The best Disney-inspired baby names revealed – find out which states we’re most obsessed with

New Yorkers with newborns want to be part of this world.

Parents from the Big Apple and beyond are diving deep into ‘Under the Sea’ for baby name inspiration, popularly singing to their little ones ‘Ariel’ – after the lead princess from the 1989 classic “The Little Mermaid” – according to a June 2024 report.

The study, commissioned by BeenVerified, an online background check service, identified New York among the 10 states with the most Disney-influenced baby names.

“A recent analysis of the Social Security Administration’s baby name data set examined the impact of Disney characters on baby name trends in the United States,” the study authors explain. .

The survey named Nevada the No. 1 state with the most Disney-inspired names. New York got the ninth position.

“Ariel” swam to the top of the list across the Empire State.

She was followed by “Elsa,” the fierce female protagonist of “Frozen,” and “Tiana,” who climbed to third place thanks to the success of Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog.”

Ariel’s grumpy but cunning pal, “Sebastian,” was hailed as the fourth hottest baby name in the state, while “Violet” from “The Incredibles” took fifth place on the chart.

“‘Ariel’ stands out among other popular Disney characters in terms of enduring popularity,” the researchers said. “The main character’s name saw an increase of 253% in the year following the film’s release, and increased again by approximately 50% in 1991.

“Even though the Ariel’s popularity subsequently declined, it remained very popular, remaining above its 1989 level until 2023, with its use ebbing and flowing,” the experts continued. “This indicates that ‘The Little Mermaid’ is unique as a Disney film in its lasting effect on pop culture and naming trends.”

Despite the enduring coolness of some nicknames, it seems some names just don’t stand the test of time.

Cathy, Al, Mitzi and Vern are all on the brink of virtual extinction, according to recent findings from baby name experts at Namesberry.

And rather than giving their babies real names, like Liam or Olivia, internet influencers are now writing Chi-Chi words like “Afternoon” and “Words” on their little ones’ birth certificates.

“In this new era of baby names, people are trying to make their children have a brand, to create their own personal brand,” explained a baby name consultant on TikTok. “They give them names that will stand out on an Instagram account.”

But Disney adults across the country seem more concerned with paying homage to their animated heroes than with baby branding.

Here are the most popular Disney-inspired baby names in the United States

1. Mérida, “Courageous”
2. Koda, “Brother Bear”
3. Moana, “Moana”
4. Finnick, “Zootopia”
5. Mirabel, “Encanto”
6. Ariel, “The Little Mermaid”
7. Flynn, “Tangled”
8. Raya, “Raya and the Last Dragon”
9. Camilo, “Encanto”
10. Elsa, “Frozen”