Popstar baby names on the rise – most popular is shock
From Beyonce to Taylor Swift – some of the biggest popstars of our generation are female.
And now, it seems they’re having a significant impact on the next too, with countless parents choosing baby names with associations to stardom. This was brought to light in a recent study by A2D2, which reported a staggering 112% increase in ‘celebrity-influenced’ monikers over the past decade.
Unsurprisingly, the woman of the moment – Taylor Swift – was a frontrunner among the most popular. Researchers said British babies named Taylor had soared by 62% in the last year alone, lining up with her record-breaking Eras Tour and The Tortured Poets Department release.
On the flipside, Dua Lipa caused quite the stir among new parents too, according to the results. Baby Dua’s have increased by whopping 113% ever since New Love, her first single, was released in 2015.
But you may be surprised to hear that neither of these monikers made it into the top two among girls. Instead, Olivia – potentially inspired by the Drivers Licence singer Olivia Rodrigo – and Lana were both chart-toppers.
In the UK alone, 9,466 babies per million are believed to have been named Olivia this year, while 1,194 little ones per million were named Lana, perhaps influenced by the Video Games sensation Lana Del Ray.
Ariana and Billie secured the fourth and fifth spots, with experts hinting that these choices may be influenced by American superstars Ariana Grande and Billie Eilish. Adele, Stefani (the real name of Lady Gaga), and Beyonce also made it into the top 10, ranking eighth, ninth, and tenth.
A2D2’s Full Top 10 List
Name – Babies per million
Olivia – 9,466
Lana – 1,194
Dua – 981
Ariana – 981
Billie – 939
Taylor – 555
Sabrina – 469
Adele – 194
Stefani – 26
Beyonce – 12
Kiddies Kingdom, a nursery retailer, previously pointed out that Netflix‘s ‘Bridgerton’ is making a significant mark on UK baby names. Names from the show such as Colin, Eloise, and Daphne have become popular, with Daphne experiencing a remarkable 51% increase in England and Wales from 2020 to 2021.
Kirsty Carroll, a parenting expert at the firm, said: “A baby’s name is one of the first gifts they get, so it’s no surprise that many parents put so much time and effort into finding the right one. Favourite TV characters, names of meaningful places, or even names influenced by beloved family members are great options.”