In the past, it was often inspired by the names of traditional figures such as royalty, celebrities, and family members, but recently, with the popularity of true-life crimes, the names of the characters are attracting new attention because they are unique and impressive.
According to the New York Post on the 13th, many of the same names as actual criminals were included in the list of “100 popular baby names in 2025” released by the British parenting information site Baby Centre UK.
Names on the list include “Teddy,” reminiscent of Ted Bundy, a serial killer who terrorized the U.S. in the 1970s, “Anna” by Anna Delvey, who deceived upper-class New Yorkers by posing as a fake heiress, “Joseph” by “Tiger King” Joe Exotic (real name Joseph Schraibogel), and “Bella” by influencer Bella Gibson, who earned his fortune from fighting false cancer.
All of them have been produced as true story-based dramas or documentaries through streaming platforms such as Netflix, and have become familiar to the public.
“It’s rare for parents to choose these names with the background of being criminals,” naming expert and baby center writer SJ Strum said in a statement. “Many parents unconsciously absorb popular culture through Netflix, podcasts, and viral content, and their names are attractively imprinted.”
He added, “It is an interesting phenomenon in that cultural content affects the language and is even reflected in the name of the baby.”
SOPHIA KIM
US ASIA JOURNAL
