After two years of turbulence, the new parents of 2022 will be drawn to light, bright, playful baby names with a strong element of fun.

These playful names include whimsical terms of endearment, fun word names, as well as cute, high-energy nicknames, such as:

• Buddy
• Honey
• Pixie
• Rocky
• Ozzy
• Bear
• Coco
• Sonny
• Bee
• Lulu
• Ziggy

The coolest nature-inspired options for 2022 will be all about escapism. Nameberry expects to see beachy baby names get a boost, as well as names that evoke wild, rugged, expansive landscapes.

These ultra-cool nature names include names such as:

• Bay
• Prairie
• Forest
• Reef
• Dune
• Koa
• Lotus
• Ocean

Don’t miss the chance to have your say! We’re looking for parents to get involved and give their feedback on all aspects of family life.

The biggest Netflix original series of all time, Bridgerton, inspired a baby name trend for surprising antique names that is sure to heat up when the show returns for a second season in 2022.

Nameberry has already seen Bridgerton such as Daphne and Hyacinth rising rapidly up the Nameberry charts, but other choices include:

• Benedict
• Edwina
• Prudence
• Genevieve
• Rupert
• Kitty
• Eloise
• Albion

In recent years, the trend for unisex names has seen typically masculine names – such as Sam, Dylan, Alex and even James – used across the board. The baby name trend for 2022 will see things move in the opposite direction, taking names that have been traditionally feminine used more widely. This would include names such as:

• Laurie
• Sasha
• Blair
• Scout
• Harlow
• Honor
• Shiloh

Spirit and soul names are powerful and evocative, drawing on ancient myth and diverse religious traditions – but with a thoroughly modern twist.

These include dynamic Christian word names that started out as verbs (e.g. Praise and Promise), strong and decisive virtue names (e.g. Saviour and True), names from ancient myth and fantasy, as well as Sanskrit names which are also trending in a big way.

Hot spirit and soul names for 2022 include:

• Rishi
• Revere
• Dream
• Veda
• Creed
• Psalm

S ending baby names are booming across the board! Particularly trendy right now include snappy surnames like Banks and Wells, cool vintage names, and ancient and mythical names.

A selection of the hottest names for 2022 include:

• Idris
• Aurelius
• Jules
• Lois
• Ignatius
• Atlas
• Hollis

As well as turning to nature, travel and entertainment, parents in 2022 will be putting on their rose-tinted spectacles and looking to the past for inspiration.

These retro baby names include the likes of:

• Betty
• Gene
• Ralph
• Nellie
• Susie
• Gus
• Sally
• Ned

Fashionable music-inspired choices will be joined by ever more adventurous options, from Calypso to Rhythm to Symphony – all rising on the Nameberry charts.

Nameberry are also predicting the debut of the lovely melodic Madrigal in 2022, following the release of Disney’s newest musical comedy Encanto later this year.

Musical baby names for 2022 include:

• Aria
• Lyric
• Sonnet
• Allegra
• Lyra
• Major

Nameberry are seeing a whole bunch of energetic unisex names starting with R taking off, from recent celebrity baby names Rhodes, Row, Rio and Rue to edgy word names like Revel, Riot and Rogue.

Some R names to look out for in 2022 include:

• Rain
• Rumi
• Rio
• Ren
• Roxy
• Rogue
• Reed

Expect to see sleek Scandinavian, Slavic, Gaelic and Germanic names to appeal, especially to the next crop of style-savvy parents, replacing the softness of the romance languages with a spikier, steelier aesthetic.

A selection of the quirky and chic European names right now include:

• Petra
• Cosmo
• Bastian
• Tova
• Astrid
• Cillian
• Oona