Latest news with #BabyCentre
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Serial killer-inspired baby names are trending — revealing how culture can ‘creep into our minds,' experts say
Expecting parents are taking a stab at it — quite literally. Villains, crooks and knife-wielding nuts. Although they're bad guys of society, their first names are becoming bloody good options for moms and dads-to-be, per a nightmarish new report. Baby names inspired by true crime icons, such as accused con artist Anna Delvey and mass murderer Ted Bundy, are on the rise, according BabyCentre UK and its Top 100 Baby Names of 2025. But the bloodcurdling trend has less to do with wrongdoer-worship and more to do with Hollywood's outlaw obsession. 'These names aren't being chosen because of crime,' SJ Strum, a BabyCentre naming expert and author, explained in a statement. '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,' she added. Nursery rhymes and true crime. The killer kiddos of Generation Beta — tots born this year and beyond — can blame the theme on the streams. Streaming platforms, like Netflix, have recently made a killing off of shows, documentaries and movies that spotlight salacious sins of notorious rouges. Think Zac Efron as Bundy in 2019 flick 'Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile,' Joe Exotic's story in 2020 series 'Tiger King' and Delvey's 'Inventing Anna'-inspired thriller in 2022. In a number of cases, the cinematic sneak peek into the lives of the offenders has offered audiences a new perspective on the men and women behind the crimes, humanizing the antiheroes as misunderstood martyrs. And the names currently flooding the maternity are living proof of the media's freaky influence. Here are the true crime-inspired monikers featured in BabyCentre's top 100 baby names for 2025. Anna – The 'Fake Heiress' Anna Delvey Arthur – Arthur Lee Allen, 'This is the Zodiac Speaking,' suspected Zodiac Killer Bella – Inspired by wellness scammer, Belle Gibson Erin – Erin Patterson, The Mushroom Killer Freddie & Rose – The story of serial killer couple Fred and Rose West, featured in Netflix's 'Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story' Joseph – A nod to 'Joe Exotic', Tiger King Luca – From the documentary 'Don't F** with Cats' Teddy – A nickname inspired by serial killer Ted Bundy Ruby – From doc 'Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke,' an alleged child abuser Ronnie & Reggie – As in the notorious London gangsters, the Kray twins, featured in film 'Legends.'
New York Post
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Serial killer-inspired baby names are trending — revealing how culture can ‘creep into our minds,' experts say
Expecting parents are taking a stab at it — quite literally. Villains, crooks and knife-wielding nuts. Although they're bad guys of society, their first names are becoming bloody good options for moms and dads-to-be, per a nightmarish new report. Baby names inspired by true crime icons, such as accused con artist Anna Delvey and mass murderer Ted Bundy, are on the rise, according BabyCentre UK and its Top 100 Baby Names of 2025. Advertisement 5 The names of murders, accused abusers and fraudsters are en vogue among expecting mother and fathers of Gen Beta babies, according baby naming insiders. Firn – But the bloodcurdling trend has less to do with wrongdoer-worship and more to do with Hollywood's outlaw obsession. 'These names aren't being chosen because of crime,' SJ Strum, a BabyCentre naming expert and author, explained in a statement. 'More often, parents are unconsciously absorbing popular culture, and these names creep into our minds via gripping TV, podcasts and viral content.' Advertisement 'It's a fascinating lens on how culture shapes language, and by extension, baby names,' she added. 5 Bundy is well known for killing a slew of women throughout the late 1970s AP 5 Pros for BabyCentreUK compiled a list of the top 100 most popular babies names of 2025. íÅ¡í¸íâ¬í¸í»í» í íâ¹í¶í¾í² – 5 Exotic is believed to have orchestrated a murder-for-hire attempt to kill animal activist Carole Baskin. Netflix US/AFP via Getty Images Advertisement Nursery rhymes and true crime. The killer kiddos of Generation Beta — tots born this year and beyond — can blame the theme on the streams. Streaming platforms, like Netflix, have recently made a killing off of shows, documentaries and movies that spotlight salacious sins of notorious rouges. Think Zac Efron as Bundy in 2019 flick 'Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile,' Joe Exotic's story in 2020 series 'Tiger King' and Delvey's 'Inventing Anna'-inspired thriller in 2022. In a number of cases, the cinematic sneak peek into the lives of the offenders has offered audiences a new perspective on the men and women behind the crimes, humanizing the antiheroes as misunderstood martyrs. 5 Questionable names such as Anna, Erin, Joe and Teddy have all made the list as this year's most buzzy baby names. o1559kip – Advertisement And the names currently flooding the maternity are living proof of the media's freaky influence. Here are the true crime-inspired monikers featured in BabyCentre's top 100 baby names for 2025. Anna – The 'Fake Heiress' Anna Delvey Arthur – Arthur Lee Allen, 'This is the Zodiac Speaking,' suspected Zodiac Killer Bella – Inspired by wellness scammer, Belle Gibson Erin – Erin Patterson, The Mushroom Killer Freddie & Rose – The story of serial killer couple Fred and Rose West, featured in Netflix's 'Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story' Joseph – A nod to 'Joe Exotic', Tiger King Luca – From the documentary 'Don't F** with Cats' Teddy – A nickname inspired by serial killer Ted Bundy
Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Revealed: Baby names at risk of extinction in the UK as royal-related monikers quickly fall out of fashion - is YOURS on the list?
The baby names rapidly falling out of favour with new parents have been revealed - with a once-popular royal moniker becoming obsolete. For the girls, Jamie is going out of trend the quickest while Jamal is at risk of going extinct for the boys. Each year, baby name database BabyCentre releases its list of the 1,000 most popular names given to children in the previous 12 months - as well as which ones had the most dramatic decline in the ranks. Remy, Liv, Karina and Belle are fading into obscurity for the girls while Emmery, Taylor, Esteban and Idris aren't doing well with the boys. Naming babies after members of the royal family seems to be becoming a thing of the past as Anne, Phillip, Albert and Edward all fell more than 100 places. Catherine took the biggest hit dropping 221 spots in the baby name ranks over the past year. Analia, Erin, Bristol, Lilia, Faye and Remington were among the girl's names that saw the steepest decline. For the boys, monikers becoming unfashionable included Cannon, Camilo, Matthias, Aziz and Louie. Boy names ending in 'aden' such as have been steadily falling in recent years with Jaden dropping 162 spots despite its popularity in the early noughties. Similarly, 80s and 90s names are steadily declining in prominence. Jamie had a secured spot in the top 100 girl's names from 1974 until 1996 but lost a whopping 320 spots in 2024 and other millennial names like Erin, Kelsey, Chelsea, Kendra, and Alexis are following suit. Taylor was a top-100 boy's name from 1988 until 1997 but is now slowly making its way out of the popular 1,000, falling 199 places. Nicknames, like Ellie, Leo, and Max hold positions in the 2024 top 100 however, other other abbreviations are on the way out. While Olivia has been in the number one girl's name for the past four years, Liv is down by a huge 257 spots. Billy, Katie, Danny and Andy are all other nicknames that are quickly falling off the ranks. There are some names that are at no risk of fading away with Olivia for the girls and Noah for the boys - both of which have held a place in the top two for five years. Previously, Baby name consultant SJ Strum revealed which male monikers were the least popular and most disliked in the UK. The name Roger - which has German heritage - was among some of the most disliked baby names in England and Wales. Less than ten babies were given the name last year despite it being hugely popular in the past, according to research by Etsy. It's also bad news for Phils and Wolfgangs - which were both unpopular names last year. Other names on the list are Steve, Colin and Craig, while Derek, Gareth and Tyrone shortly followed behind as some of the most disliked options. SJ Strum, author of Baby Name Envy, told the Metro: 'Name trends are constantly evolving over time, and these names in particular have seen a big decline in recent years. 'Notably, many of these we often think of as 'Dad' names, as a result of them being so popular in the 80s and 90s. 'Now, new parents are searching for more playful and creative names that have unique meanings. We're also seeing an 'upcycling' trend emerge, with more people putting a twist on traditional names. For example, 'Steve', which was once popular for men, is now being adapted to 'Stevie' for a baby girl.' Etsy's research found that parents can be 'put off' by certain baby names if they are overused or if a friend has already taken it to name their child. The company also found that Britons are 25 per cent more likely to name their baby after their grandmother rather than their grandfather. Donald, Barry, Bill, Dale, Gordon and Esteban are other monikers that parents have fallen out of love with, according to the language learning software Babbel. The company analysed all the baby names recorded between 1914 and 1994 in the UK and reported the monikers that haven't made the cut since the mid-90s. Nigel, Melvyn, Norman, Rodney, Trevor and Horace are also proving to be very unpopular choices.
Daily Mirror
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Surge in serial killer baby names as dark 2025 parenting trend emerges
According to new data from BabyCentre, parents to be are putting aside the traditional baby name books in favour of a much darker source of inspiration - true crime Throughout history, parents -to-be have found inspiration for baby names from a variety of sources, from great kings and queens to beloved relatives. Now, mums and dads have found inspo in a bloody yet undeniably popular genre - true crime. To quote William Shakespeare, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose, By any other name would smell as sweet." It's unlikely, however, that The Bard was at that time considering that people would one day be naming their daughters after the notorious serial killer, Rose West. And Rose isn't the only name creeping into the charts. We humans have arguably long had a taste for the morbid and macabre, and a host of gripping crime documentaries and shocking podcasts are now accessible at the click of a button. And it would seem that some baby name choices are settling into our subconscious, alongside plenty of nightmares. While announcing its Top 100 Baby Names of 2025, BabyCentre UK noted a new trend towards crime-related picks, which may well come as a surprise. Intriguingly, as explained by experts, you may well have picked up a liking for a serial killer's name without even realising it, with chart-dominating listens making the monikers impossible to forget. BabyCentre UK's Baby Naming Expert, and author, SJ Strum, revealed: '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.' True Crime-inspired names featured in BabyCentre's top 100 baby names for 2025 are as follows: Anna – The 'Fake Heiress' Anna Delvey Arthur – Zodiac Killer suspect, Arthur Lee Allen, Bella – Inspired by wellness scammer, Belle Gibson, Erin – Erin Patterson, dubbed The Mushroom Killer Freddie & Rose – The story of serial killer couple Fred and Rose West, featured recently in a Netflix doc Joseph – A nod to 'Joe Exotic', Tiger King Luca – From the shocking documentary Don't F** with Cats Teddy – A soft spin on serial killer Ted Bundy Ruby – From viral doc 'Devil in the Family', Ruby Franke Ronnie & Reggie – As in the notorious London gangsters, the Kray twins Meanwhile, in quite literally much lighter news, celestial baby girl names are also on the rise, with names such as Luna, Nova, Aurora and Maryam lighting up the charts amid fascination with all things lunar cycles and astrology.
Daily Mail
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Alarming baby name trend on the rise as parents unwittingly inspired by true crime are giving newborns the same monikers as famous murderers
Popular culture has a bigger influence on baby names than we might realise, but one particular genre has been unexpectedly providing new parents with inspiration. The explosion in true crime documentaries and dramas over recent years means the names of infamous murderers, scammers and thieves are fresh in our minds - and making their way into baby name lists. According to BabyCentre UK, names linked to headline-grabbing criminal cases, true crime celebrities and viral scandals are trending, even if parents might not realise the origins of the names. The pregnancy app has revealed that monikers like Freddie and Rose are increasingly popular, as well as names like Ted - unwittingly reminiscent of serial killers Fred and Rose West and Ted Bundy. SJ Strum, BabyCentre UK's baby naming expert and author, 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.' But the rise true crime-inspired baby name trends comes alongside an increase in classic, celestial and high society-inspired names emerging this year, BabyCentre UK added. 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.' The top names linked to some of the most scandalous true crime figures in BabyCentre's top 100 baby names 2025 are: Anna Inspired by the 'Fake Heiress' Anna Delvey, a con artist who posed as a wealthy heiress in New York from 2013 to 2017. She defrauded major financial institutions, banks, hotels, and individuals out of millions of dollars and was the subject of the 2022 hit Netflix series Inventing Anna. Arthur Inspired by Arthur Leigh Allen, the only named suspect in the shocking Zodiac Killer series of murders that took place between the late 1960s to 1980s. He repeatedly denied the allegations and died in 1992, and the identity of the Zodiac Killer remains a mystery until today. Last year, he was discussed in a three-part Netflix docuseries titled This is the Zodiac Speaking. Bella Inspired by Australian wellness scammer Belle Gibson, who falsely claimed she was diagnosed with brain cancer but had cured it with alternative therapies and healthy eating. Having conned millions of Instagram followers into believing her story, Belle successfully launched a recipe app and cookbook and claimed she was donating most of her profits to charity. The Netflix series Apple Cider Vinegar tells the story of her rise and fall. Erin According to BabyCentre UK, the name 'Erin' has been unwittingly inspired by the high-profile murder case against Erin Patterson, an Australian woman who has been accused of cooking deadly mushrooms and feeding them to her relatives. She was charged with the murders of her in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, as well as Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, who all became sick and died days after she cooked them lunch. She denies the charges. The trial continues. If these two names together ring a bell, it may be because of the infamous English serial killers Fred and Rose West. Together, the pair committed at least 12 murders of girls and young women between 1967 and 1987 - including Fred's stepdaughter, Charmaine. Fred died by suicide while detained on remand, before he could be sentenced, while Rose was sentenced to 10 life terms with a whole life order. They recently became the focus of Netflix series Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story. Joseph BabyCentre UK says the name 'Joseph' - while sounding innocuous enough - is a nod to Joe Exotic, the self-proclaimed 'Tiger King' who was the subject of a 2020 Netflix series of the same name. He was suspected of hiring hit men to murder Carole Baskin, a rival to his big cat zoo business, and was convicted and sentenced to 22 years in prison for animal abuse and attempted murder. Luca The name 'Luca' may be a variation of 'Luka', after Luka Magnotta of the viral true crime docuseries Don't F*** With Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer. In 2010, Luka shared a video of himself cruelly killing two kittens, which sparked an online manhunt by amateur sleuths. He went on to commit the grisly murder of a student from China named Jun Lin in 2012, for which he was convicted and sentenced to a mandatory life sentence and 19 years for other charges. Teddy The name brings to mind soft, cuddly bear toys, but BabyCentre UK believes 'Teddy' is also surprising spin on notorious serial killer Ted Bundy. Bundy famously abducted, raped and murdered dozens of young women and girls between 1974 and 1978, and has been the subject of numerous true crime series and podcasts. In 2019, he was portrayed by Zac Efron in the film Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. Ruby Inspired by Ruby Franke, the subject of the viral documentary Devil in the Family which charted the vlogger's journey from creating content about her picturesque Mormon family to her imprisonment for child abuse. She initially posted parenting content and videos of life with her husband and their six children, but after meeting a woman named Jodi Hildebrandt, things took a much darker turn. Her daughter Shari Franke also recently wrote a book about their experience titled The House of My Mother. Ronnie and Reggie The names Ronnie and Reggie are particularly recognisable in the UK because of the Kray twins, Britain's most notorious gangsters. Ronald Kray and Reginald Kray ran a gang called The Firm, based in Bethnal Green, from the late 1950s until their arrest in 1968. They were involved in an array of crimes, including murder, armed robbery, arson, assault, and protection rackets. Tom Hardy portrayed them both in the 2015 film Legend.
