Baby name experts are already predicting this year’s trends in terms of naming with inspiration coming from recent cultural influences.
According to pregnancy and parenting website BabyCentre, 2025 will be the year of imaginative, meaningful, and trend-setting baby names.
Working with baby name expert and celebrity baby name consultant, SJ Strum , BabyCentre forecasts that recent cultural influences, such as the Cambridge Dictionary’s Word of the Year ‘Manifest’, will be the muse for baby naming in the year ahead.
Manifest Inspired Baby Names
The global trend ‘manifest’ was looked up almost 130,000 times on the Cambridge Dictionary website, making it one of the most-viewed words of 2024. Dr Strum said: “This optimistic and empowered movement is inspiring lots of amazing names. I see this trend growing and in 2025, parents will be picking names that bring this spirit of positive thinking, plus hope, dreams and visions of a wonderful future together for their baby in their name choices.”
Girl Names
- MILA – Miracles
- ARABELLE – Invokable
- OTTILIE – Riches
- EVELYN – Wished For
- THEA – Divine Gift
- OPHELIA – To help or aid
Boy Names
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JUDE – Thankful
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EZRA – Helper
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RONNIE – Advise
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FELIX – Lucky
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BODHI – Enlightenment
Nature Inspired Baby Names
In 2024, online search terms like foraging and small homestead living increased.
Strum predicts: “This nature renaissance isn’t just about returning to our roots; it’s about planting new ones for the future too. Our commitment to sustainability and celebration of the beauty in the natural world means that nature-inspired names are flourishing. Keep an eye on other earthy classics names such as Cedar, meaning, grounded and strong, with a nod to majestic forests, and Rivera – combining nature and sophistication.”
Girl Names
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MARGOT – meaning pearl
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WILLOW – Willow Tree
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DAISY – Flower
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OLIVE – Olive Tree
Boy Names
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OAKLEY – Oak Tree Woods
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ARLO – Hill
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BRODY – Muddle Place
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JASPER – Precious Stone
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STANLEY – Stone Clearing
Castlecore Inspired Baby Names
According to Pinterest, there has been a huge rise in Castlecore, marking the medieval movement in Britain as a major aesthetic. The report forecasts that Gen Z and Millennials will take home decor inspiration from ancient castles, while fashion and accessories will be gothic-inspired. It’s a comeback of the highest order, and there’s no doubt that this influence will also feature in baby naming trends too.
“Castlecore-inspired names transport us to a world of chivalry and fantasy, allowing parents to weave a sense of wonder into their children’s identities,” Dr Strum adds.
Names that are recognised for their strength, with a dark and dramatic vibe are already moving up the name charts.
Girl Names
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DELILAH – Delicate or Weaken
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MAEVE – She who rules
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ORLA – Golden Princess
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LYLA – Night Beauty
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CLARA – Clear and Bright
Boy Names
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RORY – Red King
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ALBIE – Noble/Bright
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LOUIE – Famed Warrior
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MYLES – Soldier
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CHESTER – Fortress
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RUPERT – Fame and Glory
Faye Mingo, the Chief Marketing Officer at said: “With such a large audience of pregnant mums and parents-to-be, BabyCentre is one of the best-known resources when it comes to choosing baby names. It’s no real surprise to see that classic names continue to hold strong, but there are some fresh twists emerging, as parents embrace notable trends for the year ahead”.
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