Zillennial Names
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Zillennials are a micro-generation of people born between Millennials and Generation Z.
It's a novel micro-generation that encompasses those who feel too old to relate to Gen Z, while also feeling too young to relate to Millennials regardless of how Pew Research Center categorized them as one or the other in respect to their birth year. This is because many of those cuspers have found Pew's generational markers to be rigid, as they either have nothing in common with the generation they are assigned to, or have struggled with fully aligning themselves with the traits, experiences and lifestyles associated with the generation Pew categorized them into, and instead, they identify as a mix of both generations (According to The New York Post).
There are two ways to describe this micro-generation, one which I have discovered myself with most of them being born during the Clinton Administration, were in early childhood during the events of 9/11 (which according to UNICEF, this life stage is documented to lasting up to 8 years of age), were in school during the Great Recession, and were adults in their early-to-late 20s when the recent pandemic struck.
Another description defines Zillennials as growing up with 90s and 2000s influence (although most of them are defined as 2000s kids) throughout their childhood, and later came of age within the 2010s, with most of them graduating high school within Obama's second term as president.
They have also witnessed the digital transition of technology ranging from corded phones to cell phones, and eventually smartphones, to dial-up internet to high speed Wi-Fi as they grew up between the mid-to-late 1990s and the rest of the 2000s throughout their childhood. As a result, their childhood witnessed a mixture between analog and digital mediums growing up, with an example like watching VHS tapes on a television with a VCR to a Blu-Ray CD on a DVD Player, and lastly, streaming services.
There is currently no generally agreed upon birth year range for Zillennials, despite most news articles and popular media using birth years between 1992 and1995 as starting birth years and 1998 to 2000 as ending birth years. For the time being, I made this list using names that peaked between 1993-2000 as names that "define" this micro-generation. I do understand if this is not the right approach of names that are considered "Zillennial", much like how Matthew and Jessica are Millennial names, whereas Caleb and Madison are Gen Z names. However, for the time being, I will stick with peak names, but the name list will be subject to change if there is any feedback; which I will appreciate to further shape this list until it is more accurate to the micro-generation, as a Zillennial myself.
- Adrianna
Origin:
Feminine variation of AdrianMeaning:
"man of Adria"Description:
A popular spelling variation of Adriana.
- Alec
Origin:
Diminutive of Alexander, GreekMeaning:
"defending men"Description:
Alec, though an old nickname for Alexander, is much fresher sounding than Alex, with the additional advantage, at least to some parents, of being distinctly male (there are as many girl Alexes these days as there are boys). While Alec has a clipped British image, it's actually one of the classic Greek names for boys, by way of father name Alexander.
- Alex
Origin:
Diminutive of Alexander, AlexisMeaning:
"defending men"Description:
The independent Alex has become a classic in its own right. One of the truest unisex names, Alex is used almost equally for both sexes. Alex is used both on its own and as a short form of formal names of both genders, such as Alexander, Alexandra, and Alexis.
- Alexander
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"defending men"Description:
Alexander has been in a Top 25 boys' name in the US for 30 years now. But namers are still attracted to its imposing historic pedigree.
- Alexandra
Origin:
Greek, feminine form of AlexanderMeaning:
"defending men"Description:
Alexandra fell out of the Top 100 for the first time since 1983 in 2015 but is still a popular choice. Strong, tasteful, and elegant, Alexandra remains a chic modern classic with a solid historic pedigree.
- Alexandria
Origin:
Variation of Alexandra, GreekMeaning:
"defending men"Description:
Alexandria turns classic Alexandra into a more distinctive place-name, in both Egypt and Virginia, while also giving it a touchy of frilliness. The name peaked in the 90s when it entered the US Top 100 for the first time, but has since been on decline.
- Alexis
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"defender"Description:
Alexis, a one-time exclusively-boys’ name, was more popular than its sister Alexandra for quite a while, but in recent years Alexandra has overtaken it once again. Alexis was a Top 20 girls’ name from 1994-2010 but has experienced a decline in popularity in recent years, though now it's one of the top unisex names.
- Allegra
Origin:
ItalianMeaning:
"joyous"Description:
In music, the term allegro means "quickly, lively tempo," which makes this quintessential Bohemian ballet dancer's name all the more appealing. Allegra is one of the most distinctive yet accessible girl names starting with A.
- Allison
Origin:
Scottish, diminutive of AliceMeaning:
"noble"Description:
Widely used here since the fifties, Allison -- a derivative of Alice -- has now been once again surpassed by the original Alice as parents embrace vintage revivals. Despite this, Allison's popularity has slipped only slightly.
- Alyssa
Origin:
English variation of AliciaMeaning:
"noble"Description:
Alyssa was in the Top 20 from 1997-2010 and peaked as the 11th most popular girls’ name in 1998 and 1999 but has become less popular in recent years. It's related to the flower alyssum as well as to the classic Alice and variants. Alyssa Milano helped give it a bounce back when she was still a child sitcom star.
- Angelica
Origin:
Italian, Polish, Russian diminutive of AngelaMeaning:
"angel or angelic"Description:
Angelica is by far the choicest form of the angelic names -- more delicate than Angelina, more feminine than Angel, more modern than Angela. But though Angelica is so lacy and poetic, it lags behind the bolder Angelina (probably for obvious reasons).
- Antonia
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"from Antium"Description:
Antonia is stronger than most feminized boys’ names, reflecting the pioneer spirit of Willa Cather's classic novel My Antonia. Antonia is hovering near the bottom of the US popularity list, which may be an excellent reason for you to use it.
- Antonio
Origin:
Spanish and Italian variation of AnthonyMeaning:
"from Antium"Description:
Antonio is a Shakespearean favorite -- the Bard used it in no less than five of his plays, and has long been a ubiquitous classic in Spanish-speaking countries, where the nickname Tonio is also prevalent. Antonio is also among an elite group of perennially popular names in the US, where it has always been among the boys' Top 1000 since baby name record-keeping started in 1880.
- Armando
Origin:
Spanish, Italian and Portuguese form of Herman, GermanMeaning:
"soldier"Description:
Armando takes the flat-footed Herman and makes it romantic. This is another of the Latin names we expect to be seeing more of.
- Asia
Origin:
Place-nameDescription:
This still attractive place name was one of the first to gain popularity, though it now probably owes some of its favor to the similar Aisha. Asia ranked as high as Number 195 on the US baby names popularity list in 1997.
- Austin
Origin:
English, shortened form of Augustine, LatinMeaning:
"great, magnificent"Description:
Austin is one of the most attractive city names for babies, with an appealing southwestern feel and place-name panache.
- Autumn
Origin:
Season nameDescription:
Crisp and colorful, Autumn is the most popular season name now -- the only one in the Top 100 in recent years -- with Autumn's coolness only surpassed by Winter. Jennifer Love Hewitt named her daughter Autumn James.
- Bailey
Origin:
English occupational nameMeaning:
"law enforcer, bailiff"Description:
Extremely amiable, open-sounding surname that's gradually being taken over by the girls.
- Bailey
Origin:
Occupational nameMeaning:
"law enforcer, bailiff"Description:
Bailey -- a jaunty surname -- was first used for a female TV character in 1978 in the show WKRP in Cincinnaati, then caught on big time. Bailey's still an appealing choice, though, and a celebrity fave. Parents of daughters named Bailey include Scot Baio and Stella McCartney.
- Brandan