20 Baby Names Parents Will Never Regret
As anyone who survived skinny eyebrows and Aqua Net bangs knows, trends can come and go. That said, there are also some things that never go out of style: a red lip, Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses, white Converse, and yes, certain baby names that are perennially cool. Baby name trends tend to come in waves. For instance, the 2010s were dominated by names referencing the stars and planets, hipster baby names, short names, and of course, pop culture-inspired names. But times change, and as we can see, what was once in is now definitely out. Now that we are well into the 2020s, what baby names are going to be considered hip and cool 10 years from now? It can be hard to tell. Therefore, we think parents should bypass the trends and choose a baby name that's a little more classic.
We're realists. We know that some name trends might turn a few heads – and that's totally OK! Trendy names have a place in our hearts too, but this is a list of baby names that are classic. Some might say they have staying power and longevity. They were names that hit it big in the past and are always reliable picks, which is good news for parents who are nervous about picking the perfect name.
We decided to take a look back at the names that are consistently good choices and with the help of Nameberry put together a list of 20 incredible baby names parents won't regret giving their kids in the future. These names are classics but forward-thinking –meaning nothing too old-fashioned as to seem fuddy-duddy or outdated. And they are names that are familiar but certainly aren't boring. So take a look at our list of reliable baby names and feel good about using one of them for a boy or a girl.
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JAMES
It doesn't get more classic-clean than James, which is how it ended up being No. 1 on our list. The name comes from the Hebrew Yaakov and loosely means "supplanting, seizing by the heel."
SARAH
There are two main ways to spell this name, with or without an "h." We think no matter how one spells it, Sarah is a great girl's name. Taken from the Hebrew name sārāh, it means "princess."
DANIEL
The quintessential boy's name, Daniel was originally a Hebrew name that means "God is my judge." The name was first used in the Bible as the moniker for a prophet whose faith kept him from a den of hungry lions.
ALEXANDRA
Taken from the Greek name Alexandros, which yes, is technically a boy's name, Alexandra is a compound name made of the elements alexein, meaning "to defend, to help" and andros, meaning "man."
JOHN
This is possibly one of the most popular boy's names – we all know at least one Jon or John (or possibly five). The name is derived from the Hebrew Yehanan, which means "Yahweh is gracious," and it continues to be one of the most enduring names from the Bible.
HOPE
A beautiful name for these hard times, Hope is a gem. The name Hope was taken from the Old English hopa, which means "expectation," "hope," or "wish." We like it because it is a name that brings to mind good things to come.
MATTHEW
Matthew is another classic boys' name that will most likely never go away. The name has its roots in the Hebrew Matityah, which is derived from the name mattīthyāh, which means "gift of God."
JANE
Some people might think that the name Jane is a bit basic, but to us it's a chic girls' name that isn't too frilly. It's taken from the English version of the French Jehanne and Jeanne, which are the feminine forms of Jean, which means "God is gracious."
JONAH
A name taken from the depths of the belly of a fish, Jonah has biblical connotations that most people will be familiar with. A Hebrew name taken from yōnāh, which means "dove," Jonah was a prophet who was eaten by a giant fish as a punishment from God.
SOPHIE
Similar to another unforgettable (and un-regrettable) baby name – Sophia – Sophie is directly derived from that Greek name. Meaning wisdom and skill, the name has been a hit in the UK for many years. And of course, it's been poopular in the US, too.
ISAAC
This is a funny name for a little bubbly boy. Isaac is taken from the Ecclesiastic Greek form of the Hebrew Yitzchak, which means "he will laugh" and yitshāq, which means "laughter." That's pretty sweet to us.
JULIET
What's in a name? Would a rose with any other baby name smell as sweet? Shakespeare is probably a good guess as to why Juliet is a classic name, taken from the French name Juliette, it means "downy-bearded, youth."
LUKE
Fans of Gilmore Girls might be interested in our next name. Luke isn't just the name of the gruff owner of a diner. In fact, the name has biblical origins and is derived from Lucius, which is from the root lux, meaning "light."
CHARLOTTE
How many Charlottes were born after the hit TV show Sex and The City? Well, the name was popular even before Carrie Bradshaw hit New York City. Charlotte is the diminutive form of Charles, meaning "full-grown, a man."
EZRA
Taken from the Hebrew name ezrā, which means "help," Ezra is another classic boy's name that has always been held in high esteem. In fact, in recent years the name has had a real upswing in popularity and in 2017 was the 69th most popular name in the country.
EMMA
A name for a true fan of author Jane Austen, Emma was a German name. Originally the name was Erma, which is the base for any number of names containing the element erm(en) or irm(en), which both mean "strength."
WILLIAM
Whether it's Will, Bill, or straight-up William, this baby name is solid as a rock. Taken from the Old High German Willehelm, the name is a compound name composed from the elements willeo, meaning "will, determination" and helm, meaning "protection, helmet."
ALICE
A name from outside of Wonderland, Alice is such a sweet, feminine name. Taken from the Germanic Adalheidis, which was a compound name composed of the elements adal, meaning "noble, nobility" and heid, meaning "kind, sort," the name is taken to mean "noble one."
BENJAMIN
Benjamin is always a good choice. Trust us. Taken from the Hebrew name binyāmīn, which means "son of the right hand," Benjamin lends itself to the short and sweet name Ben and of course was the name of famous inventor Benjamin Franklin.
EVE
The name of the first woman, as told by the Bible, one could say that Eve has been around for a long, long time. Eve, of course, is a Hebrew name and originally was the name Chava, meaning "life," and comes from the name hawwah, which means "life."
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