Pull on your light-wash jeans and lace up your New Balances, because the latest baby name trend comes from the dad next door! 

The “dad-core” trend has been around for a few years, tied closely to fashion aesthetics like norm-core and gorp-core, but now—like many “-cores” and aesthetics do, it has trickled down to baby names.

Celebrities and influencers like Kylie and Jason Kelce have embraced the trend with their four daughters: Wyatt, Elliotte, Bennett, and Finnley—opting for gender-neutral names that can be abbreviated into a dad-core nickname like “Benny” or “Finn.”

The dad-core vibe appeals to Millennial and Gen Z parents, who often look for unique but classic, gender-neutral first names for their kids. Think names that stand out, but not too much.

When considering a dad-core baby name, imagine classic, masculine first names—like the names of your dad, uncles, and neighbors: Scott, Bernard, Charlie, Steven. Many dad-core baby names take elements of those Boomer and Gen X-era first names and add an “-ie” or “y” toward the end of the name so they’re better suited to a baby girl, but others, like Elliott and Ira, stand alone for either gender.

The charm of dad-core names is that they’re a little dorky—but in a cute way!—and have a retro, ‘80s- and ‘90s vibe that resonates with Millennial and Gen Z parents, who are known to love sitcom dads like Danny Tanner or his fellow Full House-mates Joey and Jesse. A dad-core baby name can also be a sweet way to pay homage to a special dad or father figure in your life. 

Ahead, we’ve rounded up more than 50 dad-core baby names to get you started.

Scottie is such a cute first name, but Scott also works well as a gender-neutral middle name, especially if you have a Scott in your family tree.

As in Stevie Nicks, of course! While Stevie Nicks’s first name is Stephanie, using Stevie as a first name is a nice way to pay tribute to a special Steven—or honor the Fleetwood Mac musician.

Use Frankie as a diminutive for Frances or Francesca, but it’s equally cute on its own.

Bennett is a popular gender-neutral first name and can be abbreviated to Benny or Ben. It’s strong, impactful, and timeless.

Another Kelce-family pick, Elliott (or in their case, Elliotte) is a cool, strong first name with old-school dad vibes.

Ira says a lot in just three letters! It also pairs well with a variety of middle names, making this a versatile dad-core choice.

The name Bernie makes you think of a nice neighbor named Bernard, doesn’t it? It stands alone well, but could also be a nickname for Bernadette.

Want something a little more unexpected and unique? Try Tommie, a cute twist on Thomas or Tommy.

Mattie is similar to Maddie or Maddy, though the double-t spelling makes it stand out. It could also be used as a diminutive of Matilda.

We love Charlie as a nickname for Charlotte or on its own; it has a classic appeal for any child.

The name Jordan has major ‘90s vibes in the coolest way.

A cheerful version of Sonny, this sweet first name just makes you smile.

Like Uncle Joey in Full House or Joey from Friends, of course! Neither were dads, but they’re still dad-core icons in our book.

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds helped popularize this traditionally masculine first name for girls with the birth of their first daughter.

Like Tommie, Jimmie is a unique dad-core baby name that would also be cute as a nickname.

For many parents, timelessness is an important factor when choosing a baby name, and opting for something trendy can “date” your child’s name. (Just ask all the Ashleys of the ‘80s!) Many dad-core baby names have a more classic first name as their base, so they may not feel quite as trendy as a cottagecore- or TV-inspired name.

If you’re worried about the name being too trendy, consider choices like Adrian, Sami, or Dani, which are longtime favorites. Using dad-core names as a nickname versus a full name is another way to ensure your child’s first name doesn’t feel too trendy or of an era.