Popular, You’re Gonna Be Popular
Remember when Game of Thrones was at the height of its popularity and there were articles about how “Khaleesi” was climbing the baby name charts? Where are those little girls now, we wonder… Our point is that some names are perennially popular, while others become time capsules of an era. Here are 20 names that are all the rage now but might not go the distance.
1. Isla
This Scottish name, also the name of an island in the Inner Hebrides, speaks to the cross-cultural love affair many Americans have with all things Celtic. We’ve seen a massive surge in Islas in the past few years, to the point where it’s starting to become a little much. While Isla may be a cute alternative to mega-popular names like Isabella and Amelia, the sheer amount of Islas running around, combined with the chance of it being mispronounced, makes us think that this name we think will fizzle out soon.
2. Oakley
While Oakley is a unisex name, we’ve seen a rise of boy Oakleys recently. Combining nature imagery with the ever-popular -ley ending, this name has a rustic sort of “Old Hickory” feel that’s been extremely trendy recently, especially with the Utah-based MomTok set. Oakley is already on the decline as of last year, falling 14 spots for boys.
3. Nevaeh
Erroneously believed to be a variation on the Irish name Niamh (pronounced “Neev”), Nevaeh is actually the word “heaven” spelled backwards, as any parent of a Nevaeh will proudly tell you. The name was popularized in 2000 when nu metal rocker Sonny Sandoval chose it for his daughter to reflect his Christian faith. Personally, we aren’t quite sure how to pronounce this one and always read it as Nivea, like the skincare brand.
4. Maverick
Another wild west name, Maverick comes from a Texas rancher named Samuel Maverick, who refused to brand his cattle. Since then, the name has become synonymous with free-thinkers and rebels, such as Tom Cruise’s character in the Top Gun films. Personally, we think it’s a little silly that a name derived from the act of not branding something has become so popular. Maverick currently sits at #36 on the US Top 1000 names in 2024 and will likely continue to climb.
5. Luna
Celestial names such as Luna, Aurora, and Stella have been gaining popularity recently, perhaps in part due to the inescapability of astrology. Rising signs aside, these names have a light, ethereal quality to them, and many have ties to mythology. We think Luna will continue to hover around the top 10 but will be out of fashion in a couple of years.
6. Jaxon
Imagine this name as a placeholder for other names ending in -xon, such as Paxton and Braxton. However, we want to highlight Jaxon in particular because it exemplifies one of the most annoying name trends of the 2020s and beyond: adding unnecessary x’s! Jackson already exists as a name, beating out Jaxon by over 60 spots at #35.
7. Nova
Another celestial name (or a nickname for November, if you’re into the NATO Phonetic Alphabet), Nova is a name that would be unique if it didn’t feel like kindergartens nowadays need to have a certain number of Novas on their attendance lists, a Nova quota, if you will. Like with Maverick, names once prized for their uniqueness lose a bit of their sparkle when everyone’s using them.
8. Sawyer
Sawyer easily encapsulates several 2020s naming trends in one easy package: it’s unisex, has the -er ending found in names like Oliver and Fletcher, and is originally based on a trade (“one who saws/cuts wood”). Parker and Carter also fit that exact bill, but they have a little more of a timeless feel. Sawyer feels like a desperate parent’s effort to check as many boxes as possible.
9. Kinsley
Where in the world did Kinsley come from? Our best guess is that it’s a variation on the name Kingsley, which means “king’s meadow.” Peaking at spot #57 in 2021, Kinsley began to fall almost immediately after, proving that the name’s moment in the sun has passed.
10. Brayden
In response to a Reddit thread asking what names will be emblematic of the past decade for better or worse, one of the most popular answers was Aiden. However, Aiden has been a name for over a millennium and has been fairly popular in that millennium. Brayden (and variations thereof), on the other hand, is much more egregious, feeling like a compromise for parents who couldn’t choose between Brandon and Aiden.
11. Everly
Listen, we know that all names are technically made up. But Everly really sounds made up, like the parents panicked while filling out the birth certificate. Apparently meaning “boar wood,” this name almost sounds like a parody of a 2020 name, with every parent wanting their child to be unique until they’re not. As a name, Everly peaked in 2020 and has been falling ever since.
Nestergrapher nedie on Unsplash
12. Silas
The thing about choosing a name—whether it’s for a baby or for yourself—is that it’s a bit of a hassle to change it. Our point is that you should pick a name that will suit a person at all stages of life, not just an adorable baby. In the same way that the Jaxons of the world will one day grow into old men named Jaxon, your Silas will have a long way to go before he grows into his name.
13. Wren
Bird-related names are a reliable favorite for expecting parents, with heavy-hitters like Ava, Robin, Callum, and Raven all coming from avian etymologies. We think Wren is a cute unisex name, but we also think that some new bird names should be introduced to the ecosystem, like Iona, Deryn, or even Teal if you want to get a bit more abstract.
14. Theodore
Theodore is one of those classic names that’s never quite been out of style. With cute nicknames like Theo and Teddy, we can understand why it’s so popular. Theodore has risen and fallen several times over the past century; we think that it’s due to go out with the tide in a little while.
15. Leilani
This beautiful Hawaiian name meaning “heavenly garland of flowers” broke into the mainstream in 1937 after a Bing Crosby song. While there’s nothing bad about this name particularly, some people have pushed back against its use by non-Hawaiians. There’s a fine line between cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation, and disconnecting this name from its context can lead to sticky situations.
16. Kai
In Estonia, Kai is a form of Katherine; in America, it’s pretty firmly a boy’s name. Kai was most popular in 2022, representing 0.2% of all baby boys that year! The following year, the name began to see a slight decline, which has continued. Pro-tip: if you meet a Kai, it rhymes with "hi" rather than "hey."
17. Harper
Harper is not a new name by any means; just look at To Kill A Mockingbird author Harper Lee. However, Harper, as a more masculine-leaning girl name in the vein of Alex and Cameron, speaks firmly to naming trends of the past decade. With up-and-coming girls' names aiming for a lighter, more sophisticated aura, we bet Harper will drop a few spots in the coming year.
18. Finley
As seen with the Aiden epidemic, Gaelic names are especially popular with American boys right now, which shouldn’t be too surprising, considering the large Irish population. Finley, however, doesn’t rise above the rest. Briefly experiencing more popularity as a girls’ name in the late 2010s, Finley has been on the decline in the past few years for both girls and boys.
19. Layla
Between Layla, Leila, and even Leighla, we’re running out of ways to spell this name. With a similar sound to other popular names such as Lily, Lana, and Leilani, we think that this sweet name is coming to the end of its shelf life in such a crowded field.
20. Axel
A possible corruption of the Hebrew name Absalom, Axel is widely used in Nordic countries. Closer to home, however, Axel has more in common with ultra-macho names like Remington and Colt, whose associations lie with firearms and masculine power. Regardless of how powerful your baby may or may not be, we think this trend of trying to butch up your cuddly newborns won’t last much longer.
