Welcome, Halo!
Congratulations to Halle Bailey, and her partner rapper DDG, on the first high-profile baby announcement of 2024, after keeping it decidedly low-key in 2023.
She hinted in her new year post with a 👼🏽, then confirmed a few days later that she has a son named Halo.
It’s a perfect choice for cool young parents right now. (Although writing that makes me sound decidedly uncool!) Halo is one of the modern spiritual word names that parents are increasingly embracing. It’s also appealingly androgynous. As a unisex name that leans heavily female, with an 85:15 girl-boy split, Halo on a boy is charming and fresh.
New Baby Name Data
It doesn’t get much fresher than the countries who have already released their most popular names of 2023. (While some places are still waiting for the 2022 data, amiright England and Wales?)
Let’s hear it for…
Brazil, where the top baby names are Miguel and Helena, and parents also love double names like Maria Alice and Enzo Gabriel. (Source: Registro Civil)
Germany, where Emilia and Noah top the list, and most of the top 10 names have only 3 or 4 letters. (Source: Beliebte Vornamen)
The Netherlands, topped by Noah and Julia, and filled with short, sweet gems like Sem and Bram, Noor and Cato. (Source: Sociale Verzekeringsbank)
Portugal, where the number 1 names are classic Maria and Francisco, and the Top 10 is full of long, lyrical names like Benedita, Margarida, and Lourenço. (Source: Nomes e mais Nomes)
Best New Year’s Day Baby Names
Babies born on 1st January make the news, and give a snapshot into what names parents are giving their children right now.
Our Berries in the Forums have been sharing the first 2024 newborns’ names in their local area, featuring beauties from countries around the world:
Here are a few more from the news:
I love Amal, meaning hope, for a new year’s day baby in England.
And also Dove, in California.
Another great new year meaning: Fotios (“light”), to be known as Frankie, in Australia.
Did someone say beautiful Greek names? Here’s Marianthi, in Alberta, Canada.
Sapphire for some festive sparkle in Pennsylvania.
Two backwards names in King’s Lynn, England: Nevaeh and Evoleht.
Forest in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Noevla, a lovingly-created unique name in Springfield, Illinois.
Kaneisi, in New South Wales.
Ferguson “Gus” in British Columbia: great quirky choice any time of year!
So interesting, Clare!