The rise of Arya, Khaleesi, and Daenerys: How pop culture influences baby name trends

People naming their children after celebrities is not a new phenomenon. Perhaps the most prominent example of this came when the name Shirley skyrocketed from being the name of 14,320 newborn girls in 1933 to more than 42,000 in 1935. The U.S. was in the midst of the Great Depression when it saw Shirley Temple's 1934 performance in "Bright Eyes."

Decades later, Aretha Franklin rose to stardom, becoming the "Queen of Soul." While the singer's name did not become as popular as Shirley, there was still a wave of baby Arethas in the late 1960s—a testament to Franklin's cultural impact.

Celebrities can also revitalize already popular names. The number of baby girls named Madonna originally peaked in the 1950s before fading in popularity. That was until the mid-1980s when the pop singer Madonna's hit track "Like a Virgin" became the #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. The name Madonna subsequently experienced a brief resurgence amongst parents of newborn girls. Similarly, the name Selena was also falling out of favor until 1995, when the famed singer of the same name was tragically killed.

More recently, popular television has also left its mark on girls' names. The term Khaleesi was not the only "Game of Thrones" reference inspiring parents after the popular show's release; the character names Arya, Sansa, and Daenerys also saw spikes. The name Cersei hit a peak of 11 newborn girls in 2017 but never recovered.

Famous politicians can be a strong source of names for some parents. Woodrow was a rare name in the U.S. until the early 20th century when Woodrow Wilson gained national prominence, first as the governor of New Jersey in 1911, and then as president in 1913. Decades later, the number of baby boys named Lyndon surged when Lyndon B. Johnson succeeded John F. Kennedy as president in 1963.

Sports stars have also left their mark on naming registries. During the early 1990s, there was a brief spike in the popularity of Shaquille, tracking with Shaquille O'Neal's rise from college basketball phenom to NBA superstar. The name Peyton climbed steadily from the late 1990s through the 2000s, mirroring the growth of NFL quarterback Peyton Manning's career.

Television, too, has shaped boys' names. The mid-1990s spike in Chandler is thanks to "Friends" and the character Chandler Bing. Similarly, Dawson became a popular name for baby boys when the show "Dawson's Creek" rose in popularity.

Perhaps the most notable example of parents inspired by pop culture is the name Anakin. In 1999, as "Star Wars: Episode I" introduced the boy who would become Darth Vader, the name Anakin shot up dramatically, cementing George Lucas as a tastemaker not just in theaters, but in maternity wards, too.

Story editing by Carla Pineda. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn.