Baby-naming trend already identified among ‘Generation Beta’ babies, BabyCenter claims
By Michael Bartiromo | Nexstar News Wire | June 28, 2025
(NEXSTAR) – There are more “Britneys” and “Shanias” in the world than there were six months ago, according to a new analysis from BabyCenter.
BabyCenter, a parenting resource website which tracks this type of thing, has identified several baby-naming trends for newborn “Generation Beta” babies in the first half of 2025, including a fondness for names that were popular in — or are associated with pop culture from — the 1990s.
For instance, the name “Britney,” spelled the same as Britney Spears, climbed more than 1,200 spots (to No. 3958) in popularity among U.S. parents registered at BabyCenter.com. The last significant spike in that name’s popularity came in 1999 and 2000, around the same time as Spears’ debut album was released, according to both BabyCenter and the Social Security Administration.
“Shania,” which also saw spikes in the mid- to late-90s during Shania Twain’s heyday, is also on the rise among BabyCenter users, climbing 856 spots among BabyCenter parents to No. 1915.
In addition to Shania and Britney, BabyCenter identified the names “Kelsey” and “Briana,” which peaked in popularity in the ‘90s, as those making a comeback among American parents. The site did not, however, identify any names that were popular in the 1990s but still somewhat rare in 2025 (such as Zachary, or Alanis, or Justin), so it’s unclear if the trend holds true for “90s” names in general.
BabyCenter also highlighted “Sabrina” as having a bit of a renaissance — pointing to the popularity of the late-90s sitcom “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” — but did not acknowledge any influence that current pop star Sabrina Carpenter may have had on the findings.
While it’s too early to tell whether the Social Security Administration’s data supports what BabyCenter is seeing, baby-naming experts have acknowledged that trends can indeed be very cyclical. Colleen Slagen, the baby name consultant behind NamingBebe.com, told Nexstar in 2024 that some experts believe there’s a “rule” regarding baby-name revivals, but it might not be applicable in this particular case.
“Some people say there’s something called the 100-year rule,” Slagen said. “They say the names [from 100 years ago] are coming back.”
It’s also quite possible that names from 100 years ago sometimes become popular simply because parents are seeking lesser-common options, rather than parents being influenced (at least consciously) by a current trend or era in time (e.g., the ‘90s).
Along with “90s” names, BabyCenter’s data showed an increase in popularity among names inspired by birds (“Cardinal,” “Robin,” “Dove”) and recent Oscars winners/nominees (“Keiran,” “Adrian,” “Cynthia”).
Another interesting observation is a rise in names inspired by consumer brands associated with wealth or opulence, such as “Manolo,” “Bentley,” “Laurent” or even “Tiffany,” which, coincidentally, was a name that was also more popular in the ‘90s.
More information, including stats on the names of hundreds of thousands of Generation Beta babies born to parents registered at BabyCenter, can be found its official website.
WATCH: Mumford & Sons Bring Out Lainey Wilson for "4X4XU" and "Man! I Feel Like A Woman!" cover
By Maxim Mower | Holler | August 5, 2025
Mumford & Sons’ star-studded Railroad Revival Tour continues its march across North America, with the folk trailblazers being joined by a host of A-list acts throughout this run.
Each show on this limited series of shows features a blockbuster guest, and this week, during their performance in New Orleans, Lainey Wilson graced the stage for a stellar cameo.
The country megastar serenaded the Louisiana crowd with a galvanising cover of Shania Twain's iconic ‘90s hit, ‘Man! I Feel Like a Woman!’ as well as her rose-tinted single, ‘4X4XU’. The fact that Lainey Wilson was performing for her beloved home-state gave her appearance an added lustre, with Marcus Mumford taking to socials after the duet to express his gratitude to Wilson for coming out with him.
Last night, Mumford & Sons’ Simpsonville, South Carolina audience were treated to a performance from another country chart-topper, Darius Rucker. Ketch Secor, the lead singer of Old Crow Medicine Show, has been part of the band's all-star travelling band along with Nathaniel Rateliff, Trombone Shorty, Lucius and more.
Heartwarmingly, Marcus was joined by Ketch and Darius for a joyous, sing-a-long rendition of ‘Wagon Wheel’ during the encore. Ketch wrote the track in the ‘90s, with Darius elevating it into a global smash almost two decades later, so getting to hear these two greats perform the infectious anthem together was a truly special moment.
Excitingly, Marcus has confirmed Maggie Rogers will be the guest artist tonight (August 5th) in Richmond, Virginia, while Noah Kahan will be linking up with the band in Burlington, Vermont on Thursday. With Kahan hailing from Vermont and penning a slew of tracks honouring his home-state, this should be a spectacular occasion.
Marcus and Kahan joined forces at Austin City Limits back in October 2023, with each artist paying homage to one another since. We're still waiting on a collaboration - hopefully they'll kick around some ideas for a track while backstage this week...
The West Galt Pumpkin People are back, eh? (14 photos)
'Canadian icons, heroes and celebrities' is the theme for this year's whimsical and patriotic return of the West Galt Pumpkin People
CambridgeToday | October 16, 2025
Man, I feel like a pumpkin. Canadian musician Shania Twain has been recreated as a West Galt Pumpkin Person.
The West Galt Pumpkin People are back with a Canadian twist.
The annual display by residents in the Victoria Park area of West Galt is celebrating Canadian pride this year with a theme of 'Canadian icons, heroes and celebrities.'
This year's pumpkin people range from well known movie characters played by Canadian actors, astronauts, scientists, athletes and more.
An interactive map showing the location of many of the West Galt Pumpkin People and instructions on how to create your own can be found here.
The West Galt Pumpkin People began at a single home in 2015 and has since grown across the neighbourhood.
Jeopardy! champion leaves fans stunned as he reveals his unexpected tie to Shania Twain
During the latest episode of Jeopardy!, winning contestant Tom Devlin shared an interesting tie to the Queen of Country Pop Shania Twain, who he says he once shared a stage with
During the Tuesday, Oct. 21 episode of the hit game show, a contestant from Washington D.C. named Tom Devlin had fans captivated as he gained the “highest scoring Jeopardy round of the season” with a prize bank of $12,000. He ended up winning the segment and taking home $22,599.
During his brief chat with host Ken Jennings, Devlin revealed that he was once a backup singer for the country singer.
When the attorney was in high school, Shania ended up in his area performing a show during one of her tours. While in town, she was set to sing a charity single and wanted local students to join her as background vocalists.
Tom’s choir teacher ended up sharing the opportunity with him and asked if he wanted to sing at the concert. After he gladly accepted, he ended up performing with the country singer for three minutes in front of a crowd of 20,000 people.
“That’s probably the biggest audience you’ve performed in front of, until now,” Ken pointed out.
Shania’s most noteworthy charity single is her 1996 song God Bless the Child. She donated all the Canadian profits to the Canadian Living Breakfast for Learning program and all the U.S. profits to the Feeding America food banks
The country singer previously shared it was her favorite song on her 1995 album The Woman in Me. She described it as “the most personal and the one that speaks most to my heart.”
That album gave the singer her first-ever Grammy Award for Best Country Album.
Since then, Shania has cemented herself as the Queen of Country Pop with four additional Grammy wins. She hasn’t taken home another win since 2000 when she was recognized for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for her iconic song Man! I Feel Like A Woman!
The singer is currently working on her seventh studio album, as well as a musical. The play will feature her iconic hits in a story inspired by the style of Abba’s Mamma Mia!
A source told The Sun, “It’s been a long time coming but the Shania musical is finally happening.
"The script has been completed and it’s now moved into the developmental stage, with discussions about staging and costumes,” the source shared.
Shania Twain’s Influence Reaches Across Genres And Generations
By Katie Armstrong | Cowgirl | October 22, 2025
Shania Twain’s impact on music and culture has long been undeniable, but her influence continues to show up in unexpected places. A recent social media post proves just how far her reach extends. Rock artists Avril Lavigne and Yungblud were seen singing along (HERE) in the car to Twain’s iconic anthem “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” …a song that first topped charts more than two decades ago.
Both artists come from completely different musical worlds, yet they knew every word. The moment serves as a reminder that Shania’s energy, confidence, and style transcend not only genres but also generations. Her ability to bridge pop, country, and rock continues to inspire a wide range of musicians and fans alike.
What began as a bold country-pop crossover in the late 1990s has turned into a lasting cultural movement. Twain’s songs remain staples at parties, concerts, and road trips, proving that her music still resonates with audiences who weren’t even born when her biggest hits debuted. The clip of Lavigne and Yungblud belting out her lyrics is just another example of how Shania Twain’s legacy keeps riding strong through every era of music.
SEX FILES: Your partner cheated. Should you Shania Twain it?
Canadian icon ended her marriage in 2008 after discovering her husband's affair with her close friend. Three years later, she married that friend's ex-husband.
By Simone Paget | Toronto Sun | November 9, 2025
When Jerry, a family friend, received divorce papers in the mail, it felt like a case of emotional whiplash. He had no idea that anything was wrong with his marriage or that his wife, Joan, was even considering a separation. In the weeks that followed, he found out that Joan had been cheating on him with her (also married) coworker. He was searching for answers (How had he not seen this coming? What had he done wrong?) when out of the blue, Paul’s ex reached out to him. They quickly bonded over being betrayed by their former partners. In a twist that no one saw coming, they started dating. This relationship couldn’t possibly work — or could it?
While this double rebound scenario was the talk of our neighbourhood growing up, thanks to a recent article in New York Magazine’s The Cut, there’s now a term for this type of post-cheating partner swap. Our friend Jerry was Shania Twain-ing it.
The Canadian icon ended her marriage in 2008 after discovering her husband’s affair with her close friend, who was also married at the time. Three years later, Twain married that friend’s ex-husband, Frederic Thiebaud. Reflecting on their relationship in an interview with Oprah, Twain said, “After we were both thrown off the same cliff together, we sort of grabbed each other midair and it broke the fall.”
While these types of relationship dynamics may seem like a recipe for disaster, the article in The Cut suggests they’re actually a lot more common — and successful — than we may think. After all, Twain has been happily married to Thiebaud since 2011. And according to experts, Shania Twain-ing after a heartbreaking betrayal actually makes a lot of sense.
“Shania Twain–ing” or dating the ex of the person your partner cheated with, taps into a deep psychological ****tail of pain, power, and reclamation,” says Tammy Nelson, PhD, author of six books including Open Monogamy, The New Monogamy, and When You’re the One Who Cheats, and host of the podcast The Trouble with Sex.
Nelson has spent decades helping couples and individuals heal from betrayal and sees Shania Twain-ing as less about love and more about regaining agency after emotional devastation. “When someone is betrayed, they often feel powerless, invisible, and discarded. “Shania Twain–ing” may be a symbolic reversal of that power dynamic.” It’s revenge wrapped in empowerment.
Nelson explains that for some people, it’s a way to rewrite the narrative. For example, “you hurt me and now I’m the one in control.” However, for many, it can also be a way to connect with someone who intimately understands what they’re going through, as was certainly the case with Jerry. I remember him telling us, “Who else could understand better than the person who the same people betrayed?”
Whether a connection formed in this way develops into a successful relationship all depends on the intention behind it. “If the relationship develops from a place of shared understanding, honesty, and emotional accountability, rather than revenge or retaliation, it has more of a chance to evolve into something authentic,” says Nelson.
However, Nelson also cautions betrayed partners that Shania Twain-ing can also result in trauma bonds — intense attachments that form when unresolved wounds from the past are triggered. While it’s possible to find true healing within this kind of relationship, Nelson says it requires slowing down and allowing space for grief to heal.
For those considering a double-rebound relationship, Nelson encourages people to reflect on what they’re trying to heal through this connection. “If the goal is to hurt your ex, prove your worth, reclaim the upper hand, have some kind of power where you feel rejected, you’ll likely deepen your pain instead,” she says. When the rebound relationship ends, the person has to deal with a double dose of heartbreak.
In Jerry’s case, he eventually ended his double-rebound relationship because he felt staying in it would keep him forever attached to the circumstances of his divorce. For these kinds of relationships to last, there needs to be a desire to build a relationship that isn’t motivated by revenge or shared trauma. “Both partners should process the betrayal and focus on each other rather than their exes,” says Krista Walker, LCSW, J.D., Clinical Director at The Ohana Luxury Addiction Treatment Center.
Infidelity brings up a maelstrom of complicated emotions. If you’re unsure of your motivations, Nelson suggests slowing down and speaking with a professional who can help you process the betrayal. As appealing as Shania Twain-ing may sound, she reminds us, “Healing is an inside job, not a headline.”
Fire Country’s Diane Farr Teases ‘Sheriff Country’ Role for Shania Twain: ‘She Might Be Too Young’ (Exclusive)
By Yana Grebenyuk | Us Weekly | November 21, 2025
With Fire Country consistently finding ways to cast country singers in key roles, the cast has discussed the perfect way to bring Shania Twain into the universe.
Diane Farr, who plays Sharon, spoke exclusively to Us Weekly about her idea, saying, “I just asked Morena [Baccarin] yesterday because we have different birth mothers [on the show] if she could see herself with Shania Twain as her mother.”
“Just this idea of finding a country singer who can come on and further that [would be great]. Northern California is so different from Southern California,” she noted about the tone of Fire Country compared to spinoff Sheriff Country. “It has pieces of Idaho, of Montana and it almost feels like it has pieces of Tennessee. The door keeps opening wider and wider.”
Fire Country, which premiered in 2022, follows Bode (Max Thieriot) as he gets a chance to shorten his prison sentence by volunteering for the California Conservation Camp Program. Three seasons in, Fire Country has featured cameos from country stars such as Kane Brown and Jelly Roll.
“[Jelly Roll] was finishing drying his hands with a towel in the bathroom at the CMTs [in April 2024]. I ran into him in the bathroom straight up at the CMT Music Awards,” Thieriot, 37, recalled exclusively to Us in April about how he got Jelly Roll, 40, involved. “I said, ‘Thank you for letting us have some of your songs on the show.’ And he’s like, ‘Dude, how do I get on the show? I’ve been petitioning online and talking to my people and you got to get me on that show.'”
Thieriot didn’t have more musicians lined up yet but noted he would be thrilled to have more familiar musical faces. “I have to wait for the next awards show, and I’m just going to set up a chair in the bathroom to start greeting them as they come in,” he quipped. “But there’s a few that we’ve been talking with for a while now. Honestly, it would be fun to maybe see both [Kane and Jelly Roll] bring their characters back in some form.”
Season 4 of Fire Country, which premiered in October, hasn’t announced more country singer cameos as the show continues to focus on the aftermath of Vince’s (Billy Burke) death and Gabriela’s (Stephanie Arcila) departure.
“[Before the season started], I said I really would not like to have a love interest,” Farr said about honoring her onscreen husband. “If men get married the day after their wife dies, people will be like, ‘They needed that.’ Women, we are meant to observe our loved ones after they are gone — and there was no way I’m ever going to replace this.”
Farr wanted to properly portray Sharon’s loss. “I think you can probably see that I’m still wearing my wedding ring on the show,” she added. “I was like, ‘We can’t just brush this away.'”
As Sharon continues to grieve, Farr is open to anything with enough time devoted to honoring her marriage.
“We’ll see how it goes. But I love where it is so far. She’s really working through this right now. But also it’s this idea [of falling in love so young]. This isn’t my own life — I didn’t meet my partner at 20 years old,” Farr explained. “I’ve never shared my life with just one person. I’ve shared my life with so many. So just trying to explore what it’d be like to be a one when you’ve been part of a two for more years than you were ever single.”
Fire Country airs on CBS Fridays at 9 p.m. ET. New episodes will be streaming the next day on Paramount+.