When coronavirus started spreading around the world earlier this year, there were lots of headline-grabbing stories about baby names inspired by the pandemic. Twins in India called Covid and Corona. A baby boy named Lockdown. Another one named Sanitiser. 

But seriously. 

A couple of months down the track, it’s starting to look like COVID-19 could really be starting to influence the names being chosen by parents. Your little child probably won’t end up in a class full of Sanitisers at school, but here are four trends to look out for. 

Watch: Brace yourselves, Reddit has revealed the worst baby names they've ever heard. Post continues below.

Less viral-sounding names.

A survey by Channel Mum in the UK showed that parents were planning to steer clear of names that sounded similar to “coronavirus” or anything related. 

That includes Cora, Rona, Violet (apparently it sounds like “virus”) and Lachlan/Lockie (sounds like “lockdown”). 

In Australia, Lachlan is already on the way out, with McCrindle research showing it dropped from 23rd to 28th spot last year. 

McCrindle communications director Ashley Fell says once a link like Lachlan/Lockie/lockdown is pointed out, it can have an impact. 

“I hadn’t thought of that, but once it’s brought to your attention, you’re like, ‘Oh yeah,’” she tells Mamamia. “I do think we will continue to see that drop.” 

As well, any parents thinking of naming their daughters Miley – as in Miley Cyrus, rhyming slang for coronavirus – might want to reconsider. 

More strong names.

It feels like everyone’s been having a tough time lately – not just those struck down by coronavirus, but people out of a job and new mums isolated from their support network. So it’s understandable that baby names that mean “strength” are experiencing a surge in popularity. 

In the US, interest in the name Griffin for girls, meaning “strong lord”, is on the rise, according to Nameberry. 

Other “strength” names currently piquing interest in the US include Millicent, Mahogany, Bedelia and Barrett (girls), and Valentino, Quillon, Hartman, Armstrong and Zale (boys). 

“There are a few different trends at play when parents are naming their child, and meaning is definitely one of them,” Fell says.

Looking for more names suggestions for these uncertain times? How about Hope, Hero, Haven and Harbour? 

More old-fashioned names.

Coronavirus has focused our attention on the elderly, who are most at risk from it. In the US, baby name consultant Sherry Suzanne has been telling her clients, since COVID-19 took hold, that they should call their elderly relatives and ask for the names of their family members and classmates. 

She thinks it’s a good way to get baby name inspiration and “engage” octogenarians at the same time. 

Suzanne puts forward Lily, Leo and Theodore as old-fashioned names that are taking off in the US. In Australia, McCrindle research shows names like Sadie, Maisie and Ezra on the way up.

Fell says coronavirus is seeing people focus more on family, which is likely to have an impact on naming. 

“I do think we will see people drawing on more traditional names,” she says.    

More hero names.

Who are the heroes in this pandemic? The frontline medical staff, for starters. British PM Boris Johnson gave his son the middle name “Nicholas”, after two doctors named Nick who saved his life when he was admitted to intensive care with coronavirus. 

In the UK, it’s tipped that Florence, as in trailblazing nurse Florence Nightingale, will hit the top 10 for girls. In Australia, Florence is currently sitting at number 46. 

Another name predicted to boom is in the UK is Joe, or a version of Wicks, for Joe Wicks, the online fitness guru who got a locked-down nation jumping up and down in their living rooms. 

So what coronavirus local heroes do we have in Australia? Politicians? Will Morrison hit the top 100 this year? Or Gladys?

“I think that might be going a bit far!” Fell laughs.