Celebrity baby name choices and popular culture have significantly impacted what parents name their babies in recent years. A lot of parents are shying away from mainstream names or the classic top tens.
We’ve identified some trends in alternative names below.
Vintage Baby Names
Vintage baby names such as Ava have climbed back to the top of the charts after falling out of favour, and names like Ada and Mabel are making a comeback.
Vintage names with an ethereal feel are popular; Names such as Ambrose, Faye, Bear, Clover, Flora, Jasper, Jack, Jane, Matilda, Maisie, Nellie, Opal, Rowan, River, Silas, Theodore and Wilder.
Vintage Baby Girl Names
Mabel: English origin meaning loveable or dear
Edith: An old English name meaning riches or blessed
Edie: Meaning wealth or fortune.
Ada: A pretty name meaning nobility
Vintage baby boy names
Alfred: This could be shortened to Alfie or Fred and means “wise counsellor”
Chester: Meaning ‘fortress’ or ‘camp’
Atticus: A Greek name meaning ‘from Attica’
George: Meaning farmer or earth-worker George has made a comeback after the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge called their first son George
Rainbow Baby Names
For the NHS in 2020, the rainbow became a symbol of hope, and as a result, we’ve come up with these rainbow-inspired names: Cerise, Clementine, Indigo, Iris, Cole, Hunter and Jet.
Double-Barrelled Baby Names
If you’re looking for a unique name, why not create something using a double-barrelled name?
Some names are particularly popular for the second part of the double-barrel for girls, including May, or Mae, Grace, Rose, and Rae. For boys, this includes James and Lee.
Examples for girls and boys include:
Bella-Rae
Lily-May
Evie-Rose
John-James
Quinn-Lee
Elements Baby Names
The elements inspired baby name trend is excellent if you like a mighty name.
Elements inspired baby girl names
Amber: Of the fossilised tree resin called Amber but also refers to a colour which is a red-orange shade
Aura: Meaning light
Fern: Referring to the leafy plant
Flora: Meaning flower
Enya: Meaning grain in Irish and fire in Celtic
Misty: Meaning covered with mist or dew
Nova: Meaning new and is also a unisex name
Skye: Of Scottish origin, meaning cloud
Elements inspired baby boy names
Ash: Inspired by a tree but also means happy
Ember: Meaning spark or burning low
Heath: Meaning land of heather and grass
Phoenix: Of Greek origin, meaning blood red and also refers to the image of a phoenix rising from the ashes
River: This can be used for a boy or girl
Zephyr: A Greek name meaning west wind
Hopeful Baby Names
In difficult times people look for hope, and there isn’t anything full of more hope than bringing a new baby into the world.
Hopeful baby names for girls
Charity: Meaning kindness
Haven: A unisex name meaning safe place
Hope: The ultimate hopeful baby name!
Joy: Meaning happiness
Faith: The meaning of this name isn’t just tied to the dedication of religion but also keeping faith in positivity and hope
Vera: Of Russian origin, meaning faith
Hopeful baby names for boys
Aymes: Meaning friend in French
Benedict: Meaning blessed
Kit: Meaning hope
Dillon: Meaning’ ray of hope’ and of Irish origin
Lucius: Meaning light
Modern Baby Names
The lovely thing about modern baby names is the theme includes an eclectic mix of names, from straightforward but bold to more complex and unusual names.
Modern baby boy names
Ashton: An English surname but also means ‘ash tree town’
London: The capital of England
Ludo: Of German origin, it means famous fighter
Oakley: Meaning ‘oak tree field’
Toivo: An unusual baby name meaning hope
Modern baby girl names
Aurora: From the Latin word meaning dawn
Ayla: Meaning light or earth.
Mabli: Of Welsh origin, meaning “loveable”.
Mila: A Slavic name meaning “people’s favour”.
True: Meaning real or genuine
Verity: Meaning truth
