Current:Home > MarketsGender-neutral baby names are on the rise. Here are the top 10 predictions for 2024. -Infinite Edge Learning
Gender-neutral baby names are on the rise. Here are the top 10 predictions for 2024.
View
Date:2025-04-16 03:16:14
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! (79742)
Related
- 'Malcolm in the Middle’ to return with new episodes featuring Frankie Muniz
- More Than a Third of All Americans Live in Communities with ‘Hazardous’ Air, Lung Association Finds
- Former Wisconsin college chancellor fired over porn career is fighting to keep his faculty post
- Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo and Judy Greer reunite as '13 Going on 30' turns 20
- Tom Holland's New Venture Revealed
- Biden administration is announcing plans for up to 12 lease sales for offshore wind energy
- How airline drip pricing can disguise the true cost of flying
- Columbia says encampments will scale down; students claim 'important victory': Live updates
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
- Former Wisconsin college chancellor fired over porn career is fighting to keep his faculty post
Ranking
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- Mount Everest pioneer George Mallory's final letter to wife revealed 100 years after deadly climb: Vanishing hopes
- Kyle Rittenhouse, deadly shooter, college speaker? A campus gun-rights tour sparks outrage
- Blinken begins key China visit as tensions rise over new US foreign aid bill
- Stamford Road collision sends motorcyclist flying; driver arrested
- Aaron Carter's twin sister Angel to release late singer's posthumous album: 'Learn from our story'
- WNBA star Brittney Griner, wife Cherelle announce they are expecting their first child
- Ashley Judd says late mom Naomi Judd's mental illness 'stole from our family'
Recommendation
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
Weapons chest and chain mail armor found in ancient shipwreck off Sweden
After Tesla layoffs, price cuts and Cybertruck recall, earnings call finds Musk focused on AI
Isabella Strahan Shares Empowering Message Amid Brain Cancer Battle
Opinion: Gianni Infantino, FIFA sell souls and 2034 World Cup for Saudi Arabia's billions
Chicago’s ‘rat hole’ removed after city determines sidewalk with animal impression was damaged
USPS commits to rerouting Reno-area mail despite bipartisan pushback and mail ballot concerns
Biden administration expands overtime pay to cover 4.3 million more workers. Here's who qualifies.