Each year offers new inspiration for baby names, and 2009 is no exception. What monikers will fall off the popular name lists and what new names will take their place? Taking a look at all of our current influences, from politics to celebrities and music to our changing world, here is our prediction for popular baby name trends for 2009.
The year of Obama
Presidents have always influenced baby name trends. In earlier times, parents honored the number one guy with first names such as Benjamin, George and James. More recently, the trend shifted to presidential surnames such as Kennedy, Lincoln, and Madison.This year, expect to see names marking the first African-American family in the White House – Obama, Barack, Michelle, Malia and Sasha – as well as names that recall the early civil rights movement:
Dred – Dred Scott was a slave who sued for his freedom, taking his case all the way to the Supreme Court.
Frederick – Frederick Douglass, a former slave, became a famous poet and abolitionist.
Harriet – Harriet Tubman escaped slavery but risked her freedom to free other slaves.
Homer – Homer Plessy fought against discrimination on trains.
Jesse – The Reverend Jackson worked with Martin Luther King, Jr. to help blacks get equal jobs.
Malcolm – Malcolm X was a powerful speaker who worked to end segregation in the 1960s.
Martin – Martin Luther King, Jr. is unquestionably the greatest civil rights champion in history.
Medgar – Medgar Evers was killed because of his efforts to get black students into the same colleges as white students.
Rosa – Rosa Parks bravely helped end segregation on buses in the South.
Ruby – The first black student at her elementary school, Ruby Bridges fought hard for equal education opportunities.
Sojourner – Sojourner Truth fought for the rights of women as well as blacks.
Read more about political baby names here.
The celebrity influence: Celebrity baby names
Admit it, it’s fun to see celebrity baby bumps, fun designer maternity wear, and elaborate nurseries, but the most exciting part of any celebrity birth is the baby’s name. Taking a cue from recent celebrity births, this may be the year for naming children after cities, old Hollywood, and even Disney characters!
Musical performers Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz named their son, Bronx Mowgli, after a city and a memorable Disney character. Similar combinations work for girls, too: Cheyenne Belle, Alexandria Aurora, and Barcelona Merryweather. Create your own mix from these cool lists:
City Baby Names
Girls: Aberdeen, Amarilla, Cimarron, Florence, Geneva, Lavinia, Marsala, Paris, Ravenna, Roma, Siena, Verona and Zohra
Boys: Boston, Carson, Clinton, Dallas, Denver, Jericho, Kain, Laredo, Macon, Phoenix, Reno, Trenton, Troy, Urbana, Vicenza and Walker
Read More: Naming your baby after American cities
Disney Baby Names
Girls: Ariel, Bambi, Briar-Rose, Esmeralda, Faline, Fauna, Flora, Giselle, Jasmine, Kiara, Lilo, Megara, Minnie, Nala and Perdita
Boys: Abu, Aladdin, Eric, Gaston, Iago, Jafar, Mickey, Nemo, Phoebus, Pluto and Sebastian
Old Hollywood
A number of celebrities paid tribute to stars of old with classic baby names. Even current movie characters, such as Bella and Edward from the popular Twilight movie, are sure to be popular baby names in 2009. Check out more Hollywood baby names.
Cash – Was The Young and the Restless actor Joshua Morrow recalling Johnny Cash?
Harlow – Nicole Richie and musician Joel Madden bring back old Hollywood with Jean Harlow’s surname.
Henry – Minnie Driver’s choice was popular among silent movie actors, such as Henry B. Walthall and Henry Victor.
Jagger – With this name, former child star Soleil Moon Frye pays tribute to the Rolling Stones front man.
Parker Foster – Singer Clay Aiken creatively combined names that might be attributed to the Hardy Boys’ Parker Stephenson and Oscar-winner Jodie Foster.
Valentino – Singer Ricky Martin gave one of his twin son’s the name of this fashion designer to the stars.
Another notable celebrity baby name includes Seraphina Rose Elizabeth - the daughter of actress Jennifer Garner and her hubby, actor Ben Affleck. This feminine and unique name may soon climb the popular baby name charts!
Read more about popular celebrity baby names here
Unisex baby names
Unisex names - such as Jordan, Riley and Taylor – continue to rise in popularity. Some celebrities hopped on the bandwagon by giving their baby girls names traditionally given to boys:
Brody– Professional volleyball player Gabrielle Reece even added a boyish middle name with “Jo.”
Finley – Lisa Marie Presley copied Angie Harmon when giving her daughter this masculine moniker.
Murphy – Yes, Murphy Brown was female, but the name wrestler Triple H bestowed on his daughter means “sea warrior” and is typically a boy’s name.
Whether you’re inspired by politics or show biz, 2009 is the perfect time to get creative and give your baby a name that will mark this moment in time forever.
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Baby names that fit your personal style