Are Mythical Names Set to Return? Research from a provider of personalised number plates has revealed a potential revival of interest in naming our children after figures from classic myths and legends.
Analysing registered baby names in the UK from 1996 through to 2022, personalised number plate provider Regtransfers has discovered the beginnings of what could be an increase in popularity of names from classical mythology.
While baby names like Leonidas, Odin and Osiris were, for the most part, unheard of in the 90s and early 2000s (as were the likes of Hera, Persephone and Juno), the data reveals a gradual increase in names from a number of ancient mythologies, including Greek, Norse and Egyptian.
It’s entirely possible that we have the rise of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to thank for a portion of this “cult” movement - with characters like Thor, Loki and Odin arriving to the silver screens as early as 2011, and seemingly boosting our interest in naming our children after these mythological figures.
Leonidas, on the other hand, saw a rise in interest as a baby name after 2007 - coinciding with the release of 300 and our introduction to Gerard Butler as the Spartan King. It’s a similar story for the name Achilles (played by Brad Pitt), although this is clearly a less popular choice for a baby boy.
In boy’s names, there’s also been a gradual rise in popularity of names like Ares - Greek god of war and courage - and Apollo, who has been recognised as the god of has been recognized as a god of various aspects like archery, music and dance, truth and prophecy, healing and diseases, the Sun and light, poetry, and more.
Baby Names in the UK, Boys (1996-2022)
It’s not just boys that are being named after mythological figures. When it comes to selections for girl’s names between 1996-2022, there are a number of examples of a recent surge.
It makes sense that a goddess such as Artemis should see a surge in popularity as a girl’s name. Historically, she has been recognised as the goddess of the hunt, the wilderness, wild animals, nature, vegetation and, perhaps most fittingly, childbirth and care of children. Her Roman counterpart, Diana, (also recognised as goddess of the hunt, wild animals, and nature) has also seen an increase in popularity over time.
Athena, goddess of war, has become increasingly prevalent as a baby name - a possible nod to the rise in the societal importance of female empowerment. While the name Freya has historically been one of the more popular names associated with mythology (She is the Norse goddess of love, fertility, beauty, war, death, gold, and magic), there has once again been a noticeable increase in popularity over time.
Historically, Juno has been recognised as the Roman goddess of marriage, queen of the gods, and a protector of the Roman state. In 2008, however, Elliot Page starred as the lead character of the same name in the eponymous comedy-drama movie, the plot of which centres around coping with an unplanned pregnancy.
Baby Names in the UK, Girls (1996-2022)
Elsewhere, there are other examples of characters from the silver screen inspiring the UK’s baby names. The name “Jax” was exceptionally uncommon until our introduction to Jax Teller in 2008 as the lead character of the US biker drama Sons of Anarchy, after which an average of 232 boys have been given the name each year.
Similarly, an average of just 14 girls per year being given the name Arya at birth increased to an average of 275 per year after our introduction in 2011 to Maisie Williams’ Arya Stark in the HBO smash hit TV show Game of Thrones.
“It might seem strange for a provider of personalised number plates to conduct research around baby names”, comments Regtransfers CEO Mark Trimbee, “but names play an important role in our identities, and many people take pride in owning a number plate that matches their name. We regularly keep an eye on trends in baby names, as an increase or decrease in popularity can have an impact on the value of some plate combinations.”
“These are just a few examples of cultural phenomena that seem to have had an impact on the popularity of names, and it’s interesting to see how certain names can rise as a result of entertainment media - for example, the name Neo didn’t seem to exist until the release of The Matrix in 1999; now, between 50 to 100 baby boys named Neo are now born every year.”
Methodology
Data gathered from ONS.
About Regtransfers
Regtransfers, the UK's leading private number plate supplier, has over four decades of industry expertise. Established in 1982 by Tony Brown, they are officially registered with the DVLA and offer an extensive selection of over 50 million personalised registration plates.
Contact
To request further information on this research, please contact luke@brick-digital.co.uk
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