Baby names used to come from royalty, religious figures, or family traditions—maybe a nature-inspired choice if parents were feeling bold. But today, names are influenced by everything from viral moments to pop culture icons, turning newborns into little time capsules of the year they were born.
BabyCenter recently analyzed the names registered on its app to predict the biggest trends for 2025, and some of the results might surprise you.
1. Sports Are Shaping Baby Name Trends
The Paris Olympics may be over, but parents are still feeling the French influence. Names like Raphael, Louise, Beaux, Remi, Gustavo, Elodie, Arlette, and Jolie are all climbing the charts.
Women’s basketball is also making an impact, with names inspired by WNBA stars like Caitlin (Clark), Kamilla (Cardoso), and A'ja (Wilson) gaining popularity.
Meanwhile, Super Bowl LVIII, which became the most-watched program in American TV history, sparked a wave of Chiefs-themed names, including Creed (after Chiefs center Creed Humphrey) and Isiah (for running back Isiah Pacheco).
And yes, Travis (as in Kelce) is on the rise, though that could just as easily be Taylor Swift’s influence as football’s.
2. Pop Stars Are Leading the Charts—Literally
The biggest names in music are now inspiring baby names, with Sabrina (Carpenter) and Billie (Eilish) seeing a boost. While Brat didn’t catch on as a first name, Apple (from a song on Charli XCX’s album Brat) gained traction.
Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department helped Peter and Robin skyrocket in popularity.
Meanwhile, Justin (as in Timberlake) took a nosedive, dropping 59 spots after his DUI incident.
3. TV Shows Are Inspiring “Main Character Energy”
Popular series are leaving their mark on baby name trends.
- Riley (from Inside Out 2)
- Carmen (The Bear)
- Deborah (Hacks)
- Ripley—not from Alien, but from Netflix’s The Talented Mr. Ripley (a little odd considering he’s a con artist and murderer, but Andrew Scott’s performance clearly made an impression).
4. The Solar Eclipse Sparked Celestial Name Trends
April’s solar eclipse had parents looking to the skies for inspiration. The girl name Sol (Spanish for “sun”) surged in popularity, while Eclipse itself jumped an impressive 4,421 spots. For boys, Orion (after the constellation) climbed to No. 301.
It looks like 2025’s baby names will reflect everything from pop culture sensations to astronomical wonders—proof that inspiration can come from anywhere.