Popular Girls’ Names that Rose or Fell 100+ Ranks within the U.S. Top 1000 (2023)

May 14, 2024 ElizabethLeave a comment

It’s the Tuesday after Mother’s Day, which means it’s also the Tuesday after Data Release Day! The Social Security Administration released brand new American baby name data on Friday. We’ve already talked about the Top 10 and the Top 100, but what about names within the Top 1000? It’s worth looking at the names whose popularity changed drastically within the Top 1000 because many of those names describe ongoing trends. So, mainly out of curiosity, I’ve compiled a list of baby girls’ names whose popularity changed by at least 100 ranks between 2022 and 2023 in either direction! I will post a list of the boys’ names later. For these lists, I’m *not* including the names that entered or left the top 1000 (with one notable exception, which you’ll see in my notes); like the boys’ list, the new and exiting names will be part of a separate post.

Girls’ Names that Rose at least 100 Ranks within the U.S. Top 1000 from 2022 to 2023:

*Name*	*2023 Rank*	*2022 Rank*	*Rank Change*
Scottie	617	923	+306
Miley	452	703	+251
Inaya	736	971	+235
Halo	567	770	+203
Maisy	791	987	+196
Lakelynn	778	967	+189
Elowyn	693	880	+187
Tallulah*	817	999	+182
Lottie	775	950	+175
Lenora	763	931	+168
Jaylani	599	766	+167
Sariyah	577	733	+156
Whitley	733	885	+152
Antonella	287	436	+149
Murphy	519	667	+148
Sunny	406	553	+147
Giana	749	895	+146
Jovie	588	732	+144
Arlet	604	741	+137
Cielo	859	996	+137
Itzel	364	498	+134
Goldie	685	815	+130
Wrenlee	584	712	+128
Lainey	54	174	+120
Navy	363	483	+120
Amirah	458	577	+119
Aurelia	371	488	+117
Lacey	759	877	+118
Alanna	453	567	+114
Marigold	714	828	+114
Georgina	770	881	+111
Nyomi	811	922	+111
Aitana	217	327	+110
Emberlynn	798	908	+110
Wrenley	175	284	+109
Meilani	845	952	+107
Kaiya	797	903	+106
Mallory	429	533	+104
Anahi	462	565	+103
Araceli	803	905	+102
Emory	366	468	+102
Florence	580	623	+102
Kataleya	672	774	+102
Maxine	513	615	+102
Amoura	633	734	+101
Maddie	839	940	+101
Birdie	701	801	+100
Luz	843	943	+100

Data from the Social Security Administration

Honorable mentions go to Aliza, Calliope, Chana, Kaliyah, Paula, Taytum, Winona, and Xiomara for rising over 90 places!

So, what’s especially interesting to me are the names that rose at least 200 places: Scottie, Miley, Inaya, and Halo. Scottie has never been popular as a girls’ name until a few years ago, though it has some literary-adjacent cred as the nickname of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald’s daughter Frances Scott Fitzgerald. Miley’s popularity is volatile because it’s already dipped out of the Top 1000 once since the initial Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana craze and has a tendency to spike usage in either direction. Inaya is an international favorite originating from Arabic and Urdu, meaning “care” or “concern.” Halo has been trending upwards ever since the 2008 Beyonce song, though lately popularity is more tied to celebrity baby names (Nick Cannon and Halle Bailey both have young children named Halo).

Trendwise, I’m seeing a few different things here. International hits like Inaya, Amirah, and Antonella. Spanish-language and indigenous Latin-American names as a subcategory or adjacent to international names, i.e. Arlet, Araceli, Itzel, Aitana, Anahi, Luz. Sunny, golden, and generally happy-vibe names: Sunny, Goldie, Luz, Miley, Aurelia, Marigold, Jovie all fit. Vintage choices like Maxine, Goldie, Florence, Lenora, Lottie, and Birdie. Standalone nicknames with “ie” or similar endings: Scottie, Birdie, Lottie, Goldie, Maddie, Lainey, and Maisy. What I’m *not* seeing is as many names ending in “-Lynn,” an older trend that may be on its way downwards; Emberlynn and Lakelynn are two of the newest options in that category, but they’re late to the party.

Do keep in mind that names closer to the top of the charts are even trendier with significant rises than ones much lower in the charts, so names like Lainey, Aitana, Antonella, and Aurelia within the top 500 are trending harder than Maddie, Meilani, and Nyomi closer to the bottom.

Other notes:

Regarding Tallulah: SSA data edits made this new to the 2022 Top 1000, yet many namers on the web and social media (myself included) had Tallulah in their predictions for 2023. When SSA published the 2022 list last year, Tallulah wasn’t on there.
Arlet didn’t rise alone; variants Arlette and Arleth also grew more popular in between 2022 and 2023.
In conjunction with Itzel’s rise, Alitzel was new to the Top 1000 in 2023.
Maisy grew because Maisie got more popular; another spelling, Mazie, returned to the Top 1000 in 2023.
Lainey is likely the hottest name of 2023 thanks to country singer Lainey Wilson. It’s highly unusual for names to jump over 100 places into the Top 100!

What about the girls’ names that fell more than 100 spots between 2022 and 2023?

Girls’ Names that Fell at least 100 Ranks from 2022 to 2023 (and Stayed in the U.S. Top 1000):

*Name*	*2023 Rank*	*2022 Rank*	*Rank Change*
Marleigh	924	711	-213
Jayleen	788	610	-178
Addilyn	746	574	-172
Malaysia	776	608	-168
Madilynn	727	566	-161
Angelique	998	842	-156
Natasha	986	833	-153
Zendaya	834	681	–153
Joelle	936	785	–151
Kai	940	789	-151
Bria	910	760	–150
Kensley	755	614	–141
Hayley	972	832	–140
Malaya	847	708	-139
Kassidy	962	824	-138
Royalty	562	427	–135
Allyson	979	845	–134
Ashlynn	921	787	-134
Liberty	891	761	-130
Mikaela	819	689	–130
Malayah	969	839	–130
Waverly	880	751	-129
Ailani	593	467	-126
Scout	821	695	-126
Annika	956	835	–121
Avianna	561	441	–120
Ezra	762	643	–119
Zaylee	831	713	-118
Adley	765	648	-117
Jolie	906	792	–114
Elliot	898	786	-112
Nola	739	627	–112
Estella	610	499	–111
Bellamy	828	718	-110
Kimber	884	775	–109
Rylie	554	447	-107
Roselyn	926	821	–105
Cheyenne	790	686	-104
Anika	928	825	-103
Izabella	483	381	-102
Kayleigh	631	529	-102
Dani	779	678	-101

Data from the Social Security Administration

Names that fell between 90 and 100 places include Ainsley, Araya, Belen, Braelynn, Cadence, Raegan, Ryan, and Sariah.

The names that fell at least 100 ranks are a bit harder to classify within trend categories, though as I mentioned before I think we are starting to see the downturn of a lot of “-Lynn” names (Addilyn, Ashlynn, Roselyn) and some of the “-Leigh” names too (Kayleigh, Kensley, Marleigh, Zaylee). I think it’s interesting that Ezra fell so far on the girls’ side considering it jumped 10 places within the Top 25 on the boys’ side. Similarly, there’s no reason Ailani should have dropped because two of the newest entries to the Top 1000 are Ailany and Aylani, which are different spellings of that name.

What do you think of these names? What are some trends you’re seeing? Let me know and keep an eye out for the boys’ list!

The New Top 100 Most Popular Baby Names

May 10, 2024 ElizabethLeave a comment

The Social Security Administration just released its list of the Top 100 most popular baby names in the U.S. in 2023! While SSA publishes data for the Top 1000 and beyond, the Top 100 list is where you’ll find today’s most familiar names. From tried-and-true classics to the trendiest modern classics, these are the most common baby names on throughout the U.S. Your child will likely know many other children bearing these names!

Here are the 100 most popular names given to baby boys in 2023:

Rank	Name	# of Babies	Rank Change
1	Liam	20802	0
2	Noah	18995	0
3	Oliver	14741	0
4	James	11670	0
5	Elijah	11452	0
6	Mateo	11229	+5
7	Theodore	11041	+3
8	Henry	10941	-1
9	Lucas	10842	-1
10	William	10598	-4
11	Benjamin	10172	-2
12	Levi	9347	0
13	Sebastian	8865	0
14	Jack	8683	+1
15	Ezra	8437	+10
16	Michael	8383	0
17	Daniel	8356	-3
18	Leo	8120	+4
19	Owen	7985	-1
20	Samuel	7973	-1
21	Hudson	7935	+6
22	Alexander	7875	-5
23	Asher	7853	-3
24	Luca	7770	+4
25	Ethan	7763	-4
26	John	7750	0
27	David	7354	+4
28	Jackson	7284	-5
29	Joseph	7237	+1
30	Mason	7237	-6
31	Luke	7217	+3
32	Matthew	7190	+7
33	Julian	7078	+2
34	Dylan	7054	+8
35	Elias	6980	+8
36	Jacob	6976	-4
37	Maverick	6962	-3
38	Gabriel	6745	-2
39	Logan	6686	-6
40	Aiden	6675	-11
41	Thomas	6598	+4
42	Isaac	6581	-1
43	Miles	6558	+13
44	Grayson	6449	-7
45	Santiago	6328	+3
46	Anthony	6237	-2
47	Wyatt	6237	-9
48	Carter	5847	-1
49	Jayden	5627	-3
50	Ezekiel	5569	-1
51	Caleb	5488	+1
52	Cooper	5425	+1
53	Josiah	5404	-2
54	Charles	5395	-4
55	Christopher	5171	0
56	Isaiah	5121	+2
57	Nolan	5112	+8
58	Cameron	5069	+6
59	Nathan	5049	-2
60	Joshua	5035	0
61	Kai	4946	-2
62	Waylon	4881	+4
63	Angel	4865	-1
64	Lincoln	4842	-10
65	Andrew	4781	-4
66	Roman	4777	+2
67	Adrian	4646	-4
68	Aaron	4551	+3
69	Wesley	4539	+1
70	Ian	4538	+2
71	Thiago	4505	+36; NEW
72	Axel	4498	+5
73	Brooks	4469	+3
74	Bennett	4411	+9
75	Weston	4356	+7
76	Rowan	4195	+20
77	Christian	4125	-4
78	Theo	4122	+21
79	Beau	4090	+11
80	Eli	4081	-11
81	Silas	4070	+7
82	Jonathan	4066	-3
83	Ryan	4020	-9
84	Leonardo	4012	-9
85	Walker	4006	-7
86	Jaxon	3918	-19
87	Micah	3875	+2
88	Everett	3808	-7
89	Robert	3807	-5
90	Enzo	3796	+31; NEW
91	Parker	3792	+3
92	Jeremiah	3750	+1
93	Jose	3704	-7
94	Colton	3696	-3
95	Luka	3650	+22; NEW
96	Easton	3637	-16
97	Landon	3637	-10
98	Jordan	3632	-6
99	Amir	3620	+14; NEW
100	Gael	3616	+4; NEW

Data from the Social Security Administration

Here are the 100 most popular names given to baby girls in 2023:

Rank	Name	# of Babies	Change in Rank
1	Olivia	15270	0
2	Emma	13527	0
3	Charlotte	12596	0
4	Amelia	12311	0
5	Sophia	11944	0
6	Mia	10808	+2
7	Isabella	11359	-1
8	Ava	9682	-1
9	Evelyn	9082	0
10	Luna	7811	0
11	Harper	7769	0
12	Sofia	7641	+1
13	Camila	7565	-1
14	Eleanor	6739	+2
15	Elizabeth	6566	0
16	Violet	6342	+4
17	Scarlett	6288	-3
18	Emily	6154	-1
19	Hazel	6154	+8
20	Lily	6146	+10
21	Gianna	6129	+1
22	Aurora	6054	+9
23	Penelope	6041	-2
24	Aria	5996	-1
25	Nora	5994	+3
26	Chloe	5960	-7
27	Ellie	5951	+6
28	Mila	5895	-10
29	Avery	5859	-3
30	Layla	5678	-1
31	Abigail	5661	-7
32	Ella	5643	-7
33	Isla	5357	+2
34	Eliana	5329	+8
35	Nova	5248	-3
36	Madison	5160	-2
37	Zoe	5160	+1
38	Ivy	5036	+3
39	Grace	4886	-3
40	Lucy	4858	+8
41	Willow	4670	-4
42	Emilia	4670	+2
43	Riley	4617	-4
44	Naomi	4456	+2
45	Victoria	4434	-2
46	Stella	4357	-6
47	Elena	4261	+2
48	Hannah	4102	-1
49	Valentina	4075	+8
50	Maya	4067	+1
51	Zoey	4040	-6
52	Delilah	4031	+6
53	Leah	3953	-1
54	Lainey	3928	+120; NEW
55	Lillian	3927	-5
56	Paisley	3727	-3
57	Genesis	3651	+8
58	Madelyn	3632	+2
59	Sadie	3586	+9
60	Sophie	3578	+3
61	Leilani	3543	-2
62	Addison	3520	-8
63	Natalie	3418	-8
64	Josephine	3347	+6
65	Alice	3336	-1
66	Ruby	3333	-4
67	Claire	3195	-1
68	Kinsley	3188	-7
69	Everly	3159	-12
70	Emery	3104	-12
71	Adeline	3074	+22
72	Kennedy	3069	+2
73	Maeve	3046	+30; NEW
74	Audrey	3032	-7
75	Autumn	3001	-4
76	Athena	2984	+2
77	Eden	2924	+40; NEW
78	Iris	2921	+6
79	Anna	2918	+4
80	Eloise	2916	+6
81	Jade	2908	+7
82	Maria	2893	+9
83	Caroline	2859	-6
84	Brooklyn	2850	-12
85	Quinn	2846	-12
86	Aaliyah	2845	-17
87	Vivian	2801	+17; NEW
88	Liliana	2787	+9
89	Gabriella	2782	0
90	Hailey	2776	-10
91	Sarah	2749	+4
92	Savannah	2739	-16
93	Cora	2738	-18
94	Madeline	2726	+8; NEW
95	Natalia	2717	-16
96	Ariana	2716	-6
97	Lydia	2716	-4
98	Lyla	2651	+7; NEW
99	Clara	2648	+11; NEW
100	Allison	2641	+1; NEW

Data from the Social Security Administration

The newest names to the Top 100 are:

Boys: Thiago, Enzo, Luka, Amir, Gael
Girls: Lainey, Maeve, Eden, Vivian, Madeline, Lyla, Clara, Allison

The names that exited the Top 100 are:

Boys: Adam, Xavier, Nicholas, Greyson, Jameson
Girls: Aubrey, Bella, Skylar, Ayla, Serenity, Nevaeh, Everleigh, Raelynn

Thiago, Enzo, and Amir are all names I predicted would hit the boys’ Top 100. I’m kicking myself for not seeing Luka since Luca has been so trendy! For the girls, I correctly anticipated Maeve and Lyla. Another prediction, Millie, landed just outside the Top 100 at #102!

The name that absolutely shocks me is Lainey. I’m betting no name nerds had this one on their Top 100 predictions…she ranked #174 in 2022, which means she jumped #120 places (!!!) to fall in at #54 in 2023. Guys, that just doesn’t happen very often! Over 2,220 more girls were named Lainey in 2023 than in 2022, which is baby name insanity! Actually, usage more than doubled. I think Lainey wins the new “it name” award!

All 5 of the girls names I predicted would drop out of the Top 100 did: Aubrey, Bella, Skylar, Serenity, and Nevaeh. What I didn’t anticipate is that there would be 8 new girls’ names on the list, which seems like a lot! Everleigh surprises me a little because it’s been trendy for a few years. Maybe Everly/Everleigh’s a flash-in-the-pan? Nicholas and Greyson were my correctly predicted exits on the boys’ side.

Something else I’m noticing is that it seems like there’s more volatility in the charts this year. Maybe it’s normal and I just didn’t notice it last year, but a lot of names I’d expect to thrive are flagging. Here are some of the fasted rising names last year, in terms of rank:

Boys:

Thiago: +43; NEW
Enzo: +31; NEW
Luka: +22; NEW
Theo: +21
Rowan: +20
Amir: +14; NEW
Miles: +13
Beau: +11
Ezra: +10
Bennett: +9

Girls:

Lainey: +120; NEW
Eden: +40; NEW
Maeve: +30; NEW
Adeline: +22
Vivian: +17; NEW
Clara: +11; NEW
Lily: +10
Aurora: +9
Liliana: +9
Maria: +9
Sophie: +9

And here are the fastest falling names, in terms of rank and including names that left the Top 100:

Boys:

Greyson: – 22; OUT
Jaxon: – 19
Jameson: – 18; OUT
Easton: – 16
Aiden: – 11
Eli: – 11
Nicholas: – 11; OUT
Landon: – 10
Lincoln: – 10
Wyatt: – 9

Girls:

Everleigh: – 49; OUT
Nevaeh: -24; OUT
Bella: – 21; OUT
Aubrey: – 20; OUT
Skylar: -20; OUT
Cora: -18
Aaliyah: -17
Natalia: – 16
Savannah: – 16
Brooklyn: – 12
Emery: – 12
Everly: – 12
Quinn: – 12
Raelynn: – 12; OUT
Hailey: – 10
Mila: – 10

What do you think about 2023’s Top 100 most popular baby names? Would you use any of them? What surprises you? Let me know!

P.S. – It feels like we’re in the midst of a major style shift, but it’s hard to put my finger on what’s happening to cause it. The most popular names *are* getting more cosmopolitan, but in many ways they’re also getting more traditional. Vintage names have been “in” for awhile, but I’m wondering if the economy has anything to do with it.

American Names

They’re Here! The Top 10 Most Popular Baby Names of 2023

May 10, 2024 Elizabeth4 Comments

Happy Mother’s Day weekend! The Social Security Administration just released its list of America’s most popular baby names according to applications it received for babies born in 2023. This is *the* baby name list for the U.S., and pretty darn accurate save for the occasional unregistered baby. For name nerds like me, this is bigger than the Super Bowl. Happy Data Release Day!

The most important names (i.e., the names everyone will be looking at) to consider are the Top 10 most popular boys’ and girls’ names, since these will be the names you’ll most likely encounter in classrooms and on playgrounds over the coming years. If you’re pregnant right now or planning on having kids in the near future, you might be worried about your favorite name’s popularity. Alternatively, maybe you want a name that’s popular or standard to fit in. Writers should consider popularity lists to avoid anachronistic character names. All in all, these are the names that best embody the zeitgeist of American baby culture in 2023 and 2024.

For starters, what were the most popular names in 2023? To nobody’s surprise, Olivia and Liam remain at #1. They’ve sat at the very top for several years now, and I especially don’t expect Liam to drop down anytime soon. Anyway, what happened in the rest of the Top 10? Here’s the list of the most popular baby girls’ names in 2023:

Rank	Name	# of Babies	Rank Change
1	Olivia	15270	0
2	Emma	13527	0
3	Charlotte	12596	0
4	Amelia	12311	0
5	Sophia	11944	0
6	Mia	11359	+2
7	Isabella	10808	-1
8	Ava	9682	-1
9	Evelyn	9082	0
10	Luna	7811	0

Data from the Social Security Administration

I knew Olivia would stay at #1 but I’m surprised Emma and Charlotte stayed in situ. I was so sure Bridgerton would give Charlotte a boost! I had also predicted Violet as a kind of “dark horse” candidate for similar reasons, but she’s ranking at #16 and Mia is still in the top 10.

Here are the boys’ names!

Rank	Name	# of Babies	Rank Change
1	Liam	20802	0
2	Noah	18995	0
3	Oliver	14741	0
4	James	11670	0
5	Elijah	11452	0
6	Mateo	11229	+5, NEW
7	Theodore	11041	+3
8	Henry	10941	-1
9	Lucas	10842	-1
10	William	10598	-4

Data from the Social Security Administration

Mateo is the only new name on either side. I predicted it would hit the Top 10, though I don’t think I expected it to come in at #6! The big surprise is how far William dropped. I think I had that slated for moving down 2 rungs, but it went from #6 in 2022 to #10 in 2023. A lot of parents are opting for Liam instead. Benjamin is now gone from the Top 10 at a comfortable #11.

What do you think about this year’s U.S. Top 10 most popular baby names? Were there any surprises for you? For fun, check out my 2023 predictions and see how they stacked up against the real data.

American Names · Analysis

Baby Name Predictions for the New 2023 U.S. Popularity Charts

May 9, 2024 Elizabeth1 Comment

OK, we’re probably just one day away from the biggest day in the naming community – the U.S. annual baby name data release! Each year, the Social Security Administration releases American baby name popularity lists just in time for Mothers’ Day. The Top 10 (and especially the #1) names get the most hype and news attention, and with good reason: these are the names you’re most likely to encounter on the playground or preschool class. These are the names that are popular across the country, mostly independent of regional preferences. They, along with the rest of the Top 100 most popular names, set the tone for American baby naming across the board.

For name nerds, Baby Name Release Day is our big holiday, akin to running downstairs on Christmas morning to open a giant mound of presents left by Santa. We eagerly anticipate this date all year long and spend the weekend pouring over data, looking for trends and intriguing new names. We’re not *only* interested in the Top 10 or Top 100. Since the SSA actually releases the Top 1000, we’re excited to see what names are newly popular or unexpectedly trending. We may also mourn the growing or shrinking popularity of favorite names, while gleefully cackling when names we secretly hate take a tumble. Meanwhile, how many of our predictions came true? Name Release Day is the Super Bowl for geeks. To parents, this is the chance to check their favorite names and decide whether popularity or rarity will change choices.

This year, I’m rather late to posting my predictions. I got married less than a month ago (!!!) and until about a week or two ago, I could barely even think about names. Ultimately, it was a beautiful wedding and more perfect than we ever could have imagined. Now that the stressful planning is over and I’ve had a chance to relax…it’s back to the names, just in time for one of my favorite days of the year!

So, without further ado, here are my predictions for tomorrow!

Top 10 Predictions for 2023:

Olivia (0)
Charlotte (+1)
Emma (-1)
Amelia (0)
Isabella (+1)
Sophia (-1)
Evelyn (+2)
Luna (+2)
Ava (-2)
Violet (+10)

Charlotte and Violet are both Bridgerton names, and 2023 saw a major Netflix spin-off for Queen Charlotte. Admittedly Violet is a dark horse candidate since she ranked #20 in 2022 but she ranked #35 in 2021, and frankly, I’m hearing this one everywhere. It’s a fast riser, and floral names are in this decade! I do think Olivia will stay at #1, though it may be her last year before Charlotte becomes the new “it” name for girls. Further down the line, I expect Luna or Violet will eventually peak at #1. If my 2023 predictions come true, Mia will fall out of the Top 10. Violet may be wishful thinking for 2023, but if not this year, then maybe 2024 or 2025.

As for the boys’ Top 10, I personally expect the following:

Liam (0)
Noah (0)
Oliver (0)
James (0)
Theodore (+5)
Elijah (-1)
Henry (0)
William (-2)
Mateo (+2)
Sebastian (+3)

The current popular boys’ names are steady, and I don’t see Liam dropping out of the #1 spot anytime soon. The biggest gainers near the Top 10 in 2022 were Theodore (which kept its rank of 10 from 2021 but saw a large increase in raw numbers), Mateo, and Sebastian; hence, I’ve included all three in my predictions. In this scenario, Lucas and Benjamin would leave the Top 10. I do think Levi is a back-up contender for the Top 10 as well, since he’s also recently seen some gains. Considering the trendiest boys’ names in the Top 30, Leo, Ezra, and maybe Luca are potential dark horse candidates.

What about the Top 100? I have my eyes on the following names for entry into the Top 100:

Girls: Maeve, Lyla, Juniper, Millie, Freya
Boys: Thiago, August, Amir, Enzo, Atlas

Today’s trendiest girls’ names are often distinctly feminine (i.e. Lyla and Freya), vintage (Millie), mythological (Freya), and/or nature-based (Juniper). My predicted boys’ names are international (Thiago, Amir, and Enzo), vintage (August), and mythological (Atlas). Atlas is additionally a character in It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover, and Amir taps into a wider (albeit waning) trend towards royalty and title names like Reign and King (Amir means “prince” in Arabic).

The ones I expect will leave the Top 100 are:

Girls: Serenity, Nevaeh, Skylar, Bella, Aubrey
Boys: Nicholas, Greyson, Colton, Landon, Jeremiah

Most of those have a vibe from 10-20 years ago.

Then there are the Top 1000 predictions, which are the most fun for me. They’re definitely the hardest to predict though! So much depends on trends, but there are always pop culture wildcards nobody expects. Here are some names I have my eye on this year.

Girls: Agnes, Ailany, Amyra, Arden, Arisbeth, Arizbeth, Ayra, Beverly, Colbie, Darcy, Eleanora, Elouise, Elowen, Essence, Evelina, Etta, Indy, Lettie, Maelynn, Mazie, Memphis, Miller, Ruthie, Solana, Tallulah, Tilly, Viola, Violette, Winifred, Wrenleigh, Xena, Yuna, Yusra
Boys: Aizen, Aspen, Beck, Blaise, Boaz, Brett, Campbell, Coen, Cristiano, Decker, Dereck, Dhruv, Gianluca, Gus, Hollis, Jahmir, Jireh, Laith, Lev, Link, Mariano, Massimo, Mike, Ollie, Rishi, Rowdy, Shai, Teddy, Tiago, Veer, Wren, Zabdiel

This year I’m not going to predict exits from the Top 1000. When you get that far down the charts, anything can happen! I’m sure there are a few names I haven’t even considered that will teeter back and forth for a couple years.

Do you have any name predictions? Check back tomorrow to see which names make the cut!

American Names · Analysis · Modern names · Name Lists

Beyond Harper and Arlo: Names with an “Ar” Sound

May 6, 2024 ElizabethLeave a comment

Names rarely become trendy on their own. When one name hits the Top 10 or 20 in popularity, it tends familiarize other similar names and popularize them too. For example: a few years back, Jayden and Brayden were the *it* names for baby boys. A lot of those Jaydens and Braydens are hitting middle and high school now, but you’ll still find plenty of babies with those names plus Kayden, Rayden, and Zayden. Millennial Ashley grew up and has kids now: Paisley and Kinsleigh. Same with Kaitlyn, who helped pave the way for both modern Oaklynn and vintage Evelyn. In picking baby names, many parents subconsciously choose favorite, familiar, and popular sounds even as they seek unique spellings and monikers.

In 2024, we all know about the trendiness of girls’ names ending in Lynn and many people have likely noticed the ubiquity of boys’ names ending in “-n.” What are some other popular name elements? Lately I’ve been pondering names with an “ar” sound, and yes, that is “arr” the way a pirate would say it. While the other elements I mentioned usually go at the end of names, this one is more likely to be in the front or middle. You already know a few of the most popular “ar” names: Charlotte, Harper, Scarlett, and Aria, a quartet of girls’ names in the U.S. Top 25. It’s not hard to understand why these particular names are so beloved either! They boast a bright, fresh, friendly vibe – musical, even, accounting for Harper and Aria. They are simultaneously modern and elegant, bolstering our oldest and newest names alike. Even steadfast Margaret ranks higher than it did 20 years ago! When you see names like Margot, Yara, Amara, and Zara become popular, know that they aren’t coming out of nowhere. Even when there are pop culture influences from movies and TV shows to introduce them, they’re already totally on trend!

While “ar” names seem to be trendier for baby girls, you can still find plenty of boys’ names that follow this style. The four most popular options within the Top 100 for boys are Carter, Charles, Leonardo, and Parker – options which are more or less classic, or at least standard. Even trendier names lie somewhere outside the Top 100, from rapidly rising Arlo to timeless yet revitalized classic Arthur. Archer is another one, having gone from zero to hero in less than 15 years thanks to multiple pop culture influences (namely, the cartoon Archer but also possibly Colleen Hoover’s novel Ugly Love). Meanwhile, Archie isn’t only popular because of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s son, though he was the catalyst – Archie is also increasingly popular because it sounds like other trending names.

Gender-neutral “ar” names are trending too. Parker is one of the most evenly gender-neutral names in America right now; in 2022, it ranked just within the Top 100 for boys and just outside for girls. Some other popular choices in this category are Charlie, Amari, Marley, Ari, Armani, and Kamari. You can also find a decent number of unisex names that are within the Top 1000 only for boys OR girls but are trending below the charts. These include names like Artemis and Harlem, which are respectively popular for baby girls and boys but rare in the reverse order.

If “ar” names are on-trend, what are some rare names that fit the style? Here are some unique options to consider:

Adara – Means “noble” in Hebrew.
Antares – A star in the constellation Scorpius.
Arbella – An old variation on Arabella made famous by Arbella Stuart, who was once in the English and Scottish line of succession during the lifetime of Queen Elizabeth I. Ultimately, James Stuart became king instead.
Artemidora – Ancient Greek name meaning “gift of Artemis.”
Artemisia – An Ancient Greek name (variation of Artemis) borne by queens and Baroque-era Italian artist Artemisia Gentileschi.
Balthazar – One of the Three Wise Men or Magi.
Barbie – This might just take off because of the movie, not to mention that one celebrity who named her daughter Malibu Barbie in 2022. I’m curious to see if Barbara has a revival too.
Carbon – Why not take name inspiration from the Periodic Table of Elements?
Carlisle – For fans of Twilight and Belinda Carlisle.
Cartimandua – My fans of maximalist and Ancient Roman girls’ names will appreciate this queenly moniker from early Britain!
Charleston – Place names are perennially popular, so I’m surprised Charleston isn’t more common! You’d think with all the Great Gatsby fans out there that this 1920s dance would be a bigger naming influence today.
Darcy – Last popular as a unisex name for Americans born in the mid-to-late 20th-century, Darcy is almost exclusively a girls’ name now (despite all the Pride & Prejudice fans out there).
Eleazar – The original Hebrew form of Lazarus. I’d wager some kids would love to be called “Laser” for short!
Ermengarde – Medieval Germanic name meaning something like “whole enclosure.” Ermengarde is a minor character name in A Little Princess.
Ferrari – Sports car name that fits well with other luxury brand names like Armani and Dior.
Garnet – Gender-neutral gem name for nature lovers!
Harbor – Summery and maritime, perfect for a baby born along the water or to Navy or Coast Guard parents.
Harvest – Agricultural names exude tranquility.
Hildegard – Old Germanic name with a meaning like “battle enclosure.” St. Hildegard of Bingen was a famous medieval scholar and mystic.
Inara – Ancient Hittite goddess of wild animals.
Lark – A beautiful bird name. Unfortunately lark can also mean “frolic” or “prank” in certain dialects, so Larkin may be a safer choice if you plan on traveling to the U.K.
Luminara – Star Wars character name and a great formal option for Lumi.
Marius – Ancient Roman form of Mario or masculine form of Maria.
Margalit – Hebrew name meaning “Pearl.” It’s a cognate of Margaret.
Mariposa – Spanish for “butterfly” and the name of a flower. Whatever you do, though – do *not* name a child Barbie Mariposa (or the reverse) since there was, in fact, a Barbie: Mariposa movie! Or…do, because there’s a little girl named Malibu Barbie out there. The choice is yours.
Marnie – Although Marnie is a titular Alfred Hitchcock movie, parents today are likely more familiar with the Stardew Valley character.
Mars – Ancient Roman god of war, akin to the Greek Ares.
Maru – Like Marnie, Maru is a Stardew Valley character name.
Nefertari – An Egyptian queen and a wife of Pharaoh Ramesses II. Despite its niche nature, it’s currently one of the more popular Ancient Egyptian baby names and was given to 21 girls in 2022.
Ragnar – A Viking name made famous in modern times by the show Vikings‘ portrayal of Ragnar Lodbrok *and* a Skyrim drinking song. “There once was a hero named Ragnar the Red…”
Solaris – Expect Solaris and other solar names to be a bit trendier after this year’s total eclipse.
Starling – A bird name that’s only really given to baby girls but works well as a gender-neutral option.
Yarden – Gender-neutral Hebrew name that means “flow down” or “descend.” It’s equivalent to the English name Jordan.
Yardley – A variation of Yeardley, an old English surname.

Do you have a favorite name with an “ar” sound? Are there any you think may take off? I do think we could see a resurgence of girls named Barbara thanks to the Barbie movie, though I wonder if Baby Reindeer‘s popularity will doom Martha in the near future. Only time will tell.

Name Lists

Unique Baby Names for Spooky Season

October 24, 2023 ElizabethLeave a comment

The older I get, the more I appreciate Halloween. Although I don’t yet have any children of my own and can’t go trick-or-treating anymore (to be honest, I’m not huge on sweet foods or candy anyway!), I love the whole “Spooky Season” vibe. Why limit enjoyment of horror movies and pumpkin spiced anything to just *one* day? Whether it’s September, October, or November, I’m going to enjoy my hot apple cider, fall foliage, and scary stories. Though who says you have to even watch horror movies to partake? Dark Academia scratches the itch too. There are many ways to enjoy some Fall fun.

I’ve been racking my brains for unique and unusual baby name options for fans of Spooky Season. None of these names are currently in the U.S. Top 1000 baby names, though a couple of them might take off soon. Some are more usable than others…there are definitely a few I think should remain character or pet names…but I’ll let expecting parents be the judge of that!

Vampires:

Alucard is Dracula backwards and the main character of Hellsing, an anime. Alucard is also a character in the Castlevania game series. 19 boys were named Alucard in 2022.

Barnabas: Barnabas Collins is the 18th-century-born vampire and patriarch of the Collins family in the Dark Shadows universe. 13 boys were named Barnabas in 2022.

Bram: In honor of Dracula’s author, Abraham “Bram” Stoker. Just 30 boys were named Bram in 2022!

Carmilla: Although Carmilla looks like a variation of even misspelling of Camilla, it’s really the name of a famous vampire horror novel by Joseph Sheridan le Fanu. Carmilla predates Dracula (and influences that book) by some 25 years. 8 girls were named Carmilla in 2022.

Stoker: Bram Stoker’s surname is unheard of as a baby name, and no known children received it in 2022. This could be a fun, super-unique way of celebrating Spooky Season. A stoker is someone who stokes (feeds) a fire, which is a lovely association for babies born in colder months.

The Addams Family (and friends):

Tell me you heard the jingle in your head. Every few decades, we get a new rendition of our favorite “spooky” and “kooky” yet oddly wholesome family and obscure names. And if you’re as excited for the second season of Wednesday as I am, check out my list of names from the show!

Enid: An Arthurian name that probably means “soul” in the original Welsh, Enid is Wednesday’s roommate in the eponymous recent Netflix series. 28 American girls were named Enid in 2022.

Gomez: A variation on the medieval Portuguese name Gomes, no known babies were named Gomez last year. I’m sure some children have it for their last name, though!

Morticia: Even though Morticia sounds like “mortician,” the parents of 13 baby girls picked this fandom name last year.

Wednesday: “Wednesday’s child is full of woe…” I don’t think this name will be rare for much longer, but for now Wednesday still reigns well beneath the Top 1000. 97 girls were named Wednesday in 2022.

Books, Poetry, Movies, & TV:

Desdemona: Besides its sad Shakespearean connotations and maximalist flair, elegant Desdemona literally contains the word “demon” – perfect for Halloween! No known girls were named Desdemona last year, but it has a certain aesthetic that appeals to some parents.

Draco: With all the dragons featuring in pop culture, it’s a wonder Draco (“dragon” in Ancient Greek) isn’t more popular. Most of us probably associate Draco with the Harry Potter character, Draco Malfoy. 132 boys were named Draco in the U.S. in 2022.

Elvira: This is a vintage Spanish name best known to Americans via Elvira: Mistress of the Dark. It’s been out of the Top 1000 since the early 1980s, so if you love this name don’t worry about running into another Elvira on the playground! Only 67 girls received the name last year.

Hannibal: The name of an ancient Carthaginian general, an American Vice President, a famous comedian/celebrity…and a cannibal. Silence of the Lambs shows its age, but Hannibal Lecter is an enduring villain and most people’s primary association for the name. No known babies were named Hannibal in 2022.

Hermione: Harry Potter is often cited as an early example of Dark Academia, so bookish Hermione Granger’s unusual first name fits the vibe for Spooky Season. Other famous characters named Hermione include a queen in Shakespeare and the daughter of Helen in Greek Mythology. 115 girls were named Hermione in 2022, which is the most popular the name has ever been in the USA (that’s still quite rare though).

Ichabod: Ichabod Crane is the main character in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving, the story that gave us the Headless Horseman. Irving didn’t invent the name; it’s a rare Biblical option with the unusual meaning of “without glory.” You won’t find any modern babies with this name, but I think “Icky” could be a cute nickname!

Lenore: Eleanor is one of the most popular baby names right now, but variant has yet to be revived substantially as just 76 girls received the name in 2022. Lenore is the subject of Edgar Allan Poe’s poem The Raven.

Malvolio: The name of a Shakespeare character, this means “ill will.” You might also like Marvolo, a similar name from Harry Potter. Neither is known as a recent baby name.

Poe: If Edgar is still too popular for you and you’re a fan of the writer, consider gender-neutral Poe! 6 baby boys were named Poe in 2022, but it works well for anyone.

Prynne: Hester Prynne is the main subject of The Scarlet Letter, the classic Nathaniel Hawthorne tale of adultery and intolerance in Puritan New England. Hester is unique itself – no known babies were named this old-fashioned variation of Esther in 2022 – but Prynne is equally unusual, fresher, and more modern.

Thackery: Remember Hocus Pocus? I imagine I thought his name was Zachary Binx for the longest time, but no, it’s Thackery Binx! Neither Thackery nor Binx boasts any known usage as a baby name, so if you’re worried about whether anyone else has a name you’d like for your own child…name away!

Winifred: This one might not be that unique for much longer since it’s experiencing a revival, but for now you can still enjoy the rarity of your favorite Sanderson sister’s name. 227 girls were named Winifred in 2022, which seems like a lot but really isn’t considering that the least popular name in the U.S. Top 1000 (Kahlani) was given to 260 girls. Far more girls are simply named Winnie, which was given to 502 girls!

Puritan Virtues:

Wait, Puritan virtue names? Aren’t those better for Thanksgiving? Well…yes, but there’s a reason why Salem, MA traditionally receives so much tourism around Halloween. Some virtues give off Dark Academia or horror vibes, too. On that last note, please resist any temptation to name any children Fear, Anger, or Humiliation (even if they *are* historical Puritan names) and reserve them for characters in your historical fiction or gothic horror stories.

Amity: Though this name means “friendship” and is a unique alternative to Amy, most people will probably think about the Amityville Horror. 61 girls were named Amity in 2022.

Lament: “Grieve.” Fits into a category of names with negative or sad meanings without being wholly unusable like Fear or Humiliation, which suggest a certain rabid violence. I do think Lament is probably best left as a character name, though.

Silence: Benjamin Franklin famously wrote letters under the pseudonym “Silence Dogood,” though I wonder if more people will think about Silence of the Lambs.

Solace: Solace means “comfort,” usually in the context of grief or distress. This one actually does enjoy a little usage among modern babies and is gender-neutral: 18 boys and 10 girls were named Solace in the U.S. last year.

Miscellaneous:

Belladonna: An elaborate, elegant name appealing to the maximalist aesthetic that’s best known for being a poisonous plant. 17 girls were named Belladonna last year.

Hemlock: Also a poisonous plant, this is not a known baby name but keep an eye out for the spelling Hemlocke in the next couple of years; hemlocke springs (yes, lowercase) is a trending new singer. There’s also the horror series Hemlock Grove, which aired from 2013-2015.

Mourning: Although this sounds like a Puritan name, it appeared throughout 18th century British America. I actually have one in my family tree.

Proserpina: The Roman form of Persephone is much less common than its Greek counterpart and sounds a lot like the word “serpent.” I’m not saying you should name your child after the basilisk, but snakes are definitely spooky!

Posthumous: Traditionally, this name was only used for children born after the death of their fathers, i.e., posthumously. This is best reserved for fictional characters.

Pumpkin: Jack is a Top 100 baby name, so why not skip straight to the pumpkin? It’d sure be cute.

Sorrow – I’ve seen a few babies named Sparrow. Sorrow has a similar sound, but goth parents may appreciate it more!

Can you think of any other unusual baby names that are appropriate for Spooky Season? Do you have any favorites? What do you think of the ones on my list? Let me know!

(P.S. I created the featured image visible from the homepage via AI, which is my first time ever using that technology for creative purposes. I typed in something like “fall leaves pumpkins gothic dark academia” and this dreary autumnal illustration is what it came up with. Just the vibe I was looking for…impressive!).

American Names · Name Lists

Baby Names Inspired by Fall Foliage

October 17, 2023October 16, 2023 Elizabeth1 Comment

If you live in the Northern Hemisphere like me, you’re probably watching the trees for their change from verdant greens into a vibrant quilt of reds, yellows, and oranges. Unless you live in the uppermost northern environs, chances are you haven’t experienced peak foliage just yet. Every day the landscape grows more beautiful. Truly, fall and spring are my favorite seasons for the rainbow of colors nature brings!

Seeing as today’s parents can’t get enough of baby names related to nature, autumn leaf colors make for fantastic, out-of-the-box naming inspiration. If you’re having a baby during this glorious season, consider these baby names inspired by the colors of fall foliage!

Reds:

Auburn – Auburn is a rare name, but at least some of the children who bear it are so-named after Auburn University’s football team. See Crimson.
Burgundy – Like the region or the wine, burgundy is a deep, dark red.
Carmine – Pronounced exactly how it looks, like the words “car” and “mine.” A unique alternative to Carmen!
Claret – Another name for Bordeaux or a Bordeaux wine blend, this is pronounced like Claire with a t at the end. Clare-it. Pair this name with a sister named Margaux or Margot for a clever wine joke!
Crimson – Children are often named Crimson (or Krimson, or Krimsyn) to reference the University of Alabama’s football team. See Auburn…yes there’s a rivalry there!
Ginger – I’ve seen some leaves that look like the hair color! Ginger is a somewhat traditional nickname for Virginia, but it works well on its own too.
Jasper – A precious stone.
Redmond – Red’s literally in the name!
Rouge – The French word for “red” and a type of cosmetics. Since Sephora, Dior, and Chanel are all names associated with make-up or perfume, I can see Rouge working too!
Ruby – There are different shades of ruby, but the gem also makes for a lovely association.
Scarlett – One of the trendiest baby girls’ names in the U.S., I’d wager most of the children named Scarlett today are named (directly or indirectly) after Scarlet Johansson. I’d also bet a few reference scarlet, a vivid shade of red.
Vermilion – Also spelled Vermillion, this would be a unique formal name for a girl called Millie or Vera! Vermilion is a deep, vibrant red.

Yellows and Golds:

Amber – A semi-precious resin containing fossils.
Aurelia / Aurelius – Latin for “golden.”
Bowie – The English form of a Gaelic name meaning “yellow.”
Cressida – The posh Shakespearean version of Chryseis, an Ancient Greek name meaning “golden.”
Electra – Ancient Greek for “amber.” You may also love its Italian version, Elettra.
Goldie is both a nickname for Marigold and a variation of the Yiddish name Golda.
Honey – Fans of recent historical fiction may remember this character name from The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek and its sequel, The Book Woman’s Daughter.
Lemon – Rare, but not as unusual and unique as you might think. Well over 100 girls have been named Lemon in the U.S. since 2013.
Ochre – Fans of names like Onyx and Ocean will love this color name that starts with ‘O!’
Saffron – The rarity and expensiveness of saffron puts the name in league with Ruby and Pearl, popular names denoting something very precious.
Turmeric – “Rick” for short! Turmeric is famous for its anti-inflammatory properties.
Xanthe – From Ancient Greek meaning “yellow.” Shorten to “Zan” for extra cuteness and pizzazz!

Oranges and Browns:

Bruno – Literally, “brown.”
Cinnamon – This name was briefly popular for women in the late 1960s, but now it’s so rare it doesn’t even chart in the USA’s extended baby name data. If you want a unique girls’ name that nobody else is using, Cinnamon fits the bill!
Ember – A softer, fresher alternative to Amber that’s reminiscent of campfires on cold nights.
Mahogany – Also a red, Mahogany probably makes most people think of luxurious wooden furniture.
Maple – Just as Chianti supposedly tastes best in Tuscany, I’ve discovered that Vermont maple syrup tastes better in Vermont than anywhere else. As a name, Maple is completely on-trend with a short and sweet sound, nature theme, and proximity to increasingly popular Mabel. I personally feel that it’s one of the most accessible unusual celebrity baby names used recently.
Persimmon – Now that we’re starting to see babies named Strawberry and Plum, don’t be surprised if some adventurous parents discover Persimmon. Perry, Percy, Simon…lots of nickname potential!
Pumpkin – Yes, I’m basic and drink at least 5 Pumpkin Spice Chai Lattes a year. I’ve even made Pumpkin Spice Challah! While I’m not sure Pumpkin works that well as a regular person’s name, I can almost guarantee that a celebrity or influencer will eventually pick Pumpkin as their baby’s name. It *is* cute…
Russet – Potatoes are tasty, but how about a gender-neutral alternative to Russell?
Rusty – 2023 parents are a little rusty on this one, but I can see some people pulling it out of grandpa’s yearbook. Dusty’s mildly trendy, isn’t it?
Sienna – Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy.
Sinopia – A unique addition to any collection of girls’ names ending in “-ia.”
Tawny – This one has a very 80s mom vibe, but I’m surprised it never took off much even back then.

Can you think of any other baby names related to fall foliage? Blaze, Leaf, and Autumn are the first things that come to my mind, but maybe other names come to yours? Let me know in the comments!

Name Lists

200+ Isogram Names Starting with ‘N’ and ‘O’

September 26, 2023 ElizabethLeave a comment

Wow, how time flies! It feels like a month since my last post. I’m in the time of my life where everyone around me in my age cohort is getting married (myself included), which means that nary a weekend isn’t spent at a wedding or planning one. Top that off with an unconventional work schedule, a birthday, and religious holidays and I’ve rarely been near my computer this September. Thank goodness for post drafts galore and those rare mornings when I can sneak away to write for half an hour before work! When some weeks are six or seven days in a row of pure hustle, I sorely need those quick breaks.

Here is the next installment in my lists of isogram names! For those of you who are just now joining me, isograms are names or words with no repeating letters. They’re a fun way to prod and test the boundaries of language, whether by changing spellings or choosing a particular transliteration when translating from a different alphabet. Searching for isogram names finds you everything from Max and Emily to Nyx and Olamide! Many of these names are actually, currently used for real babies in the U.S., and I found most of them in publicly available Social Security Administration popularity data.

2 and 3 Letters:

4 Letters:

Najd
Nami
Nash
Nate
Navy
Neha
Neil
Nels
Nero
Neva
Newt
Nick

Nico
Nika
Nike
Nile
Nima
Nita
Noah
Noam
Noel
Noga
Noir
Nola

Nora
Nori
Nouf
Nour
Nova
Nuha
Nuri
Nyla
Nylie
Nyra
Ocie
Odin

Olaf
Oleg
Olga
Omar
Omer
Omri
Onyx
Opal
Oren
Orla
Otis
Owen

5 Letters:

Nabil
Nader
Nahum
Natsu
Navid
Nayib
Namir
Naoki
Naomi
Nareh
Narek
Nasir
Nazly
Nelda
Nephi
Ngozi

Niamh
Nidal
Niels
Nigel
Night
Nihal
Nilou
Nilsa
Nimue
Niobe
Nisha
Nitya
Nivea
Njeri
Noble
Noemi

Nomar
Norma
North
Nubia
Nuria
Nurvi
Nyari
Nydia
Nyema
Nyjae
Nzuri
Ocean
Odile
Ogden
Olani
Olive

Olwen
Omani
Omari
Omega
Onika
Orest
Orhan
Oscar
Oshea
Osman
Osric
Oswin
Owais
Oxley
Ozias
Ozlem

6 Letters:

Nahlij
Nahuel
Nakobe
Naledi
Namiko
Naoise
Nardos
Narjis
Narumi
Nature
Navier

Navish
Nayeli
Nebula
Neriah
Nestor
Neymar
Nezuko
Nicole
Nimrat
Nishka
Noctis

Noraiz
Nuchem
Nuriel
Nyheim
Nyleah
Nzinga
Oakley
Oaklyn
Oberyn
Odalys
Odelia

Odesza
Odhran
Ojasvi
Olesya
Oliver
Olivet
Oneida
Oracle
Orchid
Oswald
Othman

7 Letters:

Naftuli
Nairoby
Nashley
Natsumi
Neomia

Nohelia
Nolawit
Novalie
Nuriyah
Nymeria

Oguzhan
Olamide
Olufemi
Oluremi
Olympia

Opaline
Ophelia
Orbelin
Orpheus
Othniel

8 and 9+ Letters:

Nicholas
Novalise
Octavius

Omunique
Nektarios
Nicodemus

Novaleigh
Oleksandr
Olivander

Oluwakemi
Oluwaseyi
Oluwatise

What’s your favorite isogram name starting with ‘N’ or ‘O?’ Let me know! (Also…that rhymes!)

If you’re curious and want to read my earlier lists of isogram names, I’ve linked them right here:

Modern names

Name Profile: Campbell

August 25, 2023 ElizabethLeave a comment

I’ve sometimes wondered why Campbell isn’t a more popular baby name. By all rights, it should be! Pronounced “Kam-bull” (the ‘p’ is silent), it sounds a lot like the tried and tested names Cameron and Camden. Campbell is the name of one of Scotland’s most historically powerful clans, and many people can find this surname in their family tree. Campbell is gender neutral too, falling into a fast-growing category of baby names including Parker and Rowan. So why isn’t it more popular?

Though some people associate Campbell with Ireland too, it originated as a Scottish Gaelic surname meaning “crooked mouth” or “wry mouth,” from the roots cam (‘crooked’) and beul (‘mouth’). You probably think this is a strange association for a baby name, but thousands of parents have picked Cameron (which similarly means “crooked nose”) without batting an eyelash. Plenty of other classic names have meanings like “bald” (Calvin), “blind” (Cecilia), “bitter” (Mara) and “sorrows” (Dolores).

Campbell has a sporadic usage history during the 20th and 21st centuries. It was an occasionally popular boys’ name in the early 20th century in its native Scotland, while it was mildly popular elsewhere in the Commonwealth in the late 1990s. Meanwhile, Americans popularized it as a unisex name in the early aughts, though it had rarely reached the Top 1000 as a boys’ name about a century earlier. Curiously and due to unknown causes, usage spiked for daughters born between 2000 and 2010, peaking in 2006 with 389 American girls receiving the name that year. Some possible influences for this time frame include Cameron’s popularity (itself inspired by Cameron Diaz), model Naomi Campbell, and journalist Campbell Brown. I myself was introduced to the idea of Campbell as a girls’ name through Frasier (1993-2004), though I don’t know if she ever reappeared beyond that one episode. Then you have Glen Campbell, who’s an older reference but might have inspired some music-loving parents.

Today, the boy-girl split is about even. According to the Social Security Administration, 195 baby girls and 214 baby boys were named Campbell in 2022. Campbell far surpasses the minimum 90/10 percentage balance to be called a unisex name; with a gender balance at nearly 50/50, Campbell is a gender neutral baby name by definition. With a variety of nicknames like Cam, Cammy, Camp, and Belle, Campbell fits any child in any situation.

I suspect the reason why Campbell never took off the way Cameron and Camden did has nothing to do with its meaning but everything to do with brand names. What American family hasn’t seen or eaten those classic cans of Campbell’s Soup? So many of us have eaten the chicken soup when sick or used another one of their soups for a casserole or chili recipe when we needed an easy, comforting meal. Maybe you’ve dipped a grilled cheese into their tomato soup? If you’ve been reading my over the past several months, you’ve probably seen a few of my posts about baby names inspired by food. A lot of people probably avoid the name Campbell because of the soup connection, but why? The soup is iconic. Within reason, I don’t see anything wrong with naming children while inspired by fond food memories. Food brings people together!

What do you think of Campbell? Would the soup connection deter you from using the name? Do you have any other associations? Let me know! Campbell is still considered rare, but if just 8 more boys had gotten the name it would be a Top 1000 boys’ name in the U.S. Who knows if it will become popular in 2023? We’ll find out next May.

Classic, Old, and Traditional Names · International

Name Profile: Ottilie

August 22, 2023August 21, 2023 ElizabethLeave a comment

Let’s talk about Ottilie. Ottilie is an old German name that’s increasingly popular in the U.K. And although it’s still rather rare in the United States, recent upward trends in both countries lead me to believe Ottilie has what it takes to become the next “it” name for girls.

For starters, Ottilie begins with the odd letter ‘O,’ a favorite of today’s parents. Olivia is arguably the world’s most popular baby name in a Latin alphabet, ranking #1 in several countries (including the U.S., Canada, and much of the U.K.) and rising in many others. Oliver ranks #1 in New Zealand, #2 in England and Wales, #3 in the United States…the list goes on. Ophelia, Olive, Ocean, and Onyx are all trendy in America. Even Ottilie, which was only given to 34 baby girls born in the U.S. in 2022, was practically unheard of 10 years ago and is only picking up steam from here. We’ve already revived Otto, a related boys’ name that means “wealth.” And because it ranks a decently high #118 in England and Wales, Anglophile parents may be inspired to transfer Ottilie across the pond.

Another positive in Ottilie’s favor is that it’s vintage! Ottilie has actually ranked in American name data before, but it last reached the Top 1000 in 1904. Taking the 100-year-cycle into account, Ottilie is actually overdue for a revival. If the youngest namesakes were born 120 years ago, most people of childbearing age today have probably never met one. Ottilie isn’t a grandma name – it’s more like a great, great, or even 3rd great-grandma name. If we can dust off Violet and Matilda, other classic Victorian baby names, we can revive Ottilie. And as I’ve mentioned, Americans have already resurrected and popularized Otto.

Something else parents always look to when picking baby names is the meaning. Some of the possible meanings for Ottilie include “wealth,” “prosperity,” “prosperity in battle,” and “rich,” taken from the Old High German root “ot.” Who doesn’t want their child to be successful? Baby names are inherently aspirational. Alternatively, Ottilie can also mean “heritage” if derived from another Old High German root, “uodil.”

Unless a name is short and minimalist, nickname potential is a key consideration for picking a longer name. Many parents prefer a full, formal name to go on the birth certificate when they have a favorite nickname in mind. Ottilie is delightful altogether, but I think there are some great options for pet forms. Tilly is the most obvious, a cute and sweet nickname that’s usually short for Matilda but that’s very close to reentering the U.S. Top 1000 in its own right. You can also spell it Tillie. Lottie is usually short for Charlotte, but wouldn’t you be pleasantly surprised to find out it’s short for Ottilie instead? Lily and Otter invoke nature themes. Ollie doesn’t have to be short for Oliver, and Ottie is a great way to honor Grandpa Otto. There’s even Ottoline, which presents more formally but began as a diminutive for Ottilie.

I’ve waxed poetically about Ottilie’s virtues and her potential for baby name success, but this *is* the “Well-Informed Namer.” It’s one thing to describe the pros of a name, but I must also report on the cons of some baby names so you can be well-informed when you name your child. The two ‘t’s in Ottilie are meant to be pronounced in a staccato like the t’s in “attache” or “Tamara;” hence, “AHT-tih-lee.” That’s a close approximation of the usual British pronunciation (Germans say it more like “oh-TEEL-yuh,” like Ophelia with a ‘T’). Americans, though, are sometimes prone to pronouncing the t’s like d’s. In other words, Americans sometimes say Ottilie like “Oddly.” One family found that out the hard way in 2016, when they named their daughter Ottilie but were ultimately forced to change it. I’ve wondered whether they would still change her name if she was born in 2023 and not 2016, owing to changes in familiarity with the name, but it turns out Margot suits her better anyway!

Do you like the name Ottilie? Do you prefer a different version like Ottoline or Ottilia? Which nickname, if any, would you pick? And do you think the pronunciation difficulties are too much for it to take off in America, even if it ultimately reaches the top 100 in the U.K.? Let me know!

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