England’s 2022 World Cup squad and Netflix’s biggest TV shows are anticipated to have a substantial influence on baby names in 2023. Although England’s World Cup dreams were cut short by France in the quarterfinals, the squad is predicted to leave a lasting impression on expectant parents.
The name Jude, after young England ace Jude Bellingham, saw a huge spike in Google searches during the opening days of the tournament, and is predicted to rise in the charts as a result. The name Jack, inspired by Jude’s international teammate and Manchester City star, Jack Grealish, is also set to spike in popularity after Jack stole the nation’s hearts with his goal celebration for Finlay, a young fan with cerebral palsy.
Analysis of historic Office for National Statistics (ONS) baby name data shows that England football legends are amongst the most influential figures when it comes to baby name choices in the UK. For example, both David Beckham and Peter Crouch had a significant impact on children’s names in the UK following the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
It's not just boys’ names that England’s national team is influencing. Following the Lionesses’ success at the 2022 UEFA Women’s Euro, female football heroes are predicted to have an equally significant impact on girls’ name trends over the coming year. The names Beth, Ella, and Alessia are all expected to grow in popularity in 2023 and beyond, with searches around the origin of the name Alessia spiking the day Alessia Russo scored an audacious backheel goal against Sweden.
According to the predictions list, released by British name label manufacturer mynametags.com, it won’t just be sport that influences the next generation of parents’ choice of baby name.
The Netflix show ‘Wednesday’, which became the second-most watched English language show ever, led to a considerable spike in the number of Google searches for the girls’ name Wednesday.
Also influenced by TV shows, the names ‘Arthur’ and ‘Tommy’ – after the iconic Peaky Blinders characters – have been consistently popular since the release of the first series in 2013. Following the airing of its final episode in 2022, the names are predicted to remain favour throughout 2023. The name Arthur took third spot in the charts in 2020 after the release of series five.
The Kardashians’ unique choices of monikers are also expected to influence baby names in 2023. In England and Wales, Kim Kardashian’s choice of the name ‘Saint’ for her first-born son back in 2015 influenced the charts with the name rising tenfold, according to ONS data. The sister’s name influence is predicted to continue this year once sister’s Khloe Kardashian and Kylie Jenner reveal the names of their newborns.
Popular musicians also never fail to make a splash on the baby name scene, with popular songs having a direct correlation on amount of babies being given the artist’s name. For example, the name ‘Billie’ has risen considerably in popularity, from rank 346th in 2018, to 229th in 2021, after the talented Billie Eilish shot to fame. The name is predicted to grow in popularity in 2023 following the release of the songstress’ second album, Happier Than Ever.
Lars B Andersen, Managing Director at My Nametags, said: “We know from experience that baby name trends are often influenced by pop-culture, including TV, film, and celebrities. Sporting personalities make excellent role models, so it’s no surprise that parents continue to be inspired by their generation’s biggest heroes when it comes to naming their children.
“2022 was a huge year for football fans, we can definitely expect the men’s World Cup and Women’s Euros teams to have a significant impact on the name charts over the next year, especially with the Women’s World Cup taking place this summer. Popular TV shows and artists continue to have a major influence over the popularity of certain names as they give inspiration but also confidence to parents, especially with unusual names like Wednesday.”
