If you’re searching for a baby name, you know there’s no shortage of inspiration online. The modern parent’s desire to pick a name that stands out rather than fits in has led to an anything-goes naming culture. We’re bombarded with options. But having more choice actually makes decision making harder. We can’t possibly know it all, but it can be helpful to know where to look. So we’ve rounded up our favorite baby naming resources to help make your name search just a bit simpler.
Here are the sites we visited when naming our own children, the ones we still turn to for baby name information, and the people we trust to know what they’re talking about:
Social Security Administration
It’s unhealthy how many times per week we visit the SSA’s website. The site lists the most popular names in the US and allows you to search a name to see how its popularity has changed over time. One downside is that there is a lag in the data, since it’s collected by year. So what you see there doesn’t reflect in-the-moment name trends. But the SSA is as official as it gets when it comes to what people are actually naming their babies. Their info comes straight from the previous year’s Social Security card applications.
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We always suggest tracking your baby name’s popularity over time, not just looking at its spot in the rankings. The SSA site’s “change in popularity” feature allows you to do this. This may tell you if your baby name is on the decline or will soon become popular.
The SSA site will also break down US baby name popularity by state. Have you ever noticed that your friends/neighbors/acquaintances seem to favor the same baby names as you? That’s because baby naming trends tend to differ geographically (and by social class, but that’s a whole other post…). So check out the state-specific stats before making your choice.
Nameberry
You know how we said the SSA won’t give you the of-the-moment baby names? Well, that’s where Nameberry steps in. Nameberry was created by Pam Satran and Linda Rosenkrantz, whose expertise in baby naming is pretty much unmatched. The blog primarily features name lists, and the site offers baby name news, advice, and an active forum for readers that includes questions, polls, and even name games (name nerds squealing in unison!).
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The thing to know about Nameberry is that the names trending on their site are the ones their readers are searching for. And their readers tend to be more in-the-know than the average person looking for a baby name. Baby names, like all trends, start with the tastemakers and trickle “to the masses.” So you’ll notice that Nameberry’s top 10, for example, does not match the Social Security Administration top 10. If you want to know what names will be on the SSA popular names list in future years, look at the current Nameberry top 10.
Our favorite Nameberry site feature is that the baby names in their posts are clickable, and clicking leads you to info pages for the names. So when you’re deep in their “Old Man Names” post and you fall hard for Herbert, you can click away and learn all about its meaning, famous namesakes, related pop culture references, and other readers’ thoughts about your beloved baby name.
Appellation Mountain
Abby Sandel is the smart and engaging voice behind this clever blog. Rather than being a bank of baby names or a reference source, Appellation Mountain is as much about Abby as it is the baby name info she provides. Her commentary has a distinct voice and perspective, and she offers several tiers of personal name consulting services.
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We think “depth over breadth” sums up this site pretty well. While Appellation Mountain does have master lists that are great for browsing, the richness of the site is in her thorough coverage of individual baby names. The blog’s signature feature is the “Baby Name of the Day” series, in which a baby name (usually suggested by a reader) is explored in detail. As indicated by Appellation Mountain’s tagline, “Where every name has a story,” Abby tells us everything we need to know about the Baby Name of the Day–the good, the bad, and the ugly. If you have a name in mind, find it in her girl or boy master lists, where all the BNotDs are cataloged, and read what she has to say. You’ll find a mix of name history, meaning, and style; famous namesakes; similar names and/or sibling suggestions; and, most importantly, her opinions and caveats.
Nymbler
Nymbler is a tool, more so than a resource, and a very cool tool at that. According to the site, Nymbler uses “artificial intelligence” to help you choose a baby name. From what we can tell–we aren’t techies–it does for baby names what Pandora does for music. Its algorithm “learns” what you like and uses those preferences to suggest other names. They’ve recently changed the design of the site, and we don’t find it quite as intuitive. They do have a how-to guide, but it’s hidden in a menu in the upper right corner, so you’ve gotta be looking for it. We think the tool is worth it, so we’ll give you our very own summary of how to use this amazing little gadget.
To use it, you first make a gender selection or choose “Surprise Me!” A stork surrounded by clouds of names will appear and you then have the choice to click on a name you like or enter your own. Clicking will send you to a page that gives you extra details, like name meaning. To save a name, swipe right or click “Like.” Otherwise, swipe left or “Dislike.” The more you do, the better Nymbler supposedly gets. And of course there’s a “Share” option when you’re all finished. Brilliant.
What We Love
Nymbler is great if you have a name in mind but aren’t sure it’s “the one” and want to see names that are similar in style. Our favorite way to use Nymbler is for naming siblings. If you already have a child/children and you want your new baby’s name to “match” in style, plug in your current child(ren)’s name and see what Nymbler generates. Because baby names are really just expressions of our style, once Nymbler “learns” what your style is, it does some pretty impressive work.
Baby Name Wizard
Baby Name Wizard’s creator Laura Wattenberg is a baby-naming genius, as evidenced by the popularity of the site and her book of the same name. While the site includes a master name list (Namipedia), a blog, and a forum, its richness is in its free naming tools. The NameFinder lets you search names based on length and letter preferences and popularity. The NameVoyager generates a popularity chart over time for the name you enter, and clicking on the chart brings up a page of information for the name. Advanced tools are available after you register through the site, which again is free. These tools include “advanced” and “expert” versions of the Finder and Voyager tools, as well as the Name Matchmaker. The Matchmaker is similar to Nymbler: You put in a name or multiple names that you like, and it generates similar options. But with the Matchmaker, you can narrow the results by selecting your length, popularity, style, and culture preferences.
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Her book is a staple in any name-lover’s collection, and it works differently than other name references. The concept of the book is that our taste in baby names is not only subjective but also difficult to explain and describe. That is, we not only like what we like, but we like what we like because we like it. The book identifies some styles that help put into words our reactions to certain names. Its “Name Snapshots,” which include descriptions of the name’s style, sibling name suggestions, and a popularity chart, make this one of our favorite baby naming resources. Have a friend who is expecting? Gift her this book!
Swistle: Baby Names
Swistle is perhaps the busiest baby-name-advice-giver ever. How she sleeps at night while naming everyone else’s babies is absolutely beyond us. Unlike some of the larger baby name sites on our list, Swistle: Baby Names is all about name advice. It’s a simple site that does one thing and does it exceptionally well. People write in with baby naming questions and Swistle publishes the questions along with an (informed and inspiring) answer. The question asker then follows up after baby is born, and Swistle publishes a “Name Update” so that readers know what name was chosen. The updates are linked to the original questions, so you can click on an update post and read the original question before reading what name was chosen. Yes this is probably considered cheating, but this is the binge-watching era and we need our gratification instantly!
What We Love
Now, we’ve established that Swistle is good. But what we love best about this site is the comments section. We don’t know how so many people with such good taste have found each other in one place. But what we do know is that the name suggestions in the comments section of Swistle posts are a gold mine of baby name inspo.
BabyNames.com
Okay, if y’all don’t know, BabyNames.com is the one-stop-shop of baby names. If you can’t find it here, it doesn’t exist. The site has been around since 1996 and was created by sisters Jennifer Moss and Mallory Moss Katz. It includes massive name lists, as well as celebrity baby name info, advice, and games. Really and truly, the site has it all. But what sets this baby naming resource apart is the My BabyNames portal. Once you become a member, you can create and store your favorite baby names on the site and even have friends vote on your name lists. Membership also allows you to create a profile and gives you access to the message boards.
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But our faaaaaavorite part of BabyNames.com is the podcast. Hosted by Jennifer and Mallory, The BabyNames.com Podcast discusses a baby naming issue or trend in each episode. Every episode also includes a discussion of the new names they’ve heard since the last episode and the latest celebrity baby names. The podcast is informative but their personalities and banter are really what make it enjoyable, even for those who aren’t looking to name a baby.
Nancy’s Baby Names
Nancy’s Baby Names is one of the more informative baby naming resources out there. This is a site you visit to LEARN. The founder of the site, Nancy Man, resurrects obscure names and teaches us about their histories and usage. Plus, this woman posts daily. Every weekday, the blog is updated with a new post, which feeds the name-hungry like ourselves. If you’re interested in names, you’ll want to visit NBN regularly. It’s fascinating stuff.
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Nancy’s Baby Names is packed with name history. We especially go for her profiles of pop culture names through the years. Our tip: start at her Pop Culture Baby Names Pinterest board, where it’s all collected and easily found in one place. From there, click the names that interest you and you’ll be led back to the blog to read more.
Our most-used feature on the site itself is its Baby Name Directory that allows you to search names by number of letters. So if you’re looking to stick with a family naming pattern–or break one–be sure to check it out.
Babycenter.com’s Baby Names
The popular Baby Center website and app are known for providing pregnant women and new parents with information and tips for each step of pregnancy and the early years of baby’s life, but the site also has a central location for all things baby names.
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For users of the app, weekly stories will often include themed lists of baby names, which can provide great suggestions at your fingertips. The website includes detailed lists and searches, and there is also a community where parents-to-be can discuss name ideas in depth. For extra fun, you can create name polls and cast your votes on others’ polls. Since Babycenter.com is such a huge community, the name forums tend to be very active and the community is eager to help out their fellow namers.
American Name Society
The American Name Society is the international scholarly organization for onomastics (the study of names). It might not help you name your baby, but it’ll connect you with other name lovers and give you serious food for thought. Find out more about the organization here!
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ANS membership comes with a subscription to its scholarly journal, Names, which publishes research and theory on all aspects of naming. If you’re looking to curl up with a good read, we’d recommend it. Keep in mind most university libraries carry Names digitally and/or in print.
Now it’s your turn. What would you add to this list? Let us know in the comments.
Behind the Name (http://www.behindthename.com/) is a fantastic site. It’s been around since the mid-1990s and is (in my opinion) the most thorough and accurate name-site out there.
Yes! Besides all their etymology info, we like looking through the user comments on BtN. Often people with the name you’re searching for will post about their experiences with it, which can be useful if you’re contemplating choosing it for your child.
I love British Baby Names, and also Waltzing More that Matilda, an Australian based site which unfortunately doesn’t seem to be updated any more
Thanks for sharing, Rachel!
Waltzing more *than* Matilda
I searched for a name for my son and I found it on this site. It had over 1,000+ baby boy names in many categories. I named my son Noah 🙂 It’s called the ultimate boy name list.
https://parentsandpost.com/baby-boy-names/