Baby boomers (named after the post war baby boom that created them) started it by calling the generation following them "generation X". Then millennials were gen Y for a while before the millennial rebrand after the turn of the millennium for some reason. Gen Z got the nickname zoomer pretty much because it rhymes with boomer. Then we ran out of letters because the boomers decided to start at the wrong end of the alphabet, so we're doing the Greek alphabet now. Thus gen alpha, who haven't been around long enough to develop an identity resulting in a catchier nickname.

Given generations seem to be about 15 years or so, the line for gen beta kids is just around the corner I guess

[–] idunnololz@lemmy.world 18 points 9 months ago (1 children)

How much longer until we get the first sigma male.

[–] SuddenDownpour@sh.itjust.works 2 points 9 months ago

Not within this century :(

[–] XeroxCool@lemmy.world 6 points 9 months ago

Exactly, it takes time to get a non-sequential name. I haven't heard Gen Y in probably a decade. I still hear Genzie but I suspect it's partly waiting for the Zoomer adoption, partly due to being the easiest to say. Jennay is smooth but not too clear as a standalone word, needing context like "PIN number"

[–] pixelscript@lemmy.ml 3 points 9 months ago

Thus gen alpha, who haven't been around long enough to develop an identity resulting in a catchier nickname.

"iPad babies" seems to be the closest thing we have at the moment. Only time will tell if that sticks.