Baby Names - The 100 Year Rule
The 100 year baby name rule is the idea that baby names tend to come back into fashion roughly every century so names that were popular around 100 years ago often feel fresh and charming again, while names from the parents' generation, around 30-50 years ago, can seem outdated.
There are a few theories on why this happens..
Generational Gaps - People tend to avoid names that remind them of their parents or grandparents but are more likely to embrace great-grandparents' names.
Nostalgia & Vintage Appeal - Parents often avoid names that feel too recent, like those from their own childhood
Pop Culture & Literature - Old-fashioned names often resurface in period dramas, books, and films which can all have an influence on new parents
Names lie Arthur, Mabel, Edith, Florence, and Albert were common in the early 1900s and have seen a resurgence in the 2000s and 2020s.
Names from the 1950s - 1980s like Karen, Gary, and Linda are still in their 'out of style' phase but my come back in the future - I think my name, Ruth, very much fits in here!
"A name is the blueprint of the thing we call character. You ask, ‘What's in a name?’ I answer, ‘Just about everything you do."
- Morris Mandel
Here are some fun predictions for 2025 baby name trends:
Nature Inspiration - As love for nature and simplicity grows, names like Meadow, Fern, River, and Sage may become more popular
The 100 Year Rule - Names from the 1920s and 1930s may make a return - watch our for Wilfred, Mabel, Ernest, and Edith
Regal Renaissance - With ongoing royal interest in historical and modern royals, names like Diana, Eleanor, and Albert may see a rise.
Whatever you choose to call your baby, make sure you record all their memories in The Baby Book of You: A record of your first year and follow on with The Book of You: A record of childhood - gorgeous keepsakes for gorgeously named babies!