There are only a few months left in the year, and there are already baby name predictions being made for 2023. Nameberry recently released its name trend predictions for next year, and the report has some interesting projections.

It predicts that there will be a shift in name trends, as parents look to rebel against social norms considering the events of recent years. Specifically, trends will be influenced by the 1920s and the 1960s, periods known for wishing to leave the past behind. The roaring 20s came after the horror of World War I and the flu epidemic and was a decade of thrills.

The 1960s similarly came in the aftermath of World War II and the conservative 50s. In both decades, feminism was a driving force.

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Nameberry says that parents are more individualistic than ever before, and are looking for unique names for their offspring.

Also, driving the quest for uniqueness are social media and pop culture, which the report says have exhausted names that would likely still be popular if digital communication wasn’t so deep.

The report identified 10 top trends for 2023:

  1. Maximalism: names will be opulent, and dramatic, with inspiration from dark academic and high fantasy
  2. Nostalgic names: shows like Stranger Things are bringing a resurgence of names popular in past decades, like the ‘80s
  3. Gilded names: think of names that shine, shimmer, and evoke positivity
  4. Neo-cowboy names: more names will be inspired by natural, rural elements
  5. Traveling-lite names: short but sweet names that work in multiple languages but still embody uniqueness
  6. X-tra names: the letter ‘x’ will be more common in names than ever
  7. Adjectives: regular words will be transformed into unique yet adorable names
  8. Grandpa names: parents will be turning to traditional male names, but giving them a spin by using them for baby girls
  9. Blue-green names: anything inspired by these two shades will make for a trendy name
  10. Original names: in pursuit of uniqueness, more parents will create their own names

Other research has underscored that unique and original names are growing in popularity in the U.S. specifically. One study found that traditional names have been decreasing since the 50s, and American parents are more likely to give their sons unique names.

But unique names aren’t only popular in North America. A recent study found that there’s a similar trend in Japan in recent years. More parents are steering clear of traditional names in lieu of individualistic monikers.

Sources: Sage Journals, Nameberry,