18 Trendy Baby Names on the Rise

Boys’ names poised just outside the Top 1000

1. Achilles: As ancient as Alexander, as heroic as Jason, Achilles was given to 169 boys in 2014. Ten years earlier, that number was just 32! Achilles is definitely one to watch.

2. Bowie: Bowie is a long shot, since it was given to just 59 boys in 2014. But our affection for rock-star surnames like Hendrix and Lennon makes us think it could happen — if not this year, then soon.

3. Cairo: Place names are big, and so are o-ending names for boys. Put them together, and you have exotic Cairo, given to 171 boys in 2014.

4. Dashiell: Yes, it’s true. Dashiell, a Nameberry darling currently ranked Number 101 on our site, has never made the US Top 1000. But 123 boys were named Dashiell in 2014, so I think this could be the year.

5. Decker: Decker is a forename with a tough guy vibe, a successor to Ryder and Ryker and Maddox, too. Furious 7 introduced a bad guy named Deckard in 2015, which might help boost this boy name. It was given to 179 boys in 2014.

6. Fox: Animal names are stylish. Wren entered the girls’ Top 1000 last year. With that great x-ending, could this be Fox’s year? 163 boys were given the name in 2014.

7. Linus: If Ezra and Hugo and Felix are back, can Linus be far behind? 163 boys were named Linus in 2014. It’s part-Peanuts, but also the name of an early pope and more than one mythological character.

8. Koa: Take number one name Noah, mix in a healthy dose of Hawaiian nature name Kai, and you’ll have Koa. It’s a tree name given to 110 boys in 2014.

9. Wilder: Outdoorsy, literary, Hollywood, cool — there are lots of ways to think about Wilder. Doubtless that’s why 128 boys received the name in 2014, and why we’re watching it closely.

Girls’ names poised just outside the Top 1000

1. Antonella: Gabriella, Isabella, Antonella. It fits, right? This elaborated Italian form of Antonia was given to 216 girls in 2014. A bonus is potential nickname Nell instead of Toni.

2. Della: 193 girls were given the name Della in 2014. In 2015, Billy Joel and wife Alexis named their daughter Della Rose. It’s a logical successor to Ella, Stella and Bella, so here’s guessing the Joel family might be on to something.

3. Kensington: The London royal residence of Will and Kate is much in the news, so it’s no surprise that 229 girls were given the name in 2014. It shares nickname Kensie with former favorite Mackenzie.

4. Marlowe: Harlow is a fast-rising choice for girls, with Marlo, Marlow and Marlowe not far behind. The -owe spelling is the most popular, given to 203 girls in 2014.

5. Mavis: Mavis shares sounds with Ava and Mabel, but this name’s rapid rise is probably thanks to Hotel Transylvania’s adorable vampire daughter, voiced by Selena Gomez. 231 girls were named Mavis in 2014, up from just 43 in 2012.

6. Ophelia: Shakespeare chose Olivia for his comedy Twelfth Night. Now another O-ia name made famous by the Bard is on the rise: Hamlet’s tragic Ophelia. 225 girls were given the name in 2014.

7. Persephone: Move over, Penelope. This Greek goddess name comes in at Number 191 on Nameberry and was given to 199 girls in 2014 — a new high for this once rare name.

8. Sylvie: An eco-vintage pick, Sylvie is a logical successor to Ivy and Olive, Evelyn and Genevieve. 226 girls were named Sylvie in 2014, and Sylvia has gained in use in recent years.

9. Zelda: Zelda is rich with jazz age glamour, thanks to Zelda Fitzgerald. It was also in the news in 2014, following the tragic death of Robin Williams. Williams’ daughter, Zelda, was named after the princess in the long-running video game series, The Legend of Zelda. 212 girls were given the name in 2014, up from just 81 Zeldas in 2011.

Did your favorite baby name make the list? Tweet us @BritandCo and let us know!

This post was previously published on Nameberry by Abby Sandel.

(Photo via Getty)