We’re not surprised that parents take inspiration from Disney films when it comes to naming their babies.
We already know from the list of most popular baby names of 2019 that TV and films have an influence – just look at the rise of Maeve after the release of Sex Education.
Disney films are classic and enduring. Of course parents will look to them when deciding what to call their offspring.
But which films in particular are parents taking inspiration from?
Surprisingly enough, it’s not Dumbo.
PlayLikeMum has done some research to find out the most popular Disney inspired names in the UK, looking at factors including when the film came out, how many children in the UK have that name, and when the names peaked in popularity.
In news that will be shocking to few people, Frozen inspired names come out on top, with Elsa listed as the most popular Disney inspired name in the nation, with 3,101 babies with this name in the UK. The peak time for parents calling their children Elsa was 2014 – one year after Frozen’s release.
The most popular baby names inspired by Disney in the UK:
- Elsa (Frozen)
- Tiana (Princess and the Frog)
- Aurora (Sleeping Beauty)
- Belle (Beauty and the Beast)
- Minnie (Minnie Mouse)
- Woody (Toy Story)
- Winnie (Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree)
- Olaf (Frozen)
- Giselle (Enchanted)
- Ursula (The Little Mermaid)
The research found that since 1996, just over 17,000 children have been named after disney characters, and the trend has gained popularity as the years have gone on.
Disney-inspired names are more popular for girls, and they normally peak in the year after the film is released.
Just three of the Disney names given to children in the last decade were those of villains, including Ursula, Gaston, and Jafar.
Oh, and remember that mum who caused controversy by naming her child Disney? Turns out she’s not alone – the research found that 19 babies have been given that name in the past 13 years.
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