This week’s news includes popular gender-neutral names, trends in South Africa, and what it’s like to share a name with someone famous.
As with all baby names, gender-neutral style has really changed over the decades. In the early twentieth century, names like Marion, Merle, Billie and Willie dominate the map. Mid-century, we see waves of Jessie, Jackie, Lynn and Leslie. In the 1970s, the all-time most popular unisex name, Casey, takes over, and in the most recent years Riley and Peyton sweep the country. If this is your style, we’ve got lots more ideas and statistics on unisex names here.
Elsewhere on the web: why not name a girl Tristan? Or Lennon?
It’s not just American parents who like unisex names. South Africa’s top baby names of 2018 have just been released, and once again the number 1 name is the same for girls and boys: Enzokuhle, meaning “do good” in the Zulu language. Four other names are in the Top 10 for both sexes: Melokuhle, Lethabo, Omphile and Amogelang (here are some helpful notes on pronunciation; and the full statistics). Meanwhile, the most popular middle names are English words, and more gendered: Junior, Blessing and Gift for boys, and Precious, Princess and Angel for girls.
Imagine Dragons singer Dan Reynolds gave his son Valentine a name meaning “strong” to commemorate the second anniversary of shootings in his hometown of Las Vegas. And acting couple Darin Brooks and Kelly Kruger were drawn to a name meaning “beautiful” for their daughter Everleigh Jolie’s middle name.
Other celebs have chosen short, melodic names for their kids. Actor Michael Sheen has a new daughter named Lyra – a great alternative to popular Luna if ever there was one – and Daniella Monet’s son Gio James has finally arrived. His name honors several family members with the nickname G or Gee, and his uncle Giovanni.
Has this happened to anyone you know? I always wonder about a girl called Moana who I met a few years before the movie came out: does she like the world knows her name now, or is she annoyed by how far it’s gone?
Then there are people with even more famous names. I never tire of hearing how men called Harry Potter cope with a life of “you’re a wizard, Harry” jokes – these ones manage to have a bit of fun with it!
Also in pet name news, is it ok for a dog to have the same name as his human cousin?