2019 has already launched the start of many baby name trends, and we're still on the first page of the calendar! From sports stadiums to celebrity surnames, we’re seeing the most creative inspiration for naming the planet’s newest residents. These clever and inventive sources offer a crop of fresh and fun baby names, and because they're so new, they also aren’t rooted in ancient gender stereotypes. It’s hard not to instantly picture a pink nursery or something princess-y when the name Emily comes to mind (thanks to a lifetime of heteronormative stereotypes constantly inflicted upon us), but a name like Justice does not automatically fit in the pink or blue onesie category. This could be in part why nonbinary baby names names are one of the biggest baby name trends of the year. More often, parents are choosing names for their children that will work with any gender identity.
Baby names that buck traditional ideals about masculinity and femininity aren’t exactly new. The last few years have seen a spike in popularity in names like Jaden, Hayden, and Payton, all of which are unisex. It’s easy to see why they’re popular — parents only need to find one name they love, not two options depending on the sex of their child. A gender-neutral name choice is an especially great idea for parents who choose to not find out the baby’s sex until the delivery. The baby’s sex may be a surprise, but that doesn’t mean scrambling for a name choice has to be.
Another reason to pick a gender-neutral name is that they’re so creative and fresh and can encapsulate a vast number of other baby name trends, too. Names inspired by gemstones, muted colors, and colleges make incredible versatile name choices. Nature-inspired names have always been popular, but this year’s trend pushes towards specific animals, like Robin, which is featured on this list along with many other choices that work for any baby!
BRIAR
Briar is a nature-inspired name suitable for any baby. Briar Rose is also an option for anyone who choses to make this name sound feminine.
JUSTICE
Many gender-neutral names evidence a universal ideal, like the name Justice. It's a perfect for a family of lawyers or those with law aspirations for their offspring.
JOURNEY
Journey is a worldly and beautiful name for a baby. That's probably why it's been steadily climbing on the baby name charts since the early 2000s.
FINLEY
Finley has a Gaelic origin meaning "fair-haired warrior." It also capitalizes on a rising trend of 2019, names that begin with F.
REVEL
Revel is a cool and fresh gender-neutral baby name. It recently sprung into the pop culture zeitguest when Matthew Morrison of Glee fame named his son Revel James Makai Morrison.
LAKEN
The name Laken is inspired by lake. This is perfect for anyone wanting to pay a subtle homage to nature or their favorite recreational activities.
ROYAL
Since we won't know what Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will name the newest royal baby for a few more months, the name Royal will have to do for now. It has a regal flair but stands out as something distinctive.
CAMPBELL
Campbell is a name that trades on the trend of using surnames as first names. Originally of Scottish origin, it means "crooked mouth," and might be a good option if quirky smiles are a family trait.
STORY
Story is a great name for families of readers, writers, librarians, and actors. Actor Minnie Driver named her son Henry Story Driver.
ROBIN
The name Robin is a good example of the 2019 baby name trend to allude to nature. To quote Portlandia, when it comes to baby naming "put a bird on it."
SKY
The name Sky is inspired by two rising baby name trends. Sky may appeal to game-loving Skyrim players and also nature lovers, both are baby name trends on the rise in 2019.
ASH
The name Ash's rising popularity can be attributed to two factors. First, color names, specifically those of muted hues are on the rise in 2019, as are video game-inspired names and Ash may appeal to Pokemon players.
EMORY
Emory is a popular name inspired by Emory University. College-inspired names are on the rise as former top names, like Emma and Emily, begin to lose popularity.
EMERSON
Emerson is a unisex name that means brave and powerful. It's also another college-inspired baby name.
SHAE
Shae is a stadium-inspired named baby perfect for New York sports fans. For fans of the name that may not want to allude to the Mets, it can also be spelled as Shay.
ONYX
Onyx is a great example of the trend of names with Xs. It also cashes in on the current trend of choosing gemstone names.
WINSLOW
Winslow is a surname inspired baby name meaning "friend's hill." Parents can use "Win" or "Winnie" as a nickname.
SHILOH
Shiloh is a Biblical name meaning "tranquil." The name first started rising on baby name charts thanks to Shiloh Jolie-Pitt.
LENNON
Another 2019 baby name trend is names inspired by famous surnames. Lennon is a perfect tribute for any Beatles fan.
GRAY
The name Gray works with both spellings of the name, both Gray and Grey. The name also aligns with the current baby name trend of muted hue color names.
