Delaware
Are unisex names more popular now? How many Delaware babies have gender-neutral names
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Whether you prefer to keep the sex of your baby a surprise until they arrive, would rather stray away from gender stereotypes or want a fun name for your child, there are many reasons why people choose gender-neutral names over more traditional ones.
Names.org reports that although only 6% of names are considered unisex, a record 17% of babies in the United States were given gender-neutral names in 2023, which is more than double the amount used 50 years ago.
Among the surge in gender-neutral names, Delaware ranks No. 15 in the nation with 11.9% of babies given gender-neutral names over the last decade.
To be considered on Names.org’s list of top gender-neutral name predictions, “the name must be given less than 95% of the time to one gender, and the company’s annual predictions have been 95% accurate since 2018.”
Dylan is predicted to be the No. 1 used unisex name for the first time, after coming in at No. 2 last year, with an estimated 7,387 Dylan’s expected in 2024.
The rest of the top 10 gender-neutral names predicted to be used in 2024 are:
- Avery at No. 2, with 7,258 uses predicted
- Logan at No. 3, with 7,251 uses predicted
- Carter at No. 4, with 6,401 uses predicted
- Riley at No. 5, with 6,368 uses predicted
- Parker at No. 6, with 6,313 uses predicted
- Rowan at No. 7, with 6,081 uses predicted
- Cameron at No. 8, with 6,051 uses predicted
- Angel at No. 9, with 5,654 uses predicted
- Kai at No. 10, with 5,431 uses predicted
Most popular baby names in Delaware: These are the most popular baby names in Delaware
Gender-neutral names are most popular in the South, with nine of the top 10 states for gender-neutral name usage located in the region. Louisiana ranks No. 1 for gender-neutral names, followed by Mississippi at 17% and Georgia at 16.5%.
When it comes to which sex is receiving more gender-neutral names, Names.org found that about 60% of those babies are girls receiving names that were more commonly used for boys. The ratio of unisex name usage for girls to boys is 1.5:1, which has remained mostly the same since the early 1900s.
Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys’tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline.com.