10 baby name trend predictions for 2023, from 'Golden' and 'Moss' to 'Legendary'
The uncertainty and turmoil of the last few years has caused a huge shift in what we wear, watch, listen, read and, as it turns out, what we name our babies.
The predictions for the hottest baby names of 2023 have been released, and it seems parents are reacting to these unsettling times with names that feel hopeful, mythical and fresh.
While everything feels a bit grim, people are choosing baby names that speak to better times.
Pam Redmond is the founder of Nameberry – the largest baby naming website in the world, and the people behind the latest list. She explained: ‘There’s a pop, upbeat, bright, 1920s/1960s vibe around.
‘The feeling of a new world, dancing as fast as we can. A complete reinvention of mood and style.’
Nameberry also expects to see more micro and viral trends – similar to those we see on TikTok where trends hit hard and leave quickly.
This means parents are getting inventive with their baby names to keep ahead of the curve.
There’s also a lot of thought going into what the name represents, with parents questioning what kind of statement a name makes about the identity of their child and their family.
Here are the top ten baby name trend predictions for 2023.
1. Maximalist Names
Parents are doing the most and leaning toward names full of ‘opulence, decadence and drama.’
This, Nameberry say, signals a shift away from the restrictive years, both in our home lives with the Marie Kondo style of minimal interiors and literally with pandemic restrictions.
In its place, we have extravagant names like Amadeus and Astrophel, Myfanwy and Mazikeen, which are some of the fastest-rising names so far this year.
The popularity of trends like dark Academia, high fantasy and Regencycore has also encouraged us to embrace of such mythical-sounding names, with Cleopatra, Morpheus and Lazarus also making the list.
2. The 80s are back baby
Mullets are a mainstream hairdo, Kate Bush is back in the charts, fun makeup and bomber jackets are cool again. It’s 2022, but everyone is feeling the ’80s.
So it makes sense that we’re expecting to ‘see the start of a revival of 80s inspired names by ahead-of-the-curve admirers of this retro style.’
Examples include characters from 80s pop culture classics, like Ferris, Marty and Sloane, as well as names plucked straight from Stranger Things like Dustin and Billy.
3. Golden names
Gold is going to be the it girl of 2023.
Parents are seeking golden, shimmering, shining, gilded names. This can be taken literally – Goldie made it to the Top 1000 last year – or there are more subtle options too.
The ‘ones to watch’ are sun deities like Apollo and Helios, names meaning gold or light like Aurelia and Lux, and rich regal names like Atarah and Sovereign.
There’s also Golden, Halo, Shine, Sunshine and Marigold.
4. Neo-cowboy names
Nameberry has noticed that ‘rugged, outdoorsy, back-to-basics style names’ are booming.
Cowboy-esque names are likely to be popular in 2023 – think Hawkins, Foster, Brando, Beck, Tex.
We might see parents turning to new Western shows for inspiration too; we already saw Outer Range’s ‘Royal’ shoot to the top of the charts this year.
We should also looking out for Rhett (also from Outer Ranger), Yellowstone’s Dutton and 1883’s Ennis.
5. Cross-culture names
Parents are searching for fresh, chameleon-like names that can be pronounced in multiple languages, and don’t seem tied to too strongly to a culture.
These names follow a ‘very specific formula’ of four letters, two syllables and end in I.
This name shape hasn’t been mainstream cool since the midcentury era of Lori, Teri and Geri, but its coming back in a big way.
The latest example is Leni, which jumped up the charts after fitness influencer Joe Wicks chose that for his daughter.
In 2023, expect to see more babies called Gigi, Bibi, Rani and Rumi, Nori, Suki, Joni, and Lili.
6. X-tra Names
X is in, apparently. We can partially blame Elon Musk and Grimes for this, after they named their kids X Æ A-Xii (known as X) and Exa Dark Sideræl.
We won’t have loads of little X Æ A-Xii’s running around but expect names Beaux and Calix, Huxley, Onyx, Abraxas, Xerxes, Bellatrix, Hendrix, Felix and Pixie.
7. Adjective Names
We aren’t sure about this one, but some celebs have been naming their kids with adjectives.
Nick Cannon has his sons, Moroccan, Golden and Legendary, and a daughter called Powerful. There’s also Chris Brown’s daughter Lovely, Jessica Hart’s son Glorious, Khloe Kardashian’s daughter True, and Lucky Blue Smith’s baby boy Slim Easy.
There’s a chance this could catch on in the mainstream as part of the post-pandemic need for intentional, hopeful names.
‘Wavy’, ‘Valiant’, ‘Legendary’, ‘Supreme’, ‘Zealous’ and ‘Heavenly’ all make the list. Watch this space, I guess.
8. Grandpa Names for Girls
This is cute. A big trend for 2023 could be giving grandpa names to baby girls.
Nameberry says these old names feel sweet and nicknamey, fitting the retro trend while still being subversive.
The next generation of parents is all about playing with expectations, embracing incongruity, and reinventing tired trends in novel ways.
Kicking off this category is ‘Max’, which also ticks the Stranger Things and X trends.
Other examples include Ozzie, Billie, Bobbie, Drew, Stevue, Scottie, Teddy and Lou.
9. Blue-Green Names
Blue-green names are trending, and they are often pulled right from nature. We’re seeing a trend for deep green names like Forest, Emerald, Fern and Moss, as well as brighter blues like Lazuli and Cyan, with the latter being chosen by supermodel Adriana Lima for her son last month.
Other recent celebrity babies on the blue-green spectrum include Michael Bublé’s daughter Cielo, Darren Criss’ Bluesy, and Camilo and Evaluna Montaner’s baby girl Indigo.
Other picks include Sage, Ivy, Bluebell, Ricers, and Sapphire.
10. Mix and Match Names
Last but not least, parents are straight up inventing names up in their quest to be original.
In 2023, parents will start mashing together parts of different names. Kai, Cy, Beau (or Bo) and Mae, Oak and Ice are all going to be popular components.
The new “it” endings to watch include -aire, -ett, -iel, -lani, -land and -wyn.
Biblical names are out, replaced by names created on pure vibes like Aziel, Beauden, Cyaire, Emberly, Icelyn, Khairi, Larose, Maebry, Novarae, Rhyett, Romer, Woodson and Zakhai.
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