There is so much to look forward to now that we’ve welcomed the new year. With 2023 officially started, we’re going to see new trends take hold over the coming months — and that includes baby name trends.
One of the leading experts on baby names, Nameberry, released its name predictions we’re likely to see this year, and there are some really fun trends in the forecast. The year 2022 was all about drama, traditions, and reviving the old but there’s more fun in store for this year’s trends.
Here are some baby name trends we’ll likely see running the baby name show in 2023.
1. Extravagant Names
Some parents love to stick to the classics — the baby names that won’t have people batting an eye. But that’s not the energy that’s going to come into 2023. Instead, parents will be choosing names that have a little extra something, names that are more extravagant.
Extravagant Names for Girls
Short and sweet names have been on trend for girls for a long time, but in 2023 we’re going to be hearing a lot more names with multiple syllables. These names sound like they’d be from a mythological television show and we love it — think names like Andromeda, Ambrosia, and Persephone.
Extravagant Names for Boys
Names for boys can have some extravagance, too, and there are plenty of names to choose from for parents who love this new trend. A lot of these names are rooted in history or mythology, and it makes them that much more powerful. In 2023, we’re going to see names for boys like Morpheus, Wolfgang, and Oberon rise in popularity.
2. Let’s Go Back to the '80s
One of the baby name trends we’re going to see in 2023 is a blast from the past, a way back playback, a return to the '80s. Names that were main characters in the decade’s hottest movies are going to be cool all over again. Movies such as Heathers, Back to the Future, and Bill & Ted for example.
Let’s Go Back to the '80s Names for Girls
There are some names for girls that come with a whole lot of nostalgia for the '80s and these names are going to be getting their time to shine all over again. We love the names like Heather, Robin, and Chrissy, which all fit perfectly into this upcoming trend for baby names.
Let’s Go Back to the '80s Names for Boys
Billy, Marty, and Richie are a few of the boy names that will trend for the back to the '80s vibes. These are inspired by that decade’s pop culture happenings. While the names are not obscure names by any means, they’re about to hit a popularity stride yet again.
3. X Marks the Spot
For 2023, the letter X is going to have its time in the spotlight. Baby names that either have the 24th letter of the alphabet to start the name or have it somewhere in the spelling are going to trend in 2023, according to experts. These names are often on the shorter side and not found in the top lists for baby boy or girl names.
X Marks the Spot Names for Girls
There are some really fun names for girls that have the letter x within the spelling, and they are a good mix of uncommon and quirky. There are a few that start with the letter but it’s more common to be in the middle or end of the name, like Nyx, Moxie, and Trixie.
X Marks the Spot Names for Boys
X names for boys have been more noticeable than for girls in past years, but in 2023, these names are going to sing, and they’re fun, too. We love the names Bronx, Xerxes, and Hendrix, which are probably going to be hearing a lot more in the next few years.
4. Out With the Nouns, in With the Adjectives
Parents in 2023 aren’t going to hide behind old rules or “should dos.” Instead, they’re going to play with some words that we don’t normally hear as baby names. Instead of looking through the family tree, parents are going to hit up the dictionary and find adjectives that pack personality and sing as potential baby names.
Out With the Nouns, in With the Adjectives Names for Girls
Adjective names seem to work really well for girls and there is a whole slew of options that parents can look through. Celebrities have been on this trend for a few years, but instead of cool adjective names only being for the Hollywood folk, we’re going to see it a lot more. We love names like Savvy, True, and Worthy.
Out With the Nouns, in With the Adjectives Names for Boys
For some reason, it seems like more nickname style names have been more acceptable for girls than boys, but it’s time for the boys to have their moment. In 2023, boys will no longer be stuck in boxes, and parents are going to have fun with the adjective names like Loyal, Wild, and Righteous.
5. Make It Our Own Names
According to the predicted trends, parents are going to make baby names their own this year. But unlike previous years where it was cool to turn other nouns into baby names (like Apple, Bear, or Chicago), parents are just going to add a little sparkle to the name. “New ‘it’ endings we’re watching include -aire, -ett, -iel, -lani, -land and -wyn,” Nameberry predicts.
Make It Our Own Names for Girls
It’s not necessarily new for girls' names to have some twist to them to make them a little more personal. We’ve seen a lot of hyphenated names or combo names taking two names and making them one. But in 2023, we’re going to see names for little girls like Emberly, Icelyn, and Wrenley.
Make It Our Own Names for Boys
Classic names will probably always be classic but in 2023 we’re likely going to see some interesting combination names for boys. Taking names that aren’t classic to begin with, like Wood, Kai, and Fox, and adding a little pizzaz to the end. This means names like Woodson, Kailo, and Foxton might be ones we will come across in the coming years.
