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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Lifestyle
Emma Gill

Women's football, the 90s and Love Island - the biggest trends influencing baby names in 2022

While England's women's football team have inspired a new generation of female players, it seems they've had an influence off the pitch too.

That's because many of them have become winners in the baby name charts too - with parents choosing the lionesses' monikers for their own children.

Experts at BabyCentre have crunched tens of thousands of name registrations over 2022 to offer up a full report on the ups and down of this year’s chart.

Read more: 'Karen' and 'Donald' on the edge of extinction as 'endangered' baby names revealed

As well as being influenced by England's UEFA victory, they appear to have been inspired by sources as diverse as reality TV show Love Island and the 90s revival.

The names of players Leah (Williamson), Millie (Bright) and winning goal scorer Chloe (Kelly) all climbed the top 100, while Lauren (Hemp) saw a rise in registrations.

The name of winning goal scorer Chloe Kelly is on the rise (PA)

And it wasn’t just the players who provided naming inspiration. Football fever meant the presenters and pundits who were there through the lionesses’ journey to victory also scored with parents.

Gabby (Logan), Alexandra (Alex Scott), Susan (Sue Smith) and Isobel (Izzy Christiansen) all surged in popularity.

Sarah Redshaw, UK managing editor for BabyCentre, said: “After their incredible 2-1 win over Germany at Wembley Stadium in July, parents seem to have been inspired not only by the England women’s but the team of presenters too.

“As the lionesses ended years of hurt for footy fans, parents made sure their names came home."

Contestants from Love Island past and present made a big impact on the chart with 2022 runner up Luca (Bish) one of the highest climbers, leaping 21 places into the top 10.

Love Island contestant Luca Bish (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Following closely 2021’s Toby (Aromolaran) rose 20 places while his fellow runner-up Chloe (Burrows) also went up a place.

And with a 90s revival in full-swing, parents have been naming their little ones after the decade’s icons, as well as resurrecting the most popular names from back in the day too.

Top 90s names are seeing a resurgence with Thomas, Jack, Daniel, Matthew, Samuel, Charlotte and Emily all making a comeback in BabyCentre’s registrations.

90s music had an influence too with Liam rocking up 10 places in the charts although brother, rival and former Oasis bandmate Noel went down in registrations.

Sarah added: "We wonder if parents are just excited to be dusting off their bucket hats, or if 90s babies are now starting to have their own and giving into nostalgia when it comes to naming their little ones."

You can see BabyCentre's top 100 charts here.

Read more of today's top stories here

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