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Baby names

27th Dec 2016

Trend Forecaster Predicts The Hottest Baby Name Trends for 2017

Sive O'Brien

Are you as obsessed with baby names as we are? Well then, step this way, because we think we have discovered the hottest new baby name trends of 2017…. X,Y, Z names.

According to Australian site Kidspot, who received brilliant insights on trend predictions from leading demographer and social researcher, Mark McCrindle, parents will be rushing to choose baby names starting with ‘Z’ and also ‘Y’ and ‘X’ this year.

Until now, names starting with the letter ‘X’ were traditionally boy’s names like Xavier, however, ‘X’ is now being chosen for girls like Xena, Xana, and Xenia.

He mentioned names like Zephyr for the boys and Zyla and Zelda for the girls and also Zane, Zara, Zari and Zoey, and Zander.

Longer baby names are on the up too, with names like William, Jackson and Alexander increasingly on the rise for boys, and more flowery names like Charlotte, Amelia, Sofia, and Chloe for the girls.

There is also a surge in more conservative names like Nathaniel and Edward for the boys and Elizabeth and Margaret for the girls. Maybe a nod to the recent craze for the Netflix series The Crown.

Here are some of our favourite’Z’ names:

Zachary

This is a classic and has many forms and shortened versions including ‘Zac’ and ‘Zaki’.

Zahara

If it’s good enough for Brangelina! This moniker apparently means “a flower in bloom”.

Zayn

Yes, it is the name of a boy band member, but it also means “beauty” in Arabic. The female equivalent is “Zayna”.

Zara

If you want to make this name a little different, you can also spell it “Zaira”.

Zavanna 

Savannah is a popular name, but this version is a little more unusual.

Zoe

If you name your little one this, they are guaranteed to be full of life! (That’s what it means in Greek.)

Zander 

This popular name is Greek in origin and can also (like Zavier) be spelled with an ‘X’.

Zuri

This dainty moniker means “beautiful” in Swahili, and we adore it.

Zeke

“God strengthens” is the message behind this traditional boy’s name.

Ziva

Perfect for little princesses, this is both feminine and unique. (Although they might grow up to be a diva!)