The world continues to mourn the deaths of Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna Bryant and the other seven people who died in a helicopter crash last January. Throughout 2020, numerous tributes and the basketball legend’s recent induction into the NBA Hall of Fame underline his impact on the game and other aspects of culture. The “Black Mamba’s” reach is now even making it to baby names.
According to data from the Social Security Administration, the name Kobe rose in popularity in 2020, jumping 316 spots from No. 556 in 2019 to No. 239 last year. The Huffington Post reported that the jump in popularity for the name Kobe is the 11th largest over the entire year of 2020. A similar name, Jakobe, had the third-highest rise in popularity last year, going from No. 1382 to No. 838. In the US, at least 1,500 baby boys were named Kobe and 55 baby girls got the iconic name, too.
Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter’s name, Gianna, also gained popularity last year, clutching the No. 12 spot on the list. At least, 7,826 baby girls got “Mambacita’s” name, and seven newborn boys, too.
The names of Bryant’s other daughters, Natalia and Capri, as well as his wife Vanessa, also grew in popularity last year. The family’s last name, Bryant, also rose in the ranks for baby boys.
Major events often influence baby naming trends, like when the name Katrina declined significantly after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast in 2005. Though, this latest rise in popularity of the Bryant family’s names shows how fans and supporters are trying to positively carry on after such a tragic loss.
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