These Will Be 2018's Most Popular Baby Names, According To Mums

Even if you have no intention of having to choose one any time soon, there's something fascinating about changing trends in baby names.

In the UK, there are names that have remained popular for centuries, especially those favoured by the royal family like George or Charlotte. Other names have come in and out of favour, and cool new ones are being introduced all the time, often popularised by celebrities.

The people at parenting website Netmums have compiled a list of 25 baby names they think will be popular in 2018, and it makes for interesting reading.

Several of the names, including Henley, Mason and River, feel pretty gender neutral, which could reflect society's growing awareness of non-binary gender identities, as well as our move away from traditional notions of "male" and "female" traits and behaviours.

Other names on the list might once have seemed kind of old-fashioned, but are now being rediscovered. Rex, Sylvie and Theodore will all be super-hip choices this year, according to Netmums.

Meanwhile, parents who want to give their babies a powerful-sounding name could opt for the supremely regal moniker King. Last year, Jay Z explained that he and Beyoncé gave their baby son a similarly stately name, Sir, "because he carries himself like that."

Netmums also predicts that Dalston will be a popular choice this year, presumably as people name babies after the trendy east London district. Really, it's no different from Victoria and David Beckham naming their first-born child Brooklyn back in 1999.

Aria

Arlo

Axl

Blaine

Dalston

Emilia

Fox

Grayson

Harri

Henley

Hettie

King

Layla

Lola

Marcel

Mason

Maya

Milo

Nova

Otis

Quinn

Rex

River

Sylvie

Theodore