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Quick answers
Did Madison rise because of a film?
Splash (1984) is a well-known English-language case where a mermaid’s name coincided with a later given-name climb in U.S. files. Treat it as a historical illustration, and still check the SSA years.
What about Khaleesi / Daenerys?
Game of Thrones produced a documented spike in some English-language files in the 2010s — a dated media event, not a standing recommendation.
Do athletes move names more than actors?
It depends on the market and the year. Always go file-first, anecdote-second.
Why is Lieberson sceptical?
Because many “celebrity” names were already rising, and similar-sounding names rise without a star.
Should I avoid a celebrity name?
Only if you dislike the association or the spike. There is no moral rule. Fashion will move anyway.
Do K-pop or K-drama names show up in KOSTAT?
Media can influence, but Korean frequencies still need a KOSTAT year. Do not assume a global K-wave #1.
Craft is imagining the name when the show is off the air and the child is fifteen.
Check the file-year of any spike you are reacting to. You may already be late to it.
Steps
- 1Name the source
Person, character, royal baby, athlete.
Be specific.
- 2Open the dated file
SSA/ONS/KOSTAT for the years around the event.
No spike, no story.
- 3Check neighbours
Did lookalikes rise too?
Lieberson test.
- 4Imagine the afterlife
Will the association sour or puzzle?
Fifteen-year test.
- 5Check registrar mood
Brand-like or invented names can fail some lists.
Iceland/Germany/Japan differ.
- 6Decide on purpose
Homage, sound, or fashion ride.
Not “the universe said.”
Checklist
- Event dated — Release year.
- File dated — Office + year.
- Cluster checked — Not a lone myth.
- Association risk accepted — Or rejected.
- Legal inventiveness OK — If the name is coined.
- No shock-#1 claim — We do not crown live celebrities’ babies as data.
- Bias still possible — Fame ≠ Emily/Lakisha immunity.
- Child-facing reason — Sayable without a plot recap.
Pitfalls
- Post hoc star stories — The name was already climbing.
- Globalising a U.S. spike — SSA is not KOSTAT.
- Trademark baby names — A registrar or a lawyer may object.
- Shock-value coinages — High volatility, high teen cost.
Tools
- SSA/ONS year rows — Spike detector.
- A Matter of Taste — Over-credit detector.
- IMDb / release dates — To align event and file years.
- Registrar guidance — For invented or brand-like strings.
If the only reason is the show, write that down. Future-you will want to know.