What’s in a name? For parents today, the answer is: everything.
A baby’s name isn’t just a label, it’s a reflection of identity, heritage and values. As Gen Alpha ends on Dec. 31, 2024, and Gen Beta begins to arrive, the landscape of baby naming is more dynamic than ever.
“Names are deeply tied to identity,” said Sophie Kihm, editor-in-chief of Nameberry, the world’s largest website devoted to baby names. “The most important thing is choosing a name that feels meaningful to you.”
Current trends include neo-cowboy names (like Rhodes and Dutton); baby “men” and “women” names — adult-sounding names such as Lionel or Georgina; girl names for boys, like June or Willow; and “atmospheric” names like Clover or Solana.
Gen Alpha stands out as the most unique generation of names yet. Fewer children than ever are given top names, as parents increasingly look for options that feel personal and meaningful. Looking ahead, naming trends for Gen Beta are expected to become even more distinctive.
“Cultural identity will be a huge factor,” Kihm said, predicting that parents will increasingly gravitate toward names with roots in cultures like Turkish, Arabic, Indian, Japanese and Spanish.
Among the names expected to rise in popularity for girls are Scottie, Elowyn, Lenora, Murphy and Solana, while for boys, names like Matheo, Elio, Chosen and Caspian are predicted to trend.
One thing is certain: the era of cookie-cutter baby names is firmly in the past.