THE pandemic has brought out the desire to look on the positive side when it comes to the names given to newborns. In the United States, there is a wave of babies being called Alma, Vivienne, Aurora and Felix.
A way of transmitting optimism and resisting the gloomy atmosphere of the moment with names that have meaning?
According to the New York Times: "Baby-naming experts are reporting decided shifts in the name selection process".
Parents choose more original names, with more spiritual meaning and depth, such as the name Alma, for example. In Spanish, it means "soul".
The American newspaper noted that its popularity has increased by 37% in 2020. In France, it is the third most given name in Paris. 159 newborns in the capital are called Alma.
Other so-called "positive" names emerged in 2020 such as Zora, meaning dawn, up 40%, or Lucius, a derivative of "light" (+24%), Vivienne (from the Latin Vivus meaning "alive"), Aurora (Roman goddess of the dawn) and Felix (Latin for "happy").
And among this emerging optimism, the number of newborns given names with biblical roots remains constant and even increasing. Gabriel, for example, is one of the most popular names in France.
In the United States, the popularity of Gabriel remains stable. "For comfort in hard times, people turn to faith," the chief executive and founder BabyName.com, Jennifer Moss, explained to the New York Times. Elijah, Esther, Lilith and even Naomi have joined this trend.
But how do the trending names emerge? When they're not from the Bible or mythology, any source of inspiration is possible, from television shows to the royal family of England.
American magazine Good Housekeeping revealed in 2019 that the name Charlotte had gone from ninth place to sixth in four years and that its increase had a close link with the birth of Princess Charlotte of Cambridge in 2015. – ETX Studio, January 22, 2021
