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Worrying Trend Emerges As Growing Number Of Parents Naming Children After Serial Killers
A concerning trend has emerged as its revealed a growing number of parents are giving their babies the same names as serial killers.
Any parent will tell you, it’s hard work coming up with a name for your child. After all, it’s a lifelong commitment.
It’s also very clear to see just how much names come and go in fashion, with many little ones currently going through the same name cycle as many of our grandparents. Elsie and Arthur are back, while names from our parents’ generation, like Dawn and Barry are out… for now.
A growing trend among baby names
The data folks over at BabyCentre, where all the lists of the most used baby names are collated, have noticed a surge in use of names, which just happen to belong to famous killers.
While we’re not saying that parents are naming their babies because they are the moniker of serial killers and other infamous criminals, the increase in popularity does coincide with the popularity of certain true crime documentaries and podcasts, as well as current pop culture.
Speaking to the Mirror the experts said this sudden surge in name favour ‘really show how pop culture and documentaries are continuing to shape parents’ naming choices.’
“The name Anna has made a notable return to the charts. Could this be closely tied to the cultural obsession with Anna Delvey following the success of Inventing Anna on Netflix?” they suggested.
“Although the character is controversial, the name itself carries a timeless, classic appeal, making it easy for parents to reclaim and reinterpret.”
Meanwhile, another new entry in the latest list is Alexander, which has ‘received widespread attention in the form of Robert Alexander Murdaugh, who goes by Alexander, and the central figure of The Murdaugh Murders documentary.’
The expert explained: “While the association may appear dark, the name Alexander has a long-established historic strength, which means parents may be choosing it for its traditional roots rather than the scandal, even though the documentary undoubtedly kept it in public conversation.”
Another name, which began to surge in popularity in 2025 was the name Maya, which many will associate with the emotional Netflix documentary Take Care of Maya, which follows the story of Maya, who was believed to be a victim of Munchausen syndrome by proxy by her mother.
“The story resonated deeply with viewers, and names connected to strong, moving personal narratives can often see a popularity uplift,” the experts said.
Among the girls’ names, Gabriel is ‘one of the most notable climbers this year,’ which the pros say ‘has undoubtedly gained additional visibility from the heartbreaking documentary, The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez.’
They added: “Despite this association, the name’s spiritual roots and gentle sound make it appealing to modern parents.”
“As seen with all names tied to true crime stories, widespread media coverage can raise overall awareness, even if parents choose the name for its positive qualities rather than its dark context.
“When these names are already familiar, timeless, or stylistically ‘on trend,’ they can rise rapidly despite their associations.”
List of true crime baby names re-emerging in top 100
- Anna – The ‘Fake Heiress’ Anna Delvey
- Arthur – Arthur Lee Allen, Zodiac Killer suspect
- Bella – Inspired by the wellness scammer, Belle Gibson
- Erin – Erin Patterson, dubbed ‘The Mushroom Cook’
- Freddie & Rose – As seen in Netflix’s Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story
- Joseph – A nod to Joe Exotic from Tiger King
- Luca – From the viral doc Don’t F** with Cats
- Teddy – A soft spin on serial killer Ted Bundy
- Ruby – Ruby Franke from Devil in the Family doc
- Ronnie & Reggie – The Kray twins
“It’s important to stress that parents are not naming their babies after people featured in true crime stories. What we’re really observing is the power of repetition,” Faye Mingo, Chief Marketing Officer at BabyCentre, added.
“Names repeated across binge-worthy documentaries, podcasts, and social media become strangely familiar, even comfortable. That sense of familiarity is one of the strongest predictors of baby names, and true crime is one of the most consumed genres in the media.
“This pattern highlights just how intertwined naming culture and media consumption have become as a whole. As true crime continues to dominate, its influence on name familiarity is likely to remain, though always in tandem with more positive, traditional trends, such as celestial names and quiet-luxury classics.”
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