These popular ’90s baby names are set to make a comeback

Being Pregnant 03 Feb 25 By

Trends have a way of coming full circle—fashion, music, and yes, even baby names! If you grew up in the ’90s, you might be surprised to see some of the nineties baby names from your childhood rising in popularity once again.

Just like slip dresses, scrunchies, and Doc Martens have made their way back into wardrobes, nostalgic parents are turning to the past for baby name inspiration. According to parenting and baby name experts, names that were once everywhere in the decade of Tamagotchis and dial-up internet are making a return.

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Nostalgia plays a big role in naming trends, and the ’90s are having a major cultural revival. From reruns of Friends and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to the resurgence of grunge fashion and classic rom-coms, the decade continues to influence modern pop culture. It’s no wonder that parents-to-be today are looking back at the names that defined their own childhoods.

According to the pregnancy and parenting website Baby Centre, names that were ubiquitous in the decade that gave us both grunge and Tamagotchi are due a comeback, as new parents are feeling nostalgic for the nineties.

What nineties baby names are most popular?

Topping the list of girl’s names is Maria – almost definitely inspired by Blondie’s song of the same name which was released at the tail-end of the decade in 1999.

Next up is Courtney, in honour, we assume, of either Cox or Love, depending on whether the parent in question is either a Friends or a Hole fan. At third place is Helen, which given that the world’s highest grossing weather-based-film and huge box-office smash-hit Twister was released in 1996, it’s more than likely that Helen Hunt in the inspiration behind that one.

Meanwhile for baby boys, the most popular name is reported to be Bradley – could be inspired by Fight Club star Pitt? At second place is Daniel, which we can only assume is because millennial parents are still kind of into singer Natasha Bedingfield’s big brother. Next up is Ryan, which might be popular due to the fact that Ryan Reynolds – of being Blake Lively’s husband and you know, acting fame – guest-starred in everyone’s favourite 90s TV programme, Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

While hanging out at number 19 is Ross, another Friends reference, as new parents name their babies after television’s hottest paleontologist with anger management issues, Ross Geller.

The Top 20 Nineties Baby Names for Girls

  1. Maria
  2. Courtney
  3. Helen
  4. Heather
  5. Bethan
  6. Lydia
  7. Kimberley
  8. Naomi
  9. Abbie
  10. Harriet
  11. Amber
  12. Molly
  13. Jennifer
  14. Stephanie
  15. Abigail
  16. Sophie
  17. Jessica
  18. Danielle
  19. Georgia
  20. Natalie

The Top 20 Nineties Baby Names for Boys

  1. Bradley
  2. Daniel
  3. Ryan
  4. Christopher
  5. Lewis
  6. Nathan
  7. Connor
  8. Scott
  9. Nicholas
  10. Peter
  11. Cameron
  12. Mitchell
  13. Timothy
  14. Toby
  15. Danny
  16. Christian
  17. Stuart
  18. Simon
  19. Ross
  20. Paul

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