Baby Name Trends
What baby names are coming into style and what name trends do we predict for the months and years ahead? Baby name trends and predictions are Nameberry's specialty, and here's where you'll find all our news on the subject. For more research on name trends and data on name popularity, visit our Unique Names page or browse Nameberry's up-to-the-minute lists of popular girl names and popular boy names.
Sun Nov 30 2014
Celebrity Baby Names: The V, X, and Z epidemic
Three letters in particular are popping up all over the starbaby map, in first, middle and last place: look for lots of V, X and Z sounds, says Abby Sandel.
Mon Nov 24 2014
Billy and Bob are Back in the Playground
There are signs–especially in the celebrity world–of a return of old Depression Era All-American nickname names like Tommy and Johnny and Billy. Do you think it’s a trendlet that will spread?
Thu Nov 13 2014
From Mary to Isabella: Baby names get longer and longer
By Nick Turner Baby-name fads have come and gone over the decades, but one trend has held true: Names are getting longer. A hundred years ago, boys’ names were typically less than two syllables. John, James, George and Frank were all popular picks, and there were no three-syllable names anywhere in the top 20. In […]
Sun Nov 09 2014
A peek inside the Nameberry bubble
Guest blogger Josie surveyed her fellow Berries to chart the popularity of first and middle names, and initial letters –and to see how they compare with the baby name world at large.
Thu Nov 06 2014
Hot Baby Names: 20 choices heading for the top
Predicting which names will hit the top of the list, and when, is an art….but it’s also a science. And we’ve got the numbers behind the hottest names.
Tue Nov 04 2014
Portuguese Baby Names: The aristo trend
Portuguese name blogger Filipa Lopes looks at the names trending in her country, one which has certain rules and restrictions.
Sun Nov 02 2014
Eclectic Naming Trends: Global, Gender-Neutral, Classic
Abby Sandel’s Nameberry 9 this week shows how the latest celeb choices illustrate the anything-goes spirit of trends in baby names now.
Wed Oct 08 2014
M Baby Names: Initial of the future?
M is the next major consonant, waiting in the wings to start the most marvelous baby names of the future.
Mon Sep 22 2014
Unusual Baby Names: The Other A Names
A is the most popular first initial for baby names today, starting many top choices from Ava to Aiden, Alexander to Abigail. But you can get all of A’s style and advantages with these 100 more unusual names.
Mon Sep 15 2014
Sibling Names: The latest from London
The newest crop of baby name trends, ideas, and sibling combinations from the British birth announcements.
Mon Sep 15 2014
Mythological Baby Names: They’re on the rise
Mythological baby names are definitely on the rise, as David Taylor shows most graphically.
Wed Sep 10 2014
Baby Name Trendspotting: Hello, Dolly!
Eleanor Nickerson has spotted a new trend emerging across the pond–the Dolly girls. Do you see it happening here?
Thu Aug 28 2014
Name-alytics
We’re so happy to share the news of the publication of Kelli Brady’s new ebook, “Name-alytics” which is chock full of interesting and useful data and stats. Heartily recommended!
Thu Aug 21 2014
Occupational Surnames: Far from a fad
Occupational surnames as firsts may seem like a recent trend, but Nick Turner traces them way back in his family two hundred years, and adds lots of interesting information on the subject.
Mon Aug 11 2014
Boys’ Names 2014: New guys on the block
Short, strong, and barely heard a generation ago, these are not your father’s or grandfather’s baby names.
Thu Aug 07 2014
Welsh Nickname Names: Iolo, Betsan and Llio
A whole new world of intriguing nickname names from Wales opens up to us here, thanks to Eleanor Nickerson. Gwenno, anyone?
Sun Aug 03 2014
The #1 Baby Names: How popular are they?
How many usages does it take to bring a baby name to the top spot? Kelli Brady shows how drastically that number has decreased over time. (Or why you know so many grown Jennifers and no baby Noahs.)
Sun Aug 03 2014
Starbaby News: The Jagger Dynasty, gender-bending and more
In Abby Sandel’s Nameberry 9 this week: Mick Jagger becomes a grandfather AND a great-grandfather, a Lion lands in the middle spot, and Ezra is used for a girl!
Mon Jul 21 2014
The Trendy ‘ett’ Boys–from Beckett to Bennett to Jett
Have you noticed the sudden raft of boys’ names ending in ‘ett’–Beckett, Emmett, Everett–climbing on the popularity lists?
Mon Jul 07 2014
Most Popular Baby Names of 2014….so far
Which names have been most popular on Nameberry for the first half of 2014? Here, up-to-the-minute results on what’s on top and what’s hot.
Sun Jul 06 2014
Twin name trends in this week’s baby names news
Abby Sandel has lots of baby name news this week–including a new trend for boys’ names and some interesting twin combos.
Sun Jul 06 2014
The Most Popular Names Over Time
Some fascinating surprises in Kelli Brady’s analysis of the most popular names since 1880–such as Patricia being #3 and James–not John–the top name for boys over time.
Thu Jun 19 2014
Baby Names that Bridge Generations: Allison and Kyle
Angela Mastrodonato looks at generation-bridging names: names that would fit both mom and baby, such as Natalie, Allison and Kyle.
Mon Jun 16 2014
Unusual Vintage Names: Which might come back?
Once in the Top 200, these names have fallen off the list completely. Which ones deserve to be revived? Otis? Viola? Freddie? Cast your votes!
Wed Jun 11 2014
Short, Simple, Chic Baby Names
The chicest names in Europe are not the elaborate and obscure but short, simple, familiar names like these easy choices for both boys and girls.