Space, birds and gender crossover; the baby name trends set to be huge in 2018

Parents-to-be looking for baby name inspiration need look no further as the naming experts have predicted next year’s top trends in monikers.

Following a survey of 1,517 readers, parenting site ChannelMum has devised the trends it thinks expectant parents will be taking inspo from when they name their new babies in 2018.

According to baby name expert SJ Strum, parents-to-be are looking to the solar system, film villains, birds and Shakespeare when trying to pick the perfect moniker for their new arrivals.

The biggest baby name trend of 2018 is set to be all things inter-galactic, the parenting site predicts with the survey revealing that over half (51%) of parents-to-be have space-inspired names on their list.

The names Luna, Stella, Nova are all expected to be popular for baby girls, while Orion for boys is predicted to see a spike next year.

“Space names are a good way to look to the heavens and remind us all that there is more to life than the events happening on earth,” said ChannelMum founder Siobhan Freegard.

While Corbyn was last year’s surprise baby name hit, parents-to-be who have been affected by the turbulent political times are instead turning to more virtuous baby names like Faith and Hope with the aim of sprinkling a bit of baby naming positivity.

Dubbed ‘modern virtue names’, monikers rapidly rising in popularity include Felicity, meaning good fortune and happiness, and Verity which stands for truth and honesty.

Boy’s name Frank is also trending as it is revealed that over a quarter (26%) of expectant parents say they are considering a ‘modern virtue’ name for their baby.

“Choosing a modern virtue name is the ultimate in virtue signalling, showing you believe children really are the future,” Siobhan Freegard explains.

“Many of the modern virtue names are absolutely beautiful and picking a positive name will hopefully carry your child through life with confidence and charm.”

And while the fashion for gender neutral names looks set to continue, a new trend for gender crossover names will emerge in 2018.

Among the most-popular choices are Teddy, Robin and Noel for girls, alongside Carol and Aubrey for boys. Almost two in five (37%) of young parents are considering using a gender crossover name, making it the third most popular trend for 2018.

Almost a third of mums and dads (31%) have also listed gangster-chic monikers as being in the naming running.

From Ronnie and Reggie to Harley, Quinn and Kato, it seems many parents to be can’t resist the lure of a bad boy, or girl.

But while gangsters are in, celebrity and popular culture inspired names are falling out of favour with parents saying their most disliked baby name trends include children being named after music stars, films and sports teams.

The study also showed the most-disliked baby name trend is double-barrelled names (e.g. Lacey-May, Tyler-Joe), dismissed by over half (51%) of parents, while 27 percent hate the ‘surname as first name’ trend, which is popular for boys (e.g. Harrison, Carson, Beckett).

Despite having over 30,000 names to choose from according to the Office of National Statistics, UK parents are finding it harder than ever to agree on a name.

A huge 46 per cent disagreed with their partner over what to call their baby – and 52 per cent admitted it was ‘hard’ to find the right name to suit their tot. So much so that a worrying five per cent of families went on to regret their choice of baby name with one per cent even trying to change it.

While a quarter of parents now seek out unique names or spellings no-one else has, one in 11 monitor baby name trends to ensure their baby’s moniker isn’t on the most popular list.

Top 8 baby names trends for 2018

1. Space names, e.g. Luna, Stella, Nova, Orion – 51%

2. Gender crossover names,g. Teddy, Robin and Noel for girls, Carol and Aubrey for boys – 37%

3. ‘Bad’ boys & girls nameg. Harley, Quinn, Ronnie, Reggie, Kato – 31%

4. Bird names, e.g. Wren, Phoenix, Paloma, Birdie – 28%

5. Virtuous names, e.g. Saint, Hope, Faith – 26%

6. Botanical names taking over from flower names, e.g. Ferne, Bay, Basil, Sage 24%

7. Names meaning wealthy or money, e.g. Ottilie, Elodie, Rafferty, Cash – 12%

8. Shakespearian names,g. Hero, Balthazar, Ophelia, Juno – 11%

Most disliked name trends

• Double-barrelled names (e.g. Lacey-May, Tyler-Joe) – 51%

• Children names after sports teams – 40%

• Unusual spellings – 40%

• Families using the same first letter for all their children (e.g. Kim, Khloe) – 28%

• Surnames as first names – 27%

• Children named after music stars – 22%

• Children names after films – 20%

• Giving a child more than two names before the surname – 14%

• Tough names – 14%

Names predicted to begin to fall OUT of fashion over the next three to five years

• Donald (Trump effect)

• Maisy

• Kia

• Olivia and Oliver for being too popular

• Alfie

• Amelia

• Isla

• Jack

• Arlo

• Lily

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for non-stop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. For Twitter updates, follow @YahooStyleUK.

Read more from Yahoo Style UK:

Should parents chose baby names that will be appropriate later in life?

Can you call dibs on a baby name?

Here’s what we’ll all be naming our babies in 2018