Serial killer-inspired baby names are trending — revealing how culture can ‘creep into our minds,' experts say
Villains, crooks and knife-wielding nuts. Although they're bad guys of society, their first names are becoming bloody good options for moms and dads-to-be, per a nightmarish new report.
Baby names inspired by true crime icons, such as accused con artist Anna Delvey and mass murderer Ted Bundy, are on the rise, according BabyCentre UK and its Top 100 Baby Names of 2025.
But the bloodcurdling trend has less to do with wrongdoer-worship and more to do with Hollywood's outlaw obsession.
'These names aren't being chosen because of crime,' SJ Strum, a BabyCentre naming expert and author, explained in a statement. 'More often, parents are unconsciously absorbing popular culture, and these names creep into our minds via gripping TV, podcasts and viral content.'
'It's a fascinating lens on how culture shapes language, and by extension, baby names,' she added.
Nursery rhymes and true crime. The killer kiddos of Generation Beta — tots born this year and beyond — can blame the theme on the streams.
Streaming platforms, like Netflix, have recently made a killing off of shows, documentaries and movies that spotlight salacious sins of notorious rouges. Think Zac Efron as Bundy in 2019 flick 'Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile,' Joe Exotic's story in 2020 series 'Tiger King' and Delvey's 'Inventing Anna'-inspired thriller in 2022.
In a number of cases, the cinematic sneak peek into the lives of the offenders has offered audiences a new perspective on the men and women behind the crimes, humanizing the antiheroes as misunderstood martyrs.
And the names currently flooding the maternity are living proof of the media's freaky influence.
Here are the true crime-inspired monikers featured in BabyCentre's top 100 baby names for 2025.
Anna – The 'Fake Heiress' Anna Delvey
Arthur – Arthur Lee Allen, 'This is the Zodiac Speaking,' suspected Zodiac Killer
Bella – Inspired by wellness scammer, Belle Gibson
Erin – Erin Patterson, The Mushroom Killer
Freddie & Rose – The story of serial killer couple Fred and Rose West, featured in Netflix's 'Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story'
Joseph – A nod to 'Joe Exotic', Tiger King
Luca – From the documentary 'Don't F** with Cats'
Teddy – A nickname inspired by serial killer Ted Bundy
Ruby – From doc 'Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke,' an alleged child abuser
Ronnie & Reggie – As in the notorious London gangsters, the Kray twins, featured in film 'Legends.'
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