Analysis·9 min
Kasai Just Jumped 1,108 Spots: What Happens When a Name Goes Viral
The 2025 SSA data is out and Kasai's rise is the story of the year. History shows viral names follow a predictable lifecycle — here's how to read it.
By Jack Lin
Analysis Articles
Browse our analysis articles on baby and pet names.
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Analysis·9 min
Rose vs. Royce: What the Names Rebel Wilson Chose for Her Two Daughters Say About Modern Celebrity Naming
Rebel Wilson's daughters are Rose Estelle and Royce Lillian — matching initials, completely different vibes. This is the new celebrity naming playbook.
By Ivy Hung
Analysis·9 min
The LaMelo Effect: How NBA Stars Are Rewriting the Rules of Baby Naming
LaMelo Ball just named his son LaOne. NamesPop data shows La- prefix names hit bottom in 2015 — and are now rising again at 34% since 2022.
By Jack Lin
Analysis·9 min
The Skeleton Gown Theory of Naming: What Beyoncé Wears to the Met Gala Tells Us About Name Trends
Met Gala fashion foreshadows baby name trends 18-24 months later. The 2026 Costume Art theme may be quietly predicting the names of 2027.
By Ivy Hung
Analysis·9 min
May the Fourth Be With Your Pet: 25 Star Wars Pet Names That Actually Work
Pet naming is freer than baby naming — Grogu, Chewie, and Vader are all on the table. We graded 25 Star Wars pet names on callability, comedy, and character.
By Jack Lin
Analysis·9 min
National Pet Week 2026: America Now Has 87 Million Dogs — Are We Running Out of Good Names?
With 87 million dogs in the US and growing, you'd expect name diversity to collapse. NamesPop data shows the opposite is happening — and Gen Z is why.
By Jack Lin
Analysis·9 min
Cinco de Mayo and the Naming Question No One Asks: How Mexican-American Families Blend Two Traditions
Many Mexican-American families quietly practice dual-name identity — Spanish on the birth certificate, an Anglo equivalent at school. Here's what the data reveals.
By Ivy Hung
Analysis·9 min
Renegade, Tempos, and Longshots: What Racehorses Teach Us About Naming Pets
Golden Tempo won the 2026 Kentucky Derby. NamesPop pet data shows Rebel in 247 dogs, Renegade in 89. Here's what racehorse naming conventions can teach dog owners.
By Jack Lin
Analysis·10 min
Nautas and Cardinal: Cameron Diaz's Naming Philosophy Is a Whole Thesis
Raddix, Cardinal, Nautas — the Diaz-Madden family is treating names as concepts rather than traditions. It says something about a particular kind of cultural confidence.
By Ivy Hung
Analysis·10 min
Golden Tempo and the Art of the Horse Name: How Thoroughbred Naming Rules Work
Cherie DeVaux's Golden Tempo won the 2026 Kentucky Derby. The Jockey Club's 18-character rule says a lot about how humans name things — including pets.
By Jack Lin
Analysis·10 min
The Blue Ivy Effect: When a Celebrity Kid's Name Becomes a Baby Name
Beyoncé brought Blue Ivy to the 2026 Met Gala. But it's not Blue that parents borrowed — it's the surrounding wave. Here's how celebrity naming contagion actually works.
By Ivy Hung
Analysis·9 min
Fernando, Mansoor, Jadarian: The Most Linguistically Diverse NFL Draft Class Ever?
The 2026 NFL Draft Round 1 featured names from Spanish, Arabic, and African-American invented traditions. NamesPop data shows this is no accident.
By Jack Lin