By Pamela Redmond Satran and Linda Rosenkrantz
Baby names are changing faster than ever, influenced by celebrities and pop culture, ancient cultures and modern catastrophes. The major trends for 2013 draw from the names of Roman gods and the wilder side of nature, tap new international name sources and include a surprising taste for secrecy.
Nameberry’s predictions for baby names 2013:
Biggest big picture trend: Ancient Names
Russell Crowe’s
Gladiator and HBO’s
Rome may have kindled the trend for Ancient Roman names, but then the megahit
The Hunger Games drove it into the big-time. With another film of the series set for November 2013, we predict that names of old world gods and goddesses, mythological heroes and leaders will dominate birth announcements. Choices we’ll be hearing more of include Augustus and Atticus, Persephone and Athena, Juno and Julius, Thor and Maeve. The appeal transcends the pop culture influence: These names are as powerful as they are deep, arming a child to triumph over earthly challenges (the parents hope).