Are Disney Baby Names Trending? These Magical Names Are Topping the Charts

Baby names have long been influenced by pop culture, and what’s more pop culture than Disney movies? Disney evokes magic, whimsy and hope—and perhaps that’s why some parents look to the beloved characters for name inspiration. In fact, a recent study looked at the impact of Disney movies on baby names using the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) data and found that there’s a correlation to certain baby names rising in popularity in the years after a Disney movie ranks highly at the box office. 

Which names have been topping the charts? Merida, the fierce heroine from the movie Brave had the steepest increase in popularity following the movie’s premiere in 2012. And joining that name in the spotlight are Koda (Brother Bear), Moana, Finnick (Zootopia), Mirabel (Encanto), Raya (from Raya and the Last Dragon) and Flynn (Tangled). 

We also looked at our Babylist Babes name list, where Babylist parents share their baby's birth date and name, to see how Disney movies have influenced and continue to shape baby name trends. Jack, the name of the youngest sibling in The Incredibles, has long been a favorite, consistently topping the SSA's charts and currently the most popular boy's name on our list. Similarly, Violet, Jack's elder sibling from The Incredibles, has steadily climbed the ranks since the movie's release in 2004, and remains a top pick for girls today. Luca, the main character from the 2021 film Luca, sits in our top 20 for 2024 so far. And another notable name is Arlo, the lovable Apatosaurus in The Good Dinosaur, which has seen a consistent rise on both the SSA's list since 2015 and on the Babylist Babes list over the past few years.

If you’re looking for more names that twinkle with the magic of your favorite Disney movie or character, here are a few more Disney-inspired baby names.

Baby Names Inspired by Disney Characters

Alice In Wonderland

Cinderella

The Little Mermaid

Sleeping Beauty

Peter Pan

Beauty and The Beast

Aladdin

Pinocchio

Tarzan

A Bug’s Life

The Lion King

Toy Story

The Incredibles

Finding Nemo

Ratatouille

Up

The Princess and the Frog 

Frozen

Tangled

Luca

The Good Dinosaur

Encanto

Inside Out & Inside Out 2

Elemental

Wish

And we can't forget some of the classic characters: