The popularity of “Pokemon Go” has been influencing everything from bakery sweets to back-to-school trends. Now, this mobile game craze is inspiring parents around the country.
According to BabyCenter, a pregnancy and parenting digital platform, baby names based on Pokémon characters aren’t that far-fetched, with nearly 50 percent of BabyCenter moms playing the game.
BabyCenter’s database showed the name Roselia (5,859 spots), Onyx (2,184 spots) and Eevee (1,377 spots) are all on the rise for girls compared with last year. Pokémon-loving parents may also be inspired by the creatures Starmie, Ivysaur and Shayman — the name Star jumped 2,040 spots for girls, Ivy is up 1,287 spots for boys and Shay is up 369 for girls and 64 spots for boys. The name Ash, the main character, spiked in popularity with an increase of 248 spots.
“Parents are always looking to pop culture for baby name inspiration and, right now, it doesn’t get hotter than ‘Pokémon Go,’ “ said Linda Murray, BabyCenter global editor in chief. “It’s possible that parents’ enthusiasm for the game will reignite their love for the brand and spark a full-fledged naming trend.”
Sadly, the name Pikachu is not currently in their database — but there’s a first time for everything.
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