This baby name consultant says there are 2 names to avoid at all costs: “I try and push people to find another name”
One viral expert says parents should steer clear of obvious, unoriginal names and try these fresh alternatives instead.
Struggling to settle on the perfect baby name? You’re not alone — and according to one viral baby name consultant (yes, that’s a real thing), there are two extremely popular names you should cross off your list immediately.
Why you might not want to call your baby Olivia or Liam
Colleen Slagen, a professional baby name consultant who’s gained a major following on TikTok, says parents should avoid naming their babies Olivia or Liam, even though she personally likes both names.
The top 2024 baby names include Olivia, Isabella, and Amelia for girls, and Noah, Liam, and Oliver for boys. Brooke, Blake, Julius, and Jaiden. pic.twitter.com/qetqYOoaql
— Amy Lyle - unlucky but tenacious (@amylyle) January 31, 2024
“I want to disclaim this because I really do like both of these names,” she told Parade. “They’re popular for a reason. But being in this job, I can’t help but try and push people to find another name.”
Why? Because they’re simply too popular. In the United States, Olivia has been the most common baby girl name for four straight years. Liam has also dominated for boys, reclaiming the top spot from Noah after leading the charts from 2019 to 2022.
Slagen’s belief is that while there’s nothing wrong with these names, they’ve become too predictable. And for many parents, originality is a key part of the naming process.
Olivia and Liam alternatives
Don’t worry — if you had your heart set on one of these names, you can obviously ignore everything you’ve just read.
Alternatively, Slagen offers plenty of similar-sounding and stylistically comparable options to help you branch out while staying in familiar territory.
Instead of Olivia, she recommends:
- Violet
- Sylvia
- Ophelia
- Lydia
- Olive
- Vivian
- Margot
- Daphne
- Juliet
- Leona
- Hollis
Instead of Liam, try:
- Leo
- Levi
- Luca
- Callum
- Cian (a Celtic choice that’s far less common)
Ultimately, it’s your call, of course. But if you’re looking for a name that feels distinctive and timeless, exploring lesser-used alternatives could be worth considering.
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