In recent years, it has become trendy and more important for parents to express their values than going with a time-tested traditional baby name. Today, parents look for names that empower their children while showcasing their aspirations. It’s more akin to baby branding than pulling a name from a hat. The experts at Nameberry have pinpointed the sort of messaging power new parents are looking for today.
“Today’s parents are fixated on sending the right messages with the names they choose,” Nameberry creator Pamela Redmond explained. “The perfect baby name for 2024 is one that is ahead of the style curve, personally significant, and identity-defining.”
It’s all about balancing taste and individuality. Taking a note from Nameberry, we are predicting the ten biggest baby name trends of 2024. From atmospheric appellations to music legend hero names, there’s no shortage of fabulous name trends to discuss. Let’s dig in!
Girl Names for Boys
For over a decade, traditionally masculine names have been adopted for baby girls. For instance, Blake is now more prevalent among baby girls than boys. It has taken some time, but now parents are flipping the script on girl names for boys. Typically, a unisex name that has been more common for girls gets chosen, reclaiming the name and offering something unique and fresh.
Examples of the Girl Names for Boys Trend
- Artemis
- Blair
- Capri
- Carmen
- Cleo
- Eden
- Fern
- Florence
- Greer
- Harlow
- Hazel
- Io
- Irie
- Izzy
- Jade
- June
Even More Great Girl Names to Use for Boys
- Juniper
- Juno
- Lark
- Lotus
- Morgan
- Noa
- Raven
- Robin
- Romy
- Rose
- Rue
- Sunny
- Willow
- Winter
Feminine Yet Feminist Names for Girls Trend
Nameberry claims that the new Barbie movie is already impacting the appellations parents choose for their daughters. With its feminist themes and meditation on gender, Barbie has parents looking for names that convey strength and beauty.
Examples of Feminine Yet Feminist Names for Girls
- Althea
- Arwen
- Billie
- Clover
- Colette
- Conley
- Dahlia
- Dorothea
- Eleanora
- Guinevere
- Gwen
- Halston
- Honey
- Isadora
Even More Worth Considering
- Kiara
- Lavender
- Lulu
- Palmer
- Pippa
- Prescott
- Malone
- Matilda
- Mavis
- Melrose
- Sinclair
- Tabitha
- Tallulah
- Theodora
- Vienna
- Winslow
Grown Up Baby Names
“You’re naming an adult, not a baby,” is some sage advice that parents began to embrace in 2023 and will only increase in 2024. The concept dictates that cutesy and novel names might sound good for a little one but will not age well as your child enters adulthood. Therefore, choosing traditional names that are still stylish is critical.
Examples of the Grown Up Baby Name Trend
- Agnes
- Alfred
- Antonella
- Arthur
- Betty
- Carla
- Casimir
- Cedric
- Clyde
- Constance
- Dolores
- Duncan
- Florence
- Georgina
Even More Worth Considering
- Harold
- Heath
- Helen
- Lars
- Lionel
- Lois
- Marjorie
- Martha
- Mauricio
- Maxine
- Ray
- Roland
- Rita
- Sidra
- Stanley
- Sylvia
Weather-Inspired Baby Names
Nature-inspired baby names have exploded in popularity in recent decades. A sub-trend that’s beginning to take hold is names inspired by weather. See the appellations that will be big in the coming years. These appellations are entirely modern and sound as ephemeral as their meanings. It’s not just Kylie Jenner choosing the name Aire; parents from all walks of life fuel this trend.
Examples of Appellations Following the Atmospheric Trend
- Aero
- Aira
- Aire
- Araceli
- Aura
- Azure
- Brisa
- Celestial
- Ciel
- Cielo
- Ice
- Icelynn
- Itzel
- Keilani
More Examples Worth Your Time
- Lightning
- Lluvia
- Lumi
- Nevada
- Noelani
- Rain
- Sol
- Solana
- Soleil
- Solimar
- Sky
- Snow
- Storm
- Stormi
- Sunny
- Zephyr
Effortless Glamor Names
Parents love a sophisticated name that doesn’t read as pretentious or overly assertive. Naturally glamorous names that sound chic yet grounded will be a massive trend in 2024. Think fashionable meets earthy.
Examples of the Effortless Glamor Trend
- Archie
- Asha
- Celia
- Cillian
- Conrad
- Cormac
- Daphne
- Estelle
- Flora
- Freya
- Gaia
- Greta
- Guy
- Harris
More to Consider
- Harvey
- Laith
- Lorcan
- Lyra
- Mabel
- Magnus
- Merrick
- Oren
- Orson
- Petra
- Phoebe
- Talia
- Thea
- Torin
- Vera
- Viola
Protagonist Baby Names
Parents are turning to beloved characters from literature to pop culture for baby name inspiration. These appellations seem to scream, “Look at me!” Parents today are raised on the internet, where eye-catching and bold aesthetics flourish. This is reflected in the protagonist baby name trend.
Examples to Consider
- Anakin
- Athena
- Avalon
- Azriel
- Catalina
- Chosen
- Elio
- Esmeralda
- Everest
- Galilea
- Itzayana
- Jetson
- Jiraiya
- Kenzo
Even More Names Highlighting the Trend
- Leonidas
- Marceline
- Marigold
- Maximo
- Namari
- Nami
- Neo
- Ophelia
- Persephone
- Primrose
- Raya
- Sylvester
- Thaddeus
- Valentino
- Winry
- Zaire
Gentle Names for Gentle Parents
Gentle parenting, also known as positive parenting or empathetic parenting, is a parenting style that promotes a relationship with your children based on empathy, respect, understanding, and boundaries. It is emerging as the most popular parenting style of today. Parents are choosing soft and emotive appellations more than ever before. These gentle names typically begin with a vowel or contain more than one. They seem to float on air.
Examples of the Gentle Name Trend
- Alba
- Alfie
- Ansel
- Amias
- Asa
- Casper
- Clement
- Cyril
- Ellis
- Faye
- Fia
- Florian
- Hale
- Ione
- Ines
- Isolde
More Examples
- Ivo
- Koa
- Liana
- Luan
- Oisin
- Oona
- Rafe
- Rhea
- Rhys
- Sahil
- Selah
- Soraya
- Valo
- Willa
STEM Names Are Becoming a Thing
Names inspired by science, technology, engineering, and math are incredibly trendy. Nerdy parents, rejoice! In addition to names with meanings from these disciplines, new parents are using the surnames of famous scientists as given names for their children. Yes, there could be a baby named Darwin in your child’s class.
Examples of the STEM Name Trend
- Anova
- Astra
- Calyx
- Cosmo
- Darwin
- Edison
- Franklin
- Galen
- Hedy
- Hutton
- Kepler
- Kuiper
- Link
- Linnea
- Lumen
- Mars
More to Consider
- Meridian
- Moon
- Nova
- Octavia
- Onyx
- Seven
- Solar
- Solstice
- Tau
- Tripp
- Una
- Vela
- Wave
- Zenith
‘ai’ Baby Names
One of the trendiest names of the last few years is the Hawaiian moniker Kai. It is so beloved that names with “ai” in them are riding on its coattails. These names come from diverse origins, spanning from Japanese to Hebrew.
Examples of This Trend
- Abishai
- Adlai
- Alakai
- Akai
- Azai
- Azakai
- Cai
- Esai
- Ilai
- Jakai
- Jasai
- Kai
- Kasai
- Khai
More Examples
- Kenai
- Lorelai
- Makai
- Malakai
- Marsai
- Masai
- Mordecai
- Ozai
- Sai
- Sakai
- Sarai
- Shai
- Shakai
- Sinai
- Zai
- Zakai
Musical Hero Names
Celebrating the genius of beloved musicians can be as easy as using their names. Many parents turn to the artists and bands they love for baby name inspiration. Most of these appellations have a rock-n-roll vibe and sound very current and cool. Music lovers, 2024 is your year.
Examples of the Musical Hero Name Trend
- Arlo
- Bowie
- Cobain
- Collins
- Coltrane
- Denver
- Elton
- Elvis
- Guthrie
- Graceland
- Hawkins
- Iggy
- Jethro
- Jett
Even More to Consider
- Joni
- Joplin
- Jovi
- Lennon
- Maybellene
- Mercury
- Morrison
- Ozzy
- Pixie
- Presley
- Priscilla
- Nirvana
- Rhiannon
- Stevie
- Zeppelin
- Ziggy
There you go! Now you know the baby name trends that will be huge in 2024. We love that parents today are being more adventurous than ever before with the names they choose. Whether or not you want to use one of these trendy names, it is excellent to look at what names will be popular as they reflect our values as a society. Happy baby naming!