Nameberry has announced the hottest baby name trends for 2023, which reflects a change in outlook as parents react to what has been a very unsettling and intense time.
New parents of 2023 are seeking upbeat, bright names with a retro vibe, but also with a feeling of a new world and reinventing our style and mood.
Interestingly, Nameberry also notes that today’s parents are more conscious than ever about the statement their choice of baby name makes: about them, about their family identity, about their place in the cultural context.
Baby Name Trends for 2023
Maximalist Names
Maximalist names hail from myth and legend, from history and fantasy, from literature and anime. Recent pop culture phenomena from Bridgerton to The Witcher have popularized maximalist aesthetics such as high fantasy and regencycore. So this is naturally impacting baby names as well. Maximalist names sound strong and confident!
Among the fastest-rising names on Nameberry so far this year in this trend are names like
- Amadeus
- Astrophel
- Myfanwy
- Mazikeen
- Persephone
- Perseus
- Wednesday
- Wolfgang
1980s Retro Feel Names
2022 saw the return of the mullet, Kate Bush back at #1 (thanks Stranger Things!), and nostalgia for makeup and clothes from the 1980s.
Nameberry predicts that 2023 will see the start of a revival of 80s-inspired baby names but rather than the usual names that were top of the lists during the 1980s (the Michaels and the Jessicas), they’re projecting more quirky, retro-style names like
- Carey
- Ferris
- Jeanie
- Laurel
- Robin
- Sandy
- Sloane
- Travis
Gilded Names
Golden names are predicted to be one of the top trends of 2023 as parents want names that feel bright, luxurious and optimistic.
Names that shimmer and shine, that reflect or reference gold, royalty, light, gods and more. Here are some top names in this category:
- Apollo
- Atarah
- Goldie
- Helios
- Lux
- Sovereign
- Sterling
- Sunshine
- Zora
Neo-Cowboy Names
With modern life feeling uncertain, full of turmoil, parents are moving towards names that evoke nature, simpler times etc. Right in there are what are called “Neo-cowboy” names. Names that evoke a rugged, outdoorsy, back-to-basics style are right on trend for 2023.
Names ending with -s, -er or -ett are in there as well as names from popular new shows such as Outer Range, Yellowstone and The English.
- Briggs
- Dutton
- Ennis
- Reeve
- Rhett
- Royal
- Tex
- Truett
- Walker
Names Ending in I
Cross-cultural names that are funky, fresh and can travel seamlessly between languages and cultures are here to stay. While names like Anna or Leo have been around for a long time, and A and O ending names continue to be popular, they’ve now been joined by names ending in I.
Popular celebrities are fuelling this trend (think Bibi, Gigi, Nori and Lili). And the latest name to jump up the Nameberry charts is Leni, chosen by Joe Wicks for his new daughter.
Names in this trend include:
- Avni
- Esti
- Lumi
- Mimi
- Rafi
- Suki
- Zuri
X-tra Names
New parents of 2023 are on the hunt for names with the X factor – beginning, middle or end, X is having its moment.
From mythological names to names from pop culture to more traditional names, X is definitely its presence felt in trending baby names:
- Beaux
- Bellatrix
- Felix
- Hendrix
- Huxley
- Maine
- Onyx
- Pixie
- Xerxes
Adjective Names
This is an interesting new trend, using adjectives for names, they seem to feel more intentional than aspirational. Started by celebrities (aren’t most trends?!) such as Nick Cannon (Moroccan, Golden, Legendary, Powerful), Chris Brown (Lovely) and Jessica Hart (Glorious), adjectives definitely take names to a new level.
Here are some examples of adjective names trending now:
- Bright
- Celestial
- Divine
- Heavenly
- Lovely
- Lucky
- Noble
- Stellar
- Supreme
- Valiant
- Winsome
Grandpa Names for Girls
The next new trend for 2023 is using old-fashioned short and nickname-type traditionally used for boys names for girls!
The hottest name in this category is Max, featuring in both Stranger Things and A League of Their Own, it also hits the X-name trend. Here are some more of these Grandpa names for girls:
- Andie
- Arlo
- Billie
- Frankie
- Georgie
- Iggy
- Joey
- Lou
- Miller
- Ozzie
- Scottie
- Teddy
Blue-Green Names
Blue-green names are trending at the moment, from deep green names to brighter blues, mostly drawn from nature.
Here are some of the blue-green names we love:
- Bluebell
- Cyan
- Emerald
- Forest
- Indigo
- Ivy
- Lazuli
- Moss
- Sapphire
- Sky
Mix and Match Names
Finally for 2023 baby name trends, is the Mix and Match names trend – inventing your own name! Combining names, adding new endings such as -aire or -ett or -land, repurposing a surname, these are all part of this trend. Here are some fabulous examples:
- Aziel
- Beauden
- Caliana
- Cyaire
- Ellowyn
- Emberly
- Foxton
- Kailo
- Larose
- Maebry
- Oakland
- Riverly
- Wrenley
After all, no one else will have this unique invented name (for a while at least)!
About the Author: Jill Holtz
