2015 Is *Officially* the Year of This Type of Baby Name
Baby name trends come and go, but one that looks like it’s more than just a passing fad is the unisex name. With recent parents Blake + Ryan going with James for their daughter, Shakira naming her son Sasha and Haylie Duff choosing Ryan for her little lady, it’s clear the gender-neutral name game isn’t going anywhere. BabyCenter confirms that theory as they shared how creative parents are getting when it comes time to give their li’l guy or gal a lifelong title. Looks like those name evolution videos will look a lot different in another century ;)
According to BabyCenter’s naming experts they have noticed a huge rise in popularity of gender-neutral picks for both sexes over the past few years thanks to a shift in society. Unique unisex names like Amari, Karter, Phoenix, Quinn and Reese have been big trending choices for parents of both genders recently. The parenting site attributes this rise in part by retailers like Toys “R” Us issuing gender-free catalogs and removing “boy” and “girl” aisles from its stores, Apple making only unisex Apple Watch bands and even Caitlyn Jenner’s story.
“As usual, baby names are reflecting a larger cultural shift,” says BabyCenter’s Global Editor in Chief Linda Murray. “Millennials are an open-minded and accepting group, and they don’t want their children to feel pressured to conform to stereotypes that might be restrictive. Just as companies have started making more neutral kids’ clothes, and taking ‘boy’ and ‘girl’ labels off toys, an increasing number of parents are choosing unisex names.”
Also helping make this trend last is other famous faces switching up the gender-conforming birthname world on its head. From Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard’s daughter Lincoln and Mila Kunis + Ashton Kutcher choosing Wyatt for their little lady to Drew Barrymore’s mini-me Frankie and Jessica Simpson’s lookalike Maxwell, it’s starting to look like the new normal doesn’t include only pink-and-blue-focused names.
Looking for more gender-neutral name inspo? BabyCenter shared the ones that made the top 100 on its 2014 list, and they include Alex, Avery, Bailey, Blake, Brooklyn, Easton, Harper, James, Kennedy, London, Mackenzie, Owen, Peyton, Reagan, Riley, Ryan, Skyler and Sydney. Happy naming (gender-neutral or not), parents!
What are your thoughts about the increase in gender-neutral names and which is your favorite? Share with us in the comments.