The rarest and most popular names for children 2018
Parents are very creative when it comes to deciding what to call their baby.
Registry employees have long been no longer surprised by the unusual names that moms and dads sometimes invent themselves. Last year, for example, among the newborns were Neonil and Aladdin, Via and Audrey. This year, parents also showed creativity and invention.
The tendency that emerged several years ago to call children by Old Church Slavonic names is not losing ground. This year, Svyatopolk, Ambrose, Dar, Polycarp, Leonty, Domislav, Severyan, Nikanor and Eustathius were born.
Specialists in the field of anthroponymy (this is the science that studies the names of people) say that the meanings of these ancient names are very important. Nikanor, for example, according to the meaning of the name, inspires people to win. And Polycarp is principled and defends absolute justice.
In addition, there are among the newborns and named by Western names: Donald, Walter, Iago and Aramis. Registry officials note that international families are inclined to “international” names, when the mother is married to a foreigner, or, conversely, the father married a newcomer. However, fans of Dumas and The Three Musketeers could also call the boy Aramis. And Iago are connoisseurs of Shakespeare.
However, these names are exceptions, not rules. The top of the most popular male names looks like this: Alexander, Mikhail, Maxim, Daniil, Cyril and Konstantin.
Girls: Originality Above All
Among female names, exotic variants are more common than among male names. For example, the Moscow registry offices registered the girls Sila, Luna and Byzantium in 2018. And these are not the most interesting options! Goluba, Okeana, Joy, Cherry and even Fox were born this year.
By the way, it is interesting that such originality is not just an invention of the parents. And Cherry, and Okeana, and others are existing names with their own meaning. For example, Joy has Slavic roots and distinguishes its owner with courage, independence and curiosity. And the Greek name of Ocean means that the girl in the future will be a faithful companion of life, a perfectionist, with whom it is still difficult to find a common language.
Ancient Slavic names are also found not only among boys, but also among girls: Zabava, Kupava and even Birch were born in 2018. And also – Ladislav, Dobromir, Glyceria, Ladomir, Stepanida, Mstislav, Iva, Muse and Vesna.
But the most popular version of a girl’s name has been Sofia for many years. By the way, this name is considered the most popular not only in Russia, but also in the world. Next are Maria and Anna, there are Alisa, Victoria, Anastasia and Polina in the top leaders.