By Danielle Kate Wroe
Copyright mirror
SJ Strum is an internet personality and baby naming expert who often appearing on ITV’s This Morning. She helps parents to find the name that perfectly suits their little one. Many people expecting a baby in 2026 will be wondering which names are going to be on-trend without being too ostentatious, or on the flip side, too traditional. The expert shares baby name advice and advice on gentle parenting on her TikTok account, helping parents come to a decision about the name they’ll use for their bundle of joy. She deals with “baby name emergencies” from her followers, and even shares collages of “fashion vibes” mums may have, and “names you should list” based off that fact. In 2025, she posted on her TikTok the most popular names would be “nomad names,” so more edgy monikers such as Libby, Atlas, and Wallace. And Atlas, which is a gender-neutral name meaning ‘to endure’ has seen a rise in popularity lately. SJ exclusively told Mirror in 2026, we should expect more names which are heavily influenced by popular culture, some she described as ‘whimsical,’ and even more gender neutral names, as some parents prefer something that can be used in any eventuality. She wrote: “Baby names follow trends and always have since the Royals inspired names in the Regency era to Flower names which flew into society during Victorian Britain. “Popular Culture changes more rapidly these days, meaning we’re seeing a huge Baby Name Boom with hundreds more unique names registered in the UK year by year. “Our name trends are inspired by fashion, parenting styles and what we’re watching on TV – Netflix and Naming is a thing!” Here are the Trends Emerging for 2026 that should inspire you: With White Lotus, Succession and Sirens bringing us fully into the chic and tailored world of the upper classes, classic Euro-Inspired boy names are leaping into the charts and come with a jumper slung over their shoulders, and are as handsome as the perfect linen shirt. These names include: Uber influencers like Nara Smith (daughter Whimsy-Lou) The Kardashian Jenners (True, Saint, Aire) and Megan Fox (daughter Saga Blade), Whimsical Word names are surging into fashion and they add a beautiful storytelling nature to your Baby Name. These names include: We’ve always enjoyed names that can be worn by any gender, but this trend has become even more popular this year with families seeking a one name they can use whether they have a son or daughter. SJ Strum’s new book ‘Baby Name Envy’ can be bought from Amazon now.
