BabyCenter has unveiled its annual rundown of the most popular baby names, but this year’s reveal feels a bit underwhelming. For the third consecutive year, the top names remain largely unchanged. Sophia continues to reign supreme, while Jackson holds a solid position too. However, what’s more fascinating than the lists themselves are the emerging trends in baby naming. Believe it or not, names inspired by Instagram filters have made a splash! Yes, those very filters that add an artistic flair to your photos are influencing new parents.
Names like Lux, Juno, Reyes, Ludwig, Amaro, Valencia, and Willow are all trending. But where do these unique names come from? Historical figures? Influential artists? Majestic flora? Not quite. The answer lies right in front of you — literally! According to BabyCenter, the name Lux, inspired by the popular filter, has surged 75 percent for baby boys and has also seen a slight rise for girls. Although Lux isn’t technically a filter, it enhances exposure and brightness to make photos pop.
Another filter name, Ludwig, climbed 42 percent on the boys’ list. Other notable entries for boys include Amaro (up 26 percent), Reyes (up 10 percent), Hudson (up 4 percent), and Kelvin (up 3 percent). On the girls’ side, the name Juno jumped 30 percent, thanks to its introduction in 2015 and its stunning effect on outdoor images. Valencia, known for giving a warm, soft glow, saw a 26 percent rise, while Willow increased by 13 percent.
It’s amusing to think about how the exhaustion of pregnancy can lead to such creative naming choices. You might glance at your phone and consider Amaro, simply because it’s there! I remember when I was expecting my first child; a customer at the bar suggested the name “Lucien” after indulging in a double shot of whiskey. I thought, why not?
These names are genuinely distinctive and prove that Instagram isn’t the originator; it just brought them back into the spotlight. Another amusing trend is the influence of TV characters on baby names. The show Empire has gained significant popularity in this regard. According to The Huffington Post, names from the series have surged, with Dre up 77 percent, Lyon up 61 percent, and Hakeem up 55 percent. For the first time in three years, the name Luscious has also made an appearance on the database.
So, all that screen time and scrolling through social media is actually quite productive—it’s shaping the names of the next generation!
Top Baby Names of 2015
If you’re curious, here are the top 10 baby names for girls and boys, based on data from over 340,000 babies born in 2015 to parents registered on BabyCenter. The names may look familiar, as they have mostly remained consistent over the past few years:
Girls
- Sophia
- Emma
- Olivia
- Ava
- Mia
- Isabella
- Zoe
- Lily
- Emily
- Madison
Boys
- Jackson
- Aiden
- Liam
- Lucas
- Noah
- Mason
- Ethan
- Caden
- Logan
- Jacob
Interestingly, Mia has overtaken Isabella for the fifth position, and Madison has replaced Madelyn at number 10. The only shift on the boys’ list is Logan and Jacob swapping places. Should these trends continue, we might see some radically different preferences in the coming year!
Further Reading
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Summary
The 2015 baby name trends reveal a fascinating shift toward Instagram filter-inspired names, with Lux and Juno leading the charge. While traditional favorites like Sophia and Jackson remain at the top, the emergence of names from pop culture, particularly TV shows, is reshaping the landscape of baby naming. As we look forward to the next year, it will be interesting to see how these trends evolve.