Culture or curiosity? Experts unpack the trend of naming babies after infamous criminals
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There’s a new baby name trend that’s raising eyebrows—and not in a cute, quirky way. Reports suggest that names linked to infamous serial killers are making their way onto official birth records across the country.
Parents are choosing names like Ted, Charles, and Myra, seemingly unfazed by their dark associations.
While this might seem shocking, experts say the truth is less about glorifying criminals and more about how pop culture subtly influences even our most personal decisions.
America’s obsession with true crime is undeniable, with Netflix series, podcasts, and documentaries turning real-life horror into entertainment.
The more we consume these stories, the more familiar certain names become—even if they’re tied to notorious criminals.
“These names aren’t being chosen because of crime,” said SJ Strum, a BabyCentre naming expert and author.
“More often, parents are unconsciously absorbing popular culture, and these names creep into our minds via gripping TV, podcasts and viral content.”
These cultural touchpoints don’t just desensitize us—they can also reshape how we perceive names once loaded with negative meaning.
When a charismatic actor portrays a serial killer, or a long-form podcast humanizes their backstory, a name like Charles or Aileen may begin to lose its darker edge.
As Strum puts it, “It’s a fascinating lens on how culture shapes language, and by extension, baby names.”
The transformation of a name’s meaning is subtle but powerful, and often happens without parents consciously realizing it.
This trend is especially visible among parents of Generation Beta—those born in 2025 and beyond—who have grown up in a media environment where crime stories are everywhere.
Names like Ted (Bundy), Anna (Delvey), and Bella (Gibson) are seeing a resurgence in recent baby name rankings.
BabyCentre’s top 100 baby names for 2025 includes several names with strong true crime associations, like Erin (Patterson) and Ruby (Franke).
Still, many of these names have long-standing, positive cultural roots that often outweigh their criminal ties.
Despite how disturbing this trend may sound on the surface, most experts agree that it’s not cause for alarm.
“It’s a fascinating lens on how culture shapes language, and by extension, baby names,” Strum said, reiterating that very few parents are intentionally naming their children after criminals.
Instead, they’re influenced by media narratives and cultural saturation—often without realizing the full context. What matters most is the personal meaning parents attach to a name, not its historical baggage.
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What do you think about this eerie trend in baby naming—are we unconsciously normalizing notorious names, or is this just another phase in pop culture’s influence on parenting? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and let us know which baby names have surprised you recently and why.
Parents are choosing names like Ted, Charles, and Myra, seemingly unfazed by their dark associations.
While this might seem shocking, experts say the truth is less about glorifying criminals and more about how pop culture subtly influences even our most personal decisions.
America’s obsession with true crime is undeniable, with Netflix series, podcasts, and documentaries turning real-life horror into entertainment.
The more we consume these stories, the more familiar certain names become—even if they’re tied to notorious criminals.
“These names aren’t being chosen because of crime,” said SJ Strum, a BabyCentre naming expert and author.
“More often, parents are unconsciously absorbing popular culture, and these names creep into our minds via gripping TV, podcasts and viral content.”
Experts unpack the trend of naming babies after infamous criminals. Image source: Tim Bish / Unsplash
These cultural touchpoints don’t just desensitize us—they can also reshape how we perceive names once loaded with negative meaning.
When a charismatic actor portrays a serial killer, or a long-form podcast humanizes their backstory, a name like Charles or Aileen may begin to lose its darker edge.
As Strum puts it, “It’s a fascinating lens on how culture shapes language, and by extension, baby names.”
The transformation of a name’s meaning is subtle but powerful, and often happens without parents consciously realizing it.
This trend is especially visible among parents of Generation Beta—those born in 2025 and beyond—who have grown up in a media environment where crime stories are everywhere.
Names like Ted (Bundy), Anna (Delvey), and Bella (Gibson) are seeing a resurgence in recent baby name rankings.
BabyCentre’s top 100 baby names for 2025 includes several names with strong true crime associations, like Erin (Patterson) and Ruby (Franke).
Still, many of these names have long-standing, positive cultural roots that often outweigh their criminal ties.
Despite how disturbing this trend may sound on the surface, most experts agree that it’s not cause for alarm.
“It’s a fascinating lens on how culture shapes language, and by extension, baby names,” Strum said, reiterating that very few parents are intentionally naming their children after criminals.
Instead, they’re influenced by media narratives and cultural saturation—often without realizing the full context. What matters most is the personal meaning parents attach to a name, not its historical baggage.
Read next:
- You won’t believe the controversial name this mom-to-be chose—would you make the same choice?
- Would you have named your baby this? Nurses share the name they can’t forget
