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There’s no denying that the 1990s and 2000s have been making a comeback—clothing styles, toys, and TV shows have been resurfacing, and social media is full of reels that bring back so many memories. Boy bands are reuniting for music tours, people are starting to wear butterfly clips in their hair again. It was a time that many hold near and dear to their hearts. Let’s explore some of the best baby name options inspired by these memorable decades.
10 Chandler
Oh. My. God. The infamous Chandler Bing was well-known for his sarcasm, his quick wit, and his unique name. Since the reign of Friends, this once-uncommon name has become more infamous, climbing to the top of name charts since the show’s airing. It continues to be one of the most popular TV shows of all time, thanks to its beloved characters.
9 Carson
Who else remembers coming home from school and immediately turning on MTV? Tuning into Total Request Live! or TRL, hosted by Carson Daly, was a daily ritual for kids of this generation. According to NPR, “It helped launch the careers of Britney Spears, Beyonce, and countless others”. Carson was a reliable host, always there to recap the lineup and have conversations with the most desirable pop stars. He was just as much of an icon, and his name will always remind us of the TRL days.
8 Sabrina
Making its debut in 1996, the hit TV show Sabrina the Teenage Witch ran for seven seasons until its final episode aired in 2003. It became insanely popular among ’90s kids, as they watched the adventures of high school student Sabrina Spellman and her black cat, Salem. To this day, mentions of the name Sabrina brings this memorable character to mind.
7 Cher
Between the 1995 release of Clueless, one of the most iconic movies of the decade, and the pop hit Believe, in 1998, the name Cher was on everyone’s radar. Alicia Silverstone played Cher Horowitz in the popular movie which still inspires Halloween costumes and signature phrases to this day. And Cher, of the famous duo Sonny & Cher, came out with her debut solo album and the release of Believe, which was on everyone’s party playlist that year. You can’t think of the name Cher without thinking of one—or both—of these ’90s smashes.
6 Willow
This name has multiple roots in the ’90s and 2000s. One of the most prominent power couples of this time was Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith. Will found fame by starring in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from 1990-1996 and went on to star in movies. His clean rap album, Willennium, was—appropriately—the soundtrack of the new millennium. When he and Jada announced the arrival of their second baby in the fall of 2000, Willow, the name gained distinct notoriety. The name had crept up to the top 1,000 names on the Social Security Administration’s list prior to that, though, in 1998.
This is thought to be connected to a primary character on the popular 1990s show Buffy the Vampire Slayer—Willow Rosenberg. Pop singer Pink also has a child named Willow, another Y2K-era icon. The name has continued to climb the charts and currently sits at #23 on the 2022 list.
5 Jack
Was there anyone who hadn’t heard of Jack Dawson after 1997? The iconic blockbuster Titanic was released in December of that year and remains one of the highest-grossing movies of all time, generating billions of dollars globally. Jack, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, was a leading role that left an iceberg-shaped hole in viewers’ hearts. Some celebrities have even named children Dawson in his honor.
4 Rocco
There weren’t many stars more influential than Madonna in the 1990s. When she and her husband Guy Ritchie announced the arrival of their son, Rocco, in August 2000, the name instantly stuck. It was unique, and it was edgy, just what Madonna fans would have expected.
3 Lizzie
Later-born kids of the ’90s and 2000s era might have been into Lizzie McGuire, starring Hilary Duff. It premiered on The Disney Channel in 2001 and became a beloved show nearly instantly. The show went on for the next few years, ending in 2004. There was also The Lizzie McGuire Movie. Lizzie had a special place in the hearts of many Y2K kids, and it also makes for a playful name.
2 Jennifer
There was no shortage of Jennifers that were idolized in the 1990s and 2000s pop culture. There was actress Jennifer Love Hewitt, who starred in many of the era’s top movies, and there was Jennifer Lopez, the singer-turned-actress that remained one of the top stars of the generation. And who can forget Jennifer Aniston, the actress who played Rachel Greene on Friends, and inspired straightened hairstyles for years to come.
1 Iris
The Goo Goo Dolls were among the biggest musical groups in the late ’90s and their hit “Iris” was written for the 1998 movie City of Angels, starring Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan. Not only is it a beautiful name, but it also has an incredible song to go with it.
As for what moms were naming their babies in the time straddling the 90s and 2000s, Emily and Jacob were reportedly the most popular baby boy and girl names in 2000 and 2001. In 1999, Michael topped the boys’ list but Emily remained number one.
If you grew up during these decades, chances are you know quite a few people named Emily, Michael, and Jacob, and all of these throwbacks are making you nostalgic. If you choose any of these Y2K-inspired names for your future children, you’ve got a whole generation of people that understand!
Sources: BabyCenter, The Motion Picture Association, NPR
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