Below are nearly 40 baby names that have been given a boost by various soap operas — All My Children, The Young and the Restless, General Hospital, One Life to Live, and more.
Adriana
The character Adriana Castillo debuted on Santa Barbara on the first day of 1989 as a baby. The baby name Adriana saw a significant usage increase the same year.
- 1991: 2,241 baby girls named Adriana (rank: 139th)
- 1990: 2,150 baby girls named Adriana (rank: 144th)
- 1989: 2,259 baby girls named Adriana (rank: 135th)
- 1988: 1,447 baby girls named Adriana (rank: 189th)
- 1987: 1,210 baby girls named Adriana (rank: 218th)
Alanmichael
The character Alan-Michael Spaulding debuted on Guiding Light in 1981 as a baby, then was re-introduced in 1987 as a teenager (impossibly). The baby name Alanmichael debuted on the baby name charts the following year, as did variants Allanmichael and Allenmichael.
- 1990: 29 baby boys named Alanmichael
- 1989: 16 baby boys named Alanmichael
- 1988: 13 baby boys named Alanmichael [debut]
- 1987: unlisted
- 1986: unlisted
Alexis
The character Alexis Colby debuted on Dynasty in 1981. The baby name Alexis saw a significant usage increase the next year.
- 1983: 3,463 baby girls named Alexis (rank: 83rd)
- 1982: 3,122 baby girls named Alexis (rank: 93rd)
- 1981: 1,585 baby girls named Alexis (rank: 172nd)
- 1980: 1,268 baby girls named Alexis (rank: 204th)
- 1979: 1,010 baby girls named Alexis (rank: 248th)
Ashley
The character Ashley Abbott debuted on The Young and the Restless in 1982. The baby name Ashley saw a significant usage increase that year.
- 1984: 38,757 baby girls named Ashley (rank: 3rd)
- 1983: 33,280 baby girls named Ashley (rank: 4th)
- 1982: 14,844 baby girls named Ashley (rank: 17th)
- 1981: 8,874 baby girls named Ashley (rank: 34th)
- 1980: 7,291 baby girls named Ashley (rank: 40th)
Bianca
The character Bianca Montgomery — daughter of Erica Kane — was born during a February 1988 episode of All My Children. The baby name Bianca saw a significant usage increase that year.
- 1990: 3,826 baby girls named Bianca (rank: 84th)
- 1989: 3,593 baby girls named Bianca (rank: 91st)
- 1988: 2,636 baby girls named Bianca (rank: 108th)
- 1987: 919 baby girls named Bianca (rank: 268th)
- 1986: 830 baby girls named Bianca (rank: 294th)
Britta
The character Britta Englund both debuted and died on Days of Our Lives during 1986. The baby name Britta saw peak usage the same year.
- 1988: 117 baby girls named Britta
- 1987: 151 baby girls named Britta
- 1986: 191 baby girls named Britta (rank: 867th)
- 1985: 77 baby girls named Britta
- 1984: 66 baby girls named Britta
Ciji
The character Ciji Dunne debuted on Knot’s Landing in 1982. The baby name Ciji saw a significant usage increase the following year.
- 1985: 60 baby girls named Ciji
- 1984: 150 baby girls named Ciji (rank: 963rd)
- 1983: 244 baby girls named Ciji (rank: 698th)
- 1982: 8 baby girls named Ciji
- 1981: unlisted
Cordero
The character Cordero “Cord” Roberts debuted on One Life to Live in 1986. The baby name Cordero debuted on the baby name charts the same year. Cordero was the most impressive newbie name of 1986, in fact. Related names like Corderro, Cordaro, Cordarro, Kordero, Cardero, Cordaryl, Cordario and Codero also debuted.
- 1988: 236 baby boys named Cordero (rank: 615th)
- 1987: 340 baby boys named Cordero (rank: 481st)
- 1986: 173 baby boys named Cordero (rank: 689th) [debut]
- 1985: unlisted
- 1984: unlisted
Corvina
The character Corvina Lang appeared occasionally on All My Children in the mid-1990s. The baby name Corvina was a one-hit wonder in 1995.
- 1997: unlisted
- 1996: unlisted
- 1995: 5 baby girls named Corvina [debut]
- 1994: unlisted
- 1993: unlisted
Decker
The character Decker Moss debuted on General Hospital in 1989. The baby name Decker debuted on the baby name charts the following year.
- 1992: 13 baby boys named Decker
- 1991: 14 baby boys named Decker
- 1990: 14 baby boys named Decker [debut]
- 1989: unlisted
- 1988: unlisted
Drucilla
The character Drucilla Winters debuted on The Young and the Restless in 1990. The baby name Drucilla saw a moderate rise in usage over the following years.
- 1992: 42 baby girls named Drucilla
- 1991: 22 baby girls named Drucilla
- 1990: 13 baby girls named Drucilla
- 1989: 6 baby girls named Drucilla
- 1988: unlisted
Echo
The character Echo DiSavoy debuted on One Life to Live in 1983. The baby name Echo saw a significant usage increase that year.
- 1985: 115 baby girls named Echo
- 1984: 182 baby girls named Echo (rank: 846th)
- 1983: 181 baby girls named Echo (rank: 844th)
- 1982: 60 baby girls named Echo
- 1981: 61 baby girls named Echo
Egypt
The character Egypt Jones Masters debuted on Loving in 1988. The baby name Egypt returned to the data the same year.
- 1990: 37 baby girls named Egypt
- 1989: 30 baby girls named Egypt
- 1988: 22 baby girls named Egypt
- 1987: unlisted
- 1986: unlisted
Felicia
The character Felicia Cummings debuted on General Hospital in 1984. The baby name Felicia saw a significant usage increase the following year.
- 1987: 2911 baby girls named Felicia (rank: 96th)
- 1986: 3,081 baby girls named Felicia (rank: 90th)
- 1985: 2,738 baby girls named Felicia (rank: 101st)
- 1984: 1,485 baby girls named Felicia (rank: 185th)
- 1983: 1,502 baby girls named Felicia (rank: 181st)
Frisco
The character Andrew “Frisco” Jones debuted on General Hospital in 1984. The baby name Frisco debuted on the baby name charts the same year.
- 1986: 25 baby boys named Frisco
- 1985: 16 baby boys named Frisco
- 1984: 7 baby boys named Frisco [debut]
- 1983: unlisted
- 1982: unlisted
Holden
The character Holden Snyder debuted on As the World Turns in 1986. The baby name Holden saw a significant usage increase the following year.
- 1988: 143 baby boys named Holden (rank: 794th)
- 1987: 107 baby boys named Holden (rank: 910th)
- 1986: 58 baby boys named Holden
- 1985: 15 baby boys named Holden
- 1984: 17 baby boys named Holden
India
The character India von Halkein debuted on Guiding Light in 1984. The baby name India saw a significant usage increase the following year.
- 1986: 603 baby girls named India (rank: 385th)
- 1985: 754 baby girls named India (rank: 318th)
- 1984: 329 baby girls named India (rank: 561st)
- 1983: 178 baby girls named India (rank: 858th)
- 1982: 141 baby girls named India
Jagger
The character Jagger Cates debuted on General Hospital in 1992. The baby name Jagger saw a significant usage increase the following year.
- 1994: 91 baby boys named Jagger
- 1993: 105 baby boys named Jagger
- 1992: 19 baby boys named Jagger
- 1991: 6 baby boys named Jagger
- 1990: unlisted
Jillian (added 3/22/20, thanks Marilyn!)
The character Jillian Coleridge debuted on Ryan’s Hope in 1975. The baby name Jillian saw a significant usage increase the following year.
- 1977: 1055 baby girls named Jillian (rank: 246th)
- 1976: 252 baby girls named Jillian (rank: 620th)
- 1975: 89 baby girls named Jillian
- 1974: 85 baby girls named Jillian
- 1973: 93 baby girls named Jillian
Jimmylee
The character Jimmy Lee Holt debuted on General Hospital in 1983. The baby name Jimmylee debuted on the baby name charts the following year.
- 1985: 11 baby boys named Jimmylee
- 1984: 19 baby boys named Jimmylee
- 1983: 12 baby boys named Jimmylee [debut]
- 1982: unlisted
- 1981: unlisted
Joyelle
The character Joyelle was “born” on How To Survive A Marriage in 1975. The baby names Joyelle, Joyel and Joyell all debuted on the baby name charts the same year.
- 1977: 15/9/10 baby girls named Joyelle/Joyel/Joyell
- 1976: 31/23/20 baby girls named Joyelle/Joyel/Joyell
- 1975: 88/79/51 baby girls named Joyelle/Joyel/Joyell [debuts]
- 1974: unlisted
- 1973: unlisted
Katina
The character Katina was “born” on Where the Heart Is in 1972. The baby name Katina saw a significant usage increase that year, and related names like Cotina, Katena, Kateena, Cantina and Catena debuted. Cotina was the most impressive newbie name of 1972, in fact. Here’s more on the name Katina.
- 1974: 765 baby girls named Katina (rank: 307th)
- 1973: 2,469 baby girls named Katina (rank: 120th)
- 1972: 2,747 baby girls named Katina (rank: 117th)
- 1971: 96 baby girls named Katina
- 1970: 60 baby girls named Katina
Kayla
The character Kayla Brady debuted on Days of Our Lives in 1982. The baby name Kayla saw a significant usage increase that year.
- 1984: 2,681 baby girls named Kayla (rank: 100th)
- 1983: 3,527 baby girls named Kayla (rank: 81st)
- 1982: 2,275 baby girls named Kayla (rank: 133rd)
- 1981: 318 baby girls named Kayla (rank: 581st)
- 1980: 313 baby girls named Kayla (rank: 594th)
…and when Kayla Brady returned to Days in 1986 (after leaving in 1983), the name Kayla became the fastest-rising girl name of 1987:
- 1989: 14,902 baby girls named Kayla (rank: 20th)
- 1988: 13,431 baby girls named Kayla (rank: 20th)
- 1987: 10,576 baby girls named Kayla (rank: 27th)
- 1986: 4,657 baby girls named Kayla (rank: 64th)
- 1985: 2,607 baby girls named Kayla (rank: 108th)
Keemo
The character Keemo Volien Abbott debuted on The Young and the Restless in 1994. The baby name Keemo was a one-hit wonder in 1994.
- 1996: unlisted
- 1995: unlisted
- 1994: 7 baby boys named Keemo [debut]
- 1993: unlisted
- 1992: unlisted
Krystle
The character Krystle Carrington debuted on Dynasty in 1981. The baby name Krystle saw a significant usage increase that year.
- 1983: 1,067 baby girls named Krystle (rank: 232nd)
- 1982: 916 baby girls named Krystle (rank: 269th)
- 1981: 448 baby girls named Krystle (rank: 473rd)
- 1980: 26 baby girls named Krystle
- 1979: 14 baby girls named Krystle
Lahoma
The character Lahoma Vane debuted on Another World in 1967. The baby name Lahoma saw a usage increase the following year. Here’s more on the name Lahoma.
- 1969: 44 baby girls named Lahoma
- 1968: 109 baby girls named Lahoma
- 1967: 24 baby girls named Lahoma
- 1966: unlisted
- 1965: 6 baby girls named Lahoma
Laken
The character Laken Lockridge debuted on Santa Barbara in 1984. The baby name Laken debuted on the baby name charts the same year.
- 1986: 94 baby girls named Laken
- 1985: 109 baby girls named Laken
- 1984: 19 baby girls named Laken [debut]
- 1983: unlisted
- 1982: unlisted
Marlena
The character Marlena Evans debuted on Days of Our Lives in 1976. The baby name Marlena saw a significant usage increase the following year.
- 1979: 387 baby girls named Marlena
- 1978: 470 baby girls named Marlena
- 1977: 423 baby girls named Marlena
- 1976: 168 baby girls named Marlena
- 1975: 135 baby girls named Marlena
Mergeron
The character Dina Mergeron debuted on The Young and the Restless in 1983. The baby name Mergeron was a one-hit wonder in 1984.
- 1986: unlisted
- 1985: unlisted
- 1984: 5 baby boys named Mergeron [debut]
- 1983: unlisted
- 1982: unlisted
Mikkos
The character Mikkos Cassadine debuted on General Hospital in 1981. The baby name Mikkos debuted on the baby name charts the same year. Variant name Mikos also debuted that year.
- 1983: unlisted
- 1982: 6 baby boys named Mikkos
- 1981: 15 baby boys named Mikkos [debut]
- 1980: unlisted
- 1979: unlisted
Penny
The character Penny Hughes debuted on As the World Turns in 1956. The baby name Penny saw a usage increase the following year.
- 1958: 3,557 baby girls named Penny
- 1957: 3,042 baby girls named Penny
- 1956: 2,345 baby girls named Penny
- 1955: 2,211 baby girls named Penny
- 1954: 2,135 baby girls named Penny
Reva
The character Reva Shayne debuted on Guiding Light in 1983. The baby name Reva saw a significant usage increase the following year.
- 1986: 134 baby girls named Reva
- 1985: 115 baby girls named Reva
- 1984: 92 baby girls named Reva
- 1983: 43 baby girls named Reva
- 1982: 37 baby girls named Reva
Ridge
The character Ridge Forrester debuted on The Bold and the Beautiful in 1987. The baby name Ridge re-entered the baby name charts after a long absence the same year.
- 1989: 105 baby boys named Ridge (rank: 1,000th)
- 1988: 99 baby boys named Ridge (rank: 975th)
- 1987: 26 baby boys named Ridge
- 1986: unlisted
- 1985: unlisted
Scorpio
The character Robert Scorpio debuted on General Hospital in late 1980. The baby name Scorpio debuted in the baby name data the next year.
- 1983: 13 baby boys named Scorpio
- 1982: 5 baby boys named Scorpio
- 1981: 9 baby boys named Scorpio [debut]
- 1980: unlisted
- 1979: unlisted
Sierra
The character Sierra Esteban debuted on As the World Turns in 1985. The baby name Sierra saw a significant usage increase that year.
- 1987: 1,620 baby girls names Sierra (rank: 173rd)
- 1986: 1,610 baby girls names Sierra (rank: 169th)
- 1985: 1,199 baby girls names Sierra (rank: 215th)
- 1984: 230 baby girls names Sierra (rank: 720th)
- 1983: 193 baby girls names Sierra (rank: 807th)
Skye
The character Skye Chandler debuted on All My Children in 1986. The baby name Skye saw a significant increase in usage as a girl name the next year.
- 1989: 241 baby girls named Skye (rank: 793rd)
- 1988: 240 baby girls named Skye (rank: 788th)
- 1987: 240 baby girls named Skye (rank: 748th)
- 1986: 116 baby girls named Skye
- 1985: 100 baby girls named Skye
Snapper
The character William “Snapper” Foster (played by pre-Knight Rider David Hasselhoff) debuted on The Young and the Restless in 1973. The baby name Snapper debuted on the baby name charts the same year.
- 1975: 6 baby boys names Snapper
- 1974: 8 baby boys names Snapper
- 1973: 5 baby boys names Snapper [debut]
- 1972: unlisted
- 1971: unlisted
Tara
The character Tara Martin debuted on All My Children in 1970. The baby name Tara saw a significant usage increase that year. Here’s more on the name Tara.
- 1972: 7,230 baby girls named Tara (rank: 38th)
- 1971: 6,327 baby girls named Tara (rank: 50th)
- 1970: 5,334 baby girls named Tara (rank: 69th)
- 1969: 3,519 baby girls named Tara (rank: 107th)
- 1968: 2,184 baby girls named Tara (rank: 147th)
Do you know anyone named for a soap opera character?
Update, 4/2017: Here’s another: Tyger!
Update, 3/2020: Here’s a post about Grayling, Althea, Spring and Babby from The Brighter Day.
Update, 5/2021: Here’s a post that mentions Nico and Cecily from All My Children.
Update, 9/2024: And here’s one more: Renata, from Search for Tomorrow.
Source: SSA
