11 Baby Name Trends To Look Out For This Year
Year after year, popular classics like Olivia, Emma and James have dominated the Social Security Administration’s list of Top 1,000 names in the U.S. But that doesn’t mean American parents are unwilling to think outside the box and draw naming inspiration from a variety of places.
told . “I do wonder if we will also see more traditional names being paired with modern and bold middle name choices, inspired by the celebrity baby naming world in 2024.”
Looking ahead to 2025, asked naming experts to share some of the themes they think will influence parents’ baby name choices this year. We’ve rounded up 11 interesting trends below.
Nostalgic Elegance
People like Eloise, Maeve, and Otis are great examples of vintage names that are both instantly recognizable and still relatively uncommon.
She believes that parents are attracted to these types of names for their enduring appeal and rich cultural heritage.
"With 'Eloise' and 'Jack' being used as celebrity names in the past year, many parents have been asking for more classic and traditional first names, while opting to get creative with unique middle names," Corrigan said.
Global Influences
“With the increasing popularity of cultural exchange, names from various languages and customs – such as Aria, Ayaan, and Leila – are being recognized for their beauty and rich meanings," Corrigan said.
This also forecasts an increase in “Global Americana” names.
“It's becoming more common to see given names associated with cultures outside of the U.S. as well as names that can easily sound suitable anywhere, as the world becomes more interconnected,” she stated.
‘Nature-Plus’
Parents are continuing to take a liking to names inspired by nature, Corrigan said. "Botanical, celestial, and elemental names like River, Sage, and Aurora show a preference for roots in a chaotic world."
The person behind the baby name blog Appellation Mountain notes that the trend is shifting to "nature-plus names."
A generation of children grew up with names that mixed and matched different parts, taking two name elements and combining them together – think names like Raelynn, Kylee, Maylee, Jayla," she said. "Then there was a wave of more unique names like Ember and Wren. When you put these two trends together, you get what's being called 'Nature-Plus' names. Wrenley, Emberlynn, Oaklee, and Lakelynn were all very popular last year, and there are many other options available.
Minimalism
A name that is simple, yet truly impressive.
Names like Ava, Mia, and Leo have been super popular in recent years, so it's likely we'll see new names like Cleo, Bear, Gia, Arlo, Jade, Ivy, or Kai becoming popular too.
Lesser-Used Biblical References
“In recent years, a new trend has been seen, starting with babies named Jesse and Joshua, then Ethan and Caleb following close behind. As names like Noah and Elijah became increasingly popular in the US, parents began to look for alternative names from the Bible: Ezra and Micah, and Ezekiel eventually became popular choices.”
She expects a fresh surge in biblical names to become trendy soon, with options such as Enoch and Boaz in the running.
Safe Haven Names
“Safe haven names for babies will appeal to parents in this chaotic world because they suggest peaceful places and feelings,” Kihm said.
Some examples of these peaceful, serene names include Haven, Dove, River, Willow, Canyon, and Sage.
Gender Neutrality
People are really fond of cool, unisex names like Blair, Rowan, and Ellis these days. They're getting even more popular as people want names that work for anyone, regardless of gender. These names feel like a breath of fresh air, modern, and do a great job.
J Brand
They're really fond of options that don't specify a particular gender," she said. "Thanks to their unique combination of refinement and adaptability, names like Sterling, Palmer, Finley, and Teagan are predicted to become increasingly popular in 2025.
Suzanne suggested names with no strongly associated gender, like those derived from surnames (like Emory), places (such as Denver), or words (River).
“Special cases are names that are traditionally boyish but given to girls – like Andie, Frankie, Charlie, Scottie,” she said. “According to statistics, these names are being used as official names on birth certificates for girls.”
Influencer Influence
We're expecting a surge in baby name trends driven by social media influences," Kihm said. "Notable social media personalities like Nara Smith and Jaci Marie Smith will inspire parents to choose 'cute' names for their kids, based on the names of their own children, Whimsy Lou and Benny Marie.
Several naming experts cited Campbell "Pookie" and Jett Puckett's pick of Paloma for their baby girl as an example of inspiration.
They're name is really gentle and pleasant sounding," Prunkl said. "They are also very well-liked by many people, giving it great associations - and it's a beautiful name that means 'dove', which symbolizes peace.
‘Crunch and Grind’
Expert Sandel believes 2025 will mark the return of what she calls "crunch and grind."
We're moving from a minimalist style to a more abundant one in design, and I think the same shift is happening with names," she said. "After a generation of parents choosing flowing, gentle names, they're now considering names with more consonants and harder sounds. For example, instead of a name like Sienna, they might choose Astrid. Similarly, boys are opting for names like Conrad and Briggs instead of Liam or Kaison.
Meaning-Based Names
What I predict for 2025 is a strong focus on names that hold significant meaning, either inspired by a particular moment or a modern twist on a name from a family's cultural heritage.
Younger parents from the Millennial and Gen Z generations appear to be more at ease experimenting with the numerous options for unique names that have significant meanings.
Overall, despite still having to face the challenge of picking the perfect name, I believe the new generation of parents is appreciating the liberty of discovering a name that holds personal significance," Sandel said. "It's a world beyond the conventional Baby Name Dictionary, and they're finding inspiration in multiple sources.
Enchantment
I predict a surge in charming names such as Imogen, Flora, Cillian, and Thorin," Prunkl said. "These names will be appealing because they have a captivating and romantic quality, reminiscent of a bygone era.
Paloma fits in perfectly with this magical atmosphere. Humphrey thinks the name touches on the more whimsical, nature-inspired category with names like Marigold and Clementine, which have an enchanted feel.
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