A recent viral TikTok video has sparked a conversation about the perception of names across different generations. In the video, a mom shared a conversation with her daughter from Generation Alpha, who expressed that names like Ashley and Amanda are considered 'old people names' by today's youth.
The daughter pointed out that names like Scarlett, Charlotte, Olivia, Penelope, Isabella, Bella, and Ella are more in line with what she considers 'young people names.' The video quickly gained over three million views and prompted a wave of reactions from users who felt surprised or even offended by the generational shift in naming trends.
It's true that names tend to fluctuate in popularity over time. While names like Ashley, Amanda, and Samantha were once highly favored, newer generations are gravitating towards names like Emma and Olivia. This shift is evident in the list of top baby names post-2010, where Amanda no longer appears, and Ashley and Samantha have dropped in ranking.
Today, names like Olivia, Emma, Isabella, and Charlotte continue to dominate the charts for baby girls. This preference for certain names among Generation Alpha reflects the cyclical nature of naming trends and the influence of popular culture.
Despite the evolving landscape of baby names, some classics endure through the generations. Names like Amelia, Sophia, Ava, Mia, Evelyn, and Luna are also popular choices for girls, while boys' names like Liam, Noah, Oliver, James, Elijah, William, Henry, Lucas, Benjamin, and Theodore remain in vogue.
For parents concerned about choosing a name that may go out of style, opting for a unique or less common name could be a strategic choice. Ultimately, the perception of names as 'old' or 'young' is subjective and influenced by the prevailing naming trends of the time.
