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Wales Online
National
Matt Jackson

'Rarest girls name ever' among the most popular baby names in 2023

Naming your new baby can often seem like one of the most difficult things to do. But a list of popular boys and girls name has now emerged, ahead of official rankings being released in 2024.

According to the list, which has ranked popular names in the US, Luxury has become the top spot for girls across the pond. It has dethroned Maeve, while Aire has reigned supreme for boys, pushing Soren into third place.

Both names however are relatively uncommon, with Luxury only being used for 10 baby girls in 2021 and Aire not appearing at all on last year's official list. The data, published by Nameberry, provide expectant parents with a glimpse of what names are currently trending among other parents, reports the Mirror.

Aside from Luxury, Aurelia, Eloise, Alice and Aurora are all popular girls names this year. While the top boy names, following Aire, are Royal, Soren, Theodore, and Silas.

The word Luxury can be both a boy's and a girl's name meaning "extravagance, opulence". It represents a particularly opulent way to get to the nickname Lux (or Luxe).

While the name Aire, meaning "air; love" is a poetic spelling of the word "air", once widely used in Middle English. It has been more recently introduced to a wider audience after Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott revealed it has the new name of their son.

It is considered is an exciting new choice in nature names and unisex names — one that is decidedly less materialistic than the homophone name Heir. Aire was given to fewer than five baby girls or boys the last year on record, but this is likely to change now that it's attached to a Kardashian-Jenner babe.

But that won't be the first time for Aire — it was recorded on the US charts for girls in a single year, 1920. Noveau word names weren't the rage back then — the five girls named Aire were likely Japanese, as Aire is a Japanese girl name that means "love".

Short, simple names with long vowels are trending, as they are easy to pronounce and translate well across different cultures. Meanwhile, "Dark Academia" names, inspired by history, literature, and legend, and "Prim and Proper" names are also gaining popularity.

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Additionally, word names are also popular, especially those inspired by nature, time, and modern virtues. However, it's important to remember that each baby is unique, and parents should ultimately choose a name that speaks to them and their child.

The list provides some insight into the future popularity of baby names. It's interesting to see how some names, like Maeve and Arlo, have become more popular in recent years, while others, like Esti and Cosmo, remain rare despite gaining attention.

It's also notable that some once-popular names, like Abigail and Michael, are no longer as popular and are not present on the Top 100 list. This could be indicative of a shift in naming trends or a generational preference for more unique names.

Top 10 Girl Names of 2023 So Far

  1. 1. Luxury
  2. Aurelia

  3. Maeve

  4. Eloise

  5. Alice

  6. Aurora

  7. Isla

  8. Luna

  9. Ophelia

  10. Iris

Top 10 Boy Names of 2023 So Far

  1. Aire
  2. Royal

  3. Soren

  4. Theodore

  5. Silas

  6. Felix

  7. Atticus

  8. Cassius

  9. Oliver

  10. Hugo

Biggest Name Trends of 2023 So Far

Short Names, Long Vowels.

Short, simple names hold a lot of appeal for contemporary parents – especially in an increasingly international world where names that translate easily between languages and cultures are a boon.

Arlo

Ayla

Cyrus

Elio

Freya

Ivy

Kai

Lyra

Mabel

Margot

Micah

Otto

Phoebe

Saoirse

Zayn

Dark Academia Names

Dark academia names are usually long and weighty, containing strong consonants and at least three syllables. They hail from history, literature and legend, and have their roots in ancient languages and cultures.

Alistair

Ambrose

Beatrix

Caius

Cordelia

Cosmo

Elowen

Emrys

Ignatius

Lilith

Lysander

Magnus

Ophelia

Ottilie

Wednesday

Drawn from the Dictionary

The majority of word names attracting a lot of attention on Nameberry are inspired by nature – from popular choices like Hazel, Ivy and Rowan to quirky picks like Clementine, Poppy, and Zephyr.

But we’re also seeing a growing group of fashionable word names relating to time, like August and Wednesday, and aspirational modern virtues, like Luxury and Royal.

Aire

Atlas

August

Clementine

Clover

Jasper

Juniper

Olive

River

Rowan

Scarlett

Violet

Wednesday

Wren

Zephyr

Prim and Proper Names

At the other end of the style spectrum are a whole host of quiet classics that attract a sometimes surprising amount of attention from our visitors.

Arthur

Audrey

Charlotte

Edith

Graham

Henry

James

Jane

Margaret

Miles

Oscar

Owen

Rose

Simon

Willa

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