The top baby names of 2019 are out, and I’m delighted to be able to present you with the 3rd article of this 5-part series reviewing the new data! Just like the trending boys article, this overview is solely based on moving up in rank and not the amount or percentage of children given the name. Whether you’re willing to erase your entire shortlist if one of your favorites appears trendy or are looking for monikers that feel current and on-trend, here is a brief analysis of the trendiest girl names of the year, beginning with the highest climber of all: Amoura.
The Hottest Girl Name of the Year: Amoura
Although perhaps not as legendary as Sekani’s giant leap, Amoura did manage to score the top spot on the list of trending girl names. In 2018, Amoura had sunk to the bottom, ranking at #2054 with no sign of breaking the surface of the top 1000. Then in 2019, she miraculously surged to #979, passing by 1075 spots as she went. This was another huge surprise for me, as there wasn’t any big buzz around names like Amy recently. However, when examining the trending names for girls closer, I found that Amora, Alora, Amira, Amayah, Amara and Amari all made the list this year, leading me to believe that Amoura’s sisters have actually been flourishing, unbeknownst to me. But why the big increase in the ranks of all of these similar names? Well, Amoura stems directly from the French word for love, Amour, and because of that, she means “love.” Not only that, she has a very classically feminine and romantic sound, while still remaining relatively obscured from the public eye. The adorable meaning and the classic but unique feel may be what has fueled parents' recent love of Amoura and the trendiness of names similar to her.
The Top Ten High Risers:
After Amoura, the second highest rising girl name of the year is Theodora, an unsurprising find. Thea has been hurtling up the charts for years now, and it was only a matter of time before her longer forms became popularized as well. Not to mention the intense popularity of Theodore, her masculine counterpart, who ranks at #36 this year, an 8 spot jump from #44. At #1407 last year, Theodora leaped 548 ranks to land at #859 in 2019 data. This vintage name meaning “gift from God” will only go up from here. Below Theodora, occupying the third slot on the girls’ list is Navy, a color name. A stunning appellation with that much-desired middle V, Navy made her debut in the US top 1000 this year. At #1270 last year, Navy made a 459 spot journey to #811, where she ranks today. Although some think of this name as a color name with positive connotation, others can’t get past the jean and clothing store or the branch of military.
Moving on, Emani claims the fourth spot this year, which isn’t a giant shock. Parents adore Emma, Emery, Emerson, Emily, Emmalyn etc., and with names ending in -i ruling the girls’ side this year, Emani is welcomed onto the trend train by parents searching for the next big Em- thing. Emani is a rare respelling of the Arabic name Iman but is getting much more attention because of that enduring Em-. With 422 spots surpassed this year, Emani has risen from the outskirts of the 1000s range to #955 and will most likely continue to rise in popularity. Receiving the title of 5th trendiest baby girl name of the year is foreign import Yaritza. An Arabic name often used in Spanish speaking countries as well, this name meaning “butterfly” has gained several young namesakes in 2019, appearing in the top 1000 after a long recess without charting. She makes her debut at #810.
Numbers 6 and 7 are variant spellings of one another and are both pronounced uh-LYE-uh. At #6, Alaia ranks at a surprisingly high #183 this year, after a 400 spot jump in 2019. Her alternative spelling Alaiya, at #7, isn’t quite to her level. At #779 after her 361 spot jump this year, Alaiya means “joyful and happy” and appeals to the recent trend of Aaliyah and Co. Number 8 was actually a prediction of mine, Oakleigh. When Oakley rose to the top 100 for boys in Britain, I figured we would see the same affect in the US. The more “girly” spelling Oakleigh is rising quickly for girls, falling in line with choices like Everleigh, Hadleigh, and Brynleigh. I prefer this nature name on a boy, but it’s showing signs of turning completely to team pink in a matter of years because it aligns with girl name trends slightly more. The ninth trending girl name is Ainhoa, a Spanish name that ranks #49 in its home country, but has failed to prosper in any other country until this year, when Ainhoa finally cracked the top 1000 in the US. This place name now ranks at #757. The final name that made the top ten trending list is Salem, a modern place name discovery that ranks on the same list for boys at #11 as well. Unfortunately, it is heavily associated with the Salem Witch Trials, which does put me off a little bit. However, the sound is appealing, shared with Sailor and Sadie, and the meaning “safe,” is quite sweet.
Some Trends I’ve Spotted
The Hawaiian names are all the rage this year. Kailani, Lorelai, Nalani, Malani, Ailani, Kehlani, Milani, and Kalani all occupy the trending girl names this year. The -lani ending in particular is getting some serious exposure lately, with parents choosing it left and right. However, I do have some concerns about this ending becoming so mainstream. For instance, while there are definitely legitimate names ending in, say, -lynn, it has become a go to ending for a made up name. (Think Quinnlynn, Mickinlynn, etc.) I worry that -lani may become the next go to ending when creating a name, spoiling the lovely sparkle of the sound with creations like Adalani and Lialani. Besides that trend, I also notice an uptick in word names such as Egypt, Heavenly, and Dream as well as title names like Royal and Royalty on the girls’ side. Throwbacks like Angela, Joy, and Melody are also getting a spike in use despite it not being anywhere near their revival time, which surprised me a lot, given their reputation as “mom names.” And that concludes my analysis of the top trending names for girls in 2019. If I mentioned any of your favorites, don’t panic! I’m not always right, and a trendy name just represents a lot of other people having a mutual love of the name too!
Sincerely,
~Delphina Moon
What’s your favorite of the 2019 trends? Look out for the other articles in this five part series!