Parents are picking these ‘anti-trend’ baby names to help their child stand out

There's a lot to consider when choosing a name for your newborn.

For example, is your boy or girl going to end up sharing a name with half of their class? Is it easy to pronounce? Does it suit your surname? Do both you and your partner agree on it? It turns out that there's one more thing mums and dads are considering when figuring out a moniker for their child. Baby name consultant Sherri Suzanne, who runs the website My Name for Life, said that 'anti-trend' names are on the rise among parents-to-be. The "timeless-but-underused classics" are some of the most highly-sought after names, according to the naming expert. She told The Daily Star: 

“Familiar names that are somewhat ‘off the radar’ inspire many parents. “Names like Ronan, Julian, Marcus and Bennett for boys and Claudia, Selene, Astrid and Celeste for girls are sought by parents who want to avoid the rush for top names.”

Ms Suzanne encouraged parents to be careful about what kind of names they picked: namely, that they're not too obscure. She said that picking a name that is "unfamiliar" can lead to serious regret in the future, especially if the choice doesn't end up ageing well or cause confusion. She added:

“I caution parents that in an effort to make children stand out, they can also make it harder to fit in. “Resist picking names that form jokes, puns, rhymes, or phrases that have strong negative associations.”