Following the New York Knicks’ historic NBA championship victory, a notable increase in baby names inspired by the team’s players is anticipated, according to baby-naming experts. This trend reflects both the team’s success and the strong sense of community the city displayed during the playoff run.

Names such as Jalen (Brunson), Joshua (Hart), Miles (McBride), Tyler (Kolek), and Landry (Shamet) are already among the top 1,000 boys’ names in the United States. Pamela Redmond, founder and CEO of the baby-naming website Nameberry, forecasts a surge in the popularity of these and related names, partly fueled by the city’s collective enthusiasm and the players’ favorable public images.

Jalen Brunson, the Knicks’ captain and Finals MVP, stands out as a likely catalyst for this naming trend. Redmond suggested he could become the next Michael Jordan figure in baby naming, with parents adopting both his first and last names for their children. While only a handful of newborns in New York City have been named Jalen or Brunson so far this year, officials expect these numbers to climb significantly.

The phenomenon was highlighted by a lighthearted TikTok video by Manhattan resident Jeremy Werden, who quipped about naming his daughter a string of Knicks players’ names. In reality, his daughter, Vivian Rose, was born at Lenox Hill Hospital on the Upper East Side just before the Knicks secured the title. She received a Knicks-themed newborn hat from hospital staff. Coincidentally, the child shares part of her name with the team president, Leon Rose, whom Werden credited with assembling the championship roster.

Experts note that not all celebrity-inspired names achieve widespread popularity. While some, like LeBron, Diana, or Oprah, remain closely tied to the individual and seldom become common, others, such as Carmelo or David, have broader adoption due to positive associations and accessibility. Jalen’s appeal is further strengthened by its established usage since the 1990s and multiple prominent athletes bearing the name.

The name Jalen reached its peak in 2000, when over 3,500 newborns were given the name—a surge linked to former NBA player Jalen Rose, who was instrumental in the Indiana Pacers’ run to the finals that year. Brunson himself was named after Rose, who played with his father. This depth of connection and ongoing visibility contributes to the name’s enduring popularity.

Cultural commentators have even dubbed the prevalence of “Jalens” in the NBA the “Jalen invasion.” Rainey Ovalle, co-host of the podcast “Victory Light with The Kid Mero,” humorously predicted that the Knicks’ recent win would revive interest in the name repeatedly over the coming years, particularly among Dominican families who might adapt such names with regional linguistic variations.

While Knicks-inspired names are expected to rise, experts suggest that the San Antonio Spurs’ star Victor Wembanyama is less likely to spark a similar trend. His first name, though popular, is considered somewhat old-fashioned and challenging to adapt, with some parents favoring shortened versions like “Tor.”

Overall, the Knicks’ championship has not only energized the city’s basketball fans but is also poised to influence naming patterns, reflecting the intersection of sports, culture, and community identity.