15 Names We’re Watching for 2023

Nameberry’s editors share their personal predictions for next year’s rising stars

On the back of this week’s big feature on the hottest baby name trends of 2023, we’ve been indulging in a spot of crystal ball-gazing here at Nameberry HQ 🔮

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We all have names we’d love to see get more use – as well as those we’d rather stayed well under the radar. (I may be done having kids, but Ivo and Vita are mine.)

But, personal preferences aside, which are the names we actually think are going to make serious gains in 2023? The rising stars we’d put our hard-earned money on?

I challenged my fellow editors to secretly nominate just a handful of names each… and the results are in! 🤩

Our picks cover a range of styles, eras, genders and popularity levels, with only one duplicate – a testament to the sheer variety of the modern baby naming landscape.

Read on for 15 of the Nameberry team’s top predictions, as well as the reasoning behind them.

(Pssst… Paid subscribers, you also get a bonus behind-the-scenes peek at 10 more rising stars that oh-so-nearly made the cut!)

Names We’re Watching For 2023 👀

1. Alden

I’ve seen quite a few parents considering this handsome name lately – mostly for their sons, but it could easily work for a girl too. Alden feels charming, understated, old-school, a little bit woodsy. – Emma

2. Billie

“Boyish nicknames for girls are hot in recent years, from Charlie to Frankie. This combined with recognition from the music sensation Billie Eilish will likely lead to Billie rising in the rankings in 2023.” – Brynn

3. Cosmo

“Scarlett Johansson’s son was born too late last year to make a big impact on the charts, but 2023 could be the year it really soars!” – Clare

4. Elio

“Already a favorite with the Berries, Elio is about to get a big shot of mainstream attention via the newest Disney-Pixar hero.” – Emma

5. Halston

“We love Hal- names for girls, and Halston is the next Hailey/Hallie/Hadley. Halston appeals because it’s unisex, has a modern sound, and is straight out of the fashion world.” – Sophie

6. Jolene

“Why now? In the past few years there’s been a big focus on Dolly Parton as a humanitarian figure. Plus, Jolene is retro and quirky and comes with a built-in lullaby.” – Sophie

7. Linus

“Linus has such an impressive history beyond Peanuts. It's an early pope's name, and before that the name of the mythological inventor of rhythm and poetry. As namesakes go, it doesn't get any better than that.” – Pam

8. Luxury

“Luxury was only given to 10 baby girls last year, but I have a feeling it will rise exponentially. We’ve seen many more babies (of both sexes) named Lux over the past few years, and Luxury is the obvious next step.” – Sophie

9. Marigold

“Juniper and Magnolia aren’t feeling as unique and bold as they once did, so parents seeking an offbeat nature name will be looking for something fresh.” – Brynn

10. Noah (g)

“Until recently most parents wouldn’t have considered it for a girl, but based on how much it’s risen in the last two years, it feels like the secret’s out. It could even overtake Noa.” – Clare

11. Omri

“Omri is a fresh Biblical option that sports the soft sounds many parents are loving right now, and gives me similar vibes as names like Henry, Ezra, and Arlo.” – Brynn

12. Romy

“Romy has such a rich sound, caramel sauce rich, that it makes me feel happy every time I hear it. It's nickname-y, like Remi, but it's also august, like Roman.” – Pam

13. Sayer

“Sayer was originally an occupational name for someone who went around reciting poetry and news, before newspapers and universal education. Imagine the power! If you're considering naming your child Sawyer or Skyler, name them Sayer.” – Pam

14. Sunday

“The influencer Labrant family have given all of their kids’ names a spike in numbers following their births. I predict the name of their newest daughter, Sunday, will rise in 2023.” – Brynn

15. Wilde

“Wild(e)card! An under-the-radar celebrity favorite right now, popping up here and there in various spellings – Wild, Wilde, Wylde – and of course as a nickname for the already hot Wilder.” – Emma

Readers, what are the names *you’d* put money on to make big gains in 2023? Share them below!

Exclusive: 10 More to Watch in 2023 🤫