Baby-naming experts are expressing concern over a recent surge in names linked to weapons, such as Shooter and Caliber.
“There’s a noticeable, albeit small, trend where parents are choosing names inspired by weapons and violence for their sons,” Sophie Kihm, the editor-in-chief of Nameberry, shared in an interview with HuffPost. “Names like Wesson, Caliber, Shooter, and Trigger began appearing on baby name lists in the 2000s.”
She pointed out that many of these names have gained popularity in recent years, with Wesson peaking in 2021 at 306 uses, Caliber reaching its highest in 2018 with 24 uses, Mace appearing in 2022 with 64 uses, and Dagger showing up 13 times in 2022.
“It’s hard to say if these names have truly peaked or if some will continue to rise in popularity, but I don’t think we’ve seen the end of this trend yet!” she added.
In addition to weapon-inspired names, some baby names are influenced by famous brands like Remington and Winchester. According to the Social Security Administration, other violent terms such as Arson, Cutter, and Dagger have also made their way into baby name lists.
Experts suggest there are several factors contributing to this growing trend. For instance, some of these names have a cowboy-like feel, which appeals to many parents. Kihm also noted that many of these names resemble surnames, which is another reason they may be gaining traction.
Taylor A. Humphrey, a baby-naming consultant, explained that parents often seek names with personal meaning, such as family names. A rising trend is the use of surnames as first names, which allows parents to honor loved ones.
“These names are often used to remember a deceased relative in a fresh way,” Humphrey told The Independent in October 2024. “For instance, if your grandmother’s name was Ethel Taylor, but Ethel seems outdated, you might choose Taylor as a more modern and unisex option for your child.”
Humphrey also predicted that celebrity-influenced names will be big in 2025. She pointed out that names associated with popular celebrities or characters from TV shows in 2024 could become increasingly popular. For example, the name Jack, which is already a common name, is expected to rise in popularity after Hailey and Justin Bieber named their son Jack Blues Bieber.
Despite these trends, Kihm admitted that the rise of violent or weapon-related names is one trend she does not support.
“It’s rare for me to reject a name or a naming trend outright, but I just can’t get behind names inspired by weapons,” Kihm explained. “They glamorize violence, and especially with the amount of violence in the U.S. today, they seem out of touch. In my consulting work, I’ve never met a parent who wanted one of these names, and I would strongly advise against it.”