Names That Became Popular Because Of A TV or Movie Character or Celebrity - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

andress_jade · 10-14-2015, 11:30 PM

This thread relates to names parents gave their children from characters on TV shows or movies or from actors or celebrities. This does include athletes and authors.

My name Andress came from Ursula Andress, the very first Bond girl in the movie Dr. No. So far I haven't come across anyone else with the name Andress and I'm glad about that.

Other names that became popular were Michaela from Dr. Quinn, and I know Shirley MacLaine was named after Shirley Temple, Ryan White; the boy who died from AIDS complications was named after Ryan O'Neal.
I can't tell you how many people have been named Michael after Michael Jackson. Of course there's Peyton which could be after Peyton Manning. My friend named her daughter Peyton but she got it from the movie The Game Plan.
Can you think of any others?

70s show watcher · 10-15-2015, 01:50 AM

I remember during the 80s when wheel of fourtine was mega popular a lot of parents were naming ther new baby girls vanna after vanna white

DJM77 · 10-15-2015, 04:48 AM

I don't think anyone was naming their kids Chandler before Friends came out.

As far as I know there wouldn't be anyone named Mallory if it weren't for Family Ties.

andress_jade · 04-15-2016, 10:59 PM

I know this is an old thread but I had to make an addition to it. The name Rachel found a resurgence when Friends was airing. It was one of the most popular girls names in the 90's.

IllinoisTVFan · 04-16-2016, 01:20 AM

I knew several named Erica and would have been born around the time All My Children premiered.

Edward216 · 04-16-2016, 01:56 AM

I've heard that after the first Hunger Games movie came out Katniss was becoming a popular name for baby girls. Seriously what in the name of humanity is wrong with people?! That's a horrible, stupid, and ridiculous thing to name your child.

Ed.

treky · 04-16-2016, 02:05 AM

I don't know if this counts or not but back when Gene Rodenberry was creating STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION he named a character Geordi LaForge after a treky who used to attend a lot of Star Trek conventions and died of Aids, George LaForge.

And I have a friend who named one of her sons Luke and her daughter Leia after Luke and Leia in STAR WARS.

Edward216 · 04-16-2016, 02:18 AM

Well at least naming your son Luke or your daughter Leia is much better than naming your son Anakin. I mean I'm a big Star Wars fan but again Anakin is a terrible name and you want to name your boy after somebody who becomes a major villain? I don't get it!

Ed.

treky · 04-16-2016, 02:42 AM

I think that's why. I said to her once "Did you know your son and daughter have the names of 2 Star Wars characters"? and she said "Yes, I know; that's why Luke is handsome and Leah's my little princess." (also, I think it's because she was born in 1977; when the movie came out)

Hawkee · 04-16-2016, 05:28 AM

The reason why it became a trend to name babies after TV characters was because it was just becoming a new thing that people would start picking out names for their babies rather than looking through a name book. Take for instance when Dynasty debuted in the 80's the name Fallon became incredibly popular and the name Krystle became a popular name for baby girls also due to Dynasty. Then in the 90's the name Brandon soared to popularity for baby boys due to Jason Priestley's character and when Frasier came out Frasier was also a popular name for boys too and now only did the name Frasier became popular for boys but due to Kelsey Grammer's popularity lots of boys were also named Kelsey too as well. And when the X-Files came out Fox and Dana became popular names for babies too. I love names and I also have loved names based on TV shows and I think this trend will last a long while
Bestie

Crusinforabrusin · 04-16-2016, 07:43 AM

The name Samantha became popular in the 1960s because of Elizabeth Montgomery's character on Bewitched

10-14-2015, 11:30 PM	#1
andress_jade Life Goes On... Moderator Senior Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2004 Location: Iola, KS or Glenbrook Posts: 1,220	Names That Became Popular Because Of A TV or Movie Character or Celebrity This thread relates to names parents gave their children from characters on TV shows or movies or from actors or celebrities. This does include athletes and authors. My name Andress came from Ursula Andress, the very first Bond girl in the movie Dr. No. So far I haven't come across anyone else with the name Andress and I'm glad about that. Other names that became popular were Michaela from Dr. Quinn, and I know Shirley MacLaine was named after Shirley Temple, Ryan White; the boy who died from AIDS complications was named after Ryan O'Neal. I can't tell you how many people have been named Michael after Michael Jackson. Of course there's Peyton which could be after Peyton Manning. My friend named her daughter Peyton but she got it from the movie The Game Plan. Can you think of any others?
	__________________ In Memoriam: John Ritter, Hayden Rorke, Sidney Sheldon, Bob Denver, Don Knotts, Andy Griffith, Elizabeth Montgomery, Bea Arthur, Estelle Getty, Rue McClanahan, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, David Angell, Christopher Reeve, Shirley Temple Black, Larry Hagman, Lucille Ball, Patrick Swayze, Robin Williams, Alan Thicke, Mary Tyler Moore, Prince, George Michael, Jim Nabors, John Mahoney, Penny Marshall, Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher.

10-15-2015, 04:48 AM	#3
DJM77 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: May 15, 2001 Location: Missouri Posts: 5,566	I don't think anyone was naming their kids Chandler before Friends came out. As far as I know there wouldn't be anyone named Mallory if it weren't for Family Ties.
	__________________ Marge: There are only 49 stars on that flag. Abe: I'll be deep in the cold, cold ground before I recognize Missouri!

04-16-2016, 02:05 AM	#7
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	I don't know if this counts or not but back when Gene Rodenberry was creating STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION he named a character Geordi LaForge after a treky who used to attend a lot of Star Trek conventions and died of Aids, George LaForge. And I have a friend who named one of her sons Luke and her daughter Leia after Luke and Leia in STAR WARS.
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

04-16-2016, 05:28 AM	#10
Hawkee Michael Fassbender Fanatic Moderator Forum Star Join Date: Jan 17, 2016 Location: California Posts: 10,830	The reason why it became a trend to name babies after TV characters was because it was just becoming a new thing that people would start picking out names for their babies rather than looking through a name book. Take for instance when Dynasty debuted in the 80's the name Fallon became incredibly popular and the name Krystle became a popular name for baby girls also due to Dynasty. Then in the 90's the name Brandon soared to popularity for baby boys due to Jason Priestley's character and when Frasier came out Frasier was also a popular name for boys too and now only did the name Frasier became popular for boys but due to Kelsey Grammer's popularity lots of boys were also named Kelsey too as well. And when the X-Files came out Fox and Dana became popular names for babies too. I love names and I also have loved names based on TV shows and I think this trend will last a long while Bestie
	__________________ Hawkee and Aguilar, Hoping to be a great team

04-16-2016, 07:43 AM	#11
Crusinforabrusin It's time to move on, Goodbye Senior Member Join Date: Dec 27, 2015 Posts: 2,056	The name Samantha became popular in the 1960s because of Elizabeth Montgomery's character on Bewitched
	__________________ I've enjoyed reading through all the threads and posting here throughout the years, but now is the perfect time to say goodbye and move on to other things.

10-15-2015, 01:50 AM	#2
70s show watcher Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 20, 2008 Location: between point place and studio 8 h Posts: 4,549	I remember during the 80s when wheel of fourtine was mega popular a lot of parents were naming ther new baby girls vanna after vanna white

04-15-2016, 10:59 PM	#4
andress_jade Life Goes On... Moderator Senior Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2004 Location: Iola, KS or Glenbrook Posts: 1,220	I know this is an old thread but I had to make an addition to it. The name Rachel found a resurgence when Friends was airing. It was one of the most popular girls names in the 90's.

04-16-2016, 01:20 AM	#5
IllinoisTVFan Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 22, 2011 Location: South of Chicago Posts: 4,072	I knew several named Erica and would have been born around the time All My Children premiered.

04-16-2016, 01:56 AM	#6
Edward216 Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 18, 2014 Location: Central Time Zone Posts: 4,648	I've heard that after the first Hunger Games movie came out Katniss was becoming a popular name for baby girls. Seriously what in the name of humanity is wrong with people?! That's a horrible, stupid, and ridiculous thing to name your child. Ed.

04-16-2016, 02:18 AM	#8
Edward216 Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 18, 2014 Location: Central Time Zone Posts: 4,648	Well at least naming your son Luke or your daughter Leia is much better than naming your son Anakin. I mean I'm a big Star Wars fan but again Anakin is a terrible name and you want to name your boy after somebody who becomes a major villain? I don't get it! Ed.

04-16-2016, 02:42 AM	#9
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	I think that's why. I said to her once "Did you know your son and daughter have the names of 2 Star Wars characters"? and she said "Yes, I know; that's why Luke is handsome and Leah's my little princess." (also, I think it's because she was born in 1977; when the movie came out)