Baby Names 2012: 12 Trends To Look Out For

Baby names in 2012 promise revolutionary new directions in the continuing and escalating search for meaning coupled with originality. That can be a hard bill to fill when it comes to baby names, pushing parents in 2012 to look to some fresh sources and create names that have never been heard before.

Every year, it seems, people become more aware of the power of names. And yet names are still free and universal, which increases the pressure to find that one perfect name that defines and encapsulates all your hopes and dreams for your child.

In the high stakes game of Baby Names 2012, then, here's what Nameberry sees as the 12 hottest trends:

 

 

 

Follow Pamela Redmond Satran on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nameberry

Comments

[Cascadienne]

01:56 PM on 11/28/2011

I think we should fine anyone who abuses Y and K. Kaitlyn, Kole, Devlyn, Mikayla, Kassidy, etc. etc. etc. They look horrible and yesterday-trendy, a PITA to spell, and look like the parents were trying waaaay too hard. Almost - but not quite - as annoying as the "-den" unisex names.

[J R M]

08:21 PM on 11/27/2011

We weren't at all original.

The quote from Fiddler on the roof comes to mind "I don't know why. Tradition! Tradition!"

I am named John. My father was named John, His father was named John. We named my son John. His middle name comes from his mothers mother's name.

Our daughter has a very traditional name as well - but more from Central / Eastern Europe than from the US.

[gemmax]

09:15 AM on 11/27/2011

Envision your child as an old man or an old lady.Does the name still fit or sound ridiculous? You can always give them a second or even third name that you love because it's just cute.

[Freckelily]

09:52 PM on 11/24/2011

We named our 3 year old daughter Sunshine. We wanted something different and we just loved the sound of the word. To this day it's fun to watch people's faces light up when they hear her name. Of course they always ask if it's her real name. Yes, it is.

[gemmax]

09:19 AM on 11/27/2011

In the 60's during the "Hippie" generation, the name Sunshine was common, as was Dawn, Heather, Sky, Flower, etc. anything that felt "natural".

[KDMac]

02:28 PM on 11/28/2011

I know someone whose daughter's name is Sunday Munday.

[parkaybutter]

08:15 PM on 11/24/2011

I'm curious why Marilyn Monroe is a heroine to Carey.

[jamesbj]

01:49 PM on 11/24/2011

Really interesting story. I tried hard but could never find the most common names for boys. Where in the world is the list of names?

[GracieGiraffe]

09:53 PM on 11/26/2011

The Social Security website posts the top 1,000 names for recent years. And it gives much shorter lists going back to 1890. It's a very cool site to peruse.

[phoebequeen]

05:17 PM on 11/23/2011

On Halloween night, I met an adorable pair of 2 year old boys and a little princess who was also 2. One boy was named Boston. I stiffled the urge to ask if the other one was Journey. The little princess was named Liberty. Yep. I asked the dad why didn't he dress her as the statue, or the bell? Came out before I could stop myself. Hopefully, they will call her Libby.

[GracieGiraffe]

09:54 PM on 11/26/2011

I would have asked if her middle name was Bell. Bet the other kids' name was RedSox.

[jkleopardqueen]

07:09 PM on 11/22/2011

I personally like my name Jenna. It sounds really common and easy to spell but at the same time it is not very common. Though my sister's friend wants to name her baby napkin, it would suck to be that child.

[mrkdr1]

06:05 PM on 11/22/2011

I used to work in an all black public school for several years. Names I ran across there, seriously.
"Divine Buggs", "Kissy Pitts" "Formica Dinette" (pronounced Formesha D'nett), two little black girls named "Snow White" as their first name, and a "Cinderella".

[mrkdr1]

05:49 PM on 11/22/2011

Thank God my parents gave me a normal traditional name instead of using me as an object for their own selfishness.

[mira chancleta]

04:19 PM on 11/22/2011

Dante, Ashante & Picante
Bi-Racial triplets in L.A.

[Averagedancer]

01:49 PM on 11/22/2011

Parents clearly aren't considering the amount of teasing some of these names will garner from the kids on the playground. Hollywood parents, in particular. Names like, "Apple," "Sparrow," "Rumer," "Ever," "Zuma," and the like. Get over yourselves and don't name your kids something goofy because it appeals to your egocentricity. Sheesh!

[NikDanger]

10:00 AM on 11/22/2011

Guess I lucked out. I have a pretty normal name, just with an alternate spelling. Nikole. My mom chose the K instead of the C because she wanted my nickname to be spelled with 2 k's, Nikki (which is actually the correct feminine spelling, Nicky is a boy). Hasn't been a problem most of my life although some people try to throw all kinds of letters in there. I usually don't correct people when they put Nicole but I've seen Nikkole, Nichole, Nickhole, N'cole, and all other crazy spellings.

[smartguy 24]

11:11 PM on 11/21/2011

We went traditional with our boys names. Thomas Jon and Michael Christopher. Both their 1st and middle names are family names. Worked out great.

[mrkdr1]

05:52 PM on 11/22/2011

Names that will look good on a job resume and that won't make them a laughing stock to the other 80% of society that realize made up "unique" names indicate lower social class and education of the parents.

[BigWillyG]

10:30 AM on 11/21/2011

I feel sorry for the kids that got saddled with the freaky names.