Truly New Names

While all new names are contemporary in style, not all contemporary names are new. New names feel contemporary, were never used for more than 50 kids before the 1970s, and show little to no signs of clear usage outside this country. This being said, there can't have been any famous people or book characters with the name who were born more than 50 years ago. 

Here are some of the most contemporary names out there:

GIRLS' NAMES:

Bristol (#390)-Bristol, an English place name, was first used in this country in 1973. It reached the top 1000 in 2009 and is now more popular than it's ever been. Bristol can make a great update to Brittany.

Everly (#43)-Before 1970, only 10 girls were ever given the name. As of the mid-2000s, Everly began to take off. It entered the top 1000 in 2012 only to hit the top 100 just five years later. 

Harlow (#317)-When Jean Harlow was popular, nobody took interest in her name. Yet, Harlow first registered as a girls' name in this nation in 2002. It cracked the top 1000 in 2009 and now ranks in the high 300s. It could join Everly in the top 100 this decade.

Journey (#251)-This bold virtue name first charted only in 1981. It officially reached the top 1000 in 2001 and has been slowly climbing the charts ever since. 

Landry (#912)-Landry has been around in the United States only since 1984. It reached the top 1000 in 2014 and climbed until last year. In 2019, it dropped from #774 all the way to #912. I hope this starts rising again soon. Landry deserves more attention than it is getting.

Monroe (#598)-Monroe was only given to 20 girls before the 1970s. As of the mid-1990s, though, it was properly established as a girls' name. It reached the top 1000 in 2012 and is still rising. 

Paisley (#53)-As of 1970, only 33 girls were ever names Paisley. Perhaps the first Paisley was only recorded in 1966. Paisley later broke the top 1000 in 2006 and hit the top 100 only seven years later. It followed a route similar to that of Everly. 

Reese (#157)-Before the 1970s, only 11 girls were ever given this unisex name. It was only in 1992 that this name started to be used consistently. It entered the top 1000 in 2000 and has ranked in the 100s since 2006. 

Skylar (#56)-This celestial surname emerged in 1974 and has been used in this nation ever since. It reached the top 1000 in 1990 and held steady in the 100s for all of the 2000s. As of the early 2010s, it started to rise again, hitting the top 100 in 2012. 

Teagan (#185)-This liquid Irish name has been around only since 1979. As of 1981, it entered consistent usage. It hit the top 1000 in 1999 and has hovered in the 100s over the past few years. 

BOYS' NAMES:

Bear (#896)-This adorable animal name has only been around for a short time. It was first recorded in 1975. However, it wasn't used consistently until the 2000s. It is now ranking for the second year in a row.

Crew (#339)-Crew is a word name with the same short single-syllable structure as Bear. It is also another new choice. It was first recorded in 1995 and hit the top 1000 in 2011. Crew is rising dramatically, jumping from #575 in 2018 all the way to #339 in 2019. 

Daxton (#279)-Daxton nearly rhymes with the popular Jaxon and is just as new. Daxton registered in the charts in 1970. It reached the top 1000 in 2007 and again in 2009. Daxton is still on the rise over ten years later. 

Hendrix (#303)-Only 29 boys ever received the name before the 1970s. As of the turn of this century, Hendrix has been used consistently. It entered the top 1000 in 2011 and now headed towards the top 300.

Jensen (#286)-Jensen is a structure similar to that of Jackson, except that its much newer. Only 33 boys were ever given this name before the 1970s. As of 1972, Jensen has been used regularly. It reached the top 1000 in 1998 and again in 2008. It has been rising in use ever since, possibly becoming the new Jackson.

Legend (#150)-This bold virtue name sounds brand-new, and it is. It first registered in the charts only in 1993. From then on, its usage was regular. It entered the top 1000 in 2001 and is bound to join Maverick in the top 100 within the next five years. 

Maddox (#156)-This looks like the boy version of Madison, a surname-name starting with "mad". This name emerged two years after Madison's 1993 debut in the girls' top 100. It made a dramatic entrance into the top 1000 in 2003 and has ranked in the 100s since 2009. 

Onyx (#743)-Onyx began as a boys' name only in 1990. It reached the top 1000 in 2018. It is a gemstone name that could be a male counterpart to Ruby, except that it's completely modern. 

Ridge (#612)-This single-syllable nature name was given to just 46 boys before the 1970s. It has been in regular use since 1987, briefly entering the top 1000 the next year. It re-entered the top 1000 in 2015 and now seems to be joining River in the top 500.

Sawyer (#106)-In 1913, 7 boys were named Sawyer. It wasn't recorded again, however, until 1978. It entered consistent use in the 1980s and hit the top 1000 in 1991. It recently left the top 100 after a brief run, but Sawyer is still contemporary. 

What is your favorite truly new name?

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