was in a production of Annie (there’s a name I’m sad I never used, BTW), and looking at the program was fascinating – out of about 25 kids there were 2 Sadies, 2 Claras, a Keira and a Kira. Kids were 5-10 years old. None of those were names I would think you’d need to be worried about seeing duplicates of. There was also an Ella and an Ellie (I feel like I’m hearing that one A LOT), and an Addison and an Adalyn (also hearing LOTS of variations of this lately – Ada, AdaLynn, Adeline, etc). You just never know when you name your kid if they’ll need there last initial or not. Heck, I went to preschool with another Hope. I’m sure my mother was shocked.
My own typo of there/their is annoying me. I do know the difference! And I came back to say the name I keep hearing everywhere is Rory. I know 4 – 2 boys, 2 girls. 2 I know are very Irish, 1 is a nickname for Aurora
A child in my son’s class is named Ramona, Mona for short. I feel like that name should be more popular! Interesting names I’ve run into lately are Orson (hipster?) and Fredly (like a combination of Fred and friendly).
I have been so intrigued by the name Tea. (Pronounced tay-uh). I wonder if it would be a constant correcting people on spelling and pronunciation though. Maybe if it was a nickname for something longer?
Could be used as a nn for Theodosia? Such a great longer name too!
Like Téa Leonie? I think the accent helps a lot with the pronunciation.
My own daughter’s name (I’m hesitant to even say it!) has been popping up EVERYWHERE. It’s not just because I focus on it, because it’s been one of my favorites since childhood and I almost never saw it before this year. Now it seems like it’s on everyone’s list. I haven’t actually met anyone with the name, though. It was hovering in the 300s on the US popularity list for a while, but I’m nervous that the new social security list will come out in May and she’ll have jumped into the 100/200s or *gasp* even the top 100. I didn’t want a completely off the wall name, but I aimed to steer clear of the top 100… so we’ll see.
That being said, a lot of names we considered but now can’t/won’t use–Eve, Juniper, Violet, Fiona–are also popping up quite a bit, so maybe I’m just trendier than I thought. I knew Violet was high, which is why we didn’t use it, and all the Eve names and sound-similars are very common in my area; Eva, Evelyn, Evie, Everly, Ava. Eve is the only one I slightly regret not using, but seeing it or variations of it on so many babies and toddlers makes me feel a little better.