Latest news with #SJStrum
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.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
16 of the 'sunniest' baby names for those born around summer solstice
Falling on Saturday 21 June, summer solstice is the longest day of the year and, for those who follow the astronomical calendar, the beginning of summer. Boasting the most hours of daylight and the shortest night, it's a date that's been celebrated throughout history. The stones of the ancient monument of Stonehenge are aligned to frame the rising sun on summer solstice, and the Celtic people used to light bonfires on the longest day to boost the sun's strength for the crop season. So if you're expecting a child around this date, which is also the birthday of Prince William, you may wish to honour the sun and the summer months with your baby name choice. "Choosing a name linked to the season your baby is born is really meaningful and summer is a particularly popular season," baby name consultant and author of Baby Name Envy, SJ Strum, tells Yahoo UK. "Summer is uplifting and evocative of family time and making memories, with summer-inspired names bringing that same sunny feel all year round." Sharing some summery choices she says, "Cove and Skye make gorgeous nature options that remind you of the beach, and Luca and Nell — meaning bright and shining — bring the long sunny days to life in a name. If you have a special holiday spot, like Orlando or Devon, that could make a great name with personal meaning, too." She also suggests looking to the highlights of your summer for inspiration. "Maybe Tor as a nod to Glastonbury, or Katie inspired by Wimbledon tennis star Katie Boulter." Whether it's a subtle nod to the season like Dahlia, then, or a more literal choice like August, there are lots of sunshine names to choose from. Here are some of our favourites: A name that brings to mind warm, sunny days, Summer is the 86th most popular girls' name in England and Wales, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), a choice that's unusual enough not everyone in your child's class will share it, but not so rare they'll need to spell it out at coffee shops. An English name, meaning gold, Goldie is reminiscent of sunshine. Most commonly used as a girls' name, the most famous Goldie is undoubtedly Goldie Hawn. It's also the name Harry Potter star Rupert Grint chose for his youngest daughter, Goldie G. Grint, born in April. Of Latin origin and relating to the sixth month of the year, the name June is also linked to the Roman goddess Juno, a protector of the nation and women, according to baby naming site The Bump. For names with a similar feel, try Junie or Juniper, meaning evergreen. An ancient Roman name meaning 'sun', per Nameberry, Aelia has the appeal of popular names like Ella and Isla but with a fresh, unusual spin. The birthstone for June, Pearl is derived from the Old English word 'perle', according to Referring to the gemstone and with connotations of the sea and purity, both Jack Osbourne and comedian Josh Widdicombe have daughters named Pearl. July's birthstone, Ruby, has English roots and stems from the Old French word rubeus, per Representing the red gemstone, it ranks at number 39 in the most popular girls' names in England and Wales. The name of an Irish goddess, often associated with sun and the summer, Áine – pronounced 'Awn-ya' means 'gracious' or 'merciful', according to Take name inspiration from a flower that blooms in the summer months, such as a Dahlia, named after the Swedish botanist Anders Dahl. Other summer flower names include Rose, Jasmine, Lavender and Daisy. The Irish word for August, Lúnasa has similarities to the popular girls' name Luna but with a fresh spin. Perfect for babies born in the last month of the summer. A name with strong, summer vibes, Sol comes from the Spanish word for 'sun'. It can also be used as a shortening of the Hebrew name Solomon, meaning 'peace', per BabyCentre. With Latin and Greek origins, the name Elio comes from the world Aelius and Helios, meaning 'sun'. It's a name that's found in a number of countries across the globe, including Italy and Spain. The name chosen by Princess Eugenie for her son, August derives from the Latin name Augustus and means 'great', according to The Bump. The month of August was named after the Roman emperor Augustus Octavian. Of Romanian origin, Sorin is derived from the word soare and means 'sun', per The Bump. It is found as both a surname and a first name, making it a strong, versatile choice. The fifth sign of the zodiac, Leo is the star sign for those born between 23 July and 22 August. A name of Latin origin, it means 'lion'. A popular choice in England and Wales, it currently sits at number five in the boys' name charts. While Sonny derives from Anglo Saxon and means 'son', per The Bump, it's a homonym for the word 'sunny' with all its summer connotations. With Hebrew origins, the name Samson, which can be shortened to Sam or Sammy, is derived from the word shemesh, meaning 'sun', per It's also linked to the biblical figure Samson, who was known for his strength. Read more about baby names: 11 celestial baby names as Coronation Street star takes inspiration for newborn (Yahoo Like UK, 3-min read) How the most popular baby girl names in the UK compare with the US (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read) 9 old-fashioned baby names as Laura Kenny takes vintage inspiration for newborn (Yahoo Life, 6-min read)
Daily Mail
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Britain's least popular boys names revealed, so is yours one of them?
A baby name expert has revealed the least popular boys names in the country - including classics that are dying out. Baby name consultant SJ Strum claims that traditional British names are dying out, with parents increasingly adding 'modern twists' on conventional monikers instead. 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 by their parents or guardians in 2024, 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 male name options for new parents. 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 Brits 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. Instead, mothers and fathers are now choosing to name their sons Muhammad, Luca and Bodhi. Muhammad was crowned the most popular baby name for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with over 4,600 namings. Luca was the biggest gainer year-on-year in 2023 versus the year prior, growing from 2,625 namings to 3,195. Of the top 100 names given to boys, Bodhi saw the highest one year leap. It jumped from 637th to 100th. It comes after an expectant mother who named her first child after a videogame character has admitted she 'hates' the moniker and now 'cringes' whenever she hears it. A woman, believed to be from the US, took to social media to express her regret after 'going along' with her husband's choice to name their first born son after a fictional character. Now expecting her second child, the mother confessed she 'desperately wishes' she had turned down his suggestion four years ago, adding that she had only agreed at the time because she didn't have a moniker of her own in mind. Taking to Reddit, she wrote: 'Currently pregnant with a baby girl due in the summer and so me and my husband are the in the middle of choosing a name for her.' It was only when the two began searching for a girl's name that it 'really hit' how much she despised the title. She explained: 'While in the search for a girl name it has really hit me how much I hate my four-year-old son's name. 'His name was chosen by my husband and because I didn't have a name I really liked we went with his favourite choice.' Inspired by one character in the online fantasy game, Huge Mortal Kombat, her husband suggested they name their son Raiden. Continuing, she wrote: 'My son's name is Raiden. Yes, I know! 'And on top of that we aren't huge mortal kombat fans either! My husband just feels it sounds 'badass' and I desperately wish I would've said no four years ago but here we are. 'I cringe whenever I hear any 'ayden/aiden's' out in the world knowing we contributed to that stupid trend.' In an attempt to bypass the 'cringe' sound in the latter part of the moniker, the mother admitting to calling their son 'Ray. 'When we meet people I tell them his name is Raiden but we call him Ray,' she said. So upset by the name, she asked Redditors whether it would be 'ridiculous' to legally change the four-year-old's moniker. 'Would it be ridiculous to change his legal name to Ray at this point? 'Is the name Raiden as awful as I think it is? Help,' she asked desperately. The poster added that her husband was convinced she was being 'dramatic' in calling it 'awful', and that he was still fond Raiden. 'He feels we should let our son decide if he likes it or not but he's willing to change it to Ray since I've been expressing how much I dislike it,' she said. She questioned whether her sudden dislike for the moniker was related to being pregnant. 'I can see me being dramatic about it right now,' she said. Many of those responding did not take kindly to the unique name, with one even describing it as a 'cautionary tale' to never use the reasoning of 'it sounds badass' to name a baby. One replied: 'The honest answer is yeah, Raiden is as awful as you think it is. It has violent connotations, and also sounds like radioactive gas. 'Sorry. Keep calling him Ray, that's gorgeous! I'd just introduce him as that from now on and leave the rest out.' 'Your husband is not allowed to name your daughter,' a second joked. 'It's absolutely ok to keep using Ray and not tell anyone your son's full name unless they need to know (teachers, pediatrician, etc),' a third responded, adding that they thought it was 'fine to legally change his name to Ray'. 'Raiden is very bad, but you did well to choose a name with a solid nickname. Don't be too hard on yourself,' they reasoned. Despite disliking the name, few thought it was a good idea to change it. 'At this point, it's not your name anymore. He's not a cat that you can just rename. It doesn't matter if you regret his name, his name is Raiden,' a commenter lamented. A teacher, familiar with a broad spectrum of names, said the moniker wasn't 'great' but reassured the poster that it wasn't 'the worst name I've seen'. Another had a more optimistic take on the name. 'I am biased because I'm obviously a Mortal Kombat fan but I think it's cool lol. Just leave him. Raiden is also the Japanese thunder god.' An agreeing second wrote: 'I like it too! Don't know what it says about me that I agree with the husband's initial thought that it sounds 'badass'.'
The Sun
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Britain's least popular boys' names revealed as number of classic monikers die out – is yours one of them?
THE name Roger is so unpopular that last year just as many boys were named Wolfgang. Only five boys in England and Wales were named Roger — as many as were given the popular German name. 1 The name, given to James Bond actor Moore in 1927, was the second least popular in 2024. Surprisingly, bottom of the named tots list was Philip, given to just four, ONS figures show. Craig was fifth most unpopular, after Tyrone but just ahead of Gareth. Just 18 newborn boys were named Steven and 18 were called Derek. Despite the decline of classic names, blogger SJ Strum and online shop Etsy found a quarter of adults would name their baby after a grandparent. About four in 10 would use gender neutral names — like Stevie. SJ Strum said: "Name trends are constantly evolving over time, and names like Phil, Roger and Craig in particular have seen a big decline in recent years. 'Now, new parents are searching for more playful and creative names that have unique meanings.' I'm trolled over my kids' unique names - even the midwife questioned my choice
Irish Daily Mirror
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Baby name experts list six 'outdated' names new parents should steer clear of
Choosing a name for your newborn can be a tricky and daunting task, but two baby name consultants have shared six old-fashioned names that new parents might want to avoid. British professional baby namer SJ Strum and Boston-based consultant Colleen Slagen have compiled a list of names they recommend to clients, but there are a select few they suggest bypassing. Colleen advises against sturdy, old-school monikers like Linda, Karen, and Janet, which she believes are falling out of fashion, while SJ warns parents off what she terms "1990s norm-core dad names" such as Gary, Stuart, and Ian. Speaking to the Daily Mail, SJ described pregnancy as "such a bamboozling time. She added that picking a name is just one of the overwhelming number of decisions expectant parents face, reports the Mirror. She believes that enlisting an expert to choose a baby's name can transform the process into "one of the most joyous and bonding parts of your pregnancy." "Couples want a name that tells their story," she says, delving into personal details such as hobbies, university studies, and where they first met to find the perfect fit. SJ also mentioned receiving last-minute messages from delivery rooms, with parents desperate for help naming their newborn. She offers sage advice for resolving deadlocks when one parent is fixated on a name the other detests. SJ offers a cheeky tip for those stuck with a partner's preferred boys' name they can't stand: "That normally gets them off it pretty quick," she reveals, suggesting you claim it's the name of an ex. For parents-to-be mulling over names for their little girl, SJ recommends timeless options like Olivia, Emma, Charlotte, or Sofia, while James, Henry, Lucas, or William are equally classic choices for boys. SJ also highlights some novel trends in baby naming, noting: "'Nature names are becoming popular: River is rising up the ranks. I'm also seeing a lot of whimsical names that hark back to virtues, such as Sage." She observes that following the passing of celebrities or notable figures, there's often a spike in the popularity of their names, adding: "We saw lots of variations on Elizabeth after the late Queen passed away, and Bowie after David died in 2016." Before finalising a name, SJ advises giving it a test run: "What does it feel like to say it out loud?". Sharing her own experience, SJ points out practical aspects to consider: "Will you be asked to spell it in a coffee shop? "I had a client who loved the name Persephone, but did the coffee shop test and decided it was far too much of a mouthful".
