The 2018s

The names I liked when I was 18 in 2018. The names I liked when I was 18 in 2018.
  1. Addison
    • Origin:

      English surname
    • Meaning:

      "son of Adam"
    • Description:

      Newly fashioned but familiar and with an on-trend, unisex feel, Addison seems like the perfect solution for anyone who can't decide between Madison, Adeline, and Alison.
  2. Benjamin
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "son of the right hand"
    • Description:

      Benjamin is a biblical name that has enjoyed widespread favor for decades, ranking in the US Top 50 for almost half a century and the Top 10 from 2015 until 2023.
  3. Divinity
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      Could be a sister to Trinity, Genesis, or Heaven.
  4. Francesca
    • Origin:

      Italian variation of Frances, Latin
    • Meaning:

      "from France or free man"
    • Description:

      Francesca is a lighter and much more feminine choice than the classic Frances, and one that is increasingly popular with upscale parents.
  5. Indiana
    • Origin:

      American place-name
    • Meaning:

      "land of the Indians"
    • Description:

      Indiana is one of those place-names (think Camden and Trenton) that sounds cooler than the place that inspired it. Its fashionable -ana ending certainly sounds eminently name-like, and Indie/Indy/Indi is one of the hottest nickname names for girls right now.
  6. Ivy
    • Origin:

      Botanical name
    • Description:

      The quirky, offbeat and energetic botanical name Ivy is enjoying a deserved revival, propelled even higher by its choice by high-profile parents Beyonce and Jay-Z for daughter Blue Ivy. Ivy is also traditionally used at Christmas, make this one of the perfect names for December babies.
  7. Julianna
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "youthful or sky father"
    • Description:

      Together with Julian, the name Juliana/Julianna derives from Julius, a Roman family name. Its origin is shrouded in history, but possible roots include Latin iuvenis, meaning "youthfu"; Greek ioulos, meaning "downy-bearded"; or Jovis, a form of Jupiter, which means "sky father".
  8. Julianne
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "youthful or sky father"
    • Description:

      This variation on the Julia theme has stayed in play due to the popularity of Julianne Moore, though it now sits at the bottom of the US Top 1000.
  9. Kali
    • Origin:

      Sanskrit, English
    • Meaning:

      "black one; free man"
    • Description:

      Kali is a number of different things: a playful, contemporary twist on the name Callie; the Hindu goddess of destruction; an alternative spelling for Kaylee; a short form of the Arablic Kalila, the Greek Kalista, or the African American Kaliyah; a masculine name in India; and a trendy form of Kali(fornia).
  10. Matilda
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "battle-mighty"
    • Description:

      Matilda is a sweet vintage name that has been gently climbing the popularity list for the past 15 years, after a half-century slumber. The spunky children's book heroine Matilda is one factor in its rise, along with others of its class like Eloise and Caspian.
  11. Matilde
    • Origin:

      Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese version of Matilda, German
    • Description:

      The German Matilda has some European variations that are popular in their native countries. Matilde ranks in Italy's and Portugal's Top 10 for girls, while the French variation Mathilde ranks among the Top 100 girl names in France, Denmark, and Norway.
  12. Rainbow
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "rainbow"
    • Description:

      Colorful, yes, but also probably among the hippiest of hippie names. Holly Madison recently chose it for her little girl.
  13. Savannah
    • Origin:

      Spanish
    • Meaning:

      "flat tropical grassland"
    • Description:

      A place name with a deep Southern accent, the once-obscure Savannah shot to fame, with others of its genre, on the heels of the best seller Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, which was set in the mossy Georgia city of Savannah. Originally a substitute for the overused Samantha, Savannah is now popular itself, long among the top girls' names starting with S.
  14. Scarlett
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "scarlet, red"
    • Description:

      Scarlett Johansson is doing more for this sparky southern name than Scarlett O'Hara ever did. Since the turn of the 21st century, Scarlett has gone from an obscure literary name to one of the most popular girls' names starting with S, right after longtime favorites Sophia and Sofia.
  15. Stormi
    • Origin:

      Word name, variation of Stormy and Storm
    • Description:

      Stormi is like Sunni, with angst. If naming your child Storm or Stormy is asking for trouble, naming her Stormi -- as Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott did -- is asking for trouble of several different kinds. But we're sure she'll be adorable and as celebrity baby names go, this one is nearly normal.
  16. Valentine
    • Origin:

      French variation of Valentina
    • Meaning:

      "strength, health"
    • Description:

      For a girl, we'd say Val-en-teen, though many would insist on pronouncing it like the holiday.