Baby naming trends see rise in retro names and social media influence

Trends in baby naming are seeing a resurgence of vintage styles and unconventional decision-making methods. In France, the retro name Nestor, popularized by the character in Hergé’s Tintin series, is gaining significant traction. Data from Insee and L’Officiel des Prénoms suggest that assignments for Nestor could increase by 15% to 25% by 2026, following a sociological “century rule” where names become fashionable again after a hundred years of absence.

In the United States, parents are increasingly turning to social media and chance to resolve naming dilemmas. Utah residents Abbie Whitlock and Stuart Robertson gained attention on TikTok after using a random draw to choose their daughter's name from a shortlist of eight options. The process resulted in the selection of Dorothea, a decision that sparked mixed reactions and significant engagement from internet users.