Current:Home > InvestGender-neutral baby names are on the rise. Here are the top 10 predictions for 2024. -FutureProof Finance
Gender-neutral baby names are on the rise. Here are the top 10 predictions for 2024.
View
Date:2025-04-13 20:05:32
Get ready to see more babies named Dylan, Avery and Logan in the coming months as gender-neutral names rise in popularity.
According to data from baby name website names.org, gender-neutral baby names have been trending upward dramatically since the 1990s, making up 17% of names in 2023 — with no signs of slowing down this year.
Here's the site's predictions for the top unisex names of 2024:
- Dylan
- Avery
- Logan
- Carter
- Riley
- Parker
- Rowan
- Cameron
- Angel
- Kai
Name.org's data also shows that the increase in unisex names isn't region-specific, despite earlier data showing gender-neutral names were more common in the southeastern U.S. throughout the 1990s.
"More recently, the maps show how dramatically usage has increased across the entire country," the website states, noting that while the names are still most common in the Southeast, they've become "notably more popular" in the Midwest and Pacific Northwest.
The analysis is based on Social Security Administration data on names, which only shows a person's given name, not what they go by.
"It's likely that gender-neutral names are even more common in everyday life than the Social Security data would suggest," the website notes. "For instance, Charlie is a gender-neutral baby name that is used as a nickname for Charles and Charlotte."
Since Charles and Charlotte are more common than most gender-neutral given names, if only "10% use the nickname Charlie, the popularity of Charlie in everyday life would be double what Social Security data would suggest," the website explains.
Other unisex nickname examples include Alex, which can be short for both Alexander and Alexandra, as well as Chris for Christopher, Christian, Christine or Christina.
The current predictions for unisex baby names are similar to those most popular in the past 10 years, a ranking that put Logan in first place, Avery in second and Carter in third. But the most popular unisex names of all time include a more varied lineup with Willie, Kelly and Jordan topping the list.
Other 2024 baby name trends
Gender-neutral names aren't the only ones getting attention. Athletes, actors and movie characters have also influenced what parents are naming their kids.
The name Caitlin, for example, peaked in popularity in 1988, but after more than three decades, it's seeing a resurgence — likely thanks to basketball star Caitlin Clark, according to BabyCenter data earlier this month.
The name Zendaya is also up this year and has been steadily increasing since the release of "Dune: Part Two" in March. The actress' name sits at No. 588. The last time her name spiked was in 2021 after the release of "Dune: Part One," and it continued to increase throughout 2022.
The siblings in the Netflix series "Bridgerton" may have also contributed to the increase in popularity for Anthony (up five spots), Eloise (up 20), Francesca (up 84), and Gregory (up 40) this year.
- More baby name news: "Chozen" and "Emryn" are rising fast as most popular baby names of the year are revealed
-Caitlin O'Kane contributed reporting.
- In:
- Childbirth
- Children
Sara Moniuszko is a health and lifestyle reporter at CBSNews.com. Previously, she wrote for USA Today, where she was selected to help launch the newspaper's wellness vertical. She now covers breaking and trending news for CBS News' HealthWatch.
TwitterveryGood! (121)
Related
- The Daily Money: Spending more on holiday travel?
- Travis Kelce to host celebrity spinoff of 'Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?'
- Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan divorce: Former couple battle over 'Magic Mike' rights
- Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett rushed to hospital moments before his concert
- Skins Game to make return to Thanksgiving week with a modern look
- 19-year-old found dead after first date; suspect due in court: What to know about Sade Robinson case
- Massachusetts official warns AI systems subject to consumer protection, anti-bias laws
- Buffalo Sabres fire coach Don Granato after team's playoff drought hits 13 seasons
- Former longtime South Carolina congressman John Spratt dies at 82
- When is the 2024 NFL draft? Dates, times, location for this year's extravaganza
Ranking
- Small twin
- Chiefs' Rashee Rice, SMU's Teddy Knox face $10 million lawsuit for crash
- Rico Wade: Hip-hop community, Atlanta react to the death of the legendary producer
- Travis Kelce's New TV Game Show Hosting Gig Is His Wildest Dream
- Scoot flight from Singapore to Wuhan turns back after 'technical issue' detected
- Michigan attorney general to announce charges in investigation of former top lawmaker
- Indiana limits abortion data for privacy under near-total ban, but some GOP candidates push back
- Parts of central US hit by severe storms, while tornadoes strike in Kansas and Iowa
Recommendation
What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
Boston Marathon winners hope victories will earn them spot in Paris Olympics
Indiana limits abortion data for privacy under near-total ban, but some GOP candidates push back
Travis Kelce named host of ‘Are You Smarter than a Celebrity?’ for Prime Video
Questlove charts 50 years of SNL musical hits (and misses)
Custody battle, group 'God's Misfits' at center of missing Kansas moms' deaths: Affidavit
Tearful Kelly Clarkson Reflects on Being Hospitalized During Her 2 Pregnancies
Minnesota Democratic leader disavows local unit’s backing of candidate accused of stalking lawmaker