Top Baby Name Trend Predictions for 2023
December 5, 2022
Naming baby is no small task. There are just so many options to choose from! When it comes to starting your baby name list, the question invariably is, “Where do I even start?” Well, one place is to consider the types of names that’ll be topping the trend charts for 2023. We dug into baby name search data, studies, pop culture and global shifts to predict the hottest upcoming baby name trends. Here are the monikers we think will be on birth certificates in 2023.
Welcoming baby into the family is a major milestone, and you’re excited to share family history and cultural traditions with your little one. It makes sense, then, that many of the trending baby name lists on The Bump are rooted in culture and religion. Some of the most viewed lists for 2022 include Indian baby names, British baby names, Italian baby names and Irish baby names, as well as The Bump’s search function for baby names by origin. It’s a trend also seen in celebrity baby names, with Ashley Graham naming her twin boys Malachi and Roman—taken from books of the Old and New Testaments, respectively—as well as Shay Mitchell, naming her daughter Rome, after her late grandmother.
Cultural baby names that are rising in popularity:
Baby boy and girl names that start with the letter “A” were two of the most viewed lists this past year. Among the Social Security Administration’s 500 most popular names from 2021 (the most recent year data is available), 18 percent of baby names for girls and 10 percent of baby names for boys started with the letter “A.” And if you consider all 26 letters of the alphabet, it’s clear that “these baby names are trending. Why? Well, there might be some compelling psychology behind this rising trend. A 2007 study suggests that people unconsciously gravitate towards outcomes that are similar to their names—so students with names beginning with the letters “A” or “B” achieved better grades and than students whose name began with the letters “C” or “D.” This study—as well as another 2010 study—found that kids who had names starting with the letter “A” went on to higher ranked, competitive schools. We use the letters of the alphabet to establish rank and order with almost everything, from scoring tests to organizing people into queues and teams (think: A-list, A-team), so it stands to reason that our society associates “A” with “the best.” If people subconsciously pursue outcomes associated with their names, it makes sense that parents—consciously or subconsciously—gravitate toward baby names that are linked to positive outcomes.
Examples of A-names that we love:
The Bump’s list of unisex names continues be popular, as it has in years past. With conversations around inclusivity at the forefront, it comes as no surprise that more and more expectant parents are opting to move away from gendered names—including celebrities. In 2022, cookbook author Molly Yeh and husband Nick Hagen gave their daughter the gender-neutral moniker of Ira; supermodel Adriana Lima and boyfriend Andre Lemmers named their son Cyan; and actress Rebel Wilson and her partner Ramona Agruma named their daughter Royce. Plus, research shows gender-neutral names are breaking barriers and offering people a leg up in industries that have historically been dominated by one gender. It’s apparent that today’s parents are looking to raise strong, confident and kind children without the gender-stereotyping that’s been pervasive in past generations.
Some examples of top nonbinary names are:
When it comes baby names, shorter ones are becoming increasingly popular. In looking at The Bump’s top 500 viewed names in 2022, around 50 percent of them consist of five characters or less. Wondering why parents would want shorter names for their kids? On the heels of COVID, many are craving connection and thinking about ways to once again build relationships—and shorter names are easier to remember and reminiscent of nicknames, signaling friendliness. Nicknames have been used as terms of endearment for generations across several cultures. In fact, a 2011 study from LinkedIn found that CEOs and sales executives often use shorter names, in order to appear more approachable.
Below, some of the most popular short baby names on The Bump:
There’s power in something that’s tried and true. Families have faced a lot of instability in recent years, and while COVID concerns may be lessened, Americans continue to face a tumultuous news cycle that can take a toll on mental health—particularly when they’re about to bring baby into the world. Many parents-to-be may find themselves reminiscing about the pre-pandemic days and are drawn to stability and history. Even in pop culture, historical dramas and period shows like Stranger Things, The Crown and Bridgerton have recently taken hold. Considering this nostalgia, it makes sense that many parents-to-be are looking to the past to find their perfect baby name. Some of the most popular baby name lists this past year were for vintage, classic, traditional, Latin and Victorian baby names.
Some of the most popular classic names are:
All trends have a natural push and pull between a look back and a look ahead—and the same is true with baby names. While classic names have been on the rise, so have baby names that are wholly unique. The Bump’s baby name lists for uncommon, modern, bad-ss, creative and unique baby names were some of the most visited by expectant parents in 2022. It’s clear that parents are searching for baby names that break the mold and offer the same level of individuality as their little one no doubt will. This is perhaps most visible in celebrity baby names of 2022, with Onyx Ice (daughter of LaNisha Cole and Nick Cannon), Maple Artemis (daughter of Aree Gearhart and Jack Osbourne) and Slim Easy (son of Nara Pellman and Lucky Blue Smith).
Of course, the more popular a baby name gets, the less unique it becomes, but below are some of the unique (for now) baby names that have been popular on The Bump in 2022.
