Naming Your Baby in 2022

Maybe you’ve always known what you would name your baby since you first started envisioning your future family and the name-choosing process is the easiest part; but perhaps, for others, deciding on a name for your baby is one of the most tedious steps on your journey! For those of you who aren’t so certain on what name you’d like to give your child, we’ve outlined a few methods to help you choose, as well as some names that are predicted to be popular in 2022!

Consider your and your partner’s family lineage

Looking at the names of those on your family tree is a great way to find names that may hold significance to your and your partner, and can help your future child form a deeper connection with their own family history–particularly if the name chosen from your family line has interesting stories associated with that person! If choosing a name from your family tree is appealing, but maybe not your top name choice, it’s also a great way to find a middle name for your child.

In looking at your combined family lineage, you might also find inspiration behind the cultures and heritage of your family lines. Honoring your family heritage with a baby name specific to your background is a great way to make your child feel connected, especially if your baby was born via Surrogate.

Initials

Be sure to consider your baby’s initials when coming up with names; you may want to be sure that there are no inappropriate acronyms or short slurs that are the same letters as the initials your baby will have.

Alternatively, you may want your baby’s initials to stand for something and can keep that in mind when deciding on a name to stick with those letters!

Avoid Trends

Names such as Hermoine or Khaleesi might be popular for a while, but as with so many trends that popularity will wear off and you may find yourself regretting the quirky movie or book related name years down the line (and if you don’t regret it, your child might once they hit their teenage and adult years!) If you have your heart set on a trending name, however, then this isn’t to say to absolutely avoid it altogether. You’ll know what the right name is for your child when the time comes, and particularly if you are naming them after a character that resonates with you. Then the name is a special gift!

Popular Names in 2022

With this advice in mind, here are some name categories and examples that are likely to be popular in 2022:

• Pop-Culture Names: names from popular and binge-worthy TV shows that were popular in 2021, such as names from Bridgerton, The Witcher, Game of Thrones, etc.
• Unisex Names: as more and more people become familiar with terms surround the non-binary community, unisex names will grow in popularity, such as Alex, August, Cameron, Sam (not short for Samantha or Samuel), etc.
• Traditional Names: also thought of as “recycled” names, these are names that continue to come in and out of popularity, such as Archie, Clyde, Penny, Zelda, etc.

There are many other things to consider when choosing a name for your baby, but most importantly, be sure that you and your partner are in agreement, and give your baby their name with love.