Our Top Baby Name Predictions for 2020
If you’re expecting a little one in 2020, you’re probably interested in which baby names are pegged to become popular. (You might also be interested if you’re a name nerd like myself.) Luckily, we have a few tools to ascertain which monikers will rise in the new year. Top name websites Nameberry and names.org are weighing in, along with other organizations (plus my own informal research). These names may not be able to bump standbys Liam and Emma from 2020’s top spots, but they’ll certainly be on-trend. So let’s get into next year’s names, why don’t we?
Nameberry’s 2019 faves
The name-savvy users of top baby name website Nameberry are generally ahead of the curve. “We predict 2020’s top baby names by calculating which names saw the biggest increases in interest from Nameberry readers so far this year compared with last year,” founder Pamela Redmond Satran writes on the Nameberry site, introducing their 2020 predictions. So what are the Nameberry favorites?
For girls
1. Adah
2. Reese
3. Mika
4. Paisley
5. Amina
6. Teagan
7. Nova
8. Aura
9. Pearl
10. Billie
For boys
1. Austin
2. Alva
3. Acacius
4. Tate
5. Diego
6. Easton
7. Lucius
8. Cash
9. Ash
10. Luca
Unisex
1. Ellis
2. Phoenix
3. Remi/Remy
4. Marlowe
5. Shea
6. Zephyr
7. Darcy
8. Rowan
9. Quinn
10. Emerson
Inspired by pop culture
Sometimes more “unique” names enter the spotlight courtesy of someone or something in the media. Names.org reports on the latest trending names. These unusual choices could be big for 2020:
1. Taycan — Porche’s new electric car.
2. Mahbed — Drake’s son’s middle name.
3. Kulture — Merriam-Webster defines “culture” thusly: “the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group.” But Cardi B. added a “k” and used this word as her baby’s name, so it’s trending up!
4. Koepka — As in pro golfer Brooks Koepka.
5. Leafar — Artist Leafar Seyer is married to tattoo artist Kat Von D. His original name is Rafael; he flipped it backwards.
6. Mazikeen — The main character in Fox TV series Lucifer bears this name. Devilish association? No matter!
Rising wild cards
Names.org has data on steadily rising names. These options just keep climbing. Will they take over 2020? Possibly: the name Nova increased by more than 650% between 2012 and 2017 — that’s a lot! “It could be that some of these wildcard names just take off,” the site’s chief technical officer Matthew Kolb told Today. “They might knock some of the lower names off the bottom of the list.”
For boys
1. Ezekiel
2. Maverick
3. Jameson
4. Ezra
5. Mateo
For girls
1. Nova
2. Everly
3. Kinsley
4. Willow
5. Aurora
British Predictions
British company Bloom & Wild has analyzed first name trends based on celebrities, film and TV, and general popularity. Their top predictions for 2020 are:
1. Ivy — Floral names are blooming. Add in the Beyonce connection and we have a winner.
2. Jasmine — A pretty flower, plus the Disney princess.
3. Archie — Royal baby, anyone?
4. Eve — BBC’s series Killing Eve inspires this pick.
5. Edward — New parents love the connection to singer Ed Sheeran, plus the royal family.
6. Meghan — Another name inspired by British royals.
7. Ariana — Singer Ariana Grande is behind this one.
8. Billie — Another pop inspiration, this name got a boost from singer Billie Eilish.
Trends out of Hollywood
Another place name trends start: Los Angeles. Hip California mamas have been noticing these names becoming more popular. Based on our own informal survey, these baby names are gaining popularity:
1. Arrow
2. Artemis
3. Atlas
4. Beatrice
5. Goldie
6. Ike
7. Indigo
8. Lyric
9. Nico
10. Paloma
11. Poppy
12. Remy
13. Ruth
14. Wilder
15. Winnie