Baby naming has evolved from the era of picking from a book — today, there are entire websites and companies dedicated to naming little ones, as well as individual naming consultants for hire. Today chatted with some of those experts to land on eight trends defining baby naming for 2026, including '90s boy band-inspired monikers and cottagecore themes.
Must Reads
Add to your watch list: a new Nat Geo film about the elusive world of "ghost elephants"
The Case for Finding a Place Where Everyone Knows Your Name
Joe Sohm—Visions of America/Universal Images Group/Getty Images
You've seen it on Cheers, Friends, and Gilmore Girls: regulars visiting the same place over and over again, whether it's a bar in a big city or a diner in a small town. Turns out, research shows that frequenting a place where everyone knows your name really is as good as it seems on TV. Friendly interactions with acquaintances (baristas, waiters, and fellow regulars) are classified as "weak ties" in sociology — but their impact is anything but weak. The term was coined in 1973 by researcher Mark Granovetter, who found that these loose connections help bridge our social circles and create wider networks, opening doors to unexpected support and opportunities. A 2020 data analysis from Oxford University backs that up, finding that regulars tend to be more socially engaged, content, and trusting of others in the community compared to non-regulars. "These kinds of small interactions actually can boost our mood and overall contribute to our social health by making us feel more connected, by allowing for regular, consistent interaction, and even by presenting us with the opportunity to potentially make friends and develop deeper relationships," Kasley Killam, a Harvard-trained social scientist, told Self magazine. Sticking with tried-and-true spots can have ripple effects too, she added: "If we show up to our local establishments and are regulars, that's a way for us to really revitalize our communities and help ourselves, but also the other people who we come into contact with." So if you needed a nudge to get out and find a third place, this is it!
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Extinct No More: Giant Tortoises Are Roaming a Galápagos Island Again
Carlos Espinosa/CDF
For 180 years, giant tortoises have been absent from Floreana Island in the Galápagos due to hunting and human-introduced invasive species (e.g., rats and cats). But that changed last week when 158 juvenile tortoises were let free on the island after being raised in captivity — the result of decades of conservation work. "The return of giant tortoises to Floreana Island is an extraordinary milestone for the Galápagos and a powerful example of what expedition travel can and should support," Amy Berquist, a vice president at Lindblad Expeditions, said in a statement shared with Nice News. The work leading up to the release was funded in part by traveler donations to the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Fund. The animals' return could revitalize the islandin more ways than one. Known as "ecosystem engineers," giant tortoises play a vital role in helping spread the seeds of native plants, creating habitats for other wildlife, and restoring degraded landscapes. "Seeing giant tortoises back on Floreana is a truly spine-tingling moment," said Jen Jones, the chief executive of the Galápagos Conservation Trust. "It's a validation of the incredible efforts we've seen over the last 20 years."
Science
Bananas Are in Trouble, but Researchers May Have Found a Solution
Thurtell/iStock
In comforting news for banana lovers, scientists have made a breakthrough that could help stave off a destructive fungus that's threatening the world's most popular variety — and our favorite smoothie ingredient. A bit of banana backstory first: The global banana supply, especially the Cavendish variety commonly sold in supermarkets, is facing threats from a soil-borne fungal disease called Fusarium wilt, also known as Panama disease. This fungus invades the plant through its roots and blocks its ability to transport water and nutrients, eventually killing it. (A previous strain wiped out the once-dominant Gros Michel banana in the 1950s, forcing the industry to switch to Cavendish.) Thankfully, researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia have identified a specific genetic region in a wild banana that shows resistance to a strain of this fungus found in the subtropics. While the wild banana itself isn't commercially viable, the discovery could provide a roadmap to develop new banana varieties that are disease-proof and just as delicious. The stakes are high, as bananas are the world's fourth most important food crop, providing a significant source of calories for more than 400 million people and supporting a $140 billion industry. "It's easy to take the banana for granted — simple, familiar, always there. But behind that simplicity lies one of agriculture's most coordinated and collaborative supply chains," Mohammad Abu-Ghazaleh, chairman and CEO of Fresh Del Monte Produce, said last July. "Protecting it is our shared responsibility."
In Other News
Barcelona's Sagrada Família has reached its planned maximum height after 144 years of construction (read more)
The James Webb Space Telescope helped scientists create the first 3D maps of auroras on Uranus (read more)
Osaka, Japan, received an anonymous donation of gold worth $3.6 million to repair the city's aging water pipes (read more)
A new study sheds light on why women's pain tends to last longer than men's, and could inform future therapies (read more)
When a young moose was stuck in the snow in New Hampshire, a group of snowmobilers sprang into action (read more)
Something We Love
Comfheat Cloud Plush Heating Pad After reading about the reason warm hugs feel so nice, I bought this heating pad for my little one. I heat it up in the microwave, put it in the crib for a few minutes, and then remove it just before bedtime. And it comes in tons of cute designs — in addition to the cloud, the company also sells an octopus, fox, cat, cow, and more. – Marika Spitulski, Writer
Today marks World Spay Day and the four-year anniversary of Russia invading Ukraine. In honor of both, Worldwide Vets is launching an initiative to sterilize and vaccinate 500 animals in a single day across Ukraine, with the support of local and international veterinary teams. "We will show that the world has not looked away, that we care, that we support, and that when we stand shoulder to shoulder, great things can happen," the org wrote.
Photo of the Day
Ryan Murphy/Getty Images
A once-in-a-decade winter storm hammered the Northeast, dumping nearly two feet of snow on New York City and even more in other parts of the region. And while this New Yorker strapped on their cross-country skis to trek across Central Park, we think it's the perfect time to stay cozy at home (if possible) and watch the snow from inside, preferably with a big bowl of soup in hand.
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Odds & Ends
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