Boy Bands Becoming Top Baby Names

The baby naming business is huge, as parents want to find the perfect name for their little one and some even hire baby name consultants to help them decide. Colleen Slagen is one of those professional baby name consultants and she’s noticed a “cultural shift in wanting to put more thought into your child’s name, to give them something that will age well and will feel meaningful.”

To find out the biggest trends in baby names this year, “Today” talked to Slagen and other experts. These are the trends they’re seeing pop up more and more:

• 90s Boy Band Names - Y2K nostalgia has people “naming their babies after aging heartthrobs,” according to Rebekah Wahlberg, baby name trend specialist at BabyCenter. The name Lance, as in Lance Bass from NSYNC, has jumped 115 spots in the most popular boy names, and Howie from Backstreet Boys climbed 299 spots. But the “quintessential” boy band name is Nick, thanks to Nick Carter from Backstreet Boys, Nick Lachey of 98 Degrees and Nick Jonas from the Jonas Brothers.
• Ancient Civilization Baby Names - Nameberry reports this is their top trend of the year. Sophie Kihm, editor-in-chief at Nameberry, says parents are using their family history to find names tied to their heritage. Those with Greek and Roman roots may choose names like Marcella and Olympia.
• Showgirl Baby Names - Taylor Swift's latest album may push parents toward names like Marilyn, Farrah, Roxie, and Solana, according to Kihm.
• Soulful Baby Names - These are spiritual without being biblical, Kihm explains. She lists names like Olive, Dove, River, and Shepherd in this category.
• Romantic Baby Names - "Names that pair that lyrical sound with a sense of timelessness appeal to both contemporary and classic naming tastes," says baby name trend expert Laura Wattenberg. These include Aurora, Eliana, and Amelia, which she says is “making a run at becoming America’s favorite girl’s name.”
• Old Gentleman Names - These “have been out of style so long, they’re starting to sound fresh again,” according to Wattenberg. Arthur, Frederick and Theo are leading the list.
• Nature Baby Names - Slagen says these are names that feel more refined and classic, like Forest or Woods, and those that are “more hippie and whimsical,” like Cedar and Ocean.

Source: Today