Seasonal baby names: would you consider using one?

Each year, the Office for National Statistics in England and Wales releases a month-by-month breakdown of the Top 10 baby names for boys and girls. The boys’ side is more or less constant, and so is the girls’… for eleven months of the year, at least.

　　But in December, something strange happens: Holly (which sits outside the Top 50 overall) has ranked in the Top 10 girls’ names for December ever since records began in 1996.

　　Last year, Holly was the eighth most popular name for December-born girls — and it was joined in the Top 10 by fellow seasonal picks Ivy (at #6, compared to #14 overall) and Grace (#5, compared to #10 overall).

　　Plus, perky Poppy — which was the eleventh most popular girls’ name overall in 2018 — ranked at #5 in November: the month of the Remembrance Day parades.

　　So, what’s going on? Are the Brits just bonkers for seasonal baby names, or is this a broader trend?

　　

Delving into our data

Unfortunately, the SSA doesn’t release month-by-month baby name data, but we’ve taken a look at our own site stats to determine which wintry names are catching people’s eye right now.

　　From cool evergreen choices like Aurora and Stella, Jasper and Felix — which are among the most searched-for names on the site right now, but prove equally popular for the rest of the year — to very specific seasonal picks like Christmas and Pine, these are the buzziest baby names of the month so far.

　　You never know — some of these could be the Holly and Ivy of the future!

　　

Evergreens

These Nameberry favorites are still among the Top 300 most visited pages on the site, but they have seen no increase in views in December. Most of these names are popular year-round, but we’re surprised to see sweet, airy Eira on this list. A pretty Welsh option meaning “snow”, Eira feels like it’s just one high-profile baby away from stardom!

　　Aria

　　Asher

　　Astrid

　　Aurora

　　Beatrice

　　Celeste

　　Clara

　　Eira

　　Eve

　　Felicity

　　Felix

　　Gabriel

　　Grace

　　Jasper

　　Josephine

　　Lucia

　　Lucy

　　Sage

　　Scarlett

　　Stella

　　Theodore

　　Wren

　　

Up 1-10%

These are the names that have seen a modest uptick in interest in December. Some — like Anna, Ivy and Nicholas — are already perennially popular; others — like Balthazar, Rudolph and Snowdrop — are still perhaps a little too festive for most.

　　Anna

　　Aurelia

　　Balthazar

　　Belle

　　Carol

　　Casper

　　Clementine

　　Eirlys

　　Elio

　　Estelle

　　Evangeline

　　Faith

　　Gloria

　　Ivy

　　Juniper

　　Lior (b)

　　Lucius

　　Nathaniel

　　Nicholas

　　Nova (b)

　　Olwyn

　　Piper

　　Robyn

　　Rowan (g)

　　Rudolph

　　Seraphina

　　Seren

　　Snowdrop

　　Winter (g)

　　

Up 11-20%

There’s no doubt about it: these wintry names have definitely gained a boost in page views this month. So many of these would make for superb “secret” seasonal middle names for more mainstream firsts: think Jack Emmanuel, Helena Glory, Madeline Snow…

　　Angel (g)

　　Buddy

　　Emmanuel

　　Glory

　　Joy

　　Neve

　　Noelle

　　Pax (b)

　　Snow

　　Star

　　

Up 21-50%

Holly and its equally festive soundalike Holiday both make the list of baby names really hotting up in December! Other wintry word names in this category include Merry, Miracle, and Noel for both sexes. And more proof that longtime #1 Mary is starting to feel fresh again — at least for a Christmas baby.

　　Aneira

　　Belen

　　Bell (g)

　　Christmas (g)

　　Frost (g)

　　Gioia

　　Holiday

　　Holly

　　Mary

　　Merry

　　Miracle

　　Mireille

　　Nieve

　　Noel (b and g)

　　Olwen

　　Peace (b)

　　Pine (b)

　　Seraphim

　　Winter (b)

　　Zuzu

　　

Up over 50%

Several of these white-hot winter names are partly in the spotlight for other reasons: Psalm thanks to its use by Kim and Kanye earlier this year, Milagro following the recent birth of Bella Milagro Duggar, and Jovie, just maybe, from all the chatter around Charlie Wolf-gate…

　　Celyn

　　December (g)

　　Jovie

　　Milagro

　　Peace (g)

　　Pine (g)

　　Psalm

　　For even more seasonal goodies, check out our master lists of Winter Baby Names and Christmas Baby Names. And just for fun: what would you name a baby born this month?