Baby Names That Are Going To Take Over 2021

Another year is here, and that means another set of baby name trends. Though last year was full of Amelias, Emmas, and Liams, we're starting fresh now, and some of the names that were once popular might start fading and making way for new trends. It's just how it works — and that means we're once again met with plenty of new ideas when it comes to picking out the perfect baby name.

Baby name experts everywhere have been hard at work at trying to figure out what names will end up being big in 2021, and sites like Nameberry definitely have a few predictions. Plenty of people believe the popular cottagecore aesthetic will lead to names that fit the cozy vibe, and that there will be more names inspired by nature and magic (and even a celebrity or two) than ever before.

Here are all the baby names that could end up taking over in 2021. Whether or not we're hoping our future baby will have a popular name, this is a great place to start when it comes to inspiration for finding the perfect name to give a baby boy or girl.

OPHELIA

Sleeping newborn baby in a wrap on white blanket.
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As far as magical baby names go, this one might end up being pretty popular in 2021. Ophelia — best known as a character in William Shakespeare's Hamlet — comes from Greek and means "help." But aside from the meaning, it's a rather uncommon name that we could end up seeing a lot more in the coming year.

EVANDER

Little baby
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We could see more little boys being named Evander this year! Coming from the Greek word for "good man," Evander is also a name that comes up in Roman mythology. Because of that, it's also considered a more "magical" name … and comes with plenty of possible nicknames like Evan and Vander.

PANDORA

Baby girl
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Whether this name evokes thoughts of the magical land from Avatar or the story in Greek mythology about Pandora's box, it's definitely a cute pick for a baby girl that could become more popular this year.

KYLO

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All the credit for this one definitely has to go to Star Wars! And even though it's been a few years since the franchise introduced Kylo Ren to us all, Adam Driver's character is now inspiring more baby names than ever. Outside of Star Wars, though, the name comes from the Latin word for "sky."

CLOVER

Little wonder
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Cottagecore is everywhere, and names inspired by that aesthetic will be soon enough, too. That includes the name Clover, which is steeped in nature symbolism (and actually really cute for a baby girl… or even a baby boy).

WILDER

Portrait of cute adorable little african american baby sleep in a white bedroom
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Looking for a cottagecore-style baby boy name? Try Wilder on for size. It means "untamed" or "wild animal," and anyone who's ever met a toddler before knows that this name will likely accurately describe this baby-to-be sooner than mom might realize!

BILLIE

Cute Baby Girl Crawling In Living Room
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This name isn't just for boys anymore! Sure, Billie Holiday did it first, but these days, we have Billie Eilish, and her massive popularity is more than likely going to inspire plenty of parents to name their little girls after her. Billie is a pretty cute name, after all.

CONNELL

Baby girl wearing white towel or winter overal in white sunny bedroom
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Nameberry predicted that Billie Eilish is starting such a name trend, even her real last name, O'Connell, might end up popping up a lot this year. It wouldn't be surprising to see the name "Connell" show up for a boy in honor of the "Bad Guy" singer.

FRANKIE

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Loving the boys' names that are now working for girls, too? Frankie is a good pick! It's cute, gender neutral, and even has a pretty solid meaning: "free" or "truthful," which is what we all wish our kids will be when we ask them if they're the ones who tried to flush their toys down the toilet.

EMARI

a small beautiful boy in a jumpsuit with animals is lying on the couch and looking at the camera
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Nameberry also predicts that names that end in -ari will also be popular in 2021, and fortunately, that means we'll have a whole slew of new gender neutral names to pick from, including this one, Emari, which means brave and powerful.

EVERLEIGH

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Another name trend we're going to see a lot of in 2021? Names that start with or include the word "Ever," which means the name Everleigh (or spelled Everly or Everlee) could end up coming up a lot in the coming months. Good thing it's a cute one!

EVEREST

Cute hispanic baby boy
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Boys could be getting in on that "ever" trend, too, including the name Everest. Obviously, it reminds us of Mount Everest, which might make this a great pick for parents who are super into everything outdoorsy, hiking, and nature.

ADELAIDE

Newborn Girl Sleeping in a Wooden Bucket
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Looks like we might be going a little old-fashioned in 2021, too! The name Adelaide is also expected to rise in popularity, and it comes with all kinds of nickname possibilities, like Addie. This is a timeless choice, even after the trend passes.

AKUMA

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Another trend that could become pretty hot in 2021 is Japanese-inspired names, many of them gender neutral as well. One pick that could work for a baby boy or a baby girl is Akuma, which is a name that refers to a Japanese fire spirit (and some of us might remember this character from Street Fighter…).

BIRDIE

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This name has been popular with celebrity moms for a while — both Brie Bella and Jessica Simpson have daughters named Birdie — but it seems like we'll be hearing it a lot more this year as part of a trend of more aviary-inspired names. Who wouldn't want a baby Birdie of their own?

WREN

Sleeping Baby Boy
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Going with the bird theme that's sure to be huge in 2021, Wren is another option — either for a baby boy or a baby girl. A wren is a small, adorable songbird, so it's a pretty good fit for a precious little one, too.

JANE

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Another classic name like Adelaide that's poised to make a comeback in 2021 is Jane. It's always remained common as a middle name, but it stands alone perfectly fine as a first name, too. The name comes from English, and means "God is gracious."

TITAN

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The name Titan might just happen to come into popularity in 2021 for baby boys. The name comes from Greece and means "defender," which makes it a perfect choice for those looking for a name that comes from a long history and has a powerful meaning.

FLORA

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This name comes from the cottagecore trend, but it also happens to be a little nature-inspired at the same time. Flora is an adorable name for a baby girl — and any Disney fans out there might love the chance to name their child after one of the fairies from Sleeping Beauty, too.

SILAS

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The name Silas might also become more popular this year, fitting into that cottagecore theme. Not only is it the name of Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake's oldest child, but it also means "forest" or "woods."