Parents ditching unusual baby name spellings for classics as vanishing names revealed
16.02.2024 - 12:11
/ ok.co.uk
When it comes to naming babies, simply finding a name you love isn't always enough. Sometimes, you also have to consider how you want to spell the name, for example, do you choose Reece or Rhys? Ana or Anna? Kirsty or Kirstie? Plenty of traditional baby names have evolved with different spelling options, allowing your youngster's given name to stand out from the crowd.
However, experts predict that 2024 will be the year when parents ditch unique spellings and revert back to classical name spellings - as many unusual spellings are predicted to vanish. BabyCentre revealed to The Mirror that over the past year, several names that were once very popular have now vanished from popularity and are considered "endangered".
This has been calculated based on those names which had the "biggest decline" from 2022 to 2023, with experts predicting the trend will continue this year.
Some unique names for girls are becoming less popular, and might even disappear in 2024. Names like Zahraa, Alyssia, Kiera, and Elyse aren't being chosen as much as they previously were.
Faye Mingo from BabyCentre said: "We've been keeping an eye on alternative spellings as they've been falling in and out of favour. We know there are always parents on the lookout for something unique so Zahraa, Kiera, Alyssia or Elyse could be the perfect choice for parents who want a name that stands out from the crowd." Even though some special spellings are less common now, the usual ways to spell some names are still liked by mums and dads.
For example, Zara instead of Zahraa is number 50 on the list of top baby girl names for 2023 - Zahra is also popular, at number 96. Names like Alicia and Alecia, which are like Alyssia, didn't make the top 100 list, but Alice did, at
.