By Neil Shaw Steven Smith
Experts claim that true crime podcasts and cult documentaries are subconsciously influencing parents’ choices when it comes to naming their babies in 2025. According to BabyCentre UK’s Top 100 Baby Names of 2025, numerous names on the list are those of individuals featured in popular true crime podcasts and Netflix series.
SJ Strum, a naming expert and author at BabyCentre, said: “These names aren’t being chosen because of crime. More often, parents are unconsciously absorbing popular culture, and these names creep into our minds via gripping TV, podcasts and viral content. It’s a fascinating lens on how culture shapes language, and by extension, baby names.”
Baby names in the top 100 list seemingly inspired by true crime stories include:
Moreover, it appears that high-society TV dramas such as Succession and The White Lotus are also influencing baby name choices, with a resurgence of names that convey aristocratic prestige, including Elodie, Nathaniel, Zara and Sebastian, reports Bristol Live.
Names fitting the Succession Chic trend that are gaining popularity this year are:
Girl’s Names:
Amelia – Striving
Ada – Nobility
Alice – noble
Aria – Noble Melody
Elodie – wealth
Freya – Lady
Gianna – gracious
Penelope – Weaver
Zara – Princess/Lady
Boy’s Names:
Albie – Noble
Eli – Ascension
Ibrahim – Father of many
Nathanial – God has given
Otis – Fortune
Reuben – Behold a son
Rory – Red King
Sebastian – Revered
Theodore – Gift
Beyond the world of murder, scams and other crime parents are looking to the heavens for baby name inspiration this year. Celestial baby girl names are soaring in popularity. Names like Luna, Nova, Aurora and Maryam are booming.
Cosmic-inspired girl’s names trending in 2025:
Arabella – Beautiful like a star Ayla – Moonlight Aurora – Goddess of the dawn Eliana – Helios sun god Layla – Night beauty Luna – Moon Maryam – Start of the sea Nova – New star Nur – Light Thea – Goddess of light
And while l etters X, Y and Z may be at the back of the alphabet, this year, they’ve leapt to the front of the Baby Naming Charts.
Girls’ Names:
Anaya – Free
Ayra – Noble
Emily – Rival
Hazel – Hazelnut
Maya – Mother
Robyn – Bright
Ruby – Red
Zoe – Life
Boys’ Names:
Dylan – Of the sea
Enzo – Home ruler
Ezra – Helper
Max – Greatest
Syed – Lord
Yahya – Gracious
Zane – Beauty
Zion – Highest place
SJ Strum said: “Names flow in and out of style, and popular culture plays a huge role in shaping the baby names we see rising. We often choose names in tune with what’s happening in the world around us as we welcome our little ones. For example, Evie, the newest addition to Peppa Pig’s family, is a perfect short and sweet vintage pick that’s now soaring in popularity.
“We’ve also seen an uplift in names honouring the late Queen, like Eliza, Elsie, and Elizabeth. Royal-inspired names remain strong year-on-year: from Charlotte, Zara, and Mia, to George, Harry, William, Charlie, and Archie. Even Princess has seen a surprising comeback, as the nation rallied around Princess Kate during her recent cancer treatment.”
Faye Mingo, Chief Marketing Officer at BabyCentre, added: “Baby names often serve as a time capsule of the world babies are born into, so it’s fascinating to watch how these trends unfold each year, and even more so when unexpected influences, like true crime, begin to make an impact.”