04 July 2023 , 11:57
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A turbulent 2023 is well and truly shaking up the baby name charts, half-year data has revealed.
According to BabyCentre's latest charts, released today, there's a new frontrunner in the top 100 girls' names. Meanwhile, a number of celebrity names, including Holly and Phillip, have plummeted down the list.
But in news that will surprise nobody, both film and TV continue to be a key driving force. On-screen drama is an ever-popular source of inspiration for parents. It's well-documented.
However, you might not expect one of this year's biggest influences, as it's not exactly a child-friendly show.
It appears that Succession has captivated parents, as many drew inspiration from the intense drama, while waving goodbye to the final series of the HBO show earlier this year.
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Succession is one of the most popular small screen influences (Press Association Images)Family patriarch Logan leapt six places to 48, while wayward son Roman flew nine places to 47. Frankie (right-hand man Frank) was a new top 100 entry, Hugo (Waystar Royco's slippery spin doctor) soared 47 places to 43, and Kendal (number one boy Kendall) saw its first registrations in BabyCentre's data.
Siobhan or Shiv, however, didn't see a major climb, though Sarah Snook, who played the Roy family's only daughter, could have inspired Sarah's success as the second highest new entry at number 58.
Elsewhere, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, saw Charlotte soar to number 25 in the top 100, whereas Violet rose 19 places to 47 and Penelope went up 14 places to number 60. Likewise, Theo saw success as it held on firmly to third place in the boys' list.
And, of course, a number of family-friendly blockbusters also featured. In particular, names inspired by the release of Disney's The Little Mermaid made a splash. New entry Ariella dove straight into the top 100 at 86 and Ariel remained as popular as ever outside the top reaches. Sebastian floated parents' boats, swimming up 24 places to number 38 and the name of Ariel's sister, Indira, was also a new registration.
Netflix's 2022 adaption of the childhood classic Matilda also influenced the half-year charts. The heroine's name flew 23 places to number 32, Tommy sky-rocketed to number 27, and Lavender appeared as a new registration.
It's not just drama that's making an impact away from the screen, either. The UK's spectacular hosting of Eurovision 2023 must have struck the right note for parents, as Sam (Ryder) continued to be a hit and the name soared into the top 100 as a new entry. Meanwhile, the UK's 2023 entrant Maeve ( Mae Muller ) leapt up 5 places to 62, and Mae stayed a steady favourite for parents outside the top 100.
Commenting on the trends, Sarah Redshaw, managing editor for BabyCentre, said: "Film and TV have always been strong influences for parents, and this year is no exception. Names in top movies and shows will always score in our charts, as long as the drama stays on the screen."