My husband and I took a while to finally agree on names for each of our two kids, and at one point we were even using a Tinder-esque app to see which names we “matched” on. Ha. There were plenty of shared notes with long lists of monikers paying tribute to late grandparents and family members. And, of course, I poured over the annual lists of the most popular names, which are always fun even when you aren’t expecting. Well, ’tis the season. The baby name experts at Nameberry have put out their trend list for 2024, and we bet you’ll have a lot of thoughts. Here are 7 baby name trends that’ll be everywhere next year.
Feminine Feminist Names
Barbie was everything this year, sparking lots of conversation about feminism and the double standards women (and mothers!) are subjected to, so it’s no surprise that her influence will spill into next year. But that doesn’t mean a ton of parents will be naming their daughters Barbie—they’ll more likely be seeking inspiration from other famed feminists, especially the ones whose names are a little more overtly girly. Some feminine feminist names include:
- Althea
- Billie
- Conley
- Dorothea
- Isadora
- Lulu
- Matilda
- Tabitha
- Theodora
Main Character Energy
Elsa and Mirabel have been the main characters in so many of our lives for the past too, too many years, but Nameberry predicts a host of new leading men and ladies joining the fold in 2024. Whether they’re from anime, mythology, or movies, these bold and dramatic names are sure to draw attention. Some of our fave names with main-character energy include:
- Athena
- Elio
- Galilea
- Kenzo
- Namari
- Ophelia
- Raya
- Thaddeus
- Zaire
Girl’s Names for Boys
Last year grandpa names were it for little girls (we’d bet you’ve met some Lous and Arlos), but in 2024 we’ll see more feminine names for boys—both of which beg the question of whether there are even still “boy” and “girl” names, but that’s another story for another day. While the grandparents may be stumped by his one, don’t let them bring little Florence down. You’re bound to see some of these gender-benders in 2024. Here are a few girls’ names for boys:
- Blair
- Cleo
- Fern
- Harlow
- Izzy
- Juno
- Romy
- Sunny
Atmospheric Names
Inspired by the open skies, there’s a whimsical quality to these names and earthy parents will love how they pull from elements like snow and air. Because some of them are quite new, there isn’t much precedent to color people’s ideas of who Aero or Lumi are as people, so your kid can chart their own course. Others, like Sunny and Rain, may be more familiar. Atmospheric names include:
- Air
- Aura
- Celestial
- Icelynn
- Keilani
- Lluvia
- Sky
- Storm
- Zephyr
Related: 50 Unique Baby Names Your Child Won’t Hate When They’re Older
-ai Names
Nope, this has nothing to do with artificial intelligence (we’re not seeing ChatBot on any name lists quite yet)—this trend is all about monikers that end with the letters ai. We’re sure you’re familiar with the OG, Kai, and RHONY fans have gotten to know Sai. If you never missed an ep of Gilmore Girls you’re already loving Lorelai. But there are so many more -ai names that fly under the radar, and they’re about to have a moment. We love that parents from so many backgrounds can find inspiration in this list (names come from Japan, Hawaii, Europe, Indigenous cultures, Africa, and more). Some -ai names include:
- Azakai
- Cai
- Esai
- Jasai
- Kenai
- Masai
- Sakai
- Shai
Musical Icon Names
Elvis took over the big screen last year (Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker might name their baby after the King of Rock & Roll), and Priscilla had her moment on this year’s film festival circuit. Both names are ripe for the plucking in 2024, along with some other iconic musical monikers like Zeppelin, Joplin, and Pixie. Parents looking for names with a little edge will love this list. Here are a few names inspired by musical legends like the Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, The Stooges, David Bowie and more:
- Bowie
- Collins
- Elton
- Guthrie
- Iggy
- Jett
- Lennon
- Rhiannon
- Stevie
- Ziggy
Gentle Parenting Names
While it’s sometimes hard to keep your cool, a lot of parents today are leaning into the gentle parenting philosophy, one that encourages calm reactions to our kid’s big emotions coming from a place of support and understanding. With that in mind, a wave of mellow, gentle-sounding names will bring some serenity to the naming pool in 2024. For gentle parents, it’s all about vowel names and fluid consonants like C, L, F, and S. Here are some names gentle parents will love:
- Ansel
- Casper
- Ellis
- Fia
- Ione
- Lianna
- Oona
- Rhys
- Selah
- Willa
Three more categories rounded out Nameberry’s list, including adult names for babies (after all, they’re only little for a fraction of their lives); STEM monikers like Cosmo, Edison, and Nova; and names inspired by natural glamour (think Cormac, Gaia, and Orson). Head to Nameberry to see the complete list of trending baby names for 2024.
If you’re planning for your new arrival, there’s no better time to download the Tinybeans app. The secure platform allows you to share special moments with friends and family near and far and puts parents in total control of who sees and interacts with photos and videos of their littles.
