Popular names of the next decade: predictions

[PetersonPeterson]

Names that you think are on the up and will continue to climb the name charts. A few that I would guess might:
Beatrice/Bea
Isla
Florence
Margot
Freya
Might have got that wrong! I'm sure there are also loads more. Just keep hearing them on new babies or names that people like for babies.

And maybe Willow and Ivy. Have met a few of these and don't think there were any 5 years ago.

Jean
Patricia
Helen

John
Ralph

I think Isla will end up as the number one name in a few years.

Henry will continue upwards for boys. And Isaac and Jacob.

I'm torn between the old fashioned names that haven't made it yet (because they are grim quite frankly) like Norman, Walter, Brian, Doreen, , or maybe more American surname type names Parker, Archer, Cooper.

Actually, maybe two decades before my names make an appearance.

We know a few teen Willows.

The next wave of old-fashioned names, 1920s names like...

Vera
Marion
Enid
Alma
Dorothy
Irene
Jean
Joan
Gwen
Nora
Ada
Peggy
Freda
Nancy
Hazel
Rita

Surnamey names for boys. And some despised names, like Gary.

Also, surnamey names for girls.

I'm elderly on the other side of the world and have been living in a non-English speaking country for the last odd forty years. I find all the names I've always really liked are considered ugly on this site and the names I've always hated are top fashion at the moment.

What names do you really like, and which do you hate Atenco maybe I'll agree with you?

I think a lot of whether we like names or not is not the sound of the name so much as the associations they give us. For example Elsie, Florence, and Arthur are care home residents in my head, so I struggle to like the names, but they are very popular right now for new babies. But then I am 50, so probably the Elsies and Arthurs I am thinking of are all passed on by now, so to the current crop of first time parents in their 20s and 30s they are not OAP names at all, but fresh new names.

I suppose objectively speaking Elsie is quite a pretty sounding name, but I just think of an old lady with wrinkly stockings! Fast forward 15 years or so when these babies are teenagers, I imagine the girls will be saying to each other things like 'Ooh I really fancy Arthur!' Or boys saying 'that Elsie is well fit'. The thought makes me laugh, but I know I am being unreasonable, really.

There are quite a few names from my own generation and slightly younger that I still really like, eg Clare and Louise. But new parents today would probably find them boring and middle aged. I remember when my DD was born 20 years ago I considered giving her my grandmother's name for a middle name, but thought, "Oh no I can't really, it's such an old lady name". Her name was Evelyn, which is now one of the top names, of course! (wish I'd done it now).

To answer the OP's question, goodness knows, could be anything really. Maybe Brenda, Keith and Derek!

Hugo.

Elsie.

The names in the OP are already (in some cases overly) popular...?

If we're talking the next decade, then these names will be relatively old hat.

Nadia I'm in my late 20s and most definitely think of Elsie and Florence as old lady names! Especially Elsie although I went to school with an Arthur so can picture it on a young person. Then again, I went to school with a Lily and thought it was an old fashioned name at the time and now it's normal.

TheDowager is right. Those are names of this decade which will all fall out of favour by 2025.

Beatrice - 91st
Isla - 3rd
Florence - 26th
Margot - 415th
Freya -21st

Isla hasn't got much room to go any higher. Freya already peaked in 2011 at 19th. Florence is just about peaking now. I doubt Beatrice will go much higher - perhaps a little - but not much.

Margot is the only one which has got a way to run yet. Its bang on the latest trend with an ending in -o sound which is being sort as an alternative to the -ie, -ia, -ella and - ells out there. So might peak within the next decade quite well.

I expect in ten years time names 1920s names - like those mentioned above by Sophronia - and names around the 250 - 500 mark currently to be the names that are really catching the imagination in the mid 2020s. Think Diana, Halle, Talia, Hazel.

Henrietta is another (currently down in the high 400s) but it also has the -etta ending which will be a natural successor to the -elle / ella crown together with -ette or shorter -et (its the sound rather than the spelling) and with Henry being a current fav I think it will past over to girls.

And Margaret. Lots of Margarets, Margaretas & Marguerites. As the first generation who won't really remember Thatcher find the name.

All around, it will be a massively less frilly, feminine and flowery feel to today as people get bored of that trend which is really dominating things and want something a little more feisty and 'strong'.

Boys are more difficult. I personally think 'surname names' are here to stay and won't be something that dates in the way many expect - a consequence of globalisation with the internet. Like the girls I think there will be less cute short -ie names in favour of things a little more grown up in sound.

At the 250 mark we currently have with a 1920s vibe with Chester, Laurence & Hector. I also think we will have a bit of a hardman western type thing going on. Wyatt, Archer, Travis, Marshall, Deacon, Clayton.

I also expect regional (Welsh, Irish & Scottish) and ethnic names to do very well in general, with people looking to their roots, a rejection of the politics of our time and a statement of intent.

Oh and lots more shit spellings and hyphens.

I agree that you have picked the names that are currently very trendy and the equivalent of Mia ten years ago - a decade late they are no longer unheard of but not everywhere.

I think Emilia is going to shoot up as the popularity of Amelia and Emily will set people looking for a less common variation in that direction (along with the GoT actress).

I suspect simple nun-ish names might creep up - Marie, Bridget, Margaret (especially as the spectre of Thatcher wears off) as they are feminine without being frilly.

I think the old testament boys names (Elijah, Isaac etc, not Daniel and Matthew) will start dropping down soon as their attraction was in their rarity. In 20 years when there are actors and athletes and people with these names, I think they will come back for a different section of society (those less concerned with finding something unusual).

There are a few boys full names that are awful but the nickname is nice, where the nickname might make it in its own right (in the footsteps of Freddie, Harry, Archie) - I'm thinking Gene and Walt.

Interesting to wait and see!

Matthew, Ben, William, Sam and similar for boys. They seem to be gaining here.

With Isaac, Noah &elija too.

For girls, lili, lily, Amelie, Millie, and similar.

Along with eve,Eva, Evie, Evelyn...

I think 'old' names are going to continue to come back into fashion so names like Dorothy, Florence, Elsa, Margaret for girls and Arthur, Clement, Quentin and John. A lot of names on this thread are already past their peak and are already starting to sound dated e.g. Evie, Ella, Sam and Noah...

I hope the baby-ish names fashion passes (all those -ie endings). I think looking at the change in threads on here in the last few years that stronger girls names will become more fashionable, and probably more gender neutral names for girls (although think some of those might still sound quite American to us). Absolutely agree that Margaret is due a revival.

As far as boys names goes I think we're due a revival of Richard and Robert at some point.

Florence will be well past its peak in ten years time. As will Arthur.

I was basing my guesses on the fact that Jack, Oliver and Lily are still so bloody popular even after their "peak". I think the names I suggested (Isla, Isaac and Jacob) are here to stay and will be at the top of the charts over the next decade.

Richard is unlikely to come back because of Dick IMO. Its around the 250 mark at the moment but has been in steady decline and there is no sign of a reversal.

Robert has already crept back up into the top 100 so I think its well placed to be very popular - possibly top 10 in a decade. Especially as Bobbie which is currently more popular looses favour.

For boys look out for Bodhi, Chester, Axel, Walter, Clark, Vinny, Ian, Carson, Remy, Abraham, Asher, Johnny, Otto, Douglas, Marshall, Noel, Dougie, Buddy, Hugh, Rex, Woody, Quinn, Kit, Archer, Rudy, Otis, Wyatt, Abel, Troy, Clayton, Ernest, Lawson, Ezekiel, Ronan, Bruno, Deacon, Monty, Bryan, Calvin, Timothy, Brian, Solomon, Hector, Franklin, Laurence, Julian, Rafferty, Benedict.

For girls Saffron, Nicola, Valentina, Verity, Dolly, Ellen, Stephanie, Adriana, Billie, Miriam, Samantha, Anastasia, Elisa, Aurelia, Annabella, Antonia, Dorothy, Vivienne, Sasha, Wren, Helena, Arianna, Audrey, Bianca, Diana, Henrietta, Marley, Ana, Clementine, Alba, Hazel, Emmy, Cora, Betty, Joanna, Nora, Iona, Athena, Fearne, Pixie, Fearne, Renee, Piper, River, Margot

All between 250 and 500 with upwards movement - yet to peak.

Don't really agree with that about Richard, RedToothBrush. Last time it was popular, (1960s) Richards would be either known by their full name, or Rick or Ricky. Nobody used Dick as it was old-fashioned apart from the associations. Think of Rik Mayall, Rick Astley, or 'Rick-aye' on EastEnders.

Similar with Frances and Fanny. Nobody would use Fanny nowadays for obvious reasons, but it hasn't stopped Frances being reasonably popular.

I'd put my money on names from the late 60s early 70s like??Paula??Carole??Debbie??Clare??Sandy??Elaine??Angela??Jenny??Fiona??Jayne??Susan????Etcetera

I don't know about that, haven't we got to get through all the 1920s/30s/40s names first?

Keith
Kevin
Duncan
Gordon
Barry
Peter

Deborah
Louise
Michelle
Muriel
Gertie
Donna

I agree Nadia there will be a 20's revival for whimsical romance and a 50's revival for an ironic retro twist but apart from a handful of very cool, slightly Scandi-inspired names like Astrid, Nina, Stella, Erica, we have a way to go before the 60's and 70's names make a comeback.