Latest news with #ColleenSlagen
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
9 Baby Names Nobody Was Using 5 Years Ago—but They're About To Be Everywhere
9 Baby Names Nobody Was Using 5 Years Ago—but They're About To Be Everywhere originally appeared on Parade. Baby name trends are always changing, and what was super common at one point can quickly fade as new monikers rise in popularity. But sometimes it's hard to see the trends emerging until they hit the absolute top of the charts. So Parade spoke with a professional baby name consultant to get the details on rising baby names that you'll start seeing everywhere—despite them hardly being used at all just half a decade Slagen, who goes by @namingbebe on Instagram, is a baby name consultant and author of the book Naming Bebe: An Interactive Guide to Choosing a Baby Name You Love. Since she professionally helps parents choose names for their little ones, she's very well versed in the trends and sees which monikers are starting to climb the ranks. The rising names she's seeing these days were hardly on anyone's radar even five years Social Security Administration data, in 2020, some of the top baby names for boys were Liam, Noah, Oliver, Elijah and William. For girls, the most popular monikers were Olivia, Emma, Ava, Charlotte and Sophia. Though most of those names are still commonly used today, several others have started climbing their way through the charts—and Slagen has her eye on "Scottie is one of those names that just caught fire. To me, it gives off the exact same air as the name Charlie for girls, which has become very popular," Slagen tells notes that while Scottie wasn't present in the top 1,000 baby names in 2020, it now ranks at 202 for girls. "I'm not sure I have seen a name climb that fast," she rise could have been helped out by influencer Allison Kuch and her husband, former NFL player Isaac Rochell, naming their daughter Scottie in 2023. Slagen adds that Scottie combines a few rising name trends, like gender-neutral monikers, nicknames as full names, and unique options that still don't feel "too unusual." "This name started buzzing after the show Yellowstone aired in 2018—it was the surname of the family featured in the show," Slagen says. She adds that it's now risen in popularity as a first name for baby boys, explaining, "Dutton now ranks 736, while it was not even in the top 1,000 five years ago."Related: Though Winona consistently ranked for baby girls in the first half of the 1900s, it dropped off the charts after 1957. Now, Slagen says it's "starting to creep up in popularity." It ranked 738th for girls in 2024. Slagen loves it for its bold, vintage feel "with a playful, wearable nickname in Winnie."Related: "The comeback of Lottie speaks to the 100-year rule: The idea that names cycle back into fashion every 100 years," Slagen says. "It's Grandma-chic! It's also a way to make the very popular Charlotte feel a bit more unique."She notes that Lottie now ranks 676th for girls, whereas it didn't land in the top 1,000 just five years ago. "I'm certainly hearing [Rocky] much more than I did five years ago, and we can attribute that to Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker, who used it for their son Rocky Thirteen in 2023," Slagen says. As a boys' name, Rocky climbed around 200 spots from 862nd place in 2020 to 657th in 2024. Slagen sees Miller following the trend of surnames being used as given names. "While names like Parker, Cooper and Carter are now mainstream, top 100 names, Miller has a very similar vibe and people are turning to it as a less common alternative with great nickname potential," she made both the girls' and boys' top 1,000 list in 2024, whereas in 2020 it only ranked for boys (and about 260 spots lower).Related: "Elowyn is one of the most surprising ones to me," Slagen reveals. "However, there is nothing people love these days more than a name that starts with 'El,' and parents are turning to more unique options as names like Eleanor, Ellie, Ella and Eloise have become more popular."She adds that Elowyn has an "appealing nickname option in Wynn/Wynnie." The moniker ranked 447th for baby girls in 2024, despite not cracking the top 1,000 in 2020. "This ranked 915th in 2019 and now ranks 366th," Slagen says about the growing popularity of this boys' name. "When a unique name is rising in popularity so quickly, it really stands out. I see this on so many lists now and I think the appeal is that it's a less common alternative to more popular surname names that end in 's' like Brooks or Miles."She adds that it can also be used as a girls' name, which Hilary Duff did with her daughter Banks Violet in 2018. "This name appeared out of thin air," Slagen says. "There are a few pop culture references that could have helped boost it, but it's very in line with the rugged, western-sounding names that people are loving right now."She adds that it can also be seen as "an edgier alternative to the more popular Colton." In 2024, Colter ranked 218th for baby boys, compared to 972nd in 2020. According to Slagen, that's "an astronomical jump in the name world." These monikers all show a lot of promise despite their rare usage half a decade ago, so there's no telling how high they could climb on the charts in just a couple more years! Up Next:Colleen Slagen is a baby name consultant and author of the book Naming Bebe: An Interactive Guide to Choosing a Baby Name You Love. Find her on Instagram @namingbebe. 9 Baby Names Nobody Was Using 5 Years Ago—but They're About To Be Everywhere first appeared on Parade on Jun 26, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
Daily Mail
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Real meaning behind 'twin flames' Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly's newborn's 'prophetic' sci-fi name revealed
Megan Fox and on/off fiancé Machine Gun Kelly have revealed their daughter's name - three months after welcoming her. Machine Gun Kelly posted a video on Tuesday as he played a ukulele for his daughter - who was mostly off camera - except for a tiny portion of her leg. He revealed her name in the caption of the reel: Saga Blade Fox-Colson,' adding a burning heart. Colleen Slagen, a professional baby name consultant and author of Naming Bebe: An Interactive Guide to Choosing a Baby Name You Love, divulged exactly what Saga's name means. 'Saga is a beautiful Scandinavian name meaning "seeing one." It is a name in Norse mythology that belongs to the Goddess of Storytelling,' Colleen exclusively told 'Saga is not quite a virtue name, like one of Megan's other children, Journey, but I think "seeing one" implies something spiritual, other-worldly, prophetic... a meaning they must have been very drawn to.' 'As for Blade, it's right in line with the other edgy, radical world names we're hearing these days, especially from celebrities,' Colleen revealed. 'Riot, Crash. If anyone is going to give their daughter the middle name Blade, Machine Gun Kelly would be your best guess. It certainly adds a very different vibe to the gentler sound and meaning of the first name they chose. It's giving Spidey & Friends.' Machine edited his Instagram caption, adding a sweet nod to Megan. He updated the caption to: 'Saga Blade Fox-Baker. Thank you for ultimate gift @MeganFox.' Megan also has three kids with ex-husband Brian Austin Green, whom she was wed to from 2010 until 2021: Noah, 11, Bodhi, nine and Journey, seven. Machine, who was born Colson Baker, is also dad to daughter Cassie, 15. Megan and Machine welcomed Saga on March 27, with Machine revealing the news via his social media: 'She's finally here!! Our little celestial seed,' adding that their baby was 'born into 432 HZ' and that her arrival was an 'epic journey.' Fans seem to love the unique moniker, taking to X, formerly Twitter to gush about it - although some did not like it. Fans seem to love the unique moniker, taking to X, formerly Twitter to gush about it - although some did not like it Megan and Machine welcomed Saga on March 27, with Machine revealing the news via his social media: 'She's finally here!! Our little celestial seed,' adding that their baby was 'born into 432 HZ' and that her arrival was an 'epic journey' Fox announced the baby news in a shock Instagram post shared with her nearly 22 million followers in mid November 'That's an icon in the making right there. That's a power name,' one person wrote on X. 'Saga Blade Fox Baker how precious and how perfect,' another tweeted. 'I'm literally screaming at how cute that name is,' a fan said. 'Why on God's green Earth, would you your daughter Sage Blade Fox-Baker. That poor child,' someone else wrote. Megan announced her pregnancy in November. Their five-year romance came to an end over Thanksgiving weekend while they were on holiday in Vail, Colorado, according to TMZ. They split after Megan 'found material on MGK's phone that was upsetting, and it made her want him to leave the trip early,' the source said. Machine Gun Kelly, born Colson Baker, left the trip earlier and they have not seen each other since. At the time, an insider claimed that Megan 'just wants to focus' on her pregnancy. The insider told People: 'They tried to make things work for many years. It was exhausting for Megan.' Megan and MGK started dating in 2020 after she split from Brian following 10 years of marriage. They got engaged in January 2022 with the couple briefly splitting in February 2023 but working things through and getting back together - but not getting engaged again. Megan previously revealed she believes she manifested the rapper turned rocker into the person he is, adding that she manifested him when she was four years old. 'He's literally my exact type that I've been manifesting since I was four. I'm also four years older than him. So, I think I made him.' Adding: 'My thoughts and intentions grew him into the person that he is, who knows what he would've looked like or been like if it wasn't for me.' The couple met on the film project Midnight In The Switchgrass in March 2020.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
A Professional Baby Name Consultant Is Begging Parents To Stop Using These 2 Names
A Professional Baby Name Consultant Is Begging Parents To Stop Using These 2 Names originally appeared on Parade. When you're expecting, it's normal to pore over countless books and lists of names for your little bundle of joy. And inspiration can be anywhere you look—including old men and old ladies, colors, religion and more. However, one baby naming expert is begging parents to actually stop using two names, in baby name consultant, social media personality and author of Naming Bebe (released June 10) Colleen Slagen, AKA @NamingBebe, went from utilizing her skills and passion as a "lifelong hobby imposed upon my loved ones" to offering personalized baby name consults full time starting in 2023. With plenty of viral videos on TikTok, Slagen is known for sharing her baby-naming tips and opinions online—and from discussing "new mom names" to commenting on monikers related to pop culture (like The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives), it's easy to see why she's become such a sensation. Now, she's revealing which two specific names to avoid in 2025, what general baby naming trends she's not a fan of, and how to tell if you might benefit from using a name "I want to disclaim this because I really do like both of these names—they're popular for a reason," Slagen begins telling Parade. "But being in this job I can't help but try and push people to find a name other than Olivia and Liam (the #1 boy and girl names)." It makes sense that she'd encourage parents to think outside the box."I think it's so fun to try and find alternatives that parents could embrace if they keep an open mind," she continues. "The best way to change someone's mind about a name is a positive association. Of course, we're more likely to have a positive association with popular names so it's a positive feedback cycle."That being said, she has some suggestions for parents who are leaning toward Olivia and Liam."Alternatives can be names that have similar sounds, like Violet, Sylvia, Ophelia, Lydia, Olive or Vivian for Olivia," she explains. "Or names that have a similar style—other elegant, feminine names like Margot, Daphne, Juliet, Leona, Hollis.""For Liam, there are a lot of similar names that are also quite popular; Leo, Levi, Luca," she continues. "I love Cian as a Celtic alternative that is much less common, or Callum for something that's a bit more mainstream."Related: "I almost never support alternative, less common spellings," Slagen reveals. "There are some exceptions to that statement! But for example, spelling Peyton 'Peytyn' to make it appear more unique or feminine. Even when traditionally masculine names are being used for a girl, which is a big trend right now, I prefer their traditional spelling." "It's hard to dislike any of the top, top names; they became popular for a reason and familiarity breeds likeness," Slagen admits. However, "I tend to go Marie Kondo on names that feel like they're heavily trending (rapid rises in popularity over a short time period); thank you for the memories, goodbye," she tells Parade. One recent trend that has legitimately shocked Slagen? "The super macho word names like Crash, Danger and Ryatt," she shares. "Kids can make a name their own no matter what it is, but these names do feel a bit prophetic." Related: According to Slagen, these are some common signs you might benefit from using a professional baby name consultant: "Difficulty agreeing with a partner Creativity rut (I've looked through SO many name lists/books and nothing sticks out to me!) Outside opinion: people who want to get a gut check/analysis of their top contenders without discussing with friends and family Finding a name that is cohesive with sibling(s) names Finding a name with a particular meaning Fun! Talking about baby names and hearing what someone else thinks fits your style is such a fun experience for people." Up Next:Colleen Slagen, AKA @NamingBebe, professional baby name consultant, social media personality and author of Naming Bebe (released June 10) A Professional Baby Name Consultant Is Begging Parents To Stop Using These 2 Names first appeared on Parade on Jun 10, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
I'm a naming consultant, and sibling set names are hot right now. Here's what I recommend — and when to change course.
Colleen Slagen is a mom of three and a name consultant. She said social media has increased the emphasis on sibling sets. Themes and styles can guide name selection, but going too similar can be cheesy, she says. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Colleen Slagen, author of "Naming Bebe: An interactive guide to choosing a baby name you love." It has been edited for length and clarity. The idea of giving siblings matching names isn't anything new, but social media has helped the idea spread far and wide. As a name consultant who's active on Instagram and TikTok, I hear from lots of parents who are concerned about creating a perfect sibling set of names. Parents believe names can create family cohesion and unity. Creating a sibling set can be fun but can also create stress for parents. Here's what to think of when you're creating a sibling set, and how to know when to change course — which is something I had to do while naming my own three children. I worked with a mother who intensely regretted one of her children's names. It wasn't that she didn't like the name — she just didn't think it matched with the names of her other children. She was even considering changing her child's name. I reminded her that a sibling set of names isn't the end-all-be-all. Our children are going to spend most of their lives existing independent of their sibling set. I never want parents to get too caught up in how cohesive their children's names are. The easiest way to create a sibling set of names is to think about a style category of names that you like. If you're into classic names like John, they'll always go well with other classics, like Dorothy. Or, you can focus on name meanings. Nature-inspired names like Sky and Juniper can make good sibling sets, for example. Another option is to think about length. I find that four-letter names often go well together. At the same time, it's OK to put together short and long names if they have a similar style. I love the sibling set Ada and Bernadette, for example. When I worked with baby company JoJo Maman Bébé on the do's and don'ts of sibling sets, I reminded parents that subtlety goes a long way. If your theme is too niche, it can come across as cheesy. I would never name sisters Goldie, Violet, and Scarlett, or brothers Bear and Fox — that's a little too on the nose for me. The same can happen with names that sound too similar, like Banks and Brooks, or Adeline and Caroline. If there are multiple letters shared between the names, they may be too close. I named my oldest child Rory, envisioning a sibling set of traditional Irish names. But as I got to know more kids and families in my hometown outside Boston, I realized that the Irish names I liked were too common for my taste. So, I pivoted to more traditional English names and now have Rory, Janie, and George. I see that parents are very concerned about equality in naming and worry about a child feeling left out. That thinking can box parents into a specific naming pattern. If you start with two J names, you might find yourself following in the Duggar's footsteps and giving all your children J monikers. But remember, you're not obligated to continue any patterns, and personally I don't think your children will mind. Thinking about a sibling set can help guide you as you pick a name for your second, third, or sixth child. Yet occasionally, you'll discover a name that's just right for your new addition — even if it doesn't match their siblings. I see this a lot with celebrities. Actor Ashley Tinsdale, for example, has two daughters named Jupiter (which feels hyper-modern, majestic, and rare) and Emerson (which is much more mainstream). Sometimes, you can't fight the name that feels right. Read the original article on Business Insider
