How Technology Influences Baby Name Popularity

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, October 18, 2026

Names associated with controversial historical figures, literary characters, and technology brands have seen significant declines in popularity, such as Adolf post-World War II and Alexa after the launch of Amazon’s virtual assistant. This shift highlights the growing impact of public perception and technological associations on naming trends in modern society.

The popularity of baby names has long been influenced by cultural and historical factors, but recent trends highlight the impact of technology and public perception on naming choices. Analysis of historical data reveals how certain names have fallen out of favor due to associations with controversial figures, literary characters, or modern technology brands.

Names linked to infamous dictators have seen marked declines since World War II. In Germany, the use of the name Adolf surged beginning in 1933 but dropped sharply by 1942. After the war, the name became increasingly rare, with only a minor, unexplained uptick in 1947. Italy’s Benito has experienced a less steep decline, maintaining some presence with approximately 580 babies given the name since 2000, according to the country’s national statistics institute.

The avoidance of names tied to negative characters or themes extends beyond dictators. Biblical names such as Judas have largely vanished, though variants like Jude and Judah still exist. Similarly, the name Ebenezer fell out of common use after Charles Dickens published "A Christmas Carol" in 1843, due to the character's unpleasant traits. Literary influence is also evident in the case of Lolita; Vladimir Nabokov’s 1955 novel did not immediately deter name use. In fact, British registrations of the name Lolita increased slightly after publication, peaking in 2002—shortly after the popularity of the song "Moi… Lolita." However, from 2008 onwards, the name virtually disappeared in the UK, a decline attributed more to the rise of unsavory internet associations than to the novel itself.

More recently, technology has become a significant factor affecting baby name trends. The launch of Amazon’s virtual assistant, Alexa, in 2014 coincided with a sharp decline in babies named Alexa in the United States. In that year, 4,249 American babies were named Alexa, but by 2025, registrations fell to just 243. The United Kingdom has not recorded any babies named Alexa for over a decade. Similar patterns have been observed with other digital assistants; for instance, the name Siri dropped from 120 registrations in 2009 in the US to only six in 2025. The name Claude has also diminished in the UK, with no new registrations since 2007.

These examples illustrate how public associations—whether with historical figures, literary characters, or branded technologies—can shape the cultural landscape of naming. The evolving influence of technology, in particular, appears increasingly significant in determining how parents choose names for their children today.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.