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Most Popular ‘Bridgerton’ Inspired Baby Names

The Netflix series “Bridgerton” is known for its scandalous twists and turns. Viewers are hooked on the emotional drama of elaborate balls, high society romances and, of course, Lady Whistledown’s gossip.

But some superfans are taking the English romance fiction to the next level: They’re naming their babies after the show’s popular characters. Emily Kim, an influencer known as @emdoodlesandstuff on TikTok who specializes in baby name predictions, said: News week This trend is not really surprising.

“I think that’s typical of a lot of popular shows and movies,” Kim said. “In my opinion, certain qualities determine whether a popular media outlet will have a significant impact on baby name trends.”

The Bridgerton Chronicles
Bridgerton has served as inspiration for many baby names recently

Instagram, Getty Images

Lady Whistledown, also known as Penelope, is one of the fastest-growing character names. Penelope currently sits at number 23 on the popularity charts in the United States, though Kim noted that the name began its rise over 20 years ago, in 2001.

“It was a year after Julia Quinn published her first The Bridgerton Chronicle novel,” Kim said. “There is no doubt that the names of the ‘Bridgerton’ series are becoming more and more popular in the United States.”

Violet, which is the name of the matriarch of the Bridgerton clan, saw a similar spike in popularity around 2022, when it reached the top 20 baby names two years after the Netflix series launched.

“It’s like the first seed was planted by Julia Quinn. The Bridgerton Chronicles “Kim said.

Among boys, Theo, the printer’s assistant from “Bridgerton,” ranked seventh among the most popular names in 2023.

“It’s striking how much cultural impact shows like ‘Bridgerton’ have when it comes to baby name inspiration,” said a spokesperson for pregnancy wellness organization One Tribe. News week.

“Choosing a name for your child is one of the most important decisions a parent can make, and the increase in people searching for names based on the series suggests that this trend is here to stay.”

One Tribe found that searches for “Bridgerton baby names” have skyrocketed 640% since the series premiered.

Based on a One Tribe analysis cross-referenced with Social Security data, the top 10 “Bridgerton”-inspired baby names for girls are:

Name Number of babies born in the United States in 2023 General classification
Charlotte 12596 3
Purple 6342 16
Penelope 6041 23
Eloise 2916 80
Genevieve 1734 166
Daphne 1257 241
Francesca 820 374
Kate 639 478
Marina 518 573
His 443 664

The top 10 “Bridgerton” inspired baby names for boys are:

Name Number of babies born in the United States in 2023 General classification
Antoine 6237 46
Theo 4122 78
George 2689 136
Simon 1398 248
Marcus 1394 249
Colin 1001 334
Gregory 554 530
Philip 499 499
Benedict 245 928
Edmond 192 Not in the top 1000

“Bridgerton has certainly introduced us to some beautiful regency-style names, from Daphne, Violet and Penelope, to Anthony, Philip and George,” the One Tribe spokesperson said.

The Jane Austin Effect

Popular English names extend beyond “Bridgerton,” with characters from popular books like Jane Austin’s “Pride and Prejudice” also gaining traction in recent years.

Bridgerton season 3 cast
The cast of “Bridgerton” Season 3 – Part 2 at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on June 12, 2024 in London, England.

John Phillips/Getty Images

Take the example of Elizabeth Bennett, the heroine of Jane Austen’s famous novel published in 1813. She is considered intelligent and witty, as well as a person capable of overcoming social difficulties. Elizabeth is the 15th most popular girl’s name currently, and Bennett is the 74th most popular boy’s name.

Charlotte Lucas, Elizabeth’s good friend, is often considered friendly and sensible. Charlotte is the third most popular name and Lucas the ninth most popular for boys.

Kim also pointed out that there are endless other examples of this trend with classic names like Lydia, Charles, Caroline and William.

“Both The Bridgerton Chronicle And Pride and Prejudice “They have a predominantly female audience, they have a wide range of likable main characters, and as British historical fiction, we American viewers can see these characters as the epitome of ‘classic and vintage,’” said Kim.

“As a baby name consultant, I can tell you that ‘classic and vintage’ is what the vast majority of parents are looking for in a baby name.”