Caspian - trendy or timeless?

Boy Names
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I’ve adored Caspian since I was a little kid - it’s my absolute favourite name in the universe. But it’s becoming increasingly evident that I’m not the only one! It seems everywhere I look on this site I see Caspian getting love, every second person seems to have it in their UC. It seems only a matter of time before that enthusiasm finds it’s way to regular folk as well as name nerds/berries.

It seems that relatively recently (in the last 5 years) Caspian was considered “out there” but it’s now on the way to becoming incredibly trendy. Though I personally consider it a classic name due to it’s ancient roots/classy sound/classic literature references/similarity to other classic names like Caspar, my concern at this point is that it’ll become super trendy due to a sudden burst of use.

I really don’t mind popular names as long as they’re classic / have been popular for a consistent period of time as opposed to suddenly soaring up the charts. I’d sooner name my daughter Lily than Luna, my son Arthur than Arlo.
I don’t want to break up with my most beloved name of all time… but I’d hate for Caspian to have it’s shine dulled by extreme trendiness and sound dated like Craig or Sheryl later on :frowning:

EDIT for clarity: I don’t consider Caspian an actual timeless classic because it has never been in popular use at all, let alone for a consistent period of time. I mean more that it gives an air of classicness due to literary references and the ancient name of the Caspian Sea, which I’m afraid will get scrubbed away if it becomes too trendy or of-the-moment.

Berries - what are your predictions for our beloved Caspian?

  • Do we reckon that it will retain it’s classic air?
  • Or will it have a meteoric rise in the charts akin to Atlas or Atticus, leaving it dated in years to come?

EDIT 2: Another consideration I didn’t mention but has come to mind - Netflix has the rights/is developing a Narnia TV series which will feature a Caspian… and Hulu us developing YA fantasy series A Court of Thorns and Roses which has a Cassian. How much do we think Caspian will receive the Daphne Bridgerton treatment once these shows go to air?

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Definitely trendy given the huge jump

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A couple of years back I’d have said it was a classic but it’s definitely heading in the direction of trendy for me now. Having said that, I think you’d still be ahead of the general “trend” if you used it in the next year or so.

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Timeless! There are a lot of names that are uber popular on NB that have been for years yet it’s not until you log out of the site that you realise it’s really still a very rare name! I know with [name_f]Elowen[/name_f] and [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] and [name_u]Jasper[/name_u], etc. I was so heartbroken that it seemed it was getting so popular when in reality it was only on this site. I think in real, every day life, people are still afraid to use such “out there” names. (Although, now with the show sex education, [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] will probably start getting SUPER popular …) and between you and me, I dont think [name_m]Atticus[/name_m] seems outdated or used-to-be-trendy at all! I think it’s as classic as TKAM.

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I always consult social security records to get a true pulse on popularity. I imagine there are similar ways to check popularity for other countries. [name_m]Caspian[/name_m] only given to 312 boys in 2020, ranking somewhere in the 700s. Only rose from the top 1000 in the past 4 years but hasn’t exactly skyrocketed.

One of my favorite names also, incidentally

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Trendy, if I’m honest.

Without looking at the graphs of it’s use, I feel like it’s never been common enough to be classic/timeless. I’d think that would be more your standard names like [name_u]Michael[/name_u], [name_m]Thomas[/name_m] etc? I think it’s going to have a peak and then drop off again. But I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing.

And while it’s popular on nb, I don’t think it will ever become popular enough OFF nb to truly be trendy (though I still wouldn’t call it classic). [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] is and will be popular off nb because it matches with other current trends - short, pretty, not too out there. While I think names like [name_m]Cassius[/name_m], [name_m]Caspar[/name_m], [name_m]Caspian[/name_m] might rise a bit, I think Caspian’s still a bit too out there to become mainstream. People seem to still be opting for names like [name_u]Carter[/name_u], [name_u]Cooper[/name_u], [name_m]Louis[/name_m] (at least where I live).

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I love [name_m]Caspian[/name_m] but I wouldn’t call it a classic or timeless.

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Sorry this got so long, [name_m]Caspian[/name_m] + popularity is a guaranteed ramble :sweat_smile:.

I’ve had a lot of similar thoughts and concerns about [name_m]Caspian[/name_m]. I’m not so bothered about it becoming dated, but the increasing popularity does worry me. It’s definitely a good dollop of selfishness on my part, but I really like names many would like, but few would actually consider. I think the ‘is this too weird?’ barrier was/is the main argument against [name_m]Caspian[/name_m]. Now more unusual names are cropping up. That issue is becoming less relevent as it grows in popularity, and more people might be aware of a little [name_m]Caspian[/name_m]. I honestly love it more than any other name, but there’s always an irrational pang when a hypothetical [name_m]Caspian[/name_m] becomes a real one :sweat_smile:.

That being said, Nameberry also isn’t completely representative of the general population. [name_m]Even[/name_m] in the UK and (I believe) US where it is increasing in popularity, there’s a low likelihood of there being more than one in a class. I do see it going the way of [name_m]Atticus[/name_m], however the buzz around that I think was partially because it’s more unusual. People started to note it more, because it stands out. [name_m]Caspian[/name_m] irl is still an unusual, unexpected name (I hope). Many people still only think about the names they know and have been regularly exposed to. On here it’s a lot easier to find a huge range of names, whereas in the real world it’s easy to discount their usability or be unaware of their existence altogether.

To actually answer your questions.

I do think it will be seen as trendy over classic (and potentially dated in the future). Given that [name_m]Caspian[/name_m] has never really been consistently used, I’m not sure it quite fits the classic catergory. In the grand scheme of [name_m]Caspian[/name_m] being used as a name, it’s pretty modern. I don’t really see it staying established and popular enough over time to reach say [name_m]Willam[/name_m] or [name_u]James[/name_u] status.

And, yes, with trendiness comes dated, but apart from classics or very unusual choices, that’s always the case. And dated isn’t inherently bad. For me it’s more how I percieve the names and the images they give. For me common names of my parents and peers aren’t as appealing as older vintage choices or ancient history or character names. And that can be different over time, age, culture, and geographical location. I’m not too sure the trendy names will ever feel old and dated to me.

Also the variety of names being picked outside of the classics, is much more varied. There’s international influence and more information readily available from the web, for example. Because of that there’s a chance it will be diluted by the time the Atlases and Atticuses grow up anyway. It’s difficult to predict haha.

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i think its popularity is mostly on here? like i think irl it’s still extremely rare, but im in latin america so idk if i really have a say in this, i mean before nameberry i’d never even heard of [name_m]Caspian[/name_m]

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To me, [name_m]Caspian[/name_m] seems more trendy than timeless

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It’s a trendy name with an air of class about it because it sounds like it can compete with other classic names. Names like Edward, Alfred etc.

A lot of the ian ending names are quite fetching and charming. I myself love Finnian which I’ll be using if I was to have a third son.
Names like
Fabian
Cassian
Dorian
They all have an appealing sound to me.
But to me the classics are names which have been widely used in history and have continuously been popular over time.

It is my understanding that Caspian is a fictitious name, invented by C.S Lewis for the Narnia books he wrote. His inspiration was of course the Caspian sea. I think the novels were written in the 50s. Thus, the name really hasn’t been around long at all, especially doesn’t make it have ancient roots for me. I could be wrong?
In my opinion the classics and timeless names are names which are parents and grandparents recognise. They are names which just don’t seem to age or become dated. And I’m not sure my grandparents or even my parents would have heard the name Caspian for that matter.

Caspian on the whole is a lovely name. I would put it in the same category as names like Ambrose and Atticus
but I actually prefer Casper and I’d love to see Casper get some love.

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I wouldn’t call it either trendy or timeless. To me, timelessness implies a classic sort of quality, i.e. the name has always been familiar but not overused. Since [name_m]Caspian[/name_m] has been considered unusual for so long, it doesn’t fit for me. [name_m]Caspian[/name_m] has been a fantasy/romantic favourite for long, so it’s not quite trendy imo either. I also don’t think it’s being used as much as it’s being hyped up online, at least where I live.

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While I absolutely LOVE the name [name_m]Caspian[/name_m], I don’t think I consider it timeless or trendy. It is somewhere in stuck in no man’s land and I’m ok with that. It has all the great qualities of of timeless name and still sounds familiar enough to fit in with the trends of today. I also don’t see it as being all that common. On naming sites sure you hear it alot but in the real world you are hearing it very little.

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It’s trendy, but only on sites like this. You’re not going to meet a lot of Caspians in real life, that’s for sure

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I agree with those who have said that [name_m]Caspian[/name_m] feels like a classy trending name rather than a trendy classic (if that even makes sense!)

It’s got that weighty, distinguished -ian ending and literary ties that make it feel like a cultured, ancient choice, like [name_m]Atticus[/name_m] or [name_u]Atlas[/name_u]. But also like those names, it’s never seen any significant usage before and has experienced a big boom in popularity in recent years, compared to its historic trajectory. It’s a modern name in terms of usage with a more traditional feel in terms of sound and associations.

I think it has several years of popularity gains still ahead of it, but like others I don’t see it ever rising as high as, say, [name_u]Arlo[/name_u], which really is experiencing a huge spike right now. I can see it peaking somewhere in the 300s in maybe 5 years or so. [name_m]Just[/name_m] my personal prediction though :crystal_ball: :wink:

As a result, I don’t think it will date dramatically. “Dated” names from past generations really were emblematic of those generations, with sometimes 5% or even more of all baby boys or girls given those name over a 10 or 15 year period. Now that even the top names are given to so many fewer babies proportionally, I don’t think we’ll see names “dating” quite so markedly.

That said, there are still some groups of names that are extremely popular within a generation — L-L- names for girls, for example, or -ayden names for boys. And I do think [name_m]Cas[/name_m]- boy names are trending as a whole category right now.

Anecdotally, I’ve only met one small [name_m]Caspian[/name_m] IRL, a classmate of my daughter’s. We’re in rural [name_f]England[/name_f] in an area where names are generally split between contemporary favourites (Ella, [name_f]Isla[/name_f], [name_f]Lily[/name_f], [name_u]Oliver[/name_u], Jack) and more unusual choices with a “posh” vibe (Theodora, [name_m]Alistair[/name_m], [name_m]Horatio[/name_m], [name_m]Raphael[/name_m], Caspian).

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I see [name_m]Caspian[/name_m] as more timeless, since i think of [name_m]Cassian[/name_m] as very classic and they’re quite similar.

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I agree with pps; it’s neither to me.

Trendy and classic both have one thing in common: popularity. Where they differ is in their staying power. And I don’t really think [name_m]Caspian[/name_m] has that level of popularity to bring it into either category at this time.

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Hmm…I don’t necessarily see it as timeless, but I think it’s hard to predict whether it will date horribly in the next 20 years or so. But I do have to admit that it feels more like an [name_u]Atlas[/name_u] or [name_m]Atticus[/name_m] than an [name_u]Arthur[/name_u] to me. :confused:

However, I don’t see that as a bad thing. [name_m]Even[/name_m] if it is a trend that will come and go, it’s still a great name. Besides, parents of [name_m]Craig[/name_m] and [name_f]Sheryl[/name_f] were not worried about the fact that those names were not timeless classics; they simply used the names they loved. And that’s what I think we should all do, too. :slight_smile:

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Thank you everyone for such thoughtful responses! :black_heart:

This is a good point! Elowen really seemed to be gaining traction a year or two ago but I haven’t seen that translate IRL like I expected. I suppose there are lots of factors at play outside the name nerd community.

Another very good point! Atticus and Caspian share that classic literary reference without actually being classic names themselves. I hope those connotations keep them feeling timeless even if/when they become trendy.

Yeah, it’s looking good for now, but I guess my concern is that the spike of popularity Caspian has experienced within name nerds/berries (often ahead of the curve) will soon reflect in the social security data. I’m 5-10 years away from having children so I’d hate to see it skyrocket in that time! Let us hope the current trajectory is as big as it gets haha.

Hmm, very true actually. And the way I’ve seen nb forum trends going for girls in the last year has been away from the romantic, sweeping, dramatic Elowen, Aurelia, Ophelia types and into more quaint, punchy, short, vintage names like Laurie, Junie, Libby, Bess etc. Maybe boys trends will reflect this as well as Caspian would definitely fall under the first category.

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Ahh I feel like I didn’t articulate very well in the original post so have edited for clarity! You’re definitely right (and others who have echoed the same sentiment) that Caspian is not actually a classic or timeless name because it’s never been widely used. It’s just more that it feels classy and timeless in the same way that a name like Arthur does, as opposed to ultra trendy and new-sounding like Maverick. My concern is the classic feel will get replaced by trendyness if the name continues to soar in popularity. But maybe not everyone gets the classic/historical/literary vibe from Caspian that I do!

Oh trust me I would read a PHD thesis on Caspian, our love for it is mutual. Please ramble away to the end of the earth! :wink: I really appreciate your long response. I agree with much of what you’re saying!

Yes yes yes! Datedness is a concern but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t gruff about the popularity in and of itself. I know he won’t be the 5th Caspian in class even if the name makes into the top few hundred, but I’d still so much rather it retains it’s unexpected air that makes people go “wow, what a stunning name!” not “oh yeah, my third cousin and my nephew and my friend’s dog are called Caspian”

Perhaps you’re right here - I need to stop trying to cirumvent the natural cycle of names and their usage! If I want to use anything outside the eternal classics (William or James as you say) then the dated thing is always going to happen to some extent. And even if I chose a completely unheard of name that has no sign of trending, it could still skyrocket unexpectedly and I’d be screwed anyway lol! I guess we can only use our favourites and that’s all.

Yes this is exactly it! You’ve articulated it much better than me haha. Not actually classic, but gives the air of it. Finnian is so charming, I love it too.

Yeah, the word as a name definitely does not have ancient roots, but what I mean by that is the name of the Caspian sea has been around for so long to the point that the original meaning of it is hard to determine because the languages have changed or gone out of use. It’s been a geographical name that has been in use in that sense for a very, very long time. Relatively new as a given name, but the roots of the word itself feel ancient. That’s sort of what I mean.

ugh! :heart_eyes: I agree that Casper is amazing. If Caspian continues to rise too high for my liking I’ll be switching to Casper (which shockingly doesn’t even chart in the top 1000? what is up with that?)

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