Not Dean or John - parents choosing England squad names for babies

Not Dean or John - parents choosing England squad names for babies Names like Anthony are out of fashion but parents are still taking inspiration from the team A baby name expert say the World Cup will see a rise of babies named after England players. BabyCentre Baby Naming Expert, SJ Strum says the squad could inspire a whole generation of children's names. She says England right winger Bukayo Saka and teammate Ezri Konsa have already jumped into the charts. The author, from Richmond, London, said: “Modern parents love to name their children after something meaningful, and a passion like football, coupled with the World Cup, will certainly see lots of people getting inspiration from the team for baby names. “We’ve seen this so many times with sport; the name Lando skyrocketed up over 1,400 places since Lando Norris' debut in the F1, and I think we’re about to see the same from these young players. Iconic personalities also bring success to the name charts as their stars rise, and if we get to the final, there will be so many football fans wanting to capture that joy and pride by picking their favourite player's name. “It’s a great way to bring what you love into your little one's life. The name becomes special as it captures a moment and feeling, making it feel perfect." In fact, SJ has revealed that some beloved players have already given their names to babies, such as England right winger Bukayo Saka. “Bukayo jumped into the name charts for the first time, inspiring seven babies with the gorgeous Nigerian name meaning 'adds to happiness'," she said. Saka’s England teammate Ezri Konsa has also entered the UK name charts with 12 babies using the West Ham player as a namesake. “Ezri is so on trend and means 'my help'," SJ said. Kobbie Mainoo’s first name also made a new entry in the name charts last year, whilst Ivan Toney’s moniker has begun to trend again. And Tino Livramento’s name went up over 1,700 spots in the UK last year. “I think we’re going to see it grow and grow," SJ said. However, not all of the England squad are likely to be used for name inspiration, according to SJ. “Some names are really out of style at the moment and would probably still get the red card from parents," she said. “Dean, John and Anthony have all struggled to find revival as parents are looking for names that are unique.” Footballers and their partners often pick individual names for their children, which SJ said are also likely to provide inspiration for people having babies around the time of the World Cup. David and Victoria Beckham famously caused their daughter Harper’s name to top the charts, but SJ believes that Jordan and Megan Pickford’s children, Arlo, Ostara and Misty are likely to be a huge inspiration for new parents. “Ollie Watkins and wife Ellie chose Amara May and Marley; both have been inspiring lots of little namesakes," she added. And with the England WAGs likely to be taking centre stage during the World Cup, they too could provide name inspiration. “I adore the name Naima, meaning Tranquil, the name of Eberchi Eze’s wife," SJ said. “Bukayo Saka’s fiancé, Tolami, meaning ‘deserving of wealth', is set to bring her name to the world stage, and her sense of style and grace will certainly help make the name an iconic pick.” Lisandro, Raul and Weston could be big And whilst the England team, who play their first match against Croatia on June 17, is the most likely place people will look for inspiration, SJ thinks players from other countries could also attract the attention of expectant parents. “Lisandro Martinez’s name hits a lot of trends," she said. “It’s long and romantic and ends in the O sound we love.” Raul Jimenez, from Mexico, could also provide inspiration, as his name means “wolf”, according to SJ, and Weston McKennie could attract attention, as using surnames as a first name is surging in popularity. “Picking a baby name is a huge decision, and while it’s fun to get swept up by the excitement of the World Cup, it’s also important to make sure you both love the name as much as the team," SJ said. “Quirky picks like Lanesra (Arsenal backwards, which has been an unlikely trend) are great in the moment but take your time to make sure the name feels like your little one, works with your surname and is something you’d pick even if it wasn’t the World Cup. “Then you know you’ve really found the perfect name, the association is just the golden cherry on top.”