NEW YORK (PIX11) – A new study found that Merida from “Brave” was the most influential Disney-inspired name in the U.S.
A study by public data company BeenVerified found that the 2012 release of “Brave” inspired the biggest naming spree for babies in the country. The use of the name Merida increased by over 1,000% after the release, increasing through 2017 then leveling off.
In New York, Ariel from “The Little Mermaid'' was the most popular during it’s peak year, BeenVerified found. The movie was released in 1989, and the year after, the use of the name Ariel increased by over 250% across the country. Mirabel from “Encanto” was also very popular in New York.
Ariel was also a top Disney name choice in New Jersey, but other character names like Elsa from “Frozen” and Esmeralda from “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” proved popular in other states.
The analysis used Social Security Administration baby data to see the growth of a name after a movie’s release compared to the five years before. It found that when a Disney Movie ranked in the top 50 at the box office, characters’ names were more likely to be used.
Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter from Los Angeles who has covered New York City since 2023. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here.
Article From:
pix11.com
English (US) ·