‘Boring’: Unlikely new celebrity baby name trend on the rise
The recent birth of Justin and Hailey Bieber’s first child has signalled the rise of an unexpected new baby name trend, experts say.
Bear, Apple and even X Æ A-Xii – celebrities have chosen some rather bizarre names for their children.
So when a couple break from the norm and settle on a solid name like Jack for their newborn, it comes as a huge surprise to fans.
In a sweet Instagram post, megastar singer Justin Bieber shared a picture of his son’s tiny foot with the caption: “Welcome home, Jack Blues Bieber.”
As LittleList baby name expert Emily Bray told The Sun, we’re seeing a distinct shift amongst the celebrity parenting pack who are choosing tradition over something more outlandish when it comes to naming their offspring.
“People are increasingly looking for grounding and reassurance, often found in more conventional choices, including baby names,” Ms Bray said, adding it reflects a “yearning for stability, calm, and familiarity”.
“Names like Jack, Olivia, or George carry a sense of timelessness, representing values of stability and tradition.
“As society becomes more fatigued by the constant drive for external validation, many are turning inward for a sense of calm and identity, which is now being mirrored in the names celebrities are choosing for their children.”
That wasn’t the case for business mogul Elon Musk and the singer Grimes (whose real name is Claire Boucher). The former couple caused mass confusion in 2020 when they named their son X Æ A-Xii.
Grimes explained the meaning behind the letters; “X” stands for “the unknown variable”. Meanwhile, “Æ” is the Elven spelling of AI, which is shorthand for artificial intelligence and the word for “love” in several languages, such as Japanese.
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and actor Gwyneth Paltrow received backlash when they named their now-18-year-old daughter Apple, while Kim Kardashian and Kanye West raised fans’ eyebrows when they chose to name their firstborn daughter North West.
Ms Bray said that celebrities’ tendency to go for unique names comes from a desire for “individuality” and “distinctness”.
“Celebrities live in a world where standing out is crucial, and naming their child something unconventional was a way to further their personal brand and create a sense of uniqueness,” she said.
“As Andy Warhol famously said, ‘In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes’.
“With the rise of social media, where attention is currency, having a name that stands out became one way to ensure a lasting impression.
“A unique baby name added to a child’s sense of individuality and personality from birth, giving them a head start in the attention-driven world of celebrity culture.”
When Bieber, 30, and his wife, Hailey, 27, announced the birth of their son, many had expected them to call him something outlandish like Riot Rose Mayers (son of Rihanna and ASAP Rocky) or Bear Payne (son of Cheryl Cole and Liam Payne).
The far more normal name of Jack originated in medieval England as a nickname for John, and has consistently been one of the most popular names since then. In 2023, it was the tenth most popular boys’ name in the UK and the 15th most popular name overall.
Baby Bieber’s full name also follows a tradition in the singer’s family of names with the initials JB: Bieber’s dad is named Jeremy Bieber (his middle name is Jack), and two of his siblings are named Jazmyn and Jaxon.
The couple aren’t the only celebrities to ditch the trend of giving their children unique names.
Katy Perry and actor Orlando Bloom opted to name their daughter Daisy; while Sofia Richie Grainge and husband Elliot named their baby girl Eloise Samantha Grainge.
Ms Bray said the traditional baby name trend is sticking among the rest of us, too.
“Celebrity culture often sets the tone for wider societal trends, but in this case, it seems that both celebrities and the general public are moving in the same direction,” she said.
“While unusual names will never fully disappear, the preference for stability and tradition is likely to continue influencing baby name choices in the years to come.”
This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission
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