There’s a New Social Media Trend Around Baby Name Announcements
Pregnancy and birth announcements aren’t the only thing worth celebrating. Here’s how baby name reveals are trending.
There are lots of milestones during pregnancy and birth that deserve to be celebrated, and sharing your baby’s name is one of them. Aside from meeting your baby for the first time, choosing their name is also a big deal. While friends and family eagerly await the “baby’s here!” announcement, learning their name is equally thrilling. What’s the first thing you do when you read a celebrity or influencer’s baby announcement? Look for the name, of course!
Friends and family used to find out baby’s name along with baby’s birth announcement via phone call or text. Snail mail birth announcements were also a thing. But social media has been a game changer when it comes to sharing exciting milestones and personal news. And it’s opened up a world of possibilities that lets you announce your baby’s name in unique, exciting ways. (Think of the rise of gender reveals; the increase in popularity can partially be attributed to social platforms like Instagram and TikTok.) We’re seeing similar trends with baby name reveals; sometimes parents wait to share the name until birth and other times they share before baby arrives in a creative post—and it’s not just influencers and celebrities, either.
The when, where, and how of sharing your baby's name is entirely up to you. There are countless ways to make this announcement unique and something worth celebrating.
Fun Ways to Share Your Baby’s Name
While keeping baby’s name a secret until birth is still pretty common, what’s new is turning the name reveal into its separate milestone. And there are so many sweet and creative ways to do this!
Here are a few baby name reveal trends we’re noticing—maybe one will spark your imagination for your special baby name announcement.
1. Announce Baby’s Name with the Birth
I think it’s safe to say we all anxiously await that “baby’s here” post, whether it’s someone we know personally or our favorite influencer. But baby names garner another type of excitement. We couldn’t wait for Sophia Richie Grainge's birth announcement post in anticipation of her name choice; Eloise Samantha didn’t disappoint!
Steph and Ayesha Curry also shared a photo of baby number four’s hand as their birth announcement/name reveal: Caius Chai.
2. Hard Launch Baby’s Name Before They Arrive
You certainly don’t have to wait until baby’s officially earth-side to share their name, there are a bunch of creative ways to reveal it during pregnancy. Some people incorporate custom name decor when setting up the nursery or wear personalized jewelry with baby's name (like in the sweet name reveal below).
Another name reveal trend we’re noticing is the baby shower + name reveal combo. This an especially sweet way to reveal if you’re naming your baby in a family member or friend’s honor. (Fair warning: grab your tissues before you watch those videos on TikTok.) Some parents reveal this sweet surprise via toast but you can also incorporate baby’s name into your shower decor (think customized signage or napkins) or even put it on a cake that says something like, “Welcoming Baby Wells” or “Baby Zuriya Blooming Soon.”
And don’t forget about baby shower games! They’re also an exciting way to share baby’s name in person with your guests. You can put together a scavenger hunt (with clues representing or spelling out baby’s name) or hide it in an unscramble or word search. And make it extra engaging by offering a small prize to whoever guesses first.
3. Reveal Baby’s Name AFTER the Birth Announcement
We’ve also noticed a shift in precisely when people are sharing their baby’s name. More parents are separating their birth announcement from their name reveal, and we’re loving this trend. By splitting the two announcements, parents can savor that special—yet fleeting—transition to parenthood a little longer.
Earlier this year, influencer Jaci Marie Smith announced she and her husband, Leif Carlson, were expecting their first baby, after a very open and honest infertility journey. They shared their baby girl’s arrival first (in a sweet Instagram post) followed by her name reveal about a week later.
Influencer Madi Nelson decided to wait until birth to find out whether baby number four was a boy or a girl. She shared an adorable birth announcement reel to her Instagram, followed by a separate gender + name reveal post.
Hilary Duff also teased her baby’s arrival—via Instagram story—in May of this year, followed by another post in which shared her newest addition’s name, Townes Meadow Blair.
4. Don’t Forget Personalized Baby Name Products
Personalized clothing or name signs go hand in hand with creating the perfect name reveal post—they make great photo shoot props and can be repurposed as nursery decor or added to your baby’s regular wardrobe circulation. These sentimental items are also worth adding to your baby’s memory box. And you can use personalized bodysuits, swaddles or name necklaces no matter the type of reveal you’re planning.
Briana Engelbrecht
Assistant Editor
Briana Engelbrecht is Babylist’s Assistant Editor, where she brings her passion for early childhood development and the perinatal period, plus experience as a mom of two to Babylist articles and guides. She’s also a certified lactation counselor. A former preschool teacher, she loves children’s picture books, cats, plants and making things.
