It may feel like the hardest decision of your parenting life, but choosing your child's
name is just the beginning.
With these expert-approved, exciting, beautiful, and straight-outta-the-movies monikers topping
the list, you can trust your kid's gonna be going places!
Magnolia
This name might remind you of the movie Steel Magnolias, or even the famous New York City
sweet shop, Magnolia Bakery.
Flying just under the radar at number 633 on Nameberry's list of popular names of 2015,
Magnolia is about to have another sweet moment in the spotlight, according to Sherri Suzanne,
baby name consultant and founder of My Name for Life.
Suzanne says,
"This feminine name from the flowering tree is blossoming again after virtually disappearing
in the 1940s.
Magnolia is a bold example of floral names that are making a comeback."
She also says this name is catching on in many places, "especially because it lends
itself to many lovely nicknames, from Maggie to Nolia."
Dash
First appearing on the charts in 2005, a shortened version of the name Dashiell, Dash is quickly
becoming a popular boy's name.
Suzanne adds,
"The irresistibly cool Dash is being used on its own, surpassing the formal name in
popularity to join the Top 1000 names for boys at number 766."
Adding to the name's cool factor are celebs like actors Dash Dobrofsky, and Dash Mihok
Lennox
Suzanne says,
"This surname, originally referring to a grove of elm trees, is now a fast-moving name for
boys and girls."
She says boxer Lennox Lewis put the name on the map, but that super cool "letter x" makes
it a total knockout.
Suzanne adds that, quote, "For little girls, a literary reference like young Mary Lennox
of The Secret Garden may be a charming influence, but pop culture references ranging from America's
Next Top Model contestant Lenox Tillman, to singer Annie Lennox, are likely sources as
well."
Kylo
Star Wars may be responsible for this fast-growing name.
Kylo Ren is the chosen name for Ben Solo, son of original characters Han Solo and Princess
Leia.
Suzanne says,
"That is reason enough for its popularity, but I think it helps that Kylo results in
the nickname Kai favored by parents today for boys and girls.
Kye, Cairo, Kai — all have this sound and are rising up the charts."
Thomasin
According to Nameberry, there were zero American babies named Thomasin in 2015, yet this name
made the site's "Hot List" for summer 2016 thanks to the movie The Witch.
The name ranked just outside the Top 1,000, making this name trendy, but still totally
original.
Dance fans may also like that this name belongs to British dancer Thomasin Gülgeç, an up-and-comer
who made his Royal Ballet debut in the 2016/2017 season.
Kyd
Taking the number one spot for boys on Nameberry's Hottest Baby Names of 2017 list, Kyd is a
British surname that is quickly gaining popularity as a first name.
Suzanne noted,
"David Duchovny and Tea Leoni named their son Kyd Miller back in 2002."
It's also the name of British playwright Thomas Kyd, who is thought to have written an earlier
version of the popular Shakespearean tragedy Hamlet, making this a great name choice for
lovers of literature.
Havana
Trend expert Daniel Levine says that as travel becomes more accessible, names inspired by
places will continue to become popular.
He pointed to capital city of Cuba as one example.
Havana's tropical vibes, retro cars, and bright colors are beautiful and inspiring.
Levine said other geographic names could be on the rise too, like Eilat, Kihei, Faroe,
and (if it doesn't remind you too much of spring break) Cabo.
Raven
The name Raven sits at number 527 and rising, on the charts for girls, and number 2,085
for boys, making it universal and highly original.
It also has a little Game of Thrones flair — the Three-Eyed Raven being one of the
most intriguing characters on the show.
But, thankfully, Raven isn't as overwhelmingly common as other Thrones-inspired names like
Arya, extremely popular for girls at number 116, or Khaleesi, which is quickly rising
in popularity along with many similar variations.
Sutton
A borough of London, Sutton has a bit of a preppy, British-influenced feel.
According to BabyCenter it means "the town to the south."
The name is still a standout, as it's only at number 749 for girls and number 992 for
boys.
And babies named Sutton would share it with Broadway stunner, Sutton Foster.
Kace
Kace is currently at number 935 on the list for boys, jumping over 1,000 spots from the
year before.
That means it's not too popular yet, but definitely could be soon, if it continues to rapidly
rise.
The name sounds like a cute, familiar, more unique version of Casey.
It would be a great name for an empathetic, outgoing child who would be comfortable being
called what sounds like an affectionate nickname.
Class of 2023
Landing on the perfect name for your child is simply a jump-off point, as your baby grows
up and truly personifies their moniker.
But with the surging popularity of the names on this list, you're certain to make naming
history!
Thanks for watching!
Click the List icon to subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Plus, check out this other cool stuff we know you'll love too!