Increasingly trendy in recent years, this first name should still be a hit in 2026. But its sudden rise intrigues Stéphanie Rapoport, author of L’Officiel des Noms.
This feminine first name has experienced remarkable growth in around ten years. Entering the top 100 in 2015, in 84th place, it continued its progression until entering the top 10 in 2021. The figures clearly illustrate this takeoff. In 2012, this first name was only given to 469 little girls, then reached a peak in 2021 with 2,447 given. Since then, it has continued to be given to more than 2,000 children each year and should continue there in 2026. A continuous, almost regular progression, which intrigues Stéphanie Rapoport, author of L’Officiel des Noms.
The first name specialist has in fact looked at this phenomenon at length. “I became interested in the incredible journey of this first name, which keeps a great deal of mystery for me.she tells us. “Little present in English- or Spanish-speaking countries, it has only enjoyed moderate diffusion in the Netherlands and Germany. Its success therefore seems very specifically French, and now Belgian. she adds. But another element still seems inexplicable.
The sudden success of the female first name Romy remains a mystery: “This first name did not take off after the death of Romy Schneider in 1982. It did not return due to a special birthday, nor is it embodied by a modern singer or actress. Stéphanie Rapoport tells us. So, what is its secret and why have parents been so attracted to this feminine name in recent years?
For Stéphanie Rapoport, several elements come together: “Let’s put its French (and Belgian today) success down to the fact that it is a short first name with a contrarian ending (the “y” is a pioneer and stands out well from the endings an “a” or “ia”). And also: Romy is a new first name”the first name specialist tells us. Finally, there is a cosmopolitan and neutral dimension: Romy can be used quite well in several languages, which crosses borders while remaining easy to wear. This adaptability adds to its appeal for parents who want a name that is both universal and unique.
Very little attributed for a long time after its first appearance in the statistics in 1960, Romy was therefore able to seduce parents looking for originality without eccentricity, while offering familiar sounds, close to already established first names like Rose or Romane. In short, it was not an external event that launched Romy as is often the case for other first names. It is rather a convergence of aesthetic and cultural trends, a pleasant phonetic style, and a very favorable positioning in the current preferences of parents, which have made this first name a sure value in the French ranking.
