Many of today’s most popular baby names originated in Hollywood. Thanks to celebrities such as Reese Witherspoon and Michael Bublé, names like classic Ava and old-school Noah have topped the charts in recent years.
Despite their sometimes unusual choices, famous parents have always influenced our baby name decisions. That’s why baby name site Nameberry has determined 12 monikers that are having a moment right now.
So what tops Nameberry’s list? For girls, it’s Edith.
Nameberry predicts Edith is set for a comeback thanks to its vintage edge. Cate Blanchett named her adopted daughter Edith in 2015, which brought this name back into the spotlight. Other famous Ediths include American novelist Edith Wharton and iconic movie designer Edith Head.
As for boys, Nameberry believes Bowie will become a new favourite among parents, and that doesn’t surprise us at all! Late music legend David Bowie was a hero to many and even inspired actress Zoe Saldana to choose his surname as a moniker for one of her twins.
Other names on Nameberry’s list include Frances, James, Silas, Knox and River.
Five celebrity baby names we think will also become really popular, really fast are:
1) Sloane
Macklemore chose this name for his daughter when he became a first-time father in 2015. Not only is this name edgy and different, but it’s Irish too! Irish baby names are becoming increasingly popular for their unique spellings and sounds, which is why Sloane is gaining so much attention among parents. (Also, who can forget Ferris’ girlfriend in the iconic movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”?)
According to Nameberry, the name first entered the top 1,000 in 2008 and climbed steadily to number 370 in 2014. At this rate, and thanks to Macklemore’s choosing, we know this name will just keep on climbing.
2) Finn
Finn is another Irish name that’s become a favourite among parents. Not only is it short and sweet, but it’s also full of boyish charm. (Also perfect for “Adventure Time” fans.)
A number of celebrities have chosen this name for their little ones including Owen Wilson, Christy Turlington, and Tori Spelling. Julia Roberts’ twin son is also named Phinnaeus, but she calls him Finn.
3) Arlo
Last year, Leighton Meester and Adam Brody welcomed their daughter Arlo Day. While they are the only known celebrities to choose this name, we bet Arlo will soon become trendy among modern parents. The unique name has a beautiful sound that is similar to names such as Harlow and Marlowe, which have been chosen by other celebrity parents such as Nicole Richie and Eva Amurri. It works equally well for boys and girls, too.
4) Ocean
Celebrities are choosing creative nature names, and Ocean certainly fits the bill. Last year, Jeff Goldblum named his son Charlie Ocean, and back in 1990, Forest Whitaker named his son Ocean Alexander.
Other celebs have chosen nature names such as Bear (Kate Winslet), Snow (Ashlee Simpson) and Otter (Zooey Deschanel).
5) Vivienne
Vivienne is the French variation of the more common Vivian and is particularly popular among celebrities. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Ali Larter and Rosie O’Donnell are just a few who have used this name for their daughters. We love the short forms for this name, too: Viv, Vivi and Vi.