Picking the right baby name is no child’s play — and for one consultant there are plenty of names that give her the “ick.”
Colleen Slagen, a baby naming expert and mother of three, has spoken out about naming conventions she finds boring in a recent TikTok video that has sparked debate online.
For starters, she condemned sibling names that sound “too compatible” or when a new mother takes on the future name of someone else’s child.
“I’m not saying that everyone can claim a name,” she explained. “But if your partner’s sister says she likes the name Mila, but she doesn’t have children yet; if you get pregnant with a girl and call her Mila, an idea you got from her, without any recognition [that’s an ‘ick’].â€
Slagen also dislikes the “crazy” spelling of common names.
“Changing the spelling of a super common name is not the way to be original,” she argued.
Speaking to Today, Slagen also said she doesn’t mind taking inspiration from the family tree and reusing ancestors’ names, adding that she also believes the mother should have more say than the father.
“I think the person pushing the baby out has a bigger stake,” she told Today.
In the comments, hundreds of viewers offered their own baby name “icks” — and how they chose their children’s names.
“As a twin mom, I really hate it when other twins have names that basically rhyme,” one parent wrote. “It’s so confusing! I don’t know why they do this to themselves.”
“When I was naming my kids, I always started with the scream test,” said someone else. “If they can’t tell who you’re yelling about, that’s a problem.”
“My way is when people forget they’re naming future adults,” said another. “I saw a video here where girls’ names were Trendy and true. For example, imagine applying for a job and your name is TRENDY.”
Slagen’s video comes amid criticism of influencers who give their children trendy or unique names that are criticized as weird online.
Model Nara Smith, for one, has three children — a daughter named Rumble Honey, a son named Slim Easy, and their youngest daughter named Whimsy Lou — and has been widely criticized for her name choices.
Reality star and internet personality Francesca Farago was also the subject of ridicule after sharing her list of possible baby names during her pregnancy. The new mom, however, just gave birth this month and revealed the names of her fraternal twins: Locket Romance and Poetry Lucia.
Despite the backlash, unconventional names are on the rise.
Slagen, in partnership with Parents.com, analyzed data from the US Social Security Administration to predict which names will be the hottest in 2025.
“I think there’s a lot more perceived pressure these days mostly because of social media,” Slagen told Parents.
“Choosing a baby name is comparable to creating a family brand. It’s a lifelong decision you’re making for someone else, which also adds some pressure.
For baby girls, the hottest baby name for 2025 is set to be Margot.
This is followed by Georgia and Miller. Then, there are a host of “-ie” names: Scottie, Andie, Billie, Lottie, Goldie and Hallie.
For baby boys, the traditional name George came out on top, followed by Cal, Beckham, Tate and Rocky. Also on the list were Hollis, Teddy, Boden, Casey and Crew.
Slagen noted that an influx of gender-neutral names and old-school names could indicate a trend for next year.
“Pop culture has definitely influenced the rise of gender-neutral names,” Slagen said. “They are versatile and often feel like a unique choice. Choosing a name commonly used for one gender for the opposite gender.â€
“Vintage names,” on the other hand, “feel timeless and established,” she added. Because monikers have not been in vogue in recent years, naming a child with a bigger name “seems like a very fresh choice.”
“In a way, choosing something old feels like you’re escaping more modern trends,” she continued. “However, vintage choices are trending, and some have become quite popular.”
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