The responsibility of naming a baby can weigh heavy on new or soon-to-be parents. They'll be choosing a name that their tiny bundle of joy will carry - most likely - through the rest of their lives. So, when it comes to picking a name, and agreeing to it with your partner, it isn't a task to be taken lightly.
Names, like many things in life, go in trends but the ultimate choice is down to individual preference. Sometimes influenced by family names, perhaps by celebrity role models or just a name that takes your fancy, there's a lot to be taken into account. Do the initials spell out something you'd rather not have associated with your child, is the moniker going to be "too popular" or is it too unique that people might have trouble pronouncing or spelling it?
If you're having a baby in 2023 and struggling for inspiration, Sophie Kihm, baby name expert and Editor-in-Chief at Nameberry, has shared 50 names and, according to a report in the Mirror, they "should be on your radar" this year.
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These names have been analysed from Nameberry's popularity charts, celebrity and pop culture trends and their own expert analysis. According to Sophie, experts are predicting that unisex names will be big this year, as well as more traditional, old-fashioned names and ones stemming from Greek mythology.
Television and films are also expected to inspire parents, with Wednesday featuring on the list after the Netflix series success. You'll also see names inspired by nature – from Clover to Marigold. Below is the full list that Nameberry has identified in its top 50 'best' names for 2023, in alphabetical order, along with their meanings. Standby, there are some unusual names on the list.
Full list: The top 50 baby names predicted for 2023
1. Artemis – Greek moon goddess name that also works for boys
2. Ash – Nonbinary name that updates Ashley or shortens Asher
3. Avani – Hindi girls' name with trending v sound and ni ending
4. Azael – Rising Biblical name sleeker and less demonic than Azrael and Azriel
5. Banner – One of the trending occupational surnames – Baker, Booker, and Bridger — starting with B
6. Callahan – The new Sullivan and a cool way to get to Cal
7. Cielo – The Spanish word for "sky" was chosen by Michael Bublé, also trending for boys
8. Clover – The fresh flower name Clover feels cute, strong, not too lacy, and very lucky
9. Cy – The new Kai, can be short for Cyrus, Cyril, or Silas
10. Elio – European hottie sure to pop here with the release of Pixar's Elio
11. Elowen – Name lovers' favourite that's a fresh route to Ellie
12. Evander – Ancient Greek name that’s a rare alternative to Oliver and Alexander
13. Eyre – Literary spin on Kylie Jenner’s Aire and Nick Cannon’s Heir
14. Ezri – Ezra alternative common in Israel for both sexes
15. Faye – Faye is the most popular spelling – Fay and Fae are the others – of this May substitute with an ethereal meaning: "fairy"
16. Greer – Uncommon tailored surname for girls, ala Reese, Blair, and Sloane
17. Halo – Halo, currently ranked in the Top 800, is a rising option among modern Christian names as well as video game names for girls
18. Harold – Trend-setters Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach chose Harold for their son, nicknamed Hal, and this summer's Harold and the Purple Crayon film should put this grandpa name over the top
19. Idalia – This nickname for Aphrodite was virtually unknown in the US until recently, when it was used in the Netflix series From Scratch
20. Kiki – Kiki of the many stylish kindercore names, associated with Hayao Miyazaki's Kiki's Delivery Service
21. Kit – UK favourite, sometimes used as a nickname for Katherine or Christopher
22. Koa – Hawaiian name rising for both genders
23. Leif – Scandinavian + nature name = trending favourite
24. Leni – Two of our baby name trends 2023 — Traveling Lite names and Grandpa Names for Girls — are captured in one name with Leni
25. Linus –Traditional roots, ends in S, and a host of great namesakes? Linus has it all!
26. Lionel – International star thanks to Argentinian World Cup soccer champion Lionel Messi
27. Love – Simple, bold, and full of heart, Love is a hot celebrity baby name poised to soar for both sexes
28. Marigold – Bright floral name rife with symbolism in cultures from Mexico to India. Goldie is one adorable nickname
29. Maude – Maude Apatow has reintroduced her name, also spelled Maud, to prospective parents
30. Maxine – 1920s favourite starting to rise again as a first and middle name, as in Chrissy Teigen and John Legend's newborn daughter Esti Maxine
31. Miller – Fresh alternative to names like Parker and Mason
32. Odette – French rarity you may know from Swan Lake
33. Otto – A much-loved palindrome, Otto feels fresh and quirky, cute yet strong
34. Ozzy – Natural shortening for a whole range of fashionable boy names, from Oscar to August to Ozias
35. Penny – Penny is a mid-century favourite with bonus "lucky penny" connotations!
36. Petra – At its historic peak in the Roaring Twenties, Petra is on track for a revival
37. Reyes – Intriguing Spanish option with an on-trend royal meaning and a big new platform in the hugely popular Call of Duty video game franchise
38. Rocky – British adventurers Anna McNuff and Jamie McDonald recently welcomed twins with suitably adventurous names: daughter Jupiter and son Rocky, which has also started to chart for girls
39. Sybil – Underused literary and mythological name, belonging to divine prophetesses in Greek and Roman legend
40. Teddy – Ultimate cuddly grandad turned cute and quirky baby name. Can be a nickname for Theodore, Edward or even Arthur (due to its meaning, "bear").
41. Torben – Scandi-chic successor to Soren and Stellan
42. Truett – Best-of-both-worlds choice which combines a smart, preppy full name with a cool virtuous nickname
43. Vita – The association with English author and horticulturalist Vita (born Victoria) Sackville-West gives it a Roaring Twenties flair. In Latin and Italian, it means "life"
44. Waverly – Parents who love Everly’s strong sound and bouncy rhythm, but not its popularity, might appreciate this unusual alternative
45. Wednesday – Day names like Sunday and Tuesday feel quirky and playful, but Wednesday brings a darker edge that will appeal to fans of the popular dark academia aesthetic and, of course, the inimitable Wednesday Addams
46. Wiley – Easy-going hipster cowboy name that remains surprisingly underused, even taking into account variant spellings like Wylie and Wyley
47. Winston – Traditional name with an illustrious history and a winning nickname
48. Wolf – De-Kardashianized and back to being one of the coolest, and rarest, of the wild animal names
49. Zebedee – Ancient Biblical name that’s impossible to say without a smile on your face
50. Ziggy –Super-quirky nickname gets a shot of extra cool from that sharp Z initial, as well as the connection to David Bowie's iconic alter ego Ziggy Stardust, who celebrated his 50th anniversary last year
What's your opinion of the names on the list? Let us know in the comment box below.
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