Nameberry’s name expert Sophie Kihm explained why some old names have become fashionable again in recent times, noting that there is a 100-year rule that determines what becomes popular at the time.
Sophia added that naming preferences go in cycles, therefore names that are uncool now will be top-choice in the future, just like the cool ones now were hardly considered years ago. According to her statement, names from the ‘20s will become more stylish in the coming years.
Baby names recycle as the older generations leave
According to Sophie, names make a comeback when the generation that had them begins to phase out. In this case, names like Brenda and Gary from great-grandparents are getting back in style. Others like Olive, Otis, Florence, Theodore, and Felix are also becoming common among new babies.
On the other hand, grandparent and parent generation names like Stephanie, Kieran, Ellen, and Tony are slowly going out of fashion, due to how often they have been used. They will likely become the preference in the next century, but for now, people want to hear new names and are reaching back to the far past.
Constant classics
Some names are an exception to the 100-year rule and have remained classics through generations; for example, James, Thomas, Henry, George, William, and Alexander have remained top options in the United Kingdom, specifically England and Wales.
This can be easily explained by these names’ relation to the British royal family, particularly the male members of the institution. They particularly have more value placed on them as they held priority positions in the line of succession until recent times. Feminine names from the royal family are more decorative; hence, Britons tend to choose what sounds sweet to their baby girls at the time.