Pop stars inspire surge in UK baby names - but Taylor Swift doesn't top the list

Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa and Beyonce are among the biggest popstars of this generation.

And now, surprising new data suggests they're having a major impact on the next too, with parents opting for baby names seemingly inspired by these stars. This was uncovered in a recent study by A2D2, which reported a staggering 112% increase in celebrity-influenced monikers over the past decade.

As you may expect, Taylor Swift - the woman of the moment - was among the most popular. Researchers said British babies named Taylor had soared by 62% in the last year alone, lining up with her record-breaking Eras Tour and The Tortured Poets Department release.

Meanwhile, London-born Dua Lipa caused quite a stir among parents too, according to the results. Believe it or not, baby Duas have rocketed by 113% ever since her debut single New Love in 2015.

But unbelievably, neither of these monikers made it into the top two among girls. Instead, Olivia - potentially inspired by the Drivers Licence singer Olivia Rodrigo - and Lana were both chart-toppers. In the UK alone, 9,466 babies per million are believed to have been named Olivia this year, while 1,194 little ones per million were named Lana, perhaps influenced by the Video Games sensation Lana Del Ray.

Ariana and Billie snagged the fourth and fifth spots, hinting that US superstars Ariana Grande and Billie Eilish might be influencing British parents. Adele, Stefani (the real name of pop icon Lady Gaga), and Beyonce also made it into the top 10, securing the eighth, ninth, and tenth places.

Kiddies Kingdom, a nursery retailer, has noticed that Netflix's hit series 'Bridgerton' is making waves in the realm of baby names in the UK. Names like Colin, Eloise, and Daphne are on the rise, with Daphne in particular experiencing a whopping 51% increase in popularity across England and Wales from 2020 to 2021.

Kirsty Carroll, a parenting expert at Kiddies Kingdom, has previously commented: "A baby's name is one of the first gifts they get, so it's no surprise that many parents put so much time and effort into finding the right one. Favourite TV characters, names of meaningful places, or even names influenced by beloved family members are great options."

A2D2's Full Top 10 List