Another year is right around the corner, and when 2022 arrives, it's bringing brand new baby name trends with it. Though the most popular names of 2021 have already been determined, it's yet to be decided which names will top the charts in 2022 — and when it comes to choosing the perfect name for a baby girl, some people like to take into account what names will (and won't) be popular in the year that she is born.
Recently, Nameberry shared its predictions for what the baby name trends in 2022 will be, along with several lists of names that might end up topping the charts by the end of next year. So far, it sounds like things are bound to get pretty quirky and fast — names like Revel, Astrid, and Lyra are already predicted to dominate.
What will be the best girl names in 2022 be? Read on for the current predictions (and why these names might end up being so popular). Some of them will definitely surprise you — and there might even be a few names on this list you've never even heard of before.
CAPRI
One of the big trends in the coming year will be nature names, and that includes the name Capri. Capri is an Italian island so if you love to travel (or dream of spending your days out on the beach in Europe), this might be an adventurous pick.
DAPHNE
Regency England is also in, y'all, and it's all thanks to Bridgerton. Of course, one of the top names on that list is Daphne, the name of the Diamond of the Season, of course. Daphne, which comes from Greek, means "laurel tree," so it also ties into that nature trend.
SCOUT
Though gender neutral names have already become more and more popular, it seems like we can expect that trend to continue into 2022. Nameberry predicts we'll see more of them used for boys, but there's no doubt names like Scout (inspired by To Kill a Mockingbird) will be used for girls, too.
WREN
Continuing on the gender neutral and nonbinary name trend, another popular pick next year could be Wren. A wren is a type of songbird, which is a pretty adorable meaning for a baby girl. It comes from the Old English word "wrenna," which, now that we think about it, would also make a cute name.
COLLINS
Names that end in "s" are also predicted to become more popular in 2022 (and yes, that includes a lot of gender neutral picks as well). One of the names on the list is Collins, a Gaelic and Irish surname that might appeal to parents who like names like Harper but want to pick something outside of the top 20.
BETTY
When we think of "Betty," we think of Blake Lively and Ryan Reynold's daughter … or our grandma. But the good news is that old-fashioned names are continuing to come back in style, including this one. Betty doesn't have to be short for anything — this cute name stands on its own.
BIRDIE
We've been seeing signs that Birdie would be gaining in popularity for a while now, especially after Jessica Simpson named her youngest daughter Birdie Mae when she was born in 2019. This adorable, creative name is really catching on — and it's another shout out to nature.
LILIBET
Our biggest prediction for celebrity-inspired baby names in the next year has to come from the royal family. After Meghan Markle and Prince Harry named their daughter Lilibet when she was born in June, we had a feeling we'd be seeing a lot more Lilibets in the coming year. Let's find out if it's true!
Check out our Meghan Markle page for all the latest news about Meghan, Prince Harry, and their growing family.
MOXIE
Playful names are thought to be coming into popularity in 2022, and that includes the name Moxie — a cute name for a spunky little girl (which all toddlers are, FYI). It means "spirited" and "energy," and there's pretty much a guarantee your baby girl will have both of those qualities right away.
CRESSIDA
Back to the Bridgerton trend, here's another baby name inspired by the Netflix hit. In the show, Cressida was the name of a debutante who wished she was the Diamond of the Season, not Daphne. Not bad for a baby girl who you suspect might have a bit of a competitive streak …
IRIE
Nameberry also predicts that names that comes from a place of "spirit and soul" are bound to be popular in 2022, and that includes Irie. This name has Caribbean roots, and means "positive and powerful." It's considered gender neutral, so it could work for a boy as well.
TRUE
Take a page out of Khloé Kardashian's book, because it sounds like a lot of people will be following in her footsteps and naming their baby girl True in 2022. Though for Khloé, it was a family name, it's still a sweet (and virtuous) choice for a little girl.
BANKS
Add another celebrity baby name to the list! Hilary Duff's toddler is named Banks, and not only is it adorable, but it's also on trend, along with other gender neutral names that end in "s." This is another alternative in the vein of "Collins" and "Harper."
GOLDIE
Goldie isn't just a name for a fish — it's also an adorable baby girl name that's about to become a lot more popular if these predictions are correct. Nameberry thinks retro names are about to come back into style (something we've seen with the popularity of grandma baby names) and that includes Goldie.
POLLY
Also part of the retro name trend is Polly, a name that we haven't heard much in the last several decades, but it's ready to make a comeback! The name is thought to mean "star of the sea" or "rebelliousness," and is also considered a variation on the name Molly.
