The deaths earlier this year of NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his thirteen-year-old daughter Gianna shook the foundation of the world. Now, many are honoring the legacies of the two as “Kobe” and “Gianna” are among the top baby names of 2020.
On Monday, BabyCenter released their most popular baby names of 2020, showing both names have increased in popularity.
“Gianna” jumped up 52 spots on the girls’ list to take the 24th spot on the list, coincidentally Kobe’s Laker number, where as “Kobe” moved up 379 spots, landing on the 216th spot.
“2020 has been an especially emotional year for families, filled with stress, loss, and uncertainty,” said Linda Murray, BabyCenter’s global editor in chief. “At a time like this, parents are seeking comfort by naming their babies after people they admire, especially those who’ve passed on. We expect this trend to continue well into 2021.”
Celebrities are also naming their children in honor of the pair. Kobe’s former teammate Pau Gasol and wife welcomed a daughter to the world in September, naming her Elisabet Gianna.
Politics and technology have also influenced 2020 naming trends. The name “Kamala” is up 100 percent since 2019 thanks to the first female African-American/Asian Vice Presidential nominee, Kamala Harris. The name “Liberty,” due to the birth of political commentator and The View host Megan McCain’s daughter, is up 69 spots.
Still deciding on names? Well, here are the top 25 girl/boy names on the 2020 BabyCenter list. To view the entire list, click here.
- Sophia Liam
- Olivia Noah
- Riley Jackson
- Emma Aiden
- Ava Elijah
- Isabella Grayson
- Aria Lucas
- Aaliyah Oliver
- Amelia Caden
- Mia Mateo
- Layla Muhammad
- Zoe Mason
- Camilla Carter
- Charlotte Jayden
- Eliana Ethan
- Mila Sebastian
- Everly James
- Luna Michael
- Avery Benjamin
- Evelyn Logan
- Harper Leo
- Lily Luca
- Ella Alexander
- Gianna Levi
- Chloe Daniel
Do you have names that you’d like to add to the list? What do you think about “Kolbe” and “Gianna” being two of the most popular names on the BabyCenter 2020 list? Sound-off and comment below. We want to hear from you.
