Unique Baby Names Inspired By 90s Pop Culture

While our love for spaghetti straps and lace camisoles knows no bounds, it's not just Nineties fashion that is making a comeback this year.

Nostalgia for a bygone era of hair mascara and the Macarena is spreading to the sphere of baby names too.

According to social researchers McCrindle, nineties baby names are on the up in Australia, as parents searching for something a little bit different tap into their favourite childhood music and TV shows.

We think it's a trend us Brits can get on-board with too.

Here's a few suggestions for unique, off-radar monikers that draw from the nineties - a decade of pure, unadulterated brilliance...

Leo

Sure, Leonardo DiCaprio is still around now but his heyday was undoubtedly the Nineties.

Who didn't have a snap of luscious Leo tacked to the inside of their locker, or adorning the front of their DT folder?

Delicious simple, Leo is derived from the Latin word "Lion".

Annalise

Naming your daughter after TV's most famous jilted bride is an audacious move.

Yet part of the appeal of Neighbour's Annalise was her ability to thrive no matter the odds. Cancer scares, plane crashes, heartbreak... nothing kept her down.

Annalise means "God's promise of grace" or "graced with God's bounty."

Ronan

Boyzone's foremost heartthrob captivated us with his boyish good looks and loved-up lyrics.

So, why not pay homage to the ultimate boyband pin-up?

Ronan is a distinctive and slightly unusual choice. It finds its roots in the Irish language, and translates as "little seal".

Dionne

Channel the well-heeled style kudos of Cher's BFF and all-out Betty.

Dionne is a little less obvious than Cher yet it still gives a nod to the flagrant femme fest that is one of our favourite Nineties cult hits.

Plus, Dionne originates from Dionysius, the Greek god of wine. What better namesake for your child?

Keanu

Speed, Point Break, The Matrix. Keanu Reeves' film credits in the Nineties is a veritable Aladdin's Cave of action-based machoism.

Work a little of his muscle-driven allure and presence under pressure by naming your boy Keanu ('Ke' for short).

Just to amp up its credentials, Keanu is a Hawaiian name meaning "the cool breeze".

Nice, eh?

Alisha

Remember back in the day when Alisha ruled the world? Girl band Alisha's Attic defined that magnetic pop-grunge sound that dominated the Nineties.

And they have attitude by the bucket load; naming your baby girl after them will surely set her up for life.

This pretty and unique name is associated with the word "noble".

Joey

Great for either sex, Joey could - of course - be interpreted as tribute to the endearingly ditzy Joey from Friends.

But our all-time favourite Joey of the Nineties has to be the protagonist of Dawson's Creek.

Insightful, calm and loyal, Joey had a plethora of qualities to recommend her.

It's a Hebrew name, meaning May Jehovah add/give increase.

Toni

Channel the emotional resonance of Toni Braxton, one of the most powerful and evocative singers of the decade.

Anyone named after the woman who belted out Un-break My Heart with such rousing passion is going to go far in life, right?

Toni is a petite yet energetic title. It's a version of Antonia or Antoinette, from the Greek word "flower".

Huey

Yes, after Huey Morgan of the Fun Lovin' Criminals.

From Scooby Snacks to Smoke 'em, he provided the soundtrack to much of our misspent youth - and it's a nifty little throwback for those of you who went down the grunge root (as opposed to boy bands) growing up.

Not convinced? Think about the riot of meanings behind the name. It translates as Heart. Mind. Inspiration. Intelligent.

Deep, huh?

Alabama

Why not go all-out, and name your daughter after the ultimate girl hero of the Nineties?

Alabama - aka Patricia Arquette in Tarantino film True Romance - was so cool, she practically invented the word.

Yes, her retro style was to die for, but she was also warm-hearted, kind and gutsy.

Alabama is, naturally, a name that eulogises the Deep South romance of the American state.

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