The new year is fresh and bright, so let’s talk about baby name trends 2020. Because it’s not just the beginning of a new year. It’s the start of a decade. We’ve ended our last, as wild and tumultuous as they come. Some of these trends barrel into 2020 full steam, building from previous years. […]
READ MORE >>Girl Names 2020: The Best Names for the New Year
If Girl Names 2020 sounds like it’s about vision, well … that’s because it is! This my attempt at crystal-ball gazing, at picking twenty names for the new year that will wear well from January into December, and then over the course of a lifetime. This list includes names already in the US Top 1000, […]
READ MORE >>Trendwatch 2019 Girls Predictions
The new US baby names popularity data comes out next month, which makes it time for Trendwatch 2019 predictions. Every year, I try to predict 30 names likely to tip into the US Top 1000 when the data is released. This list covers the 2019 boys predictions; the girls will follow later this week. My […]
READ MORE >>Trendwatch 2019 Boys Predictions
The new US baby names popularity data comes out next month, which makes it time for Trendwatch 2019 boys predictions. Every year, I try to predict 30 names likely to tip into the US Top 1000 when the data is released. This list covers the boys; the girls’ list will follow later this week. My […]
READ MORE >>Trendwatch 2018 Report: Misses & Hits
We’re just six weeks away from the new US popularity data release, so let’s have the Trendwatch 2018 Report! Every year, I make my best guesses about the baby names most likely to crack the US Top 1000 in the coming year. Trendwatch 2018 predictions were evaluated against the data released in May of 2018 […]
READ MORE >>Baby Name Trends 2018: O Baby, Em and Em, and the Power of the Small Screen
What are the biggest baby names trends 2018? On May 11th, the US Social Security Administration released the new lists of most popular names given to children born between January 1st and December 31st of 2017. That means it’s time to look at baby name trends 2018 – the influences that are changing the way […]
READ MORE >>Baby Names: Trendwatch 2018 Predictions
Trendwatch 2018 predictions have arrived! Over the last few years, I’ve tracked rising names. Annually, I make my guesses about the names most likely to crack the US Top 1000 in the coming year. My usual date disclaimer applies: strictly speaking, we’ll evaluate Trendwatch 2018 predictions against the 2017 data, which is released in May […]
READ MORE >>Baby Names: Trendwatch 2017 Report
Time for the Trendwatch 2017 report! Every year, I choose a list of names to watch. I think they’re likely to rise – or I know they’ve been steadily rising. But I’m guessing that they’ll make the Top 1000 in the coming year. It’s a nice, bright line. Either the names break in – or […]
READ MORE >>Name Help: Is This Name the Next Big Thing?
Name Help is a series at Appellation Mountain. Every week, one reader’s name questions will be discussed. We’re relying on thoughtful comments from the community to help expectant parents narrow down their name decisions. Thank you in advance for sharing your insight! Abby writes: I really like the name Maren for my daughter (due at […]
READ MORE >>Next Wave Boy Names: Oliver, Owen, and Grayson
Let’s talk next wave boy names. Ever since the new US baby names popularity data came out, I’ve been bothered by the stagnation in the Top Tens. On the boys’ side, eight out the Top Ten names fell in terms of actual use – percentage of births and number of children given the name. Only one […]
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