Does it seem like everyone's kid is named Liam these days?
That's not just because you might be bad at remembering names.
After analyzing the Social Security Administration's most recent data, hitting up popular name
charts at BabyCenter, and consulting with trend expert Daniel Levine of the Avant-Guide
Institute, we're rounding up the trendiest baby names of 2017.
That "uh" sound
Emma was the most popular name for baby girls born in 2016, and that's not an anomaly — it's
something that new parents are currently obsessed with: short, feminine names that end in "a."
Other top names of last year include Ava, Mia, Ella, Olivia, Sophia, and Aria.
While names ending in the "uh" sound are all the rage for baby girls, they haven't heated
up as much for baby boys, though the name Noah fits spot-on with this trend and was
the most popular boy's name in 2016.
Another version of this name, Noa, is also now on the rise for baby girls.
All "Jack" everything
According to Behind the Name, Jack was common in the Middle Ages.
And after a major dip in the '80s, the name is on the rise once again — with a lot of
variation!
For 2016, Jack hit number 38 for boys, but don't forget about related versions, including:
Jackson, Jacob, Jaxon, Jaxson, Jax, and Jake.
For similar girl names, there are Jacqueline and Jazlyn.
These edgier versions nod toward their fairytale roots, while offering a fresh twist on the
classic.
Virtual celebrities
Trend expert Daniel Levine says,
"Celebrities have always led the baby name trend.
What is new is that we are now seeing babies named after 'virtual' celebrities: namely,
characters from Disney films and video games."
The name Annah fits both of these "virtual" trends — as Anna was the name of one of
the sisters in Frozen.
The spelling of the name with the "h" at the end makes it more unique — and is also a
character in Planescape: Torment.
Other names Levine highlighted include Kitana from Mortal Kombat, Aqua from Justice League's
Aquaman, Aeris from Final Fantasy, and Tyris from Sega's Golden Axe.
Flower power
Levine also says kids are now being named after exotic flowers.
So, if you're looking for a trendy but earthy name for your tot, hit up your local greenhouse.
One of these on-the-rise exotic flower names is Amaryllis — jumping more than 2,000 spots
in popularity between 2016 and 2017.
But it's not alone on its rise to the top.
Ivy rose 18 spots, Arabella jumped nine spots, and Annalise (the formal name for "daffodil")
is rising as well.
Hipster-esque
Looking for a name that's as hipster as they come?
How about Mason!
While we can't deny the mason jar as cultural icon, the name has actually been around for
hundreds of years.
It saw a spike in 2011 and it's been in the top ten ever since.
Other trending hipster names include cool borough Brooklyn, the musically inclined Lennon,
and — wait for it — Barley, which went from grain to human name, in 2012.
Social media influence
Social media stars are another pop culture force that influence baby name popularity.
Levine highlighted the name North as an example.
And if you haven't been "keeping up," it's the name Kim Kardashian West, who has over
100 million Instagram followers, chose for her daughter in 2013.
Another name that's hot off the internet is Kaia (Greek for "earth"), which Levine points
out is now trending for the first time ever.
If you follow fashion, you may have heard of Kaia Gerber.
Cindy Crawford's daughter is now a model in her own right, and has more than 2 million
Instagram followers.
All about the Z
Previously relegated to the likes of Zach or Zooey, Z names are now all the rage.
And they're more fun than ever.
Topping the list for both boys and girls, are Zaria, Zayden, Zane, Zion, Zyaire, Zaylee,
and Zara (— ok not the clothing store, although...maybe the clothing store?)
High-end babe
Another trendy option for the contemporary baby?
One that speaks to only the finest tastes.
Bentley was in the top 100 in 2016, and Royal rose six spots for boys and 119 spots for
girls.
Aspen jumped 11 spots, and sunglass-loving Oakley went up 34 spots for girls.
All elegant choices for the parent who prefers private jets, caviar, and paying full price
for labels.
Greek mythology
You don't have to summer in Santorini to give your baby a Greek-inspired name.
Many of the popular monikers climbing the charts come from Greek myths.
Son of Zeus, Apollo rose 167 spots from 2015 to 2016.
Adonis rose 307 spots, and Athena, the war queen, landed in the top 200 for girls.
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