‌The celebrity-inspired baby names Brits can’t get enough of

The football legend is expected to lead to a spike in babies named David following his hit Netflix documentary. (Picture: Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Picking a name for your little one can be a bit of a challenge, as there are so many possibilities to choose from.

And then you have to consider how many others in your child’s class or year group might also have that name.

But if you’re someone who loves a trend and isn’t too bothered about your baby having the most unique, one-of-a-kind moniker, then you’ll probably be interested to hear what’s predicted to be popular with mums and dads in 2024.

A new analysis of ONS and Google search data has revealed that parents are going to be taking inspiration from celebrity culture and Hollywood blockbusters over the coming months, with famous faces such as David Beckham and the Kardashians leading the way.

The research also suggests that a few ‘old-fashioned’ and ‘traditional’ names will be having a resurgence this year, which might surprise some.

Here’s a look at the celebrity-inspired names Brits are expected to go nuts for over the coming months…

David

The release of Netflix documentary Beckham is expected to cause a second wave of ‘Beckham fever’, with David being back in the minds of many expectant parents in 2024.

The name David previously climbed the charts in 2006 after Beckham’s headline making run in the FIFA World Cup. 

Saint

The Kardashians are a key influence when it comes to baby names. (Picture: David Livingston/Getty Images)

It isn’t just football legends that are influencing baby names. Expectant parents are also likely to be influenced by reality TV powerhouse the Kardashians as we move into 2024.

It’s happened before, with the name Saint rising in popularity following the birth of Kim Kardashian’s son in 2015.

And as the Kardashian family announced several new additions to the family last year, 2024 looks to be no exception. Aire, Tatum and Rocky, for instance, are all likely to inspire parents looking for non-traditional names.

Bambi (and other Disney names)

It also looks like Love Island stars Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury are making a splash with Disney-inspired baby names.

Last January, they were at the centre of a media storm after welcoming their daughter, Bambi.

But amid all the backlash, it seems like the couple have also sparked a new trend, with Google searches for Disney-inspired baby names increasing by 50% last year.

Ken

Ryan Gosling’s Ken could have inspired a new baby name trend (Photo by Lia Toby/Getty Images for Warner Bros. )

And then there was ‘Barbenheimer.’ 2023 was huge for Hollywood, with the release of Barbie and Oppenheimer on the same day causing the ‘Barbenheimer’ cultural phenomenon to take social media by storm.

Naturally, this is expected to have a huge influence on baby names next year as we welcome a whole host of new baby Barbies — but don’t worry, we are also expecting some Kenergy too. 

Whilst just three babies were named Ken in 2022, a sharp, consistent rise in people searching online for the meaning of the name could be a sign that the moniker is set to rise in popularity following Ryan Gosling’s portrayal of the character in 2024.

But it isn’t just Barbie and Ken that are expected to spike in popularity. Margot Robbie, who led the film as Stereotypical Barbie, is predicted to bring in a number of namesakes this year.

The name ‘Margot’ has become increasingly fashionable in recent years, climbing 23 places last year alone. While, Sasha, after the character played by Ariana Greenblatt, is also expected to rise in the name rankings after placing only 594th last year.

The pop culture phenomenon of ‘Barbenheimer’ is set to heavily influence baby names in 2024. (Picture: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty Images)

Cillian

You can’t have Barbie without Oppenheimer, as Cillian Murphy, the Irish star who led the Christopher Nolan epic, continues to inspire namesakes.

Since his starring role in Peaky Blinders in 2012, the name ‘Cillian’ has been steadily rising, and we fully expect this to reach fever pitch after he wowed audiences in Oppenheimer. 

Otis and Maeve

But it isn’t just the big screen set to impact the name of newborns, according to British name label manufacturer mynametags.com.

Silver screen hits like Netflix’s Sex Education, which aired its last season late in 2023, are also expected to influence names going into this year, as both ‘Otis’ and ‘Maeve,’ the name of the leading characters, have both soared in popularity in recent years, and is expected to climb the charts even further now. 

‘Naming a child can be an agonising decision to make as a parent,’ Lars B Andersen, Managing Director at mynametags.com, said.

‘With thousands of beautiful and unique names, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. So, it’s no surprise that Brits are taking inspiration from their favourite films, TV series, and reality shows.’

‘With Barbie and Oppenheimer being the talk of the summer, names relating to the movies will be at the front of expecting parents’ minds. What’s interesting this year is the breadth of inspiration parents are pulling ideas from. From ultra-traditional names, such as Ken, to unique, almost unheard of names like Bambi, parents are finding inspiration in all streams of popular culture.’

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There might be lots of little Davids being born this year.