There were 679,106 babies born in England and Wales in 2017. In short: that’s a lot of babies who required a name.

While some baby names climb the popularity charts, others simply fall off the radar. But regardless of whether or not you actually plan on having children during your lifetime, we can’t deny that seeing which new names are set to trend in 2019 is, quite frankly, intriguing.

Which is why we got rather excited by Nameberry’s recent research showing that alternative baby names are set to be big in 2019. Think: muted hues, rare gems and animal-inspired middle names.

For some inspiration (or an interesting read) take a look at the lists below: 

Muted hue names

Once popular vibrant colours like Ruby and Scarlett are being sidelined for softer shades like grey. And blue is on its way out, too. 

1. Ash
2. Fawn
3. Grey/Gray
4. Ivory
5. Lavender
6. Lilac
7. Mauve
8. Moss
9. Olive
10. Sage

Rare gem names

Ruby, Pearl and Amber have long reigned supreme, but in 2019 unusual gem names are proving to be the top pick. 

1. Amethyst
2. Emerald
3. Garnet
4. Jasper
5. Jet
6. Onyx
7. Opal
8. Peridot
9. Sapphire
10. Topaz

Animal-inspired middle names 

Maybe taking inspiration from celebrities naming their children after animals, people are opting for a touch of individuality by selecting an animal-inspired middle name for their wee sprog. 

1. Bear
2. Falcon
3. Fox
4. Hawk
5. Koala
6. Lion
7. Lynx
8. Otter
9. Tiger
10. Wolf

Images: Unsplash