If you missed it earlier this week, Jennifer Moss and the team at BabyNames.com made a simple but powerful change that resonated widely online. Their homepage update—so straightforward—sparked a huge reaction. If you haven’t seen it yet, take a look when you can.
Reading the list is staggering: so many names, so many stories. It’s heartbreaking to realize more names had to be added later. Even more sobering is how many of those names passed without much public notice at the time. I thought I kept up with the news, but this reminded me how much can go unnoticed until someone highlights it.
There are many ways to respond to this moment. We live through a global pandemic, widespread protests, and deep social divisions. Pain is constant.
All of those feelings coexist for me. I feel horrified and hopeful, curious and heartbroken—sometimes all at once.
History often unfolds like that: something seems impossible until it isn’t. So the question becomes: what happens next?
Our world bears the marks of loss and is being reshaped by protest. I’ve been thinking about how that might influence naming trends in the months and years ahead.
More honor names … Many families have lost loved ones who should still be here. Naming a child after someone you miss is one way to keep that person close. Beyond sudden loss, limited avenues for public mourning and delayed grieving may prompt parents to choose names that honor the people and causes they’ve lost or fought for.
Fewer Westernized names … The pressure to fit in might ease as people embrace cultural identity more openly. Names like Yara and Kai feel poised to rise in popularity; they could move into the Top 100 or even the Top 10 in time.
New virtue names … It’s easy to imagine parents choosing names that capture both the hope and the challenges of this era—names that reflect resilience, justice, and compassion.
That said, many of these trends were already visible at the start of 2020. So it may be premature to claim a sharp break in naming patterns for 2021. Still, looking back a decade from now, I suspect we’ll spot a subtle before-and-after in name choices tied to this moment in history.
I hope names will reflect genuine cultural change—if names shift, perhaps that indicates broader progress. I keep thinking of Arundhati Roy’s words:
Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.
Now, a few current name notes.
Alexia Mae launched her book this week! She shared a warm introduction video and maintains an active Instagram. Her work continues to celebrate names and naming stories.
The Beauty of Names featured Yara. Yara is an elegant name with momentum; it’s the kind that can catch on quickly—and in many places, it already has.
Malta will now allow traditional Maltese names. This change matters to families who want to use culturally specific names. It’s a reminder that naming laws and customs still vary around the world and can evolve to reflect identity and heritage.
Identical quadruplets born during the pandemic. The odds of welcoming identical quadruplets are remarkable on their own—doing so in the middle of a pandemic is extraordinary. The four boys—Hudson Perry, Henry William, Harrison Foy, and Hardy Smith—have all returned home and are reportedly doing well.
Will Arnett and Alessandra Brawn welcomed a son. They named him Alexander Denison Arnett and call him Denny—a classic name with a friendly nickname.
That’s all for this week. I’m thinking of you and your families, and I’m grateful you’re here to follow these conversations. Thank you for reading.