Netflix is currently awash with brilliant ’90s comedies – with The Fresh Prince, Absolutely Fabulous, Friends and The League of Gentlemen all streaming. While at the same time, the high street is flooded with ’90s style slip dresses, mules, scrunchies and denim jackets, so it makes perfect sense that it’s that decade which is currently influencing parents-to-be.
According to the pregnancy and parenting website Baby Centre, names that were ubiquitous in the decade that gave us both grunge and Tamagotchi are due a comeback, as new parents are feeling nostalgic for the nineties.
Topping the list of girl’s names is Maria – almost definitely inspired by Blondie’s song of the same name which was released at the tail-end of the decade in 1999.
Next up is Courtney, in honour, we assume, of either Cox or Love, depending on whether the parent in question is either a Friends or a Hole fan. At third place is Helen, which given that the world’s highest grossing weather-based-film and huge box-office smash-hit Twister was released in 1996, it’s more than likely that Helen Hunt in the inspiration behind that one.
After Maria, the name Courtney comes in second mostly likely because of Courteney Cox’s role in classic sitcom Friends.
Meanwhile for baby boys, the most popular name is reported to be Bradley – could be inspired by Fight Club star Pitt? At second place is Daniel, which we can only assume is because millennial parents are still kind of into singer Natasha Bedingfield’s big brother. Next up is Ryan, which might be popular due to the fact that Ryan Reynolds – of being Blake Lively’s husband and you know, acting fame – guest-starred in everyone’s favourite 90s TV programme, Sabrina the Teenage Witch.
While hanging out at number 19 is Ross, another Friends reference, as new parents name their babies after television’s hottest paleontologist with anger management issues, Ross Geller.
Bradley tops the list of nineties boys’ names possibly thanks to Brad Pitt who starred in ’90s hit Fight Club.
The Top 20 90s Girl’s Names
Maria
Courtney
Helen
Heather
Bethan
Lydia
Kimberley
Naomi
Abbie
Harriet
Amber
Molly
Jennifer
Stephanie
Abigail
Sophie
Jessica
Daneille
Georgia
Natalie
The Top 20 90s Boy’s Names
Bradley
Daniel
Ryan
Christopher
Lewis
Nathan
Connor
Scott
Nicholas
Peter
Cameron
Mitchell
Timothy
Toby
Danny
Christian
Stuart
Simon
Ross
Paul
This article first appeared on Grazia UK.
