Gender-Neutral Baby Names Are Surging in Popularity & These Picks Are Predicted To Top the List
Gender-neutral baby names are not new — hi, Blake Lively and Taylor Swift! — but in the last few years, they’ve been surging in popularity. In fact, Names.org found that 17% of Americans babies were given gender-neutral names in 2023, which is more than double from 50 years ago! This could be due in part by the influence of previously mentioned celebs and from A-list parents who don’t stick to the traditional masculine or feminine names for their kids. Or, it could just be because people love names that are cool, unique, different, and/or gender fluid.
After analyzing data from actual births over time from the Social Security Administration and trends from millions of users on its website, Names.org released a list of 10 predictions for Most Popular Gender-Neutral Baby Names in 2024. To be eligible, the name must be given to less than 95% of the time to one gender. (Note: the company’s annual predictions have been 95% accurate since 2018.)
Are you ready for the name predictions? Keep reading!
The tenth name on the list is Kai, a beautiful name that means “the sea” in Hawaiian, and “fire” in Scotland and American.
Number nine is a heavenly name: Angel! Eight, seven, and six on the list are Cameron, Rowan, and Parker. The fifth on the list is Riley, a traditional boy’s name that is also the star of the main character in Disney’s new Inside Out 2. Next, is Carter, with Logan (previously ranked number one) dropping to third. Avery moves up to second place from third last year, which means “counselor,” “sage,” and “wise.”
And finally, the name predicted to be the number-one gender neutral name for 2024? Dylan! This is a traditionally masculine name meaning “son of the wave,” or “born near the sea.” This name makes for a super cute summer name, by the way.
If you’ve been considering a gender-neutral or unisex baby name for your child, you will definitely not be alone. Especially if you live in South, where Names.org shared that over the last 10 years, nine of the top 10 states for these names were given in the South. Louisiana in particular ranks number 1 in the nation with 17.5% of babies given gender-neutral names over the last 10 years.
Learn more about this fascinating research online HERE. And good luck on your baby naming journey!
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