Whether you’re looking for a baby girl name that was super popular back then, or a name that was linked to a popular character, actor, or singer, we got you. The ’90s were filled with fun names from pop culture, and we think they’re due for a comeback.

Chances are, when you think of the ’90s, you think about the shows that remain classics like Friends, Frasier, Charmed, and more. And with those shows come some cool names like Phoebe, Daphne, Monica … you get it, we’re still obsessed. (And with the help of BabyNames, we can figure out how beautiful each name really is with their meanings.)

So if you’re obsessed with the ’90s like us, then why not take a nostalgia trip and see which ’90s names are making a comeback. Below, see which ’90s baby girl names we’re obsessed with today.

So nope, it’s not a stretch to name your kid after a show you love; tons of people do, and baby name inspiration can come from anywhere! Luckily for Stranger Things fans, most of the names on the show aren’t as out-there as Khaleesi, so it’s easier to choose a Stranger Things baby name that’s a subtle nod rather than a screaming tribute. Here are some of our favorites, broken down by character names (both major and minor!), actor names, and references that aren’t glaringly obvious.

Stranger Things Character Names

The good thing about the main (and recurring) characters on Stranger Things is that their names are, well, pretty normal for the most part. They have a bit of an ’80s flair (which is totally coming back in, by the way!) but their use on the show is making them feel fresh again. And the names that aren’t necessarily standard or subtle — like Eleven — can be tempered a little with a cute nickname like El (or you could spell it Elle) or Lev.

Jane

Joyce

Nancy

Robin

Erica

Eleven

Holly

Kali

Suzie

Mike

Dustin

Steve

Lucas

Will

Jonathan

Martin

Murray

Lonnie

Troy

Enzo

Sam

Stranger Things Actor Names

These might lack the retro vibe of the Stranger Things baby names that are based on the actual characters – and some of the immediate recognizability as being inspired by the show — but using the actors’ names instead is a bit more subtle way to pay homage.

Millie or Millie Bobby (Brown, who plays Eleven/Jane Hopper)

Maya (Hawke, who plays Robin Buckley)

Priah (Ferguson, who plays Erica Sinclair)

Natalia (Dyer, who plays Nancy Wheeler)

Winona (Ryder, who plays Joyce Byers)

Cara (Buono, who plays Karen Wheeler)

Sadie (Sink, who plays Max Mayfield)

Linnea (Berthelsen, who plays Kali/Eight)

Elodie (Orkin, who plays Angela)

Francesca (Reale, who plays Heather Holloway)

Gaten (Matarazzo, who plays Dustin Henderson)

Finn (Wolfhard, who plays Mike Wheeler)

Noah (Schnapp, who plays Will Byers)

Caleb (McLaughlin, who plays Lucas Sinclair)

Dacre (Montgomery, who plays Billy Hargrove)

Charlie (Heaton, who plays Jonathan Byers)

Payton (Wich, who plays Troy Walsh)

Brett (Gelman, who plays Murray Bauman)

Paul (Reiser, who plays Dr. Sam Owens)

Less Obvious — But Still Fun! — Stranger Things References

Hawkins (the town where Stranger Things takes place)

Kate (Bush, who sang the ’80s song “Running Up That Hill” which has gone wildly viral thanks to the show)

Mage (a nod to the game Dungeons & Dragons, where a mage is a powerful user of magic)

Indy (because Hawkins is in … where else? Indiana!)

Georgia (where most of the filming for Stranger Things takes place)

Benny (after Hawkins’ own Benny’s Burgers, of course!)

Ross or Matt (after Stranger Things’ creators, the Duffer Brothers, who are identical twins! For a very subtle nod, you could opt for Thomas, which literally means “twin.”)

Jennifer (Stranger Things is set in the 80s, beginning in 1983. What was the most popular name in 1983? Jennifer!)

Whether you choose a hat tip to the show or go all-out and call your kid Millie Bobby Eleven, there’s no wrong way to choose a Stranger Things baby name. And if anyone has anything to say about it, well … they’re just mouth breathers.

From Illusia to Zillion, here are a few of the most unique celebrity baby names.

Looking for a baby name that's elegant yet edgy? Dive into the world of dark academia. https://t.co/ACOXJ3Op5o

— SheKnows (@SheKnows) October 28, 2023

You may want to pay homage to your own college days, and the places and activities (and hard work!) that defined your early adulthood. Maybe your family prides itself on a long lineage of proud university grads. Or maybe no one in your family has gone to college at all, but you’re hoping that giving your child a college baby name will inspire them to change things for the next generation. That’s not really so farfetched; according to a 2023 article in Psychology Today, “[T]he study of names can provide valuable insights into phenomena ranging from cultural change to stereotypes. Our names may also be cues that shape not only others’ perceptions of us but also our personality and (perhaps) our choices about where to live and what to do for a living.”

And let’s be honest: some college names just sound cool. Wellesley. Duke. Trinity. They’re crisp, confident, and packed with personality. Others, like Baylor or Merit, straddle the line between buttoned-up and edgy, giving your baby a name that feels as wearable on a playground as it does in a boardroom.

Will naming your child after a prestigious college or university impart a love of learning and a drive to achieve great things academically? Will it serve as a constant reminder of their potential and encourage them to strive for excellence? Who knows — but whether your baby is a future Rhodes Scholar or ends up embarking on a no-college-required career path, they’ll have a distinctive name with a dignified vibe.

But Art Deco wasn’t just about high style — it was also, in itself, a whole vibe. It was a reflection of the time, catching the rebellious spirit of the Roaring Twenties and the Jazz Age. It was the era of extravagance, jazz, and a new kind of optimism, which is exactly why Art Deco had such staying power. Think about the sleek lines of a vintage car, the glitter of a jazz club, or the elegance of a 1920s ballroom — the style was as much about setting trends as it was about making a statement.

If you’re searching for a name that’s unique, timeless, and brimming with creativity, this list is made for you! ✨ https://t.co/oVF22fJFFi

— SheKnows (@SheKnows) May 14, 2025

We’ve put together this list of girl names inspired by the Art Deco era that embody the same sense of boldness, refinement, and timeless elegance. Each name is a nod to an aesthetic — but also a reflection of the sophistication and strength that defined the period. If you’re looking for a girl name that’s chic, glamorous, and full of character, you’ve come to the right era.

Each year, the U.S. Social Security Administration releases a massive list of every baby name given to five or more newborns in the United States — and let me tell you, it’s long. (Like, thousands and thousands of names long.) But the real magic isn’t in the top of the list. It’s way, way down at the bottom, in the names that barely squeaked in. Names that were given to just five baby boys or fewer the entire year.

And that, friends, is where this list comes from.

We dug around at the bottom of the list to find rare boy names that are cool, handsome, and unusual without being un-usable. Some are old-school and unexpected, others are brand new or invented-sounding, but they all have one thing in common: they’re barely out there. Which, in a world of copy-paste names on every playground, honestly feels kinda refreshing.

https://x.com/SheKnows/status/1922457080499171825

(One quick note: although this list was released in 2025, it’s actually based on babies born in 2024. So while these names are new-ish, they’re not predictions — they’re real, actual names that real, actual parents used … just barely.)

Let’s dive into the rarest boy names in the country — the ones that most people missed, but you won’t.

In May 2025 alone, both Jesy Nelson and Amber Heard named one of their twins Ocean, with Nelson giving it to one of her daughters and Heard giving it to her son. And that’s not all! Harry Potter alum Bonnie Wright named her son Elio Ocean, Alexa and Carlos PenaVega have a son named Ocean King, Forest Whitaker’s son is named Ocean Whitaker, and even Ali Krieger has a son named Ocean. There’s also Taylor Frankie’s son, Desi Perkins’ son, Ashlyn Harris’ son, Lala Kent’s daughter, and even Jeff Goldblum has a son named Charlie Ocean.

So you get it, Ocean has become the celebrity baby name. But why?!

Well, it’s no secret that nature-inspired names have been growing in popularity, but Ocean has definitely been the biggest one. Per Nameberry, it was a unisex favorite in the US, with it being given to over 48o boys and 320 girls.

Now, per the Social Security Administration, Ocean has steadily risen in the ranks for boy names. In 2020, it was in spot 795, and now, in 2024, it’s cracked the top 600.

As for girls, the Social Security Administration showed that he name Ocean didn’t crack the top 1000 til 2021, when it landed in spot 871. It peaked in 2022 at stop 755, and has slowly decreased since then. For 2024, it racked 833!

It’s unclear for certain why it’s risen in popularity, but the ongoing need for a unique name with symbolic meanings may make sense as to why this is a top choice. And it being unisex? We stan!

From Kamai to Arys, here’s a list of gender-neutral baby names that are super rare.

Buried deep within the SSA’s name data are names so rare, they were given to no more than five baby girls in the entire country. These are the overlooked, the not-yet-trendy, the quietly exquisite — names that haven’t had their moment in the spotlight. Some are vintage revivals waiting to be rediscovered, but lots are simply newly-invented names that have an enticing sound. Many have never cracked the top 1000 most popular names (and likely never will) — but that’s exactly what makes them so special.

Whether you’re searching for a baby name that’s distinctive without being outlandish, old-fashioned without being dusty, or modern without being overused, this list of rare girl names offers a little something magical. These are the hidden gems of the database: names so uncommon, they’ll feel like a secret only you know. And in a world where uniqueness is harder and harder to come by, that kind of rarity is a beautiful thing. (To note: the SSA releases baby name stats each May, but the data reflects births from the year before. So even though this list just dropped in 2025, it’s all about babies born in 2024 — and these names are the rarest of them all.)

Ready to fall in love with something truly one-of-a-kind? Here are the most gorgeous and rare girl names given to just five babies last year — and why they deserve a closer look.

Color names have been growing in popularity in the US and UK, and the one celebs seem to love is Blue.

For instance, quite a few celebrities have named their kid Blue, whether it be their first or middle name. This has happened with celeb couples like Hugh Grant and Anna Elisabet Eberstein daughter Blue Grant, Hailey and Justin Bieber’s son Jack Blues, Beyoncé and Jay Z’s eldest child Blue Ivy, and Jamie Oliver and Jools Oliver’s child River Rocket Blue Dallas, to name a few.

But did you know that the name Blue is banned in Italy?

Well, the name Blue (or the variation Blu) is banned due to a 25-year order. So, due to a 2000 presidential decree mandating that a child’s name must correspond to their gender. Officials can (and have) argued that the name Blue is not associated with the female gender, per NDTV. There was even a public case about it in 2018!

Italy has quite a few naming laws, per Angel Research, you can’t name your child the same as a living father, brother, or sister unless you add a second name, gender-neutral names, vulgar ones, or names based on brands, companies, and more.

Other popular banned names include Venerdì (Friday), Ikea, Pele, Goku, and more.

From Jack Blues to Clementine, here’s a list of celebrity baby names inspired by color.

A Brief History of the Baby Name Database

The Social Security Administration has been tracking baby names since 1880, compiling its data from applications for Social Security cards. The database has grown to become one of the most comprehensive resources for understanding naming trends in the U.S. Over the years, the SSA’s baby name list has reflected changing cultural influences — from historical figures to pop culture trends. Each year, millions of parents submit their baby name choices, and the SSA compiles this data to create a snapshot of what’s trending in baby names.

The Top 10 Most Popular Baby Names of 2024

If you’re familiar with last year’s most popular baby names and were hoping for a big shakeup, then this year’s list is probably feeling pretty “womp-womp.” There’s only one new name between both boy and girl lists — and it’s Sofia, which is just an alternate spelling to the #6 most popular girl name, Sophia (which fell one spot from last year). Sofia replaced Luna, last year’s 10th most popular, which dropped out of the top 10 entirely.

Below are the names from the most current list, along with how many spots they rose or fell (or just a dash, if they stayed the same rank) since last year’s list.

Boys:

Girls:

What’s Next?

While there isn’t much to report in terms of big changes — only one new name made it onto the top rankings, and overall, the shifts are minimal — it’s interesting to see that the most popular names continue to dominate the list. The lack of dramatic change speaks to the enduring appeal of tradition and familiarity. While trends definitely influence naming choices, this list proves that many parents continue to gravitate toward timeless names that have proven staying power.

That being said, there are still 990 more names in the each top 1000 — boys and girls — where the variety is much more noticeable. From quirky choices to emerging trends, the lower rankings reveal a whole new world of naming possibilities that show just how diverse and creative parents are getting (despite the traditional choices and lack of movement in the top 10). Stay tuned to discover the names that are slowly rising through the ranks!

From Scarlett, Stellan, and more: here’s a list of charismatic baby names that give main character energy.

According to an Official Information Act inquiry, nearly 60,000 babies were born in New Zealand last year; and dozens of names were rejected. And once again, the most rejected name was King. See the rejected requests below:

Now, per the New Zealand Law Society, names should be less than 70 characters long, and it won’t be accepted if it “resembles an official title or rank” or are made up of symbols that aren’t international characters like macrons or umlauts.

While these may be a no-go in New Zealand, the US is very different. In fact, according to the U.S. Social Security Administration, they’re rising in the ranks in the past few years!

King was ranked 266 of the most popular names in 2023, Royal was ranked 402, Prince was ranked 364, and Princess was ranked 919, to name a few. And if you look at the data, these royal baby names are all climbing the ranks year-over-year in the US.

Before you go, check out everything we know about Princess Lilibet and the alleged controversy around her name.