04 December 2023 , 15:35
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Baby names always come back into fashion, and next year is bringing back a gem from overseas.
Just like fashion trends and interior design choices, what we call our little ones is studied by experts to make reliable predictions. So, what will be the UK's most popular baby names for next year?
According to expert Steph Coffield, a few trends will emerge in the coming months. She says using 'surnames as first names' will be big in 2024, as well as gender-neutral titles, and 'adventurous' names like Huxley and Ridley.
"I'm seeing this more and more: parents want a classic name, but one that's out of the top 100," she told Yahoo.
"They want a name that feels familiar and that everyone has heard, but they don't want their child to have five other kids in their class with the same name.”
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She added: "We're seeing girls' names becoming more masculine and boys' names becoming softer too. Some parents will come to me asking for one that works for a boy and a girl ahead of time, then they can stick with it, whatever the gender."
But on the top 10 list is a name that goes back to the 1800s, and has Greek and Russian origins: Anastasia. Pronounced an-nu-stay-zhuh - the name means 'ressurection' and derives from the masculine Greek name Anastasius.
Due to its faith-adjacent meaning, it suits a baby born around religious holidays such as Christmas and Easter. In Russia, Anastasia was the most popular girls name until 2008, when it was outranked by Sophia.
Of course, the most famous Anastasia was Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna - the youngest daughter Tsar Nicholas II, the last sovereign of Imperial Russia. It is this story that inspired the eponymous Disney film. We also can't forget the pop icon Anastacia, who sang the hit I'm Outta Love.
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Girls' names - 2024 predictions
- Delilah
- Margot
- Maeve
- Nellie
- Indie
- Ophelia
- Nora
- Anastasia
- Cleo
- Harlow
Boys' names - 2024 predictions
- Otto
- Kit
- Enzo
- Beau
- Reuben
- Rupert
- Otis
- Ronnie
- Jude
- Lucas
What's your favourite baby name from the list? Let us know in the comments below