Will 2015 be the Year of Gender Neutral Baby Names?

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Baby names in 2015 reflect the rising popularity and support of gender neutrality and non binary issues.

Although we are only half-way through the year, 2015 is shaping up to be the year of gender neutral baby names.

BabyCenter.com published findings during their annual midyear report. Though gender specific names such as Noah and Emma remain very popular, gender-neutral names like Amari, Karter, Phoenix, Quinn and Reese are rising in popularity too.

BabyCenter’s Global Editor in Chief Linda Murray has linked the change in approach to younger, more open-minded parents, as well as society’s move away from traditional gender stereotypes.

“As usual, baby names are reflecting a larger cultural shift.

“Millennials are an open-minded and accepting group, and they don’t want their children to feel pressured to conform to stereotypes that might be restrictive.”

BabyCenter also attributed the trend to recent celebrity parents, who have contributed to the gender-neutral trend by giving girls traditionally male monikers, such as actress Kristen Bell, who named her daughter Lincoln and Green Lantern stars Blake Lively & Ryan Reynolds, who named their recent addition James.

Last year, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt family announced their support for their eight-year-old daughter to self-identify as male.

John Jolie Pitt, who was assigned female at birth, asked to be called by that name, and attracted widespread attention when they appeared on the red carpet for Angelina’s film ‘Unbroken’, wearing a tuxedo and with cropped hair.

The family have for several years shown full support for John’s right to explore their self-identification.