Star power influences most popular baby names

It seems pop culture names like Arya and Cataleya are the breakout names in the US this year, but Irish people should think twice before scoffing.

While names like Jack and Sophie traditionally are the most popular names in Ireland, a look down the list in recent years reveals some unusual choices, like for boys Timotei, Peace, Success, Mighty, Lucky and Messiah, while some Irish girls have been named Princess Infinity and Divine Fortune.

In the US, Emma and Jacob top the list, but some of the biggest risers are celebrity based.

Cataleya is now a top 500 name in the US and is the name of a violent heroine in the 2011 French- American action film Colombiana played by Zoe Saldana.

Name expert and author Laura Wattenberg from BabyNameWizard.com told celebrity gossip site omg! that the name had scorched up the list but said the name had a lot going for it.

“It’s a flower. It has a pretty feminine sound as well as meaning, but yet you have this movie character. Now I don’t think anyone points to Colombiana as one of the big cultural happenings of the year, but the name was brand-new and yet fit the rhythms, sounds, and meaning that parents are looking for. And, potentially, as an action movie, it would have appealed to both moms and dads, which is a plus. It didn’t hurt to have Saldana’s face attached to the name,” she said.

Hit television shows also seem to be influencing names across the pond with Arya also jumping from 711 to 431 on the list of most popular girls names. Arya is a popular character on HBO series Game of Thrones, while similarly spelled Aria is also popular.

“That name would have been at the top, but it’s not because it’s split between the two spellings,” explains Wattenberg. “They’re both pretty hot, especially Aria, which cracked the Top 100 for the first time,” said Ms Wattenberg.

A&E’s cult hit Duck Dynasty — a reality show that follows a family that owns a duck call-making business also seems to be influencing boys names in the US. Jase is the third-fastest rising name for boys, followed closely by Silas.

“Jase has had peaks before. Whenever someone named Jason comes along on TV who goes by Jase, which is the case on Duck Dynasty with Jase Robertson, there is a spike. For example, a few years ago there was a big brother character named Jase Wirey — it went up that year too,” she said.

Mexican actor Gael García Bernal is also a major influencer of boys names with the first name Gael jumping from 407 on the list to 146.

“Gael is still hot. You always see Latina names rising fast. They are very trend sensitive, which actually could also help with Cataleya, too.”