The 5 Biggest Baby Name Trends of 2016
Baby name trends come and go, some monikers never seeing the top of the Social Security Administration's yearly list, others holding strong in the top slots for decades (ahem, Michael). Some of the biggest trends of 2016, however, may be the ones that finally shake up the top name lists for good.
Read through to see 2016's biggest name trends (which probably aren't going anywhere in 2017!).
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Unisex Baby Names
Although gender-neutral baby names have been gathering steam for a few years now, 2016 saw a ton of traditional boys' names going to girls (and vice versa). The trend likely saw a boost considering popular celebrities such as Mila Kunis and Blake Lively recently gave their daughters — Wyatt and James, respectively — traditional boys' names.
Nouns as Names
The Kardashians have most notably taken to this trend with baby names like North, Saint, and Reign, but they're definitely not the only ones (think Beyoncé's daughter, Blue Ivy). From names like Storm and Sky to River and Archer, this noun trend also includes a number of nature-inspired names, and doesn't seem like it's going anywhere anytime soon.
Vintage Names
Retro names such as Milo, Henry, Mabel, and Millie have all seen boosts in the ranks of late. Outdated names that may have once been considered "old people names" — think Otto and Cora — seem to be making a major comeback.
Emphasizing Long Vowels
From Aubrey to Aubree, Emily to Emilie, and Jaden to Jayden, many parents have spiced up popular names' long vowels with double E's, an extra Y, or an IE to make their child's name stand out.
Star Wars Names
Last year's release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens brought the popular series back into the limelight so that older fans could enjoy fresh storylines with a new generation. In some cases, parents are jump-starting their baby's love for Star Wars at birth by giving them names from the newest film, such as Rey, Finn, and Kylo (as well as the classics, Luke and Leia).