If you’re sitting on a park bench next to two proud parents rocking a baby in a pram, think twice before you coo and ask the baby’s name. They might very well tell you that he is called... Isis.

The term now associated with the jihadist terrorist organisation responsible for the gruesome murder of innocent people is actually on the list of Maltese baby names for 2014.

Isis will not be the only baby who in a couple of decades may want to file an application to change his name. There’s Alla, Caszneya, Chacen, Opelle, Xenobia, Xirezya, Xyzel, Fumi and Lucia Early Bird. One girl is called Malta, while another has been named Aula, after a courtroom. And don’t forget Ola.

Last year saw another rise in African, Russian and Slavic names, indicating an increase in the presence of foreign families on the island. However, traditional Maltese names are also in vogue: Xandru, Ċikka, Carmen, Carmenu, Ġiuseppa, Ġużeppe, Ġużè, Ġużi, Innocenza, Nina, Peppi, Rita, Samwel, Tumas and Viktor all make it to the list.

Historical names and literary figures also feature: Achilles, Agrippina, Julietta and Neil Napoleon. There are hundreds of babies named after celebrities, the most notable of which is Farag, possibly after the Ukip leader.

Hundreds of babies were named after celebrities in 2014

There are scores of footballers’ names, such as Gerrard Paul, Klose, Neymar, Ozil, Arsene and Arshavin.

And then there are the names inspired by Hollywood: Morgan Tyler after the actress, Aischa after the singer-songwriter, Chandler from the television sitcom Friends, Sherif after Omar Sharif, Castiel after the TV series Supernatural, Calista after Calista Flockhart, the actress married to Harrison Ford, and of course the trademark Deniro.

More and more, children are being given names which we would normally consider vocabulary words: Bow, Bright, Gift, Glory, Heaven, Hope, Hour, Miracle, River, Poppy, Summer, Chase, Cloy and Sky, with its ever-increasing variants: Skylar, Skye, Skyler, Skyven.

Meanwhile, six babies are called Soleil, as is one of the Prime Minister’s daughters.

Last year saw the usual array of Sh names: Shaiela, Shain, Shaina, Shaizdon, Shaizen, Shaizyan, Shaznianne, Shelaine, Sherzon, Shevlon, Shezaiha, Shezia, Shireen, Shenice and Sheraizin.

And there are the different combinations starting with K: Kaylese, Kaymee, Kayoa, Kaysen, Kaysielle, Kayson, Kayton, Kayzia, Kazlynn, Kaznick, Keizon and Ketija.

And some concoctions with Z: Zadeoshia, Zalayah, Zaleyshia, Zandeleigh, Zelania, Zeldin, Zirion, Zlayton, Zwayne, Zveyden, Zvenden, Zyler.

Some of the names simply stand out on their own: Krysal Angel, Lawklin, Micole, Lovelyn, Eshielle, Trishelle, Eli Teddy, Chike, and Fnot – the latter is listed in the urban dictionary as a girl who is fat but thinks she is not.

All these names belong to babies whose parents are proud that no other child will share their name in the class of 2014.

However, to put things into perspective, the most popular names are the very traditional ones: Daniel and Luca for boys and Julia and Martina for girls.

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