2020 in Names
50 attributed cultural moments (confidence ≥ 0.5).
The name Barrett spiked 295% in September 2020 following Amy Coney Barrett's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court, making 'Barrett' a prominent household name during her historic confirmation hearings.
Breonna Taylor's name surged in search interest during June 2020 following her fatal shooting in March and the resulting nationwide Black Lives Matter protests demanding police reform and justice.
Chadwick Boseman's tragic passing in August 2020 caused a massive spike in searches for the name, as the beloved Black Panther actor's death became major global news.
Enola surged 857% in September 2020 following Netflix's release of 'Enola Holmes,' a mystery film centered on the intelligent younger sister of Sherlock Holmes.
Floyd saw a dramatic 692% spike in search interest in May 2020 following the death of George Floyd and the global movement for racial justice that followed.
'Gambit' surged 1,736% in search interest following the October 2020 Netflix premiere of The Queen's Gambit, the acclaimed chess drama that became a cultural phenomenon.
Kamala surged +1015% in August 2020 after Kamala Harris was announced as Joe Biden's vice presidential running mate, bringing the name into the national spotlight as a symbol of historic representation.
Kobe spiked dramatically in January 2020 following the tragic death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, making the name a poignant tribute to the basketball icon.
Searches for Kobe spiked dramatically in January 2020 following the tragic death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, one of basketball's greatest players and a global cultural icon.
Bryant surged in January 2020 following the tragic death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, whose legacy inspired renewed interest in the name.
Charli surged +296% in early 2020 as TikTok star Charli D'Amelio became a global phenomenon, inspiring parents to choose the trendy name for their babies.
Harris spiked +132% in August 2020 following Kamala Harris being selected as Joe Biden's vice presidential running mate, bringing the name into the national spotlight during the 2020 election cycle.
Hernandez surged in early 2020 following the release of two major documentaries about Aaron Hernandez, the former NFL star convicted of murder, which generated significant media attention and public interest.
Lamelo surged +328% in December 2020 following LaMelo Ball's selection as the 3rd overall pick in the NBA Draft, introducing the unique spelling to a broader audience of prospective parents.
Locke surged +177% in early 2020 following the premiere of Netflix's 'Locke & Key,' a supernatural drama centered on the Locke family that brought the name into mainstream conversation.
Ahmaud surged +2925% in May 2020 following national media coverage of the case of Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old whose death sparked widespread conversations about racial justice in America.
Banks surged 78% in May 2020 following the Netflix premiere of 'Outer Banks,' the breakout adventure series that captivated audiences during pandemic lockdowns.
Bernie surged +412% in early 2020 as Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign dominated headlines during the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary.
Searches for 'Biden' surged in September 2020 during Joe Biden's presidential campaign, as the Democratic nominee intensified his general election bid against President Trump.
Bronco surged +204% in July 2020 after Ford announced the revival of the iconic Bronco SUV, bringing the legendary vehicle name back into the cultural spotlight.
Bubba surged 198% in June 2020 following NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace gaining national prominence during the height of racial justice protests.
Carole spiked in April 2020 following the viral Netflix release of Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness, which made Carole Baskin a household name during pandemic lockdowns.
Dak surged in October 2020 following Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott's high-profile contract negotiations and his season-ending ankle injury, which dominated sports headlines and mainstream media coverage.
Fernandez surged 245% in March 2020 following the Netflix release of 'The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez,' a true crime documentary that sparked widespread discussion about the tragic 2013 case.
Gabriel searches surged in March 2020 following the Netflix release of 'The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez,' a documentary about a high-profile child welfare case that sparked nationwide conversation.
Searches for 'George' spiked in June 2020 following the death of George Floyd, whose name became central to global discussions about police brutality and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Gianna spiked in early 2020 following the tragic death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna in a helicopter crash, bringing renewed attention to the name through global media coverage and public mourning.
Jemima saw a dramatic spike in searches in June 2020 when the Aunt Jemima brand announced its rebrand to Pearl Milling Company, sparking widespread public discussion about the name's racist historical origins.
Joe surged 79% in September 2020, coinciding with Joe Biden's Democratic National Convention acceptance speech and intensified presidential campaign coverage leading into the general election.
Boris surged in April 2020 following extensive global media coverage of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's hospitalization with COVID-19.
Diana spiked in November 2020 following BBC's 'The Diana Interview: Revenge of a Princess' documentary, which revisited Princess Diana's historic 1995 Panorama interview on its 25th anniversary.
Giuliani saw a massive search spike in November 2020 following Rudy Giuliani's widely-publicized press conference regarding 2020 election challenges, which became a major news story and viral moment.
The name Donald spiked 88% in October 2020, likely driven by the intense media coverage of the U.S. Presidential election and Donald Trump's re-election campaign during the final weeks before Election Day.
Gilead surged in early 2020 as The Handmaid's Tale Season 4 premiered on Hulu, bringing renewed attention to the dystopian setting that defines the acclaimed drama series.
Korra surged in searches in June 2020 when The Legend of Korra animated series became available on Netflix, reintroducing the beloved character to audiences during pandemic lockdowns.
Luther surged in January 2020 following the premiere of season 5 of the acclaimed BBC crime drama, bringing renewed attention to the character name and the show itself.
Cinco saw increased search interest around Cinco de Mayo (May 5th), the annual celebration of Mexican heritage and the Battle of Puebla, driving seasonal demand for the name.
The premiere of NASCAR All In: Battle for Daytona in February 2020 brought renewed cultural attention to the iconic Daytona name, driving a surge in baby name searches.
Deontay spiked in February 2020 during the buildup to heavyweight boxer Deontay Wilder's rematch against Tyson Fury, bringing increased attention to the boxer's distinctive name.
Halen saw a surge in searches around October 2020 following the death of legendary guitarist Eddie Van Halen, as parents considered the name as a tribute to the rock icon.
Harden spiked in December 2020 as NBA trade rumors intensified around superstar James Harden's potential move to the Brooklyn Nets, which was finalized in January 2021.
The name Lucifer surged in August 2020 as Netflix's popular supernatural drama 'Lucifer' entered its fifth season, with the character Lucifer Morningstar driving renewed interest in the name.
Addison spiked in April 2020 when beloved Grey's Anatomy character Addison Montgomery returned to the show after a lengthy absence, rekindling fan interest in the iconic name.
Candace spiked in June 2020 following promotional announcements for Disney's 'Candace Flynn: Never Stop Growing,' a Phineas and Ferb film that brought renewed attention to the beloved character.
Search interest in 'Italy' spiked in March 2020 during COVID-19 news coverage, though this likely reflects information-seeking rather than baby naming trends.
The Ivanka Diaries premiered in July 2020, coinciding with increased search interest in the name Ivanka, though broader public interest in the public figure Ivanka Trump likely contributed significantly to the spike.
Clare gained search interest following the October 2020 release of Netflix's 'The Haunting of Bly Manor,' which featured the name prominently as viewers engaged with the horror series.
Aloe saw increased search interest in spring 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, likely driven by renewed interest in plants, natural remedies, and wellness trends during global lockdowns.
The name 'Eternal' surged in early 2020, likely influenced by the popular Chinese fantasy drama 'Eternal Love of Dream,' which generated significant streaming interest and global social media discussion.
The name Kai gained search interest in fall 2020, likely driven by Netflix's animated hit 'Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts,' which concluded its run and found fresh audiences during the pandemic.