Unique baby names are hard to come by these days, but parents looking to stand out from the Emmas and Jacks are looking for inspo everywhere resulting in some truly original and sometimes crazy names. In fact, you probably don't know anyone with these trending names of 2020 but that may soon change.
Soon you may see Falcon and Williston on friends' birth announcements or maybe your own? (This one from Minted is super sweet.)
We browsed through Nameberry's most unusual baby names for boys and girls and here are 16 rare, exotic - dare we say crazy? - baby names that are among the hottest so far for 2020.
Hanan, up 1000 Percent: Think of Hanan, which means graciousness, as the modern version of Hannah. It's up a whopping 1000 percent in July 2020.
Williston, up 1000 Percent: Not just an oil town in North Dakota, this fresh take on William is taking the maternity ward by storm. Willis (as in) is also up there with a 36 percent rise in July.
Flavio, up 702 Percent: This Latin name for "yellow" or "blond" is gracing birth certificates of blondie babes across the U.S.
Massey, up 603 Percent: This unisex name is on the rise for girls and boys. You could also mix it up with variants like Massie, Masey, and Masie.
Messiah, up 301 Percent: This bold name is trending for girls and means "expected savior or deliverer." Basketball star Allen Iverson likely started the trend with his little one.
Rosaria, up 218 Percent: The Spanish name for "rosary" is trending hard and we like it for a twist on the classic Rose.
Cricket, up 168 Percent: This unisex name is becoming hugely popular for boys. We like it for babes with summer birthdays!
Callen, up 90 Percent: This unisex Gaelic name is trending for girls and means "rock." Yay for strong girl names!
Bruin, up 90 Percent: Whether you're a sports or nature fan this name could be for you. Of English/Dutch origin, the name means "bear or brown." Bear as a boy's name is also up, thanks to celeb moms Alicia Silverstone and Kate Winslet, who both have Bear cubs.
Sabien, up 87 Percent: Move over Damien, there's a new baby name in town. You can also go for the French variation Sabin for a tres chic twist.
Falcon, up 81 Percent: Give your bird a cool name like Falcon and who knows how far she'll soar. Eagle is also up (61 percent) for boys and girls.
Rani, up 81 Percent: For boys, Rani means "my song, my joy" and for girls it means "queen, she is singing." Cute for your little dancing queen!
Lyrical, up 81 Percent: More than 1,000 girls and boys are named "Lyric" each year in the U.S., but this longer musical number is topping the charts this month.
Bas, up 76 Percent: Consistently in the top 10 in the Netherlands, this cool twist on Sebastian is trending for boys in the U.S.
Gem, up 66 Percent: Meaning "precious stone," this shorter version of Gemma is looking strong for short and sweet baby names.
Rorke, up 66 Percent: Meaning "illustrious and mighty" this Irish name is having a 2020 moment and we're loving it.
Does your baby have a distinctive name? Share it with us @BritandCo!
This post was updated in partnership with Minted. Shop Minted to find adorable birth announcements for your baby.
Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
(Photos via Shutterstock)
Costco is truly vegan-friendly, and there are plenty of plant-based snacks to prove it. From protein-packed treats to crave-worthy sweets, these 10 vegan finds from Costco make snacking both easy and delicious. If you're on the hunt for more fun vegan snacks, you’re going to want to see these Costco gems – and keep ‘em stocked in your kitchen 24/7.
Costco
This variety pack of protein bars delivers 13 grams of protein per serving (score!), all in the tastiest flavors like peanut butter chocolate, lemon coconut, and dark chocolate almond.
Costco
Each one of these organic fruit bars boasts three layers of deliciousness, and they're made with all real ingredients! You'll have something different to snack on every day with the trio of fruity flavors included.
Costco
These tiny bites are essentially like a better-for-you version of Almond Joy, with a nugget of organic shredded coconut surrounded by a dark chocolate coating. Yum!
Costco
You can easily use this peanut butter-flavored protein powder to give smoothies, yogurt bowls, baked goods, and so much more a nice vegan protein boost! There's 20 grams of protein in each serving to fill you up when you need it most.
Costco
These vegan (and keto!) gummy candies will most certainly satisfy your sweet tooth, all for less than 1 gram of sugar per serving! It's truly rare to find vegan gummies as good as these.
Costco
These individually-packaged bags of trail mix make 'em the perfect grab-and-go snack for road trips, hikes, camping trips, and long days running errands. The pack comes with three different vegan medleys to suit your cravings!
Costco
These oat sandwich bars are addicting. They're like a portable version of your typical PB&J, which makes snack time unbelievably easy. This box from Costco comes prepped with two different flavors – strawberry and grape – so you can switch things up on the fly.
Costco
You'll practically want to inhale this 100%-vegan popcorn. Luckily, being non-GMO and only 100 calories per bag, you can do so, guilt-free.
Costco
Chocolate is good, but dark chocolate is even better! This 2-pack of vegan dark chocolate comes with 30 bite-size per pack – that's 60 snacktimes total!
Costco
This delicious 12-pack of Lenny & Larry's Complete Cookies carries a whopping 16 grams of protein and 10 grams of fiber per cookie to satisfy your cravings for sweets.
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The biggest baby name trends of 2019 include names from new sources around the world and in nature, trends reflecting modern spirituality and nonbinary ideals, an F and a U, and a goodbye to a longtime favorite group. Here are Nameberry’s predictions for the 12 leading trends shaping baby names in 2019, along with name examples for each trend.
1. Biggest Big Picture Trend – Global Names: As the world gets smaller, the pool of names becomes larger, with new names from ever-more-diverse origins entering the global lexicon. At Nameberry we’ve added thousands of new names from around the world: Maori names and Xhosa names, ancient Greek names and South American Indian names, Korean names and Israeli names. With the appetite for meaningful and unique names expanding all the time, parents are looking for original choices with deep roots.
Example names: Acacius, Aroha, Cyrene, Jedda, Kiran, Lautaro, Lior, Niabi, Sena, Walken
2. Newest Gender Bend – Nonbinary Names: Parents who want to raise their children free of gender stereotypes are looking for names that are truly gender neutral. That means no names that end in son like Madison and no names that were originally boy or girl names that have migrated to the other side, such as Charlie. And if the names also embody a gender-free ideal such as Justice, all the better.
Example names: Briar, Campbell, Finley, Journey, Justice, Laken, Revel, Robin, Royal, Story
3. Hottest Direction in Baby Naming – East: Names related to Eastern religions and non-European mythology have taken over from biblical names and saints’ names as spiritual favorites. The mainstreaming of yoga, meditation, and non-traditional spiritualism underpins the trend, along with a search for meaning that transcends the name’s surface qualities such as style and sound.
Example names: Asherah, Bodhi, Kali, Lakshmi, Manu, Osiris, Raiden, Rama, Tanith, Zen
4. Coolest New Color Names – Muted Hues: All color names for babies are, well, colorful, but we’re beginning to see a shift in tone as vibrant shades like Scarlett and Ruby and Poppy are giving way to softer pastels. Grey/Gray is starting to replace Blue as a first and middle color name du jour, while popular Violet has been joined by other vintage pale purplish hues. Another prediction: More Crayola names for boys.
Example names: Ash, Fawn, Grey/Gray, Ivory, Lavender, Lilac, Mauve, Moss, Olive, Sage
5. Richest New Nature Names – Rare Gems: For a long time, the most popular jewel names have been those usually assigned to girls — Ruby, Pearl, Amber — all of which came into favor at the turn of the last century, along with flower and other nature names. But one of the most interesting new areas to be mined is the more unusual gem names which can be not only for girls but also for boys (or sometimes both).
Example names: Amethyst, Emerald, Garnet, Jasper, Jet, Onyx, Opal, Peridot, Sapphire, Topaz
6. Latest Vintage Trend – Old-School Nickname Names for Boys: We’re seeing charming vintage boy nickname names like Archie and Alfie and Freddie beginning to join their sisters Millie and Maisie and Josie, but more surprising to us is the nascent revival of early 20th-century faves like Johnny and Jimmy and Billy on birth certificates, names which once were confined to comic strips and old radio and TV shows. Even more startling is the reappearance of some generic/badass appellations now appealing to the hipster sensibilities of celebs and others.
Example names: Ace, Billy, Buddy, Buster, Hank, Ike, Jimmy, Johnny, Sonny, Spike
7. Most Fashionable Consonant – F: For a letter that had been sitting quietly in the shadows for decades, F has suddenly rocketed forward, particularly for boys, and particularly for boys’ names of Irish descent. And then there’s the whole Family Fran, which started to take off after the election to the papacy of Pope Francis and led to the revival of several surprising half-forgotten Fran names. Fashion-forward names starting with F include the following.
Example names: Faye, Felix, Fern, Finnian, Flora, Florian, Frances, Frankie, Frederick, Frost
8. Coolest Vowel – U: U finally gets its turn in the spotlight this year. As a first initial, U is the least-used letter of the alphabet, and it hasn’t featured in any major baby name trends in… forever. But now u — and its “oo” sound — features in many newly stylish names. Is it the influence of little Prince Louis? His unexpected name may have simply upshifted the trend to major.
Example names: Eulalie, Hugo, Jude, Juniper, Louise, Luca, Luna, Reuben, Tallulah, True
9. Trendiest Name Length – Three Letters: Four letters might be a marker of name popularity, a la Number 1 Emma and Liam, but minimalist three-letter names are the sleek, sweet names of the future.
Example names: Hal, Ida, Jem, Kit, Koa, Liv, Lux, Rex, Rio, Van
10. Wildest Middle Name Trend – Animalia: Parents who want to add a touch of fierceness or individuality to more conventional first name choices are turning to the animal kingdom for the wild vibe. As in many other trends, celebs have led the way, starting with Mariel Hemingway’s daughter Langley Fox back in 1989 to the number of more recent starbabies bearing Bear as their middle name.
Example names: Bear, Falcon, Fox, Hawk, Koala, Lion, Lynx, Otter, Tiger, Wolf
11. Trendiest Trend-Related Trend – Celebrity Surname-Names: Celebrities have influenced baby names since the days of Shirley Temple, and surname-names such as Morgan and Carter have been rising since the conservative 1980s. Now those two trends have combined into one megatrend: Celebrity surnames for baby girls and boys. Goodbye, Shirley; hello, Temple.
Example names: Beckham, Bowie, Ellington, Hendrix, Jolie, Ledger, Lennon, Lennox, Monroe, Wilder
12. Trend Ready to Jump the Shark – Em- Names: We predict that baby namers are about to become all Emmed-out when it comes to baby names in 2019. After all, we had Emily in the Top 25 for 35 years, at #1 for 12 of them. Then came Emma, in the Top 25 since 1998, and still reigning in first place. A number of dueling Em- names followed in their wake, and we predict that the consensus is about to be that enough Em is enough.
Example names: Ember, Emerson, Emery, Emilia, Emily, Emma, Emme, Emmeline, Emmett, Emmy
What baby name trend is your fave? Share it with us @BritandCo.
This post was previously published on Nameberry.
(Photos via Getty)
The internet agrees that rom-coms are back (hello Materialists!), but the only thing I enjoy more than watching a romantic movie? Binging a romance TV show. So I rounded up 11 of the best series you can watch on Netflix this weekend (and rewatch before all episodes of Ransom Canyon drop on the streamer!)
Saeed Adyani/Netflix
Joanne's an agnostic sex podcaster, Noah's a rabbi. Falling for each other doesn't sound too complicated, right? (Wrong). This show is heartfelt, hilarious, and all around sweet. Meet the season 2 cast!
Nobody Wants This stars Kristen Bell, Adam Brody, Justine Lupe, Timothy Simons, Stephanie Faracy, Tovah Feldshuh, Paul Ben-Victor, Michael Hitchcock, Jackie Tohn, Sherry Cola, Shiloh Bearman, Emily Arlook, Leighton Meester, Miles Fowler, Alex Karpovsky, and Arian Moayed.
Netflix
After a tragedy changes Jackie's life forever, the city girl moves in with her mom's best friend — and her seven sons. Welcomed into the family, Jackie finds herself particularly pulled between Alex and Cole. Check out the latest season 2 news on this romance TV show.
My Life With the Walter Boys stars Nikki Rodriguez, Noah LaLonde, Ashby Gentry, Marc Blucas, Johnny Link, Corey Fogelmanis, Connor Stanhope, Dean Petriw, Alix West Lefler, Lennix James, Sarah Rafferty, Natalie Sharp, Carson MacCormac, Janet Kidder, Riele Downs, and Jake Manley.
Netflix
This coming-of-age comedy from Mindy Kaling covers all the embarrassing parts of first love (and growing up in general, TBH) and Devi navigates love, life, and loss. Actress Maitreyi Ramakrishnan spills on all the behind the scenes secrets in our exclusive interview!
Never Have I Ever stars Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Poorna Jagannathan, Richa Moorjani, Jaren Lewison, Darren Barnet, Ramona Young, Lee Rodriguez, and John McEnroe.
Netflix
Take a step into reality TV with this groundbreaking romance show. Finding love without ever seeing the other person's face? That's one dating strategy I haven't tried yet.
Love is Blind is hosted by Vanessa & Nick Lachey.
Netflix
For any Netflix viewers who need more than just romance to get through a show, check out Kate Hudson's Running Point! The series follows Isla, who takes over her brother's role as President of the Los Angeles Waves basketball team. And she's proving you really can work and play.
Running Point stars Kate Hudson, Brenda Song, Drew Tarver, Scott MacArthur, Fabrizio Guido, Toby Sandeman, Chet Hanks, Max Greenfield, Keyla Monterroso Mejia, Roberto Sanchez, Uche Agada, and Dane DiLiegro.
Netflix
Harriet has never fit in. But that works in her favor when she gets scouted by a London model agent. This romance TV show also has plenty of fashion, and conversations around bullying. Sounds good to me.
Geek Girl stars Emily Carey,Emmanuel Imani, Sarah Parish, Liam Woodrum, Tim Downie, Zac Looker, Jemima Rooper, Sandra Yi Sencindiver, Daisy Jelley, and Rochelle Harrington.
StillMoving.Net for Netflix
All's fair in love and writing...and least according to Lady Whistledown. Bridgerton season 4 is coming soon, and until we get new episodes, the marriage of convenience, enemies-to-lovers, and friends-to-lovers plotlines will have to hold us over!
Bridgerton stars Yerin Ha, Luke Thompson, Luke Newton, Nicola Coughlan, Jonathan Bailey, Simone Ashley, Claudia Jessie, Hannah Dodd, Will Tilston, Florence Hunt, Harriet Cains, Nicola Coughlan, Jessica Madsen, Bessie Carter, and Masali Baduza.
Netflix
Kitty's taking a lesson from Lara Jean in this To All The Boys I've Loved Before spinoff. But this time, our favorite low-key matchmaker is traveling to Seoul — and learning just how complicated love really is.
XO, Kitty stars Anna Cathcart, Audrey Huynh, Sasha Bhasin, Joshua Lee, Minyeong Choi, Gia Kim, Sang Heon Lee, Anthony Keyvan, Peter Thurnwald, Regan Aliyah, and Noah Centineo.
Stéphanie Branchu/Netflix
Emily also moves across the world when she becomes the American face at a French marketing firm. With incredible fashion, a plucky American attitude, and an inability to speak French, Em definitely makes an impression on everyone she meets — including a couple handsome strangers.
Emily in Paris stars Lily Collins, Lucas Bravo, Lucien Laviscount, Ashley Park, Camille Razat, Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, Samuel Arnold, and Bruno Gouery.
Petr Maur/Netflix
If you're still in a cozy mood, press play on this romance TV show about a big city doctor who moves to a small town. Virgin River sounds a little bit like Sullivan's Crossing doesn't it?!
Virgin River stars Alexandra Breckenridge, Martin Henderson, Tim Matheson, Annette O’Toole, Colin Lawrence, Benjamin Hollingsworth, Zibby Allen, Sarah Dugdale, Marco Grazzini, Kai Bradbury, Kandyse McClure, and Mark Ghanime.
Philippe Antonello/Netflix
Celebrate Zoe Saldaña's recent Oscar win by watching this super emotional Netflix show. (Warning: you're going to ugly cry!!) The story follows Amy and Lino, who fall in love before a devastating diagnosis changes the course of their lives.
Which romance TV show will you be watching this weekend? Let us know on Facebook!
Everyone has their own unique way of doing things in the kitchen, but some habits are certainly more cringe-worthy than you might think – especially ones that may be considered gross, unhygienic, or unsafe. There are quite a few cooking missteps that could put you and others at risk, or simply make ‘em squeamish. If you’ve ever wondered whether your cooking habits are flawless or low-key gross, it’s time for a quick reality check.
Burst / PEXELS
Your hands touch all sorts of things throughout the day, all of which carry tons of bacteria and germs you may not even realize are there. If you don’t wash your hands before cooking, you risk transferring dirt, bacteria, and even viruses onto your food, increasing the chances of contamination and foodborne illnesses.
Vanessa Loring / PEXELS
Raw meat – especially poultry and seafood – carries bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli. If you touch the raw meat you're cooking with and then handle various vegetables, seasonings, or kitchen surfaces without washing your hands, you could spread harmful bacteria, leading to dangerous cross-contamination and potential food poisoning.
Dapur Melodi / PEXELS
Licking your fingers while cooking might seem harmless (especially if you’re just cooking for yourself or one other person), but it can introduce bacteria from your mouth onto the food and other kitchen surfaces. This is especially unhygienic if you're cooking for others, as it spreads germs and increases the risk of contamination!
Kaboompics / PEXELS
Nowadays, fruits and vegetables can carry pesticides, dirt, and bacteria from the handling, shipping, and storage processes. If you don’t rinse them thoroughly before eating or cooking ‘em, you risk ingesting harmful chemicals or bacteria like Listeria. Yikes.
Kristina Snowasp / PEXELS
When you cut up raw meat and then immediately use the same knife or cutting board for the rest of the ingredients in your meals, you can totally transfer bacteria. This is especially important to avoid for items that may not be cooked further! It’s simply essential to wash your utensils and tools between uses or use separate ones for raw meat and other foods.
Juan Pablo Serrano / PEXELS
Dipping a spoon into food, tasting it (even if it’s quick!), and then putting it back in the pot can potentially transfer bacteria from your mouth to the entire dish. This is wildly unsanitary when you’re cooking for a group, as it introduces germs or bacteria that others may not be immune to. The best practice here is to use a separate spoon for tasting or wash it briefly before using it again.
Mojca J / PEXELS
When you sneeze or cough, tiny droplets of bacteria or viruses can land on everything around your kitchen: food, utensils, and cooking surfaces. If you don’t cover your mouth properly or sneeze directly over food, you risk contaminating the meal, which is both unsanitary (and unappetizing) for anyone eating it.
PNW Production / PEXELS
It’s crazy how quickly kitchen towels can become breeding grounds for bacteria when they’re used for multiple tasks. If you use the same towel to dry your hands, clean up spills, and dry dishes, you risk spreading germs from raw food particles or dirty hands onto clean surfaces and dishes, making it an easy way to spread bacteria… unknowingly.
RDNE Stock Project / PEXELS
Pets, no matter how clean they seem, carry bacteria, dirt, and even fur with them that can easily contaminate food and kitchen surfaces. Allowing them on countertops or near food prep areas (looking at you, kitties!) increases the risk of spreading germs, especially since pets can’t wash their paws after using the litter box or walking outside.
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