TV and Film-Inspired Baby Names Soar in Popularity
- New analysis of over 100 baby names shared with on-screen characters reveals which have risen in popularity over the last five years.
- Bridgerton’s Violet was the girls’ name that saw the largest rise in use – 169% increase in the US Top 100 Girls Names list since 2018.
- Netflix’sâ¯Emily in Parisâ¯has made Emily the 18th most popular baby name, with its popularity set to rise after season four.
- Ezra, inspired byâ¯Pretty Little Liars, is the top TV–inspired boys’ name – rising 293% in use in the last five years.
Data reveals the most TV and film-inspired baby names that saw the biggest rise in use across the US over the last five years are Violet for girls and Ezra for boys.
Research by mystery box site Cases.ggâ¯via the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) 2023 Top 100 Popular Baby Names reveals which names shared by film and TV characters have seen the biggest rise in use over the last five years.
This study shows the impact of the entertainment industry on modern parenting, revealing how beloved characters can influence our real-world naming choices.
Looking at girls’ names, Violet, inspired by Lady Violet from the popular show Bridgerton has seen the most significant rise in popularity, as it was used 169% more last year than it was in 2018.
Additionally, the name has also gained attention from its association with The Incredibles, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and American Horror Story, resulting in 6,342 babies named Violet in 2023.
Another name that has dramatically risen is Luna, inspired by the Harry Potter franchise. This name saw the second biggest rise in use, with an impressive 130% increase in the last five years. In 2023, 7,811 babies were named Luna.
The name that has experienced the third most significant increase is Eleanor. In 2023, 6,739 babies were given this name. The name Eleanor, associated with The Good Place, has seen an impressive 129% increase since 2018.
Ranking fourth is Auroraâ¯from the family fantasy movie,â¯Maleficent. This baby name experienced a 100% increase in use on the Top 100 baby names list since 2018.
Sophie, fromâ¯Mamma Mia!, is the fifth most up-and-coming baby name with a 63% rise in the last five years. In 2023, 3,578 babies were named Sophie. The popularity of ‘Sophie’ may also be from the Netflix original, The School for Good and Evil.
Similarly, the name Lily, inspired by the book-turned-movieâ¯It Ends with Us, has been increasing in popularity. In 2023, 6,146 babies were named Lily.
It Ends with Us has achieved a huge box office milestone, grossing $100 million domestically in just 11 days. After experiencing a 55% increase in use over the last five years, this baby name is anticipated to see a larger surge next year.
Ranking seventh is Elena fromâ¯The Vampire Diaries, with a 43% rise. It’s not surprising, as the pilot episode of the TV show gained the highest viewership in TVD history, with four million viewers.
Other notable names includeâ¯Ellieâ¯fromâ¯The Last of Us, Penelopeâ¯fromâ¯Bridgerton, and Madelyn fromâ¯The Boys which have all seen a significant rise in popularity.
Although it doesn’t appear in the top ten names, Emily is now the 18th most popular baby name, with 6,154 babies named this in 2023. This may be due to the Netflix series Emily in Paris; crowned the most-watched show on Netflix in 2022.
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|
The TV and film-inspired girls’ names that have seen the biggest rise in use |
||||
|
Rank |
Name |
TV show/Film |
Percentage Increase in Popularity (2018-2023)
|
Number of Babies Named in 2023 |
|
1 |
Violet |
Bridgerton |
169% |
6,342 |
|
2 |
Luna |
Harry Potter |
130% |
7,811 |
|
3 |
Eleanor |
The Good Place |
129% |
6,739 |
|
4 |
Aurora |
Maleficent |
100% |
6,054 |
|
5 |
Sophie |
Mamma Mia! |
63% |
3,578 |
|
6 |
Lily |
It Ends with Us |
55% |
6,146 |
|
7 |
Elena |
The Vampire Diaries |
43% |
4,261 |
|
8 |
Ellie |
The Last of Us |
33% |
5,951 |
|
9 |
Penelope |
Bridgerton |
13% |
6,041 |
|
10 |
Madelyn |
The Boys |
6% |
2,726 |
For boys, the name Ezra, inspired by Pretty Little Liars, saw the biggest rise in use, with a 293% increase since 2018. 8,437 babies were named this in 2023. The name Ezra has also gained attention from its association with Star Wars: Ahsoka.
The boys’ name that has seen the second biggest increase is Miles, fromâ¯Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, reporting a 128% rise over the last five years.
Jack is the third baby name with the most significant rise since 2018, with a 100% increase in use. This may reflect the success of the Amazon original action TV series, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan.
Ranking fourth is Maverick, with a 97% rise in use in the last five years. This could be attributed to the popularity of the blockbuster movie, Top Gun: Maverick, which hit theaters in 2022.
Oliver, from the superhero television seriesâ¯Arrow, is the fifth baby name on our list with a 66% rise since 2018. In 2023, 14,741 babies were named Oliver.
Cooper, inspired by Interstellar, follows closely, with a 60% rise on the Top 100 baby names list since 2018. The movie earned over $681 million worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing films of its release year.
Similarly, the name Sebastian, inspired by the romantic musicalâ¯La La Land, has been increasing in popularity. It is the seventh baby name on our list, with a 38% rise in the last five years. In 2023, 8,865 babies were named Sebastian.
The movie received numerous accolades, including winning a record seven awards at the 74th Golden Globe Awards and received eleven nominations at the 70th British Academy Film Awards, winning five, including Best Film.
Roman from Succession is the fifth fastest–rising baby name over the last five years, experiencing a 30% increase in use.
Other notable names include Thomasâ¯fromâ¯Peaky Blinders and Cameron from Modern Family, both experiencing substantial increases over the last five years.
|
The TV and film-inspired boys’ names that have seen the biggest rise in use |
||||
|
Rank |
Name |
TV show/Film |
Percentage Increase in Popularity (2018-2023)
|
Number of Babies Named in 2023 |
|
1 |
Ezra |
Pretty Little Liars |
293% |
8,437 |
|
2 |
Miles |
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse |
128% |
6,558 |
|
3 |
Jack |
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan |
100% |
8,683 |
|
4 |
Maverick |
Top Gun: Maverick |
97% |
6,962 |
|
5 |
Oliver |
Arrow |
66% |
14,741 |
|
6 |
Cooper |
Interstellar |
60% |
5,425 |
|
7 |
Sebastian |
La La Land |
38% |
8,865 |
|
8 |
Roman |
Succession |
30% |
4,777 |
|
9 |
Thomas |
Peaky Blinders |
20% |
6,598 |
|
10 |
Cameron |
Modern Family |
19% |
5,069 |
Commenting on the results, Gabriele Asaro, Head of Research of Cases.gg said: “Selecting a name can be a time-consuming and difficult task for soon-to-be parents, but character-inspired baby names provide a distinctive and meaningful option for those who love TV and film.
“These findings highlight the growing popularity of baby names drawn from TV shows and movies, especially among younger generations. Whether inspired by hit Netflix series or blockbuster films, these names convey powerful and memorable associations that are bound to make a lasting impression.”
–ENDS–
If you use these insights, we would appreciate a link toâ¯https://cases.gg. A linked credit allows us to keep supplying you with future content that you may find useful.â¯
Methodology:
-
The dataset comprised the top 100 most popular baby boy and baby girl names in the United States for the years 2023 and 2018, sourced from the Social Security Administration (SSA).
-
Researchers analyzed the lists to identify baby names that gained popularity due to their association with popular TV shows and films. The primary focus was on names that have featured prominently in baby name registers and are tied to characters or celebrities from these media.
-
The baby names were ranked based on two key metrics: the greatest positional change within the top 100 names between 2018 and 2023, and the largest percentage increase in the number of babies given these names over the five-year period.
-
This analysis highlights the TV and film-inspired baby names that experienced the most significant rise in popularity across the United States during this period.
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
