Avoiding up and coming names

Name Advice
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I think that if you stay outside the top couple of hundred names, you are probably reasonably safe. Most names only increase by a few places each year. If you pick a names ranked at 576, it’s unlikely it will suddenly be Top 10 in 2 years.

I think the names on your list all sound pretty safe, with the exception of maybe [name_f]Dora[/name_f], which I’ve heard a few people talk about lately (vintage names are on the up-swing, so it might spike in the next few years).

[name_f]Greer[/name_f] has the same “trendy” vibes as [name_m]Spencer[/name_m] and [name_m]James[/name_m] on girls, as more people are picking more unisex-coded names. I have never met one or known anyone to pick this for their baby, but I can see how it’s popularity might increase over the next few years.

I think [name_f]Oona[/name_f], [name_f]Orla[/name_f], or [name_f]Maura[/name_f] are your safest bets from this list. Good luck!

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[name_f]Oona[/name_f] is the only one I see becoming popular.

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I’d be very surprised to see [name_f]Maura[/name_f] rise, and I wouldn’t think [name_f]Dora[/name_f] would get super popular either, but something to be aware of is that I think Nora/Norah very much ARE on the rise (though this is based on people I come across rather than actual popularity data)… in case the rhyme annoys you or possibility of people mishearing it. I always loved the name ida and was so sad when [name_f]Isla[/name_f] became crazy popular, as everyone might have just thought it was [name_f]Isla[/name_f] with a lisp or something!

[name_f]Orla[/name_f] I DO think will rise… people love an [name_m]Irish[/name_m] name :sweat_smile: and it’s got all the short sweet sounds that people like at the moment.

[name_f]Oona[/name_f] and [name_f]Greer[/name_f] I’m not sure about, I feel they could go either way. Luna’s been a bit more popular in recent years, maybe [name_f]Oona[/name_f] will follow?

For my kids I’ve got one who’s name is definitely not popular for her generation, and one who I do hear of a few about (not super popular like [name_m]Theo[/name_m] and [name_m]Jack[/name_m] got, but just hear of the other occasional one).

The think that I think makes my unpopular one less popular is that it WAS quite a popular name in the 1960s/70s… so whenever I meet another person with the same name, they’re in their 60’s or 70’s themselves. It’s too recent to be ‘cool’ again, lots of the up and coming names feel like they’re from the 1900s-1920s or so.

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I have an Úna (the traditional [name_m]Irish[/name_m] spelling of Oona) and I haven’t found it to be popular or up and coming! People tend to think I’m saying [name_f]Luna[/name_f] though which is popular

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[name_m]Irish[/name_m] heavy, north-east US

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I think you can’t really know. The only way to ensure the name isn’t about to become more popular, I think, is to pick one that is currently falling.

Maura - This isn’t even in the top 1000, so it might get more popular, but I can’t imagine it’d go from >1000 to top 100 in three years or anything. This is probably a safe choice.

Oona - This is popular on Nameberry, and it sounds a lot like Luna, so I would guess it’s about to get more popular. Again, it’s currently out of the top 1000.

Greer - Surname names are getting more popular so this one might become popular I guess? But probably more as a middle name.

Dora - Dorothy is rising, and Dora sounds like the other popular names Cora and Nora. I’m guessing this one will be popular again soon.

Orla - The similarity to Oral probably means this one will not suddenly become popular.

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Another thought, [name_f]Oona[/name_f] is also the name of the main character on the popular Netflix show Puffin [name_m]Rock[/name_m] - more exposure for the name.

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Your son has a wonderful name!

From your current list, I believe [name_f]Maura[/name_f], [name_f]Greer[/name_f], [name_f]Orla[/name_f] and [name_f]Dora[/name_f] will remain under the radar for now. [name_f]Dora[/name_f] is my favorite, by the way!
I’ve seen [name_f]Oona[/name_f] and [name_f]Una[/name_f] a little bit more on Nameberry and celebrities’ baby name announcements, but I believe it is still very unusual. However, I believe that [name_f]Oona[/name_f] is the most predictable name to rise in popularity. On the other hand, I don’t see [name_f]Maura[/name_f] or [name_f]Orla[/name_f] jumping to the spotlight.
I would like to emphasize the idea that some options on your list share similarities with popular choices in the USA. I’ not sure if that bothers you, but it may be something to consider. For example, [name_f]Maura[/name_f] is very similar to [name_f]Laura[/name_f]. [name_f]Dora[/name_f] is similar to [name_f]Cora[/name_f] and [name_f]Nora[/name_f]. [name_f]Dora[/name_f] is also a very intuitive nickname for [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f] and [name_f]Theodora[/name_f].
I rarely see [name_f]Greer[/name_f] on Nameberry, but surname names and unisex names are very popular nowadays! Who knows what will happen to [name_f]Greer[/name_f] in the future :thinking:

Popularity may fluctuate lot, depending on where you live. The perception of some names’ popularity may also differ based on the communities and ages that you interact the most.

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I agree, there are quite a few popular “name neighbors” with the ones I’ve listed…sigh… we’ll see i guess! I appreciate your and everyone else’s opinions - really helps to solidify predictions that have, up until now, only been in my head😄

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I don’t think any of the names on your list are likely to be generation identifying names, although I could see some names having moderate use.

Oona and Dora - I think these are the most likely to catch on in the next ten to fifteen years on your list. Una and Dora would’ve been serious contenders on my own list had we been expecting a daughter instead of our son.

Oona has a fairly strong online presence and it has a lot going for it. It’s simple but punchy. It fits names with the liquid sound trend, short and sweet names like Ava, Mia and Isla as well as names with strong vowel sounds. The long ‘u’ sound brings to mind Luca, Luna, Ruby and Juniper but all these names have pop culture references or obvious nature meanings that Oona lacks. I just don’t think it has wide enough appeal to rise up the chart quickly.

Dora doesn’t seem to be mentioned much online in my experience but that must be because of the strong Dora the Explorer association. It fits with the vintage revival trend and all the other vintage sound alike names Nora, Cora, and Flora are gaining traction. However, the ‘D’ sound makes Dora clunkier than the above and I think that limits the appeal. I think it will remain an uncommon choice.

Orla - I think the popularity of Derry Girls has given the name a strong boost in the UK. I don’t think it will have the same success in the US. I always see comments about the similarity to the word ‘oral’ and while I don’t believe it does feel similar besides having the same letters, the back to back consonants can feel awkward in a rotic accent. I don’t think it will follow the trajectory of Ella, Isla or Ayla.

Greer - It might attract those interested in unisex names who want something fresh. The sound itself is fairly polarising and one syllable first names don’t seem to hold the same appeal as two or three syllable names. It’s certainly
no Grace or Grayson. I think it will always be an unusual choice.

Maura - I think this is the least likely to trend on your list. It feels more like Laura than Nora, Cora, and Flora. It doesn’t immediately sound dated as it’s never been popular but it does make me think of Maureen and Mona and therefore feels a little mid-century. I think it will always fall under the radar as it feels a little niche.

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[name_f]Billie[/name_f]
[name_f]Marigold[/name_f]
[name_f]Nova[/name_f]

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I’m nowhere near an expert on trends, but based off my own observations:

I definitely think [name_f]Maura[/name_f] is your safest bet, I almost never hear it and it just doesn’t seem like the type of name to catch on right now? It was never incredibly trendy (so nothing to have a resurgence from) but also has enough names similar to it that it probably won’t stick out to people who want a super distinctive, modern sounding name.

[name_f]Greer[/name_f] seems fairly safe, I do see it around nameberry a bit but way less offline. I could see it maybe sounding somewhat generational since it seems to be more popular now than a few years ago, but I doubt it’ll reach the top 100 or anywhere close.

Have to disagree with most people about [name_f]Dora[/name_f], I just can’t see it getting super big, mostly because I feel like a lot of people won’t be able to get over the [name_f]Dora[/name_f] the [name_f]Explorer[/name_f] association? (I don’t think that’s a huge deal though.) That said, [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f] and [name_f]Dorothea[/name_f] seem very trendy and ofc there’s [name_f]Nora[/name_f], [name_f]Cora[/name_f], [name_f]Flora[/name_f], etc. so I’d still be cautious if you don’t want to risk blending in with popular names.

[name_f]Orla[/name_f] I’d be more careful about since I seem to see it everywhere- but maybe it’s mostly online? Idk if it would ever reach [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] levels especially since the similarity to oral might turn people off, but it feels really similar to names like [name_f]Isla[/name_f] (which is insanely big) so I’d expect it to still trend up

I agree with basically everyone else on [name_f]Oona[/name_f].

Unrelated, but just wanted to say, [name_m]Augustine[/name_m] doesn’t come across as that trendy to me, even with how many Augusts I encounter. It’s just not a variation I see much and I honestly wouldn’t assume any age.

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Augustine is a fantastic, distinctive name with great history. Maura and Orla are really lovely, though don’t have quite same heft as Augustine I feel. Would you consider Mary or Marie - they will never be as popular as they were in the past. Alternatively - Ita or Bridget? Or Anastasia? None of those would have a major upswing. Maura would be my pick from your list.

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I looked at the popularity trajectories of your names:

[name_f]Maura[/name_f]: has quite an up and down history in the charts, but has never been popular. It peaked in 2001 and even then was given to less than 400 babies that year. it’s not in the US top 1000 right now and I see no indication it will shoot up the charts, especially since it’s not trendy online either.

[name_f]Oona[/name_f]: out of your list, I think this one has the potential to become the most popular, but still not tremendously so. this spelling is not in the top 1000 (Una is) but I could see it rising due to it’s trendiness online and its shared sound with the popular [name_f]Luna[/name_f].

[name_f]Greer[/name_f]: Babycenter says this name is given to about 50 in every 1 million babies in the last few years. this is more than in previous years, but still what I would definitely consider to be a rare name. I don’t see it ever becoming popular in the US due to its unusual sound.

[name_f]Dora[/name_f]: completely fell off the charts decades ago. I imagine the [name_f]Explorer[/name_f] connection is still too strong especially since they’ve recreated her. You’d be safe with this one, but it DOES share the same sound as the trendy [name_f]Nora[/name_f] and [name_f]Cora[/name_f]

[name_f]Orla[/name_f]: popular in other countries but never in the US top 1000. Like [name_f]Greer[/name_f], I do not see this name ever becoming popular here because of its sound (plus there’s no indication its rising that I can see)

In all, I highly doubt any of these will reach the heights of [name_m]August[/name_m], which has always been in the top 1000 names and has been increasing in popularity steadily since the early 2000’s (I know yours is [name_m]Augustine[/name_m] but the [name_m]August[/name_m] trend is where your popularity dilemma comes from)

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I wouldn’t be surprised if [name_f]Oona[/name_f], [name_f]Greer[/name_f], and [name_f]Orla[/name_f] all grow in popularity!

I think [name_f]Maura[/name_f] and [name_f]Dora[/name_f] are both pretty, but stylistically I can’t see them jumping up too quickly in the charts

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I appreciate your taking the time for such a detailed post - thank you!! A lot of meat to think about:)

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Bit late to the party and many of my ideas have already been summed up by @kachenka and others. But a few cents:

All the names broadly fit within the two syllable trend of the last 8-10 years, with [name_f]Greer[/name_f] being a 1.5 syllable name (lol) and also fitting within the unisex/southern (US) genre that has had a very strong influence on English-speaking naming worldwide. So in some ways, they’re all of their time.

But more specifically, as others have said, [name_f]Maura[/name_f] stands out - I think because it’s a more unsettling, less cutesy name with the unusual “Mau” sound and feels even more 1950s-1990s somehow (a boomer or boomer bestowed name). [name_f]My[/name_f] only celeb association is [name_f]Maura[/name_f] from [name_f]Love[/name_f] [name_f]Island[/name_f] UK but I otherwise don’t hear the name much at all.

[name_f]Orla[/name_f] and [name_f]Oona[/name_f] seem more artsy/hip/cool-gal and most explicitly part of the current trends/ generation. They don’t seem overly popular but they do feel very “now” (or even a few years ago). [name_f]Dora[/name_f] fits but is still quite attached to the cartoon and feels more vintage and retro than [name_f]Orla[/name_f] and [name_f]Oona[/name_f]. Not sure how generational [name_f]Greer[/name_f] is - possibly more “timeless” because it’s a unisex southern name and this “trend” is less a trend and more cultural/a genre (with sisters, [name_f]Delilah[/name_f], [name_f]Adeline[/name_f], [name_f]Piper[/name_f], [name_f]Savannah[/name_f], [name_m]Rowan[/name_m], [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f] etc).

So if you want to be out if the current trends and well-known cultural genres, [name_f]Maura[/name_f] would seem to be the pick. You could even move to [name_f]Maria[/name_f], [name_f]Marianne[/name_f], [name_f]Marion[/name_f] which I think would also go with your other names, potentially better.

Speculative, but it feels like names are now moving towards and soon going to jump to boomer names so you could either get ahead of or defy that trend! The two syllable (and A ending) and diminutive names trend could be on their way out - which could be good or bad for you depending. In other words, if you choose [name_f]Dora[/name_f] or may seem quite fresh as it’s more a 15 year old name. If you choose, say, [name_f]Suzette[/name_f], [name_f]Valerie[/name_f] or [name_f]Christine[/name_f], you’ll be an early adopter of new trend coming in. Within all trends, we of course still have names (usually English/Euro royalty?) deemed classical and timeless, so that could be your safest bet - [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f], [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] etc. [name_m]Augustine[/name_m] and [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] got in this (and the rush of century trends). And if you like [name_m]Irish[/name_m] names, consider one without the two syllable, “cute” A ending pattern - [name_f]Bridget[/name_f] or [name_f]Caitlin[/name_f] etc.

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I hadn’t thought about the dora/Dorothy connection - in fact we have a new baby in my extended family who was just named [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f]! Thank you!

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Thanks for all the research!!

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Thanks for the detailed analysis! Re: naming trends, do you think the naming cycle (100 yr rule) is speeding up, just as we’re seeing with the fashion cycle?
I know everything is conjecture at this point, but this is why I’m so glad to have a place like nameberry to discuss it!:slight_smile: