Oh, baby! Naming your child feels like one of the most exciting parts of becoming a parent—until you realize just how hard it can be to choose the perfect name. Should you honor tradition with a family name or go with something timeless yet unique? Maybe even something tied to a meaningful memory or your favorite flower?
But for many parents, inspiration comes from pop culture’s biggest stars and most beloved characters. Whether they’re real-life celebrities or fictional figures from movies and TV, these icons have a lasting impact on baby name trends.
And while it may sound like a modern craze, parents have been turning pop culture favorites into baby name inspiration for decades. From legendary Hollywood stars to today’s binge-worthy TV characters, these names are making their mark on birth certificates across the nation.
We decided to put this trend to the test, analyzing data from the Social Security Administration Baby Name Database to uncover which states are rolling out the red carpet for screen-and-star-inspired names—and which ones aren’t quite as dazzled by Hollywood.
Let’s take a closer look at which pop culture-inspired names are stealing the show.
Top Findings:
• Bella Swan (Twilight), Trinity (The Matrix), and Ariel (The Little Mermaid) are the top three film characters whose names saw the biggest surge in popularity.
• Sabrina Spellman (Sabrina the Teenage Witch), Owen Hunt (Grey’s Anatomy), and Chandler Bing (Friends) top the list of TV characters inspiring baby names.
• The names Sean (Connery), Whitney (Houston), and Julia (Roberts) saw the most dramatic spikes in popularity during the ‘60s, ‘80s, and ‘90s, respectively.
• Based on the Social Security Administration Baby Name Database analysis, the 1960s saw the highest surge in celebrity-inspired baby names
Regional Findings:
• When it comes to naming babies after real-life stars, Georgia, Nebraska, and Wyoming are leading the charge.
• Hawaii, Alaska, and Wyoming are the top states where parents favor movie or TV character names.
How Do Fictional Characters Affect Baby Names?
Lights, camera, baby names! It’s no secret that beloved characters from movies and TV shows have inspired countless baby names over the years. From daring princesses to fearless superheroes, fictional names have left an indelible mark on birth certificates across the country. But where exactly is this trend most popular—and which names are leading the pack?
To find out, we analyzed data from the Social Security Administration Baby Name Database, focusing on the 100 most popular names for boys and girls in each state from 1960 to 2023. We tracked how the popularity of these names changed after a character's debut on screen, calculating the percentage increase in name usage from the year before to the year after the character appeared.
Character names see an average 98% increase in popularity from the year before their debut to the year after. Think this could be just a coincidence? Check out these movie and television-inspired names that skyrocketed in popularity right after a character hit the screen:
Movie Characters That Inspired the Most Baby Names
• Bella Swan (Twilight) – A staggering 3,553% increase from 2007 to 2009
• Trinity (The Matrix) – A 2,566% jump from 1998 to 2000
• Ariel (The Little Mermaid) – A 1,278% spike from 1988 to 1990
• Jack Dawson (Titanic) – A 608% boost from 1996 to 1999
• Luke Skywalker (Star Wars) – A 304% increase from 1976 to 1978
TV Characters That Inspired the Most Baby Names
• Sabrina Spellman (Sabrina the Teenage Witch) – 1,384% rise from 1995 to 1997
• Owen Hunt (Grey’s Anatomy) – 360% jump from 2004 to 2006
• Chandler Bing (Friends) – 216% boost from 1993 to 1995
• Jill Munroe (Charlie’s Angels) – 191% increase from 1975 to 1977
• Monica Geller (Friends) – 181% rise from 1993 to 1995
Interestingly, while movie characters had an average 167% increase in name popularity, TV characters only saw a 20% boost. Female character names also rose significantly more than male names, with a 162% average increase compared to just 30% for male characters.
The data shows that Hawaii, Alaska, and Wyoming are the states most likely to name babies after fictional characters, while New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut tend to stick to more traditional or family-inspired names.
Which fictional name ruled in your state? Find out below!
From Red Carpet to Birth Certificate
It’s not just fictional characters making an impact. Real-life celebs are shaping baby names, too.
On average, celebrity-inspired baby names increase by 110% from the beginning to the end of a star’s peak career decade. Take Sean (Connery) in the 1960s, Whitney (Houston) in the 1980s, and Julia (Roberts) in the 1990s—each saw some of the most significant baby name surges of their time.
And if you think today’s pop culture-obsessed world takes star worship to the next level, think again. Parents in the 1960s were actually the most likely to name their children after Tinseltown favorites.
What states follow this trend? Parents in Georgia, Nebraska, and Wyoming are most likely to name their children after celebs, while Kentucky, New York, and Massachusetts are the least likely to follow Hollywood’s lead.
Check the map below to find out the most popular celebrity name in your state.
Every Name Is Special
Your baby’s name is uniquely theirs. It’s a gift to your child, filled with meaning, love, and a sound that will always be music to your ears. Whether it’s a timeless classic, a sentimental choice, or simply a name that feels just right, it will be a cherished part of their identity. And no matter if their name comes from a movie or TV character or not, you can still dress your little one in cute and cozy character-inspired pajamas and clothes that feature beloved favorites. Let the naming fun begin!
