Upswing names, in the name-business, are names that are quite literally on an upward curve in popularity. In this post I will be examining girls' names in England and Wales which, up until 2012 (the last point of data), have been continually rising in usage.
First let's look at girls' names within the Top 100 which are currently rising (and are set to continue to do so). Would any of us be surprised if Ava and Isla reach the #1 or #2 spot in a few years? I'll eat one of my hats if they don't! And if you have been wondering why you keep hearing Elsie everywhere, or why there seems to be a surge of little Willows, perhaps these graphs will shed some light:
Upswing Names in the Top 100:
It isn't an exact science predicting which names are going to be the 'next big thing'. As the saying goes, what goes up, must come down, so an upward curve up until this point is no guarantee that a name will continually rise; it might have simply reached its peak in 2012. But an upward curve is certainly illuminating, and can help us to keep ahead of the game. Let's look at some names below the Top 100 which are also on the up and up:
Upswing Names below the Top 100:
Sweet Welsh Seren has been a big hit in its native Wales for years. It entered the Top 100 in Wales in 1998 and has been in the Top 10 since 2007.
Back in 1996, 46 girls were called Seren in E&W, and it's fair to assume that the majority of them were in Wales. Since then, Seren has been storming upwards, not only thanks to its rising popularity in Wales, but also its growing use in England as well. Of the 550 Serens born in 2012, 198 were born in Wales (#5) and 352 were born in England (#151).
Watch out for Seren in the Top 100 very soon.
Darcy and all her spelling variants have certainly been making waves in recent years.
Both Darcy and Darcie have enjoyed a smooth upward curve and, though the spelling Darcey has fluctuated in the last four years, it managed to break the Top 100 for the first time in 2012.
In 1996, Darcey, Darcy and Darcie had a combined birth count of 182; in 2012, their combined count was 1636.
Curiously, in the last fifteen years, Darcey was the least popular spelling of the three (with Darcy the favoured spelling), until it superseded in 2012.
Including all other spellings and hyphenations, Darcy's combined clout put her at #34 overall in the combined spellings rank of 2012.
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Charlotte has long been a perennial British favourite (#20 in 2012). Combine that with popular -ie diminutive ending (Evie, Ellie, Maisie, Millie etc) and it's no wonder that Lottie has been steadily climbing.
In 1996, Lottie ranked #686 with a birth count of 34. By 2009 it entered the Top 200 and now sits at #112 with 510 births.
The same pattern is being echoed in Hattie, which had only 6 births in 1996 (#2350). It now ranks #414 with 110 births, while big sister Harriet sits at #67.
Hettie, at #874, is also on an upward curve.
Previously very rare, Etta managed to reach 10 births in 2009 (#2326), increasing to 46 births in 2012.
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In 1996, Beatrice was just below the Top 300 with 117 births. Since then it has gradually and steadily risen through the ranks and is almost into the Top 100 with 503 births in 2012.
In the last few years, Beatrice has been fluctuating up and down a little, not quite making the leaps it needs to make it into the Top 100.
This may indicate that the name has plateaued, though if the upward curve of similar Beatrix is anything to go by, perhaps not.
Beatrix had only 14 births (#1296) in 1996. It has increased thirteen-fold since then and in 2012 was #272 with 183 births.
With Lily at #5, Daisy at #22, and Ivy and Violet both among the highest risers into the Top 100 in 2012, it's unsurprising that Iris is not far behind.
Only 8 babies (#1914) were called Iris in 1996. It reached the Top 200 by 2009 with 264 births, and in 2012 was #122 with 476 births.
Olive, another vintage-nature name, is also rising. Just 6 babies were given the name in 1999 (#2444) but by 2012 it garnered 191 births and a rank of #260.
Mabel (which shared the Top 100 with Iris and Olive in the early 20th century) is, though fluctuating, also rising.
For much of the 1990s, Mabel had fewer than 20 births per year. In 2012 it ranked #312 with 155 births.
Nancy has been quietly hidden within the Top 300 for the last two decades. It's lowest point was at #329 (104 births) in 1997 and its advancement since has been steady, stealthy, but significant.
Now Nancy is far more visible, reaching #124 in 2012 with 456 births.
Sweet petforms Bonnie and Minnie, echoing Nancy's middle 'n' and diminutive "-ee," have also been at their highest points in the last few years.
Bonnie has long been just within the Top 500, usually with approximately 100 births per year. By 2012, it ranked #201 with 248 births.
Minnie #3126 (4 births) in 1996 and has been steadily rising since. In 2012, Minnie ranked #437 with 104 births.
From barely ranking at all in any given year, Lyla shot up to #303 (139 births) 2005, thanks to the Oasis' hit song Lyla (2005) which reached number 1 in its first week of release.
Lyla has since proved it wasn't just a one-hit-wonder by its steady rise each following year. In 2012, it ranked #132 with 431 births.
Alternative spelling Lila had a previous leap when it jumped from fewer than 20 births per year to 65 births (#494) in 2003. It was perhaps influenced by Kate Moss calling her daughter Lila.
Though it has fluctuated, Lila, too, is still steadily increasing, reaching 188 births in 2012.
Variant Lilah is less common but is riding the same wave as her peers. It ranked #397 with 117 births in 2012.
In 1996, Lena ranked #823 with 27 births; by 2004 it had crept into the Top 600 and by 2008 reached #341 with 132 births. Since then there has been no stopping its rise, ranking at #137 with 419 births in 2012.
Luna and Lyra have been far more visible in their rise, both influenced by a popular children's book turned Hollywood film.
Lyra's biggest leap occurred in 2009 when it went from 76 to 152 births. It has since fluctuated by is now at its highest point of #255 (192 births).
Luna's rise was very steady up until 2011 when it jumped from 76 births to 124. In 2012 it ranked #337 with 144 births.
Mila Kunis's rise to fame has ensured that her name has also been in the spotlight. And is it any wonder when it fits so nicely with other popular two-syllable , a ending names. Up until 2011, Mila had been steadily rising, from 5 births in 1996, to 62 births in 2010. Miss Kunis's fame helped Mila up to #261 (186 births) in 2011, and further to #160 (326 births) in 2012.
Myla, taking elements from both Mila and Lyla, also has a steep upward curve, from 15 births in 2006, 48 in 2008, 79 in 2010, 118 in 2011 and 186 (#267) in 2012.
Milena, Mila Kunis's full name, is also rising. It, too, only had 5 births in 1996 but has risen to 98 births (#458) in 2012.
With Amelia at number 1, and Emilia on an upward curve at #56 (see above), it is hardly surprising that inbetweeny Emelia is also on the up. In 1996 there were 22 Emelias, putting it at #944.
From that point the name steadily increased in usage up until 2011 when it went up by 70 births to #229 (224 births), and then again to #164 (314 births) in 2012.
Alongside Emilia, Eva, Eliza, Evelyn, Esme and Elsie (see above), other E-names are also on the rise.
Elodie had only 7 births in 1997 (#2152). In 2012 that number had multiplied thirty times over to 211 births (#236).
Eliana was below the Top 1000 throughout the 90s but in 2005 it saw 46 births (#668) and then tripled that in 2012 with 132 births (#364).
Sprightly Beau practically sprinted up the rankings in recent years.
In 1996, only 6 girls were given the name. By 2008, the figure had risen to 82 (#469) and had more than doubled to 179 births (#275) in 2011.
In 2012, Beau ranked #169, with 302 girls given the name.
Beau's counter-part Belle is also on the upswing, partly thanks to Holly Willoughby using it for her daughter in 2011.
In 1997, 4 girls were given the name Belle (#3174). After an influx of several -belle names into the Top 100, it increased to 59 births (#632) in 2008, 89 births (#463) in 2010 and 192 births (#255) in 2012.
Just behind rising Beatrice, Beau and Nancy is sassy doll Betsy, which falls somewhere between all three.
In 1996, 22 babies were called Betsy (#944). It rose steadily over the proceeding years to 84 births in 2009; almost almost doubled that in 2010 with 147 births (#320), and again with 268 births in 2011.
In 2012 Betsy ranked #169 with 302 births.
Sister-name Betty is on a steadier upward curve. From the 18 babies named Betty in 1996, it rose to #650 (57 births) in 2008 and #458 (98 births) in 2012.
Welsh cognate Betsan has been much rarer, but it too is riding Betsy's wave.
In 1996, 5 girls were named Betsan. It fluctuated around this figure for several years until 2010, when it finally pushed into double figures. In 2012, Betsan ranked #1342 with 24 births.
There's Isabella at #10, Isabelle at #17, Bella at #58 and Annabelle at #72, the latter two of which are still rising (see above). Not surprisingly, regal Arabella is also on an upward curve.
In 1996, 49 girls were named Arabella. It has steadily and consistently risen in usage over the following fifteen years until breaking the Top 200 in 2012 at #177 with 286 births.
In a similar vein, Annabella has also made great gains, from 25 birth in 1996, 50 in 2006 and then charging up to 101 births (#422) in 2010 and 154 births (#314) in 2012.
Though not a -bella name, Penelope shares a four-syllable pattern and prominant el sound. It garnered no more than 60 births prior to 2007, after which it has been on a steep incline. In 2012 it ranked #209 with 240 births.
Also at #177 is Elsa. Long before Disney's Frozen took the cinema by storm, British parents were already looking to Elsa as a name choice. With Elsie in the Top 100 now, it really isn't that surprising either.
In 1996, 36 babies were given the name, putting it below the top 600. It has risen gradually ever since, first breaking the Top 200 in 2011 at #182 with 280 births.
Gaelic Orla had only 45 births in 1996. It broke the Top 200 in 2009 at #164 and ranked #155 with 344 births in 2012.
Similar sounding Alba is definitely one to watch out for. Recently chosen by footballer Gareth Bale for his daughter, and popular in Scotland thanks to patriotic associations, Alba has been getting much more attention. It has risen from #2683 (3 births) in 1996 to #665 (59 births) in 2011 and #483 (91 births) in 2012.
As an Arabic name (and Nigerian, apparently), Anaya was once confined to British Muslim families. Evidence from the world wide web suggests that it is now reaching out to a broader audience, and it is certainly rising.
In 1996, only 4 girls were named Anaya. By 2007, that figure was 70 births (#527) and in almost every consecutive year after that, it moved up into the next hundred band (top 500 in 2008, top 400 in 2009, top 300 in 2011). In 2012, Anaya ranked #179 with 284 births. Variant Inaaya (#222) is also on an upward curve.
Amaya has followed a remarkably similar curve to Anaya, from 6 births in 1997, to 210 births (#238) in 2012.
Amara was sit at #661 (34 births) in 1996. By 2012 it had steadily risen to #317 (153 births).
As with Mila, Ayla also fits the hot criteria of two syllable -la name.
In 1996 it ranked #753 with 30 births. It hit triple figured in 2008 with 138 births (#329) and has almost doubled since that time. In 2012 Ayla ranked #194 with 257 babies.
Iyla, no doubt a phonetic spelling for the ever-so-popular Isla, did not rank at all until 3 babies were given the name in 2002. Its rise since then has been steep, to 72 babies in 2011 (#562) to 118 babies (#395) in 2012.
Aila is a Finnish name, related to Helga, which sounds the same as Isla/Iyla. I suspect that Aila is mostly being used in Britain as a variant of both Isla and Ayla, which explains why, having garnered no more than 6 births before 2005, it rose to #663 in 2012 with 62 births.
Given that Skye is #86, perhaps it was only natural that Skyla et al should follow behind.
The spelling Skyla is most likely inspired by a British singer of that name. Only 3 girls were given the name in 1996 and it steadily grew from that point. It shot up to triple figures in 2009 with 103 births (#410) and by 2012 had cracked the Top 200 at #198 with 253 births.
From not ranking at all, Skylar began to very gradually climb up a little each year. Then Skylar shot up to #534 (78 births) in 2011 and #376 (125 births) in 2012.
The spelling Skyler is less common, yet it has seen an impressive rise from #3594 (4 births) in 2003 to #825 in 2012 with 46 births.
Given its recent (and high profile) celebrity-baby status, it isn't surprising that Harper has recently shot up.
From not ranking at all in the 1990s, Harper had been steadily rising to #858 (42 births) in 2011. Then along came Harper Beckham, and Harper shot up to #284 (173 births) in 2012.
It's too early to tell whether this cultural phenomenon will continue, or sustain, its popularity in the next few years. Only time will tell.
However, a similar celebrity-baby inspired name, Harlow, has also seen a steep upward curve, from 5 girls born in 2005, to 64 (#647) in 2012.
Many may point to Game of Thrones as the inspiration, but to give it its due, melodic Aria had already been steadily rising before the GoT furore (though I'm certain it has been a factor).
In 1996, 5 girls (#2683) were named Aria. It remained in single figures until 2003, slowly rising to 24 births in 2009, doubling to 47 births in 2010 (#773) and to 65 births (#615) in 2011. It shot up then in 2012 to 162 births (#294).
The Game of Thrones spelling, Arya tells a similar story (though not quite as dramatic as Aria), from 3 births in 1997, 29 in 2009 to 60 births (#658) in 2011. In 2012 it ranked #437 with 104 births.
The more elaborate Ariana pips both Aria and Arya. Its upward curve has been much bumpier, but nevertheless, Ariana has risen from 20 births in 1996 (#1005) to 216 births (#233) in 2012.
Though its on the outside edges, Aurora does clearly demonstrate that the trend for names beginning with vowels, and ending in -a is stretching the net lower down the ranks.
Latin Aurora ranked #1168 with 16 births in 1996. It has gradually (though somewhat bumpily) risen since, ranking #345 in 2012 with 140 births.
Similar sounding Aurelia ranked only #2096 (7 births) in 1996. It pushed up to #675 (51 births) in 2007 and from there glided up to #379 (124 births) in 2012.
Another Au- name which is quite off the radar is Austeja, the name of a Lithuanian goddess. Though still quite rare, it is showing quite a bit of movement.
It did not rank at all until 2004 when it had 5 births. By 2010 it had risen to 18 and had garnered 35 births in 2012.
