Naming a little one is always tough. There are options that seem perfect at first mention, but then go onto fade in popularity with mum and dad by the time the newborn arrives. Moreover, if the parents are keeping the gender of their little one a secret, they essentially need to draw up two shortlists.
So, if you’re after some inspiration or just want to stay on top of trends, it’s well worth assessing what the most popular baby names will be in 2016.
A decade-long cycle
Of course, there’s no way of knowing exactly what little ones are set to be called next year, but the trends of the past can offer a glimpse into the future. Specifically, social researcher Mark McCrindle explained to News.com.au that baby names tend to rise and fall in popularity along a 10 year timeline.
“A name is popular for about a decade, and then it starts to fade. A classic example is Jack. It dominated most years in the first decade or so of the 21st century, but now it’s starting to fall down the list. It became a victim of its own success,” he explained.
Pop culture inspiration
It turns out that more parents than ever before are turning to their favourite books, TV shows and movies for inspiration. To use an out-there example, a list collated by Baby Centre featured ‘Khaleesi’ in the top 20 names that could be most popular over the next 12 months.
For the uninitiated, she’s one of the main characters in the ever-popular Game of Thrones. While it may seem a little odd to go for something that’s quite so left field, it appears as though more parents are willing to go for the unusual – even though their new sons and daughters may not exactly thank them for it in years to come!
As touched on, there’s no way of knowing exactly what names are set to adorn the majority of baby gift cards and tags in 2016, but it appears as though new-age options could well be hits.