The year 2016 has been quite a roller coaster so far. Weren't we just bombarded with information? And not just any information, we saw events happen which would probably be etched in time for good. Some of the highlights? Well, there's no escaping the elections for the most powerful job in the world. Whether you are interested in politics or not, odds are you know a lot about what's going in the U.S. presidential elections. Then there's the small matter of Pokemon Go that showed us the power of nostalgia, capturing hundreds of millions of hearts seemingly overnight. The Rio Olympics are another hot topic with medal winners dominating news globally.
Naturally, these trends often catch on in our minds. For instance, you might just be spoilt for choice when choosing a name for your tiny one. Everything ranging from TV shows, sports stars, and even video game characters have become popular all around the globe. Simone Manuel and Biles won a combined tally of six gold medals in gymnastics and swimming. This has led to a rise in popularity in the name with a sudden increase in baby girls being named Simone after the Olympics. It helps that they are also seen as great role models.
Unless you've been living as a hermit, you would have heard of a little show called Game of Thrones. Such is its influence on popular culture that its characters and the actors who play them have become icons in their own right. Jon Snow is undoubtedly one of the most popular characters on the show and my personal favorite, along with Arya and Sansa Stark. These characters are bold and are known for their bravery as well as smartness. The demand for these names has suddenly spiked, with plenty of baby girls being named after Arya and Sansa.
Robin Williams, the late great actor, was such a big fan of video games that he named his daughter Zelda, after the popular game "The Legend Of Zelda." Pokemon Go has also inspired a lot of baby names that are unusual and fantastic at the same time. Most people that are hooked on to the game were young when the cartoon show came out. These people are now young parents and have been caught up in a wave of nostalgia, which has led to a rise in names like Misty, Ash, and even Charmander! While I wouldn't name my child anything that adventurous, I can see the appeal for the parents that did choose those names.
The political scene is also not short on influential figures. Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, and Bernie Sanders were the most popular candidates, being frontrunners for the presidential role. This meant Donald was a trending baby name for baby boys and Hillary for baby girls.
If those names sound a little too outrageous to you, then there are still a number of options. Olivia, Amelia, and Charlotte are three of the most popular baby girl names so far in 2016, while Ezra, Asher, and Atticus are the most popular for boys.
In case you are curious, I chose my child's name based on our culture and history. Arjun is derived from Sanskrit and means bright or shining. It is quite a common name. However, I chose it as it is also the name of one of my favorite actors, Arjun Rampal. He was quite popular around the time my child was born and was definitely an influencing factor. Looking to the future, if I had another child there are a number of names that I love! Because of my love for sport, Sakshi would make a great name for my daughter. Sakshi Malik is an Olympic wrestler and bronze medal winner. For a boy, it would be a toss up between, Ranveer and Rana, two prominent actors.
When selecting your baby's name, do make sure you think it through. A child's name is more than just their identifier and can influence a baby's life much more than you as a parent might realize. Make sure that you have a few options in mind, and you and your partner are both happy with the choice. So, what are you going to name your child?
Aradhana is a writer from India. Her areas of knowledge include parenting, children with special needs, health and lifestyle. She loves being outdoors and her hobbies include cycling and hiking. She has a special interest in children with special needs and parenting and shares her experiences through her other passion -- that is writing. She writes to share her knowledge so that it may help others. Her posts on these subjects have been published in more than 250+ various reputable sites. Aradhana writes to inspire and motivate people to adopt healthy habits and live a stress-free lifestyle.
