If you’ve noticed more Daphnes, Penelopes, and Eloises on playgrounds and in baby announcements lately, you’re not imagining it. New data from the Social Security Administration reveals that several names from the Netflix period drama “Bridgerton” are climbing the U.S. baby name charts.
The Rise of Bridgerton Names
“Ever since arriving in December of 2020, ‘Bridgerton’ baby names have been exactly what parents needed,” said Abby Sandel, creator of the baby name blog Appellation Mountain. “They’re vintage, elegant and fun, just like the Vitamin String Quartet-fueled soundtrack.”
Between 2024 and 2025, Eloise jumped 15 spots to No. 49, and Daphne rose 15 spots to No. 178. Benedict leapt 100 spots to No. 814, Penelope climbed six spots to No. 22, Francesca gained eight spots to No. 307, Simon moved up 21 spots to No. 230, and Violet rose from No. 15 to No. 13. Even Hyacinth saw an increase, with 33 baby girls receiving the name in 2025, up from 28 in 2024 and 17 in 2023.
Why These Names Resonate
“The ‘Bridgerton’ names feel refined and aristocratic, but also emotionally warm,” said baby name consultant Taylor Humphrey. “They evoke scenes of handwritten letters, silk dresses, long walks through formal gardens, classical music, grand gestures and old-world beauty, all of which strongly aligns with the current appetite for ‘romanticized girlhood’ and coquette aesthetics.”
Humphrey added, “I think ‘Bridgerton’ arrived at the perfect cultural moment for names like Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Hyacinth, Violet and Penelope to flourish. Parents are increasingly drawn to names that feel romantic, literary, elegant and feminine without sounding overly modern or invented.”
A Broader Shift in Naming Culture
Baby name consultant Jenn Ficarra sees the trend as part of a broader shift. “I think as we see a rise in gender neutral name choices for girls, we’re also seeing the pendulum swing in the opposite direction — feminine and sweet,” she said. “The ‘Bridgerton’ names somehow feel like fresh discoveries, even if they’re a top 20 name like Violet, while also offering a playful, modern energy. These names are versatile — cute and playful for little girls while being elegant, strong names for adults. They feel grand and regal without being uppity or snobby.”
Sophie Kihm, editor-in-chief of Nameberry, believes the rise follows her site’s “100 Year Rule.” “Names cycle back into fashion every 100 years,” she explained. “Eloise and Violet, two of the biggest ‘Bridgerton’ hits, last peaked in the 1920s, so we’d expect them to be trending regardless. But a push from a major pop culture phenomenon like ‘Bridgerton’ helped propel each of them into the Top 50.”
Established Names, Amplified by the Show
Experts note that many of these names were already gaining popularity before the show aired. “Penelope and Violet, for example, were already quietly climbing before the show aired,” Humphrey said. “Daphne has been a staple on the Top 1,000 most popular baby names list since 1900. Francesca has been on the list since 1953. After a 65-year run, Eloise took a hiatus in 1965 and reentered the Top 1,000 in 2008 and has steadily climbed to No. 49 in the nearly two decades since. Shows like ‘Bridgerton’ don’t create naming trends out of thin air — they amplify names that were already culturally primed for revival.”
These names feel classic, rather than costume-y. “Unlike Khaleesi and Renesmee, which will forever be tied to ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘The Twilight Saga,’ ‘Bridgerton’ names feel unencumbered by this one television series,” Humphrey said. “These names were standing on their own merits long before ‘Bridgerton’ came along. Most people aren’t going to meet a baby Daphne or Penelope and immediately say, ‘Oh, like the ‘Bridgerton’ character?’ the way they might with a more singular pop culture reference.”
The Literary Roots
Sandel traces the appeal back to the books that inspired the show. “When author Julia Quinn released the first ‘Bridgerton’ novel in the year 2000, names like Penelope and Benedict were obscure,” she said. “She tapped into the next wave of antique revivals and helped push choices like Eloise into the U.S. Top 100.”
For Ficarra, the enduring appeal comes down to balance. “They represent a desire for a ‘safe’ and ‘normal’ name choice that still feels new and exciting without feeling overdone or tired,” she said. Sandel added, “Real life figures can be complicated, but fictional characters offer naming inspiration without as much baggage. We see the Bridgerton family names as the perfect blend of traditional and current — beautiful names for attractive people falling in love and behaving honorably, at least by the end of every season.”
