What names will define this generation?

[Buddhabowl]

I'm fascinated by names and how trends come and go and names become associated with a certain type of person, age etc.
My DM is late 60s and all her friends are called Sue, Linda/Lynne, Brenda, Jackie.
If you see the name Brenda, the chances are that person is of that age range and you naturally just assume that they are before meeting them. I have a name that is dated to my generation too and will one day become a 'Sue' type name.
What names will define this generation do you think? Names like Isabella rocketed in popularity but I feel like it is classic enough to maintain popularity for long enough not to be too pidgeon-holed, same possibly for Florence.
I think maybe Evie, Ava, Isla for girls, I'm really not sure for boys...
Most of my dad's friends are Mike Dave or John or Bob (Robert), but they are all fairly classic names that you also meet on younger men. The Keiths, Barrys, Brians are more pidgeon-holed I guess and not sure what their equivalents would be.

This isn't knocking any particular name, I think some of these names are really nice despite their popularity but just interested to see views from other name nerds

The trend for boys where I live seems to be to give them a first name which is more commonly a surname - along the lines of Carter, Mason, Jensen etc. Poor little things [

Arlo, Theodore, and the diminutive-of-traditional-names-ending-in-ie like Alfie, Freddie, Archie, Charlie....

Maybe Roman. And also maybe Scandi names in general like Magnus.

Alfie

Olivia and Sophia are definitely some of the names this generation will remembered for.

Just look at the top 10/20 names over the last decade and see that the most consistent names are, that’ll give your answer!

So most definitely Olivia, Isla, Eva, Lily, Sophia, Amelia etc

I think the generation define trends for both sexes are the -ie/-y nicknames as full names. Evie, Millie, Charlie, Freddie, Teddy etc.

For girls as well vowel heavy, liquid consonant names. Lily, Ella, Aurelia, Arya, Ivy, Isla, Ava, Isabella... That kind of whole sound I think will end up dating as inevitable people move to harder sounding names. Like how browsing the list of names popular in previous decades for example Geraldine was never super popular in itself, but still sounds like the name of one of my mother's friends.

All the Millies and Mias and Olivers and endless Jacks have to be the Sue and Nigel of tomorrow. Maybe the Ellas and Rubys as well.

@weekend2021

The trend for boys where I live seems to be to give them a first name which is more commonly a surname - along the lines of Carter, Mason, Jensen etc. Poor little things [

Most boys' names are also surnames though: Thomas, Anthony, James, John, David, Oliver, Christian, Christopher, Andrew, Peter, Paul, Robert, Adam, Joseph, Alexander, Benjamin.........

The 'vintage' names will also become dated again. Mabel, Albert, Stanley, Nancy. They went from popular around a hundred years ago, to fading from fashion and being outdated and relatively unused, back to sounding fresh and gaining popularity again, and the cycle will repeat. Probably to be replaced by the likes of Margaret, Patricia, Barbara, Carol, Anthony, Brian, Graham and Ian, assuming that name trends keep moving as they have previously.

How do you define generation? Those under 10 now, under 5 now, under 18?

For the current under 5s I'd say for boys Alfie, Ernie and Arthur. For a longer time span I'd include Oliver and Jack, very much names for the under 20s ime despite their long history

For girls, I agree with Isla, Rose, general nature names, and the E/ie names - Evie, Elodie. Olivia, Emily and Lily have been numerous for about 15 years. Abbreviated names as full names e.g. Molly,Tilly. Double barreled names have also been a big theme although seem to be on their way out (although I wonder if the Ellie-Maes and Lily-Roses will use both parts as a adult so this may be less noticeable)

Op you comment on Florence - I really think this is having a moment and will date. Nicely, but like e.g. Rebecca, is of the time.

Mia maya Maiya
Amelia
Isabelle / a
Sophia
Ava orla

Bloody 'Edie'

In answer to the question about this generation. I guess I mean last 10 years until now.

For girls anything ia on the end and the ubiquitous rose added as a middle name with the parent always saying it was their grandma's name

For boys definitely nicknames instead of full names and surnames as names. I have noticed the surname trend already declining

I think names you can’t imagine/seldom hear on anyone over 40 will sound dated-such as Callum, Connor, Jayden, Hayden, Jaxon, Mia, ruby,

Alfie, Archie, Freddie for sure!

Theo and Sophia

It is interesting how name trends come and go.
I couldnt't believe it when Nancy, Agnes amd Ida became popular again.
My Grandmother was Nancy and her sisters were Agnes (Aggie) and Ida.

All the old lady names will date horribly. Ivy, Edie etc

Noah seems super popular for some reason and will therefore also become very dated.

As well as names defining generations I think they also define certain social phenomena in time. For example, I was discussing with a friend how I can never tell any of the current flock of female reality 'stars' apart either visually or by name - they all seem to be called Lauren, Chloe, Amy, Olivia, Jade, Georgia. So many with the same names.

So in the future, as well as the names marking them out as born in the '90s they are marked with distinct social/cultural markers as well.

It's funny, I can think of really stereotypical people of my mum's age (Jane, Helen, Elaine, Tracy, Karen) and my grandma's age, but I can't think of any for my own age group (middle millennials, born '88)... maybe Lauren/Laura, Hannah, Amy, Claire, Sophie? They feel very dated now!

@MrsFin

“Most boys' names are also surnames though: Thomas, Anthony, James, John, David, Oliver, Christian, Christopher, Andrew, Peter, Paul, Robert, Adam, Joseph, Alexander, Benjamin.........”

So they are! Although some are more acceptable than others IMHO

Isla
Ava
Arlo
Milk

Middle names are very much of their time too

For my age group it was Jane or Ann(e), Then it was Louise, Marie or Claire, and now it's Rose, Grace or May

For boys, John was a popular middle name in my day, then it was James, and now Jay

Ivy
Ruby
Mia
Ava
Rose
Grace
Nancy
Eva
Ottlie
May/mae

Noah
Jayden
Alfie
Arlo
George
Jackson
Theo
Freddie
Arthur

Give it a few years and we’ll have mark,john,Trevor,Rebecca,Samantha and Clare back in fashion