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Three things happened the other day: first, I spotted this reel from Eventide Pennant Co about parents who chose their child’s name before finding out the gender. We have friends who did the same more than a dozen years ago. Maybe lots of Southern families are nodding right now, saying “well, of course, we’re using that family surname regardless.”
Then I noticed an Instagram post from a couple considering the middle name George for their daughter. I’m not clear if they’re actually expecting and/or if George is a family surname or has other significance. But since it was paired with a popular, conventional, feminine first it really made the name.
And then I stumbled across a list of names that have shifted from masculine or feminine, or vice versa, over the years. I’m not sharing it just yet because it’s maybe all AI-generated and that gives me pause. But combined with those two, not-AI finds above?
I’m asking myself what makes a unisex or masculine-leaning name feel wearable for our daughters?
- In many cases, a potential feminine nickname. Madison called Maddie. Elliott known as Ellie. That nickname serves two purposes: it’s an insurance policy if your daughter prefers a more gendered everyday-use name. Plus it helps convince us that the name makes sense for a girl.
- Real world influence is a major factor. – Drew, Reese, Blake, Sutton. A famous woman with a unisex name shifts everything immediately. Sometimes it’s more subtle, like the author Harper Lee. Or even Hadley from The Paris Wife, a work of historical fiction based on the real Hadley Hemingway.
- Fictional influence counts, too. As always, the repetition of television outweighs movies, so Ferris Bueller didn’t move the needle on Sloane, but Entourage boosted Sloan and Sloane.
Some parents are perfectly willing to consider names across gender lines, but for many of us? We’re waiting for a permission moment, and they happen all the time.
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Speaking of permission, that’s why nearly any influence can boost a name – at least a bit. Nancy examines what made Sparkle briefly appear in the girls’ data in 1948.
And speaking of data, BabyCenter released their most popular names for 2026. The two biggest trends they noted? Names are getting longer. And keep an eye on the initial E for girls. They also noted J for boys, but that’s old news. I’m wondering if girls’ names starting with E can overtake girls’ names starting with A this year? I’ll give it a cautious maybe … Also noteworthy? They’re forecasting that the name Taylor is sinking. They blame the over-the-top Swift-Kelce wedding, the Taylor Farms lettuce recall, and the name’s long run. One more to add in: all that Taylor Frankie Paul drama.
Maybe anecdotal proof that the whole names-are-getting-longer thing is real? Their older two children are Beau and Lila. New baby’s name? Romilly. Besides it being one of my all-time favorite underused gems, it’s undeniably trending longer …
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Raven is such a great name. It’s gently dark and mysterious, with a literary vibe. But it’s also a pop culture phenomenon thanks to the legendary Raven-Symoné. It’s not as modern as a name like Wrenley or Haven, but it’s still fresh and interesting.
Lorenzo takes classic Lawrence in a romance language direction and provides that perfect longer option for nickname Enzo.
Mallory had a pop culture moment in the 1980s, thanks to smash hit sitcom Family Ties. But it’s trending now thanks to … wait, what longer names again? Our constant search for fresh surname choices for our daughters? Nostalgia!?
That’s all for this week. As always, thank you for reading – and have a great week!
