The Trendiest Baby Names of 2018 Might Surprise You

Posted by Denette Wilford on December 7, 2018

You're having a baby — woohoo! But then reality sets in, from the gear you're going to need, the space you'll have to make, basically the general impact on everyday life. All good things. But aside from choosing strollers and nursery themes, another major decision has to be made: what to name the baby. You've tossed around some ideas but you're still not sure. Maybe there's a name you like but your partner doesn't, or vice versa. Or what if you're set on one that you hear often; do you want to be like everyone else?

BabyCenter has released their list of the Top Baby Names of 2018 and some unusual ones made the cut. So if you're looking for some that you won't be hearing on the playground too often, these trending names might fit the bill.

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    Peace

    Because, sure, why not?

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    Harmony

    There is something quite melodious about it.
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    Rainbow

    Bright and cheery, pretty darn perfect.
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    Hope

    This one shouldn't be that surprising, especially to Days of Our Lives fans.
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    Ocean

    Earth-friendly, this one can't help but inspire beauty.
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    Sky

    This isn't new for girls but for boys, it's up 38 per cent. Thanks, Mamma Mia!.
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    Ramirez

    It may be a common last name but because of the Fortnite character, it's leapt up the charts by a whopping 57 per cent.
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    Leviathan

    The names of the "skins" used to costume Fortnite characters is making an impact as well. Levi, though ...
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    Bunny

    Another Fortnite reference, how popular is this game?
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    Rogue

    Yet another reference to that dang multiplayer survival game, though if you want to be different, say the X-Men character was your inspiration.
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    Those Kardashian-Jenners

    Stormi, Saint, Reign and Dream all made the cut. Sadly, True did not. Sorry, Khloe.

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    Kale

    Taking healthy food to a whole other level.
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    Kiwi

    Sorry, Gwyneth and Chris, but Apple is so 2004.

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    Maple

    Nothing but Canadian love for this one.

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    Clementine

    This name's just so lovely, what's not to love?
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    Saffron

    Sunny and sassy.
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    Sage

    This one's up 15 per cent for boys. Very cool.
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    Rosemary

    Yes, a spice but also a genuine classic.

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    HGTV inspiration

    The people have spoken and they love their HGTV, specifically the Fixer Upper stars Chip and Joanna Gaines. The couple have five kids and four of them — Emmie, Ella, Drake and Crew — are on the rise, as is the name of their business empire, Magnolia, which saw an increase of 21 per cent.

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    Tried and true

    Meanwhile, Sophia and Jackson are going nowhere. "Sophia is the dominant girls' name of the decade, with no signs of slowing down," says Linda Murray, BabyCenter's Senior Vice President of Consumer Experience and Global Editor in Chief. "It has worldwide appeal, it's pronounceable in multiple languages, and it's feminine and sophisticated all at once. As for Jackson, it's a modern twist on the old classic Jack." Ain't nothing wrong with either.

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