Three baby name trends are making waves this year and they are the perfect inspiration if you have a little one to come up with a name for.
Naming a child is a lot of pressure; you are setting them up for the rest of their lives and this is the name that they will carry with them into adulthood. So we want to pick a good one and not mess up. Sure, names can be changed, but it’s a lot of faff, and would we be lowkey offended if our child changed their name because they hated it so much? Probably.
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3 baby name trends rising in 2026
Many parents who are looking for the perfect name turn to trending lists for inspiration and they can prove to be pretty useful.
Here are 3 trends popular in 2026, according to Babycenter, and they may be helpful if you are in search of a moniker.
1. Rainbowcore
Names inspired by colours are becoming very popular at the moment, according to Babycenter. ‘This trend celebrates playfulness and optimism, two values that feel especially important to modern parents right now. Choosing a colour-inspired name brings a sense of brightness and boldness,’ they say.
Some rainbowcore include Ruby, Coral and Scarlett.
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2. 2016 nostalgia
Some parents are looking back 10 years when naming their babies, because it’s a time when life was ‘simpler’ according to Babycenter. ‘That sense of nostalgia is everywhere right now, and it’s shaping baby names, too,’ they said.
Some 2016 nostalgia names include: Leo, Luca, Evelyn and Freya.
3. Poetic aesthetic
Poetry is rising in popularity, thanks, in part, to BookTok and journalling, and this is really inspiring baby names. ‘Poetry is more popular than ever, with modern poets gaining huge followings across social media and capturing the mood of life today in a way that resonates deeply. Poet aesthetic names are rhythmic, vowel-rich, and beautiful enough to tell a story all on their own. As the saying goes, “the shortest poem is a name”,’ said Babycenter.
Some of these names include: Arabella, Clara, Nathaniel and Reuben.
