Naming a child can be a process filled with frustration and anxiety. Parents want to choose a name that’s both meaningful, as well as relatively unique, so their kid isn’t sharing a kindergarten classroom with 16 other children with the same moniker. The New York Times analyzed over 500 baby names that ranked in the top 1,000 in 2018, which were not on the list in 2008, to give some insight as to what saw a rise in popularity this past decade. Travel-inspired names have been abundant in the past 10 years. Here are some of the most popular names inspired by destinations:
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This Decade’s Most Popular Travel-Inspired Baby Names
- Cairo
- Canaan
- Caspian
- Egypt
- Galilea
- Harlem
- Holland
- Jericho
- Malaysia
- Vienna
Among these names, a spiritual theme immediately becomes apparent in names like Galilea, Canaan, and Jericho, all locations in the Middle East. Some, however, are more rooted in contemporary culture; Brixton, for example, is the name of a hip London neighborhood, and Harlem is similarly inspired by the rapidly gentrifying area of New York City. Malaysia, Holland, and Vienna likely represent a significant travel experience in the parents’ lives. Caspian might either be the brainchild of parents who love traveling to Eurasia or inspired by the Chronicles of Narnia. Either way, it’s still pretty adventurous.
For a full breakdown of the naming trends for the past 10 years, check out the New York Times’ official parenting page. 