Baby Names To Avoid In 2018

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One of the biggest challenges a parent faces is choosing a name for their beloved baby. While there is no perfect way to pick the right name for your bundle of joy, there are some names that you should definitely avoid. Even some traditional names that have been popular for decades are not necessarily safe choices anymore. If you're struggling with picking a name for your own little one, keep reading to learn which names you do not want to give your baby in 2018.

Alexa

There's no doubt about the fact that Alexa is a beautiful name, but it's also one that might best be avoided when you consider the rise in popularity of Amazon Echo devices. Even if you don't have one of these personal assistants in your home, it's pretty likely that you have a friend or relative who does. This could lead to a lot of confusion with the device responding every time someone calls your little girl's name.

Echo

While you might think Echo is a unique choice for a name, this is another one that you should probably give a miss thanks to Amazon Echo. While the device usually responds to the name Alexa, they can be reset to respond to a few other wakewords, including Echo.

Siri

If you're a huge fan of Apple, you might be tempted to name your baby Siri, a shortened form of the name Sigrid which is derived from the words for "victory" and "beautiful." The name itself is a lovely one, but you might want to rethink giving it to your baby if you have an iPhone. Giving your baby the same name as your intelligent personal assistant has the potential to lead to far too much confusion.

Sirius

Sirius is another bad option for a baby name. First of all, it's just too close to Siri, meaning that your iPhone might think you're talking to it when you're just saying your baby's name. There's also the fact that the name lends itself far too well to puns. Unless you want your kid to go through life being asked why he looks so "Sirius," perhaps it's best to think twice before bestowing this name on your baby.

Harvey

The name Harvey was all over the news in 2017, but rarely for a good reason. First, there was the devastating hurricane that swept through Texas killing nearly a hundred people and causing $180 billion in damage. This was shortly followed by the news that film producer Harvey Weinstein had been accused of sexual assault by several women. Both of these things are sure to be associated with the name Harvey for years to come, and that's a legacy you do not want to pass on to your baby.

Khaleesi

There are a lot of reasons to be enamored with the name Khaleesi, which George R. R. Martin invented for his wildly popular Game of Thrones series. It's a unique moniker that not only pays homage to a beloved book series and television show, but also sounds pretty. 

That being said, do you really want your kid to be singled out for having such an unusual name? Another obstacle is that the Game of Thrones series hasn't wrapped up yet, so we don't know what the future has in store for the character. If it's anything but a happily ever after for our beloved queen, you might not want your baby to be stuck with the name.

Kay

Whether you're thinking of giving the name Kay to your baby or using it as an nickname for Katherine or Katie, you should rethink your name choice. Google Home devices are one of the most popular personal assistants on the market right now. The device responds to "Ok Google," and the similarity of the name Kay is bound to cause some confusion.

Donald

Regardless of how you feel about President Donald Trump, it's usually best to avoid naming a kid after a sitting president. First of all, it's likely to invite jokes from those on the opposite end of the political spectrum. Presidential baby names also typically increase in popularity following an election, so if you do decide to name your baby Donald he'll probably share a name with a lot of babies born in the same year.

Coco

Thanks to the success of the film Coco, we wouldn't be surprised if this cute name ended up at the top of your baby name list. The name Coco has so many draws — it's simple and easy to pronounce in many languages, yet it also calls to mind the timeless elegance of Coco Chanel, making it seem like an ideal choice. Keep in mind that, like any unique name inspired by a popular movie, there's a chance that it'll lead to jokes on the playground. There is also some dark history associated with the name, considering that Coco Chanel collaborated with the Nazis during World War II.

Kim

As tensions between the United States and North Korea increased in 2017, the names Kim or Kimberly are ones that you will definitely want to avoid in 2018. Even if peace is declared soon between the two nations, it's likely Kim Jong Un will live on in infamy. It'll be hard to forget that negative association anytime soon. Plus, when your kid learns about the history of North Korea in his or her social studies class, you don't want them to be teased for sharing a name with the country's leader.

Meghan

Meghan is not quite as popular as its more common spelling, Megan, but between the two variations, this is a name that's been getting a ton of traction lately. Given the popularity of Meghan Markle and the excitement surrounding the announcement of her engagement to Prince Harry, the name is likely to be even more popular for 2018 babies. The name Diana experienced a boom after Princess Diana married Prince Charles, and the name Meghan is poised to do the same. If you give your daughter this name, be prepared for her to share it with at least one or two other kids in her class at school.