Popular culture baby names

Choosing a baby name is a huge decision for parents and guardians, as it could shape their child’s identity for the rest of their lives. It can also play a big part in creating a first impression.

If you have a little one on the way, it’s important to protect them for the future. One of the best ways you can do this is by getting life insurance to help support them when you’re gone.

Baby name inspiration can come from all kinds of places, including from the worlds of movies, TV and music. Sometimes this could be a name that has made its way into the mainstream after the show, or maybe something a little more out there. But which names have influenced us the most?

Here’s a look at the popularity of some popular culture-inspired baby names, and how much they increased after first appearing on our screens.

UK popular culture baby names with the biggest increases

1. Jax (Sons of Anarchy) - 6,325% increase

• Initial number of names (2008): 8
• Peak number of names (2017): 514

Jax was a name rarely heard before 2008, with just 8 baby boys called Jax being born that year. However, it’s also the year that TV’s Sons of Anarchy debuted, starring Charlie Hunnam as Jax Teller. Almost a decade later, and 3 years after the show had finished, the name Jax jumped in popularity by 6,325% with 514 babies in 2017.

2. Harper (daughter of David & Victoria Beckham) - 4,135% increase

• Initial number of names (2011): 48
• Peak number of names (2018): 2,033

We’re often inspired by the choices of our favourite celebrities, which seems to have been the case with Harper, the name of the Beckham’s daughter.

There were 48 Harpers born in 2011, the year the Beckhams welcomed their only daughter. The name peaked in 2018 with 2,033 girls being named Harper, an increase of 4,135% compared to 2011. When we compare this to 2020, Harper is still one of the most common girls’ names in the country.

Reign (Son of Kourtney Kardashian & Scott Disick) - 4,133% increase

• Initial number of names (2014): 3
• Peak number of names (2020): 127

Just behind Harper is another celebrity baby name, Reign. Reign is the name of Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick’s second son, who was born in 2014. Reign is a regal-sounding name and 3 baby boys were named this in 2014. In 2020 however, its popularity had risen to 127 babies, an increase of 4,133%.

UK popular culture baby names that are dying out

1. Alexa (Amazon Alexa) - 95% decrease

• Initial number of names (2013): 355
• 2020 names: 18

Some names can actually be negatively impacted by popular culture. For example, back in 2013, Alexa was a fairly popular girls’ name, with 355 being named.

But the release of Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant saw the name’s popularity plummet, with just 18 being named Alexa in 2020. It’s easy to see why, with the thought of smart devices beeping to life every time you mention your child’s name. It doesn’t exactly sound appealing.

2. Chad (High School Musical) - 84% decrease

• Initial number of names (2006): 45
• 2020 names: 7

Chad is definitely a name you’d expect to hear more in the US than here in the UK. However, there were still a few babies with this name in the UK back in 2006 (45).

That quickly changed though, with just 7 UK babies being named Chad in 2020. Just how much this was influenced by the name being featured in High School Musical is up for debate, but it could have played a part.

3. Carrie (Sex and the City) - 82% decrease

• Initial number of names (1998): 88
• 2020 names: 16

Carrie was a relatively popular name when Sex and the City premiered in 1998, with Sarah Jessica Parker playing the lead, Carrie Bradshaw. In total, 88 babies were named Carrie in the year that the show premiered.

But despite a slight peak in the following years as the show’s popularity increased, its popularity has fallen since. Just 16 baby girls were named Carrie in 2020, a decrease of 82%.

The UK’s most common baby names from films

Logan (X-Men) - 1,679 baby boys

Logan is the alias of Wolverine in the X-Men comics, which came into the public consciousness after the release of X-Men in 2000. Logan is also one of the most popular baby names in the UK, with over 1,600 boys being named this in 2020 (the most recent year that data was available).

The UK’s most common baby names from TV

Jax (Sons of Anarchy) - 485 baby boys

The number of babies named Jax saw an increase of over 6,000% after Sons of Anarchy launched in 2008. Therefore, it’s not surprising to see that it is also one of the most popular TV-inspired names in the UK.

485 baby boys were named Jax in 2020, which means ‘son of Jack’ and can be an alternative to Jackson, Jason or Jaxon.

The UK’s most common baby names from music

Willow (Willow Smith) - 2,165 baby girls

The name Willow has steadily been on the increase since 2000, when Willow Smith, daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith was born. However, far from just being another celebrity baby name, Willow has forged her own successful music career over the years. Data shows over 2,000 babies were named Willow in 2020.

The UK’s most common baby names from gaming

Nate (Uncharted) - 159 baby boys

When it comes to gaming, Nathan Drake, better known as Nate, is one of the most popular protagonists of recent years. The name Nate appeared in the Uncharted series and 159 babies were named this in 2020. This was more than the slightly unusual gaming choices such as Zelda and Link.

The USA’s most common baby names from films

Logan (X-Men) - 8,786 baby boys

Just like in the UK, Logan is the most popular movie-inspired baby name in the USA. Over 8,000 boys were born with this name in 2021 (the most recent year with data available). However, Logan has traditionally been more of a popular name in the States than in the UK.

8,786 Logans were born in the US in 2020 compared to 1,679 in the UK, so the impact of the X-Men movies is likely to be lower here.

The USA's most common baby names from TV

Elena (The Vampire Diaries) - 4,252 baby girls

While Elena is a popular girls’ name generally, it’s also associated with a couple of fictional characters, including Elena Gilbert, of The Vampire Diaries. In total, 4,252 baby girls were given this name in 2021.

The USA's most common baby names from music

Camila (Camila Cabello) - 8,005 baby girls

One of the biggest pop stars of recent years is Camila Cabello, and it seems that many newborn girls are sharing her name, with just over 8,000 Camilas born in 2021. Camila is of Latin origin and the name has peaked in popularity since the former Fifth Harmony member went solo in 2016.

The USA's most common baby names from gaming

Mario (Super Mario) - 929 baby boys

With a large Italian population and many descendants of Italians, the fact that the US has more Marios than the UK isn’t surprising. However, like many other names here, it’s undeniable that the name is associated with Nintendo’s iconic mascot for most people.

Louise Thomas, life insurance expert at Confused.com comments:

“With millions of names to choose from, selecting the perfect name for your baby can be a daunting task for parents and it can be hard to know where to begin. The research shows that some parents-to-be are clearly turning to popular culture to gain baby name inspiration, with the likes of Willow, Luna and Harper proving popular.

“When choosing a baby name, there are several factors parents should consider. First, it’s important to contemplate all possible nicknames their child could be given, by both family and future school friends. Parents may also want to think about what their child’s initials will be if given the name they’re considering. While the meaning of a name is important, a quick Google search can reveal the meaning behind your favourite monikers!

“If you have a baby due in the coming months, have a young family already or are considering children in the near future, it’s important to consider investing in life insurance to protect your family if you aren’t around to do so.

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