The 1990s brought a baby-naming trend toward freshness and originality, including a surge of surnames. Parents favored surnames because they sounded natural, were familiar to spell and pronounce, and offered many options that did not feel made up. The decade’s naming style became more compact as frilly 1980s edges faded. A new pattern emerged in two-syllable “-n” names such as Brandon, Jordan, Caitlin, and Morgan. Tyler and Taylor reached their peak and helped usher in more “doer” surnames later. Popular girl names often used surname-like endings such as “-y,” including Haley, Courtney, Shelby, and Kelsey, while Heather began a steep decline. Boy names stayed steadier, with Michael and Christopher remaining top choices as change approached for the next century.
"“Parents were more focused on freshness and originality than ever before, and surnames were the perfect solution: a whole realm of fresh names that didn't sound 'made up,' and that were familiar to spell and pronounce,” Wattenberg tells TODAY.com."
"“The frilly edges of '80s style started to fade,” Wattenberg shares. “You can hear a new style emerging in two-syllable '-n' names like Brandon, Jordan, Caitlin and Morgan.”"
"Wattenberg notes that the '90s “also marked the peak of Tyler and Taylor, a pair that helped usher in a bigger wave of 'doer' surnames in the years to come.”"
"Popular girl names were often surnames that ended in “-y,” like Haley, Courtney, Shelby and Kelsey. On the flip side, Heather begins its steep decent in this decade."
Read at TODAY.com
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