You Won’t Believe What Parents Are Actually Naming Their Kids In 2021
Naming an actual human being can be a daunting task. That's why parents-to-be often look to the internet for name suggestions. A website called Nameberry has been helping parents sort through potential names for several years now. Recently, they released a report of the fastest rising names of 2021.
These are the names that parents were searching for more this year than ever before. We have some theories as to why these names are getting more popular.
Bellatrix
![10 month old baby girl eating a baby crisp, UK 10 month old baby girl eating a baby crisp, UK](https://www.dadpatrol.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/10-month-old-baby-girl-eating-a-baby-crisp-uk.-38009.jpeg?width=800&height=533)
If you're a Harry Potter fan, you know that this name doesn't represent the most kindhearted character in the series.
Even so, it seems like new parents like the sound of this unusual name.
Danger
![Mexico, Playa del Carmen, overweight baby flying on mattress Mexico, Playa del Carmen, overweight baby flying on mattress](https://www.dadpatrol.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/mexico-playa-del-carmen-overweight-baby-flying-on-mattress.-76194.jpeg?width=800&height=533)
Well, this one has us stumped. Have you ever met a kid named Danger? I feel like that would be an awkward name to shout at a playground.
It's super confusing.
Rain
![COLLEGE FOOTBALL: AUG 31 Northwestern at Stanford A young fan enjoys the warm weather during the game between the Northwestern Wildcats and Stanford Cardinal](https://www.dadpatrol.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/college-football-aug-31-northwestern-at-stanford.-52782.jpeg?width=800&height=533)
The name "Rain" has been coming in and out of fashion for a while now.
It's kind of a hippy sounding name that's timeless and trendy at the same time.
Achilles
![Baby girl plays at home A baby girl (ca. 10 months old) studies a toy while playing at home.](https://www.dadpatrol.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/baby-girl-plays-at-home.-77891.jpeg?width=800&height=533)
It looks like Greek names are on the rise this year.
I'm not sure that I love the name Achilles for a baby boy, but hey, to each their own.
Ox
![Portrait of Baby Girl Portrait of baby, 6-12 months. Photo by Lisa WIltse](https://www.dadpatrol.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/portrait-of-baby-girl.-57212.jpeg?width=800&height=533)
Honestly, we're not sure why this name is getting more popular. I guess it falls into the sounds from the end of the alphabet trend.
I've never met anyone with the name "Ox" before.
Willow
![Toddler Playing Portrait of a toddler](https://www.dadpatrol.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/toddler-playing.-45542.jpeg?width=800&height=533)
We all know that Willow is the name of Will Smith's daughter, but we've known her for a while, so she can't be responsible for this 2021 rise in popularity.
We think this has a lot to do with the Taylor Swift song "Willow" which came out at the end of 2020.
Rue
![Parent and Child Practicing Yoga Parent and baby yoga session, teacher demonstrates various exercises that are easy to reproduce at home](https://www.dadpatrol.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/parent-and-child-practicing-yoga.-85337.jpeg?width=800&height=533)
Fantasy names seem to be all over this list. Rue is a character in The Hunger Games series, but it's also the name of Zendaya's character in Euphoria.
I'm kind of into this one.
Daphne
![Baby girl in a yellow dress Baby girl in a yellow dress](https://www.dadpatrol.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/baby-girl-in-a-yellow-dress.-55556.jpeg?b=0&c=0&width=800&height=533&top=197&left=0&zoom=0.666666666667)
We think Daphne is a beautiful name, and its recent popularity probably has a lot to do with the release of the Netflix show Bridgerton.
There were a lot of great names in that series, but it seems like people are gravitating towards "Daphne" the most.
Indigo
![Baby girl Baby girl crawling through the grass, UK](https://www.dadpatrol.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Baby-girl-62304.jpeg)
How do you feel about the name Indigo? Color names are becoming more popular, but we're more used to color names like Scarlet, Violet, and Ruby.
Indigo could be a welcome addition to that trend.
Dorothea
![Baby Girl A 35mm film photo shows a baby girl of approximately one year wrapped in a blue bunny-themed blanket as she smiles and extends her arms out from her stroller, 1944](https://www.dadpatrol.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/baby-girl.-76728.jpeg?width=800&height=533)
Okay, we are certain that "Dorothea" is becoming more popular because of Taylor Swift's Evermore album.
There's a song on that album called "Dorothea." It's a pretty good song. Highly recommend.
Draco
![Pregnant Women ladys kisses her newborn, Ezra on his cheeks in a hospital on June 04, 2021](https://www.dadpatrol.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Pregnant-Women-77986.jpeg)
We have another Harry Potter name on this list, and again, it isn't the name of a super nice character.
Draco isn't as evil as Bellatrix, but he's still involved in the Dark Arts.
Kai
![1990s smiling baby girl 1990s Smiling Happy Curious Baby Girl Riding In A Stroller Reaching Out Touching Tulip Blossoms In A Garden Laconner](https://www.dadpatrol.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/1990s-smiling-baby-girl.-99436.jpeg?width=800&height=533)
Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik named their daughter Khai, so the rise in popularity for this name makes a lot of sense.
It seems like celebrities often start naming trends.
August
![Polish Health Minister Wants To Unvfreeze Economy A man without a face cover is seen lifting a baby in Warsaw, Poland on May 11, 202](https://www.dadpatrol.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/polish-health-minister-wants-to-unvfreeze-economy.-25854.jpeg?width=800&height=533)
Could this be yet another Taylor Swift name? She did have a massive year in 2020 and "August" was a fan favorite song off of her album Folklore.
Also, August is just an awesome name.
Zephyr
![Daily Work In Hospital Obstetrics medical worker bathes and massages newborns in a hospital ward in Zhangye City, Gansu](https://www.dadpatrol.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/daily-work-in-hospital-obstetrics.-24007.jpeg?width=800&height=533)
Names with Zs, Xs, and Ys in them seem to be growing in popularity this year. According to my dictionary app, "Zephyr" means "a soft, gentle breeze."
I'm still on the fence about this one.
Unique
![Maternity ward at Khimki hospital in Moscow Region A woman holds a newborn at the maternity ward at the Khimki hospital.](https://www.dadpatrol.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/maternity-ward-at-khimki-hospital-in-moscow-region.-58942.jpeg?b=0&c=0&width=800&height=533&top=173&left=0&zoom=0.666666666667)
If you want to give your kid a unique name, why not just name them "Unique?"
But what happens when there are two kids named "Unique" in the class? It could happen.
Rhodes
![Hospital in Zimbabwe baby swaddled in white](https://www.dadpatrol.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/hospital-in-zimbabwe.-39666.jpeg?width=800&height=533)
Emma Roberts recently named her baby son Rhodes which is probably why we're seeing this name rise in popularity.
We think it's a pretty cool name for a baby boy.