2006 in Names

The name Irwin spiked dramatically in September 2006 following the unexpected death of Steve Irwin, 'The Crocodile Hunter,' which prompted numerous tribute films and worldwide media coverage of the beloved wildlife expert.

The name Hussein surged +995% in search interest in December 2006 due to intense global media coverage of Saddam Hussein's execution on December 30, 2006.

Isolde surged +1800% in January 2006 following the theatrical release of the romantic drama 'Tristan + Isolde,' bringing this legendary Arthurian name into the mainstream spotlight.

Dani surged in 2006 following the release of Red Hot Chili Peppers' hit single 'Dani California,' which dominated radio and MTV with its catchy title and accompanying music video.

Fergie spiked in 2006 following the release of The Black Eyed Peas' hit single Fergalicious, which featured the name prominently in its catchy chorus.

Landis spiked dramatically in 2006 when American cyclist Floyd Landis won the Tour de France, only to become embroiled in one of sports' biggest doping scandals.

Dahlia surged 319% in September 2006 following the theatrical release of Brian De Palma's crime thriller 'The Black Dahlia,' which brought the historical name into mainstream conversation.

Akon surged in baby name searches in late 2006 as the Senegalese-American musician dominated global music charts with hits like 'Lonely' and 'Don't Matter,' bringing his name into mainstream cultural consciousness.

Eragon surged in search interest in late 2006 as the fantasy film adaptation of Christopher Paolini's bestselling novel approached its December release, introducing the dragon rider character to mainstream audiences.

Cassie surged in 2006 following the breakthrough success of artist Cassie Ventura's hit single 'Me & U', bringing the name into mainstream popular culture.

Britney surged in search interest in late 2006 during peak media coverage of Britney Spears' personal crisis, likely driving curiosity about the name itself.

Elder spiked in March 2006 following the landmark release of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, one of the most anticipated RPGs of the decade.

The name 'Greys' spiked in 2006 as ABC's Grey's Anatomy gained cultural momentum in its second season, with the show's title and protagonist Dr. Meredith Grey driving search interest.

Jojo spiked in September 2006 as pop singer JoJo's debut single 'All I Want Is You' gained mainstream radio play and chart prominence.

Brittney surged in December 2006 as pop superstar Britney Spears dominated cultural headlines, inspiring parents to use the name spelling variant.

Cassie spiked in 2006 as anticipation grew for the British drama Skins, which featured the iconic character Cassie Ainsworth, becoming a cultural phenomenon among teenagers.

The name 'Cheyenne' spiked in search interest following the May 31, 2006 premiere of the TV series 'Cheyenne,' bringing renewed attention to the name.

Chuck spiked in 2006 as NBC's spy comedy series 'Chuck' entered development, with the show's popularity later cementing the name in popular culture.

Davinci searches surged in May 2006 following the release of the documentary 'DaVinci: Unlocking the Genius,' which renewed public fascination with Leonardo da Vinci's life and legacy.

Elmo's search popularity peaked in September 2006, reflecting the character's status as one of the most beloved figures on Sesame Street and the height of Elmo-branded merchandise demand during back-to-school season.

Benson saw search interest spike in early 2006, likely driven by renewed syndication and DVD releases of the classic 1979 sitcom 'Benson,' which brought the sophisticated butler character back into popular consciousness.

Conner search interest spiked in 2006 as anticipation built for Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, bringing renewed attention to the Connor name from the iconic film and television franchise.

Kramer surged in November 2006, likely driven by renewed interest in the iconic Seinfeld character Cosmo Kramer during holiday-season entertainment promotions.