2008 in Names

Caspian surged +444% in search interest following the May 2008 release of 'The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian,' as parents discovered the fantasy character's distinctive name.

The name Cyrus spiked +423% in February 2008 following the premiere of 'Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert,' capitalizing on Miley Cyrus's massive popularity as a Disney star.

Cyrus surged +423% in early 2008 after Miley Cyrus's 'Best of Both Worlds Concert' film premiered, introducing the Disney star's surname to millions of viewers and inspiring parents searching for celebrity-inspired names.

Heath spiked dramatically in 2008 following the death of acclaimed actor Heath Ledger in January, making his name a poignant cultural moment that drew renewed attention to the name itself.

Juno surged +200% in search interest in early 2008 following the release and critical success of the film 'Juno,' which made the protagonist's name a cultural phenomenon among parents.

Search interest in 'Ledger' spiked dramatically in January 2008 following the tragic death of acclaimed actor Heath Ledger at age 28, making his surname a major search topic worldwide.

Audrina spiked in 2008 following the rise of cast member Audrina Patridge on MTV's hit reality series 'The Hills,' making the previously uncommon name a popular choice for parents.

The name 'Ayers' spiked dramatically in fall 2008 during the U.S. Presidential campaign when Bill Ayers, a former Weather Underground activist, became a controversial political figure and subject of media scrutiny and documentaries.

Searches for 'Caylee' surged dramatically in August 2008 due to the high-profile disappearance of 2-year-old Caylee Anthony in Florida, one of the most heavily covered missing child cases in American media history.

Chrome surged in search interest in September 2008 following Google's launch of its Chrome web browser, a major technological release that generated significant public attention.

Cullen surged in 2008 following the massive popularity of the Twilight film series, with Edward Cullen inspiring parents to search for the character's surname as a baby name.

Eli surged 138% in February 2008 following the premiere of ABC's 'Eli Stone,' a legal dramedy centered on a charismatic lawyer with the same name.

Euro surged in June 2008 as the UEFA Euro 2008 football championship generated massive global interest ahead of the tournament's start on June 7.

Hillary spiked 337% in early 2008 during Hillary Clinton's high-profile Democratic presidential primary campaign, which dominated news coverage and public attention.

Jonas surged +434% in March 2008 following the Disney Channel premiere of 'Jonas,' a musical comedy series starring the Jonas Brothers at the height of their popularity.

Knight surged +175% in July 2008 following the release of The Dark Knight, Christopher Nolan's blockbuster Batman film that dominated pop culture that summer.

Barack surged 456% in September 2008 as Barack Obama's historic presidential campaign reached its peak, dominating media coverage during the final stretch before the general election.

Beyoncé surged in search interest in late 2008, likely driven by the massive success of her hit single 'Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)' and its iconic music video, which became a cultural phenomenon that year.

Clemens spiked in February 2008 after Roger Clemens' high-profile Congressional testimony about alleged steroid use became a major news story.

Dexter spiked in 2008 as Showtime's hit crime drama Dexter entered its third season, bringing the morally complex protagonist's name into mainstream cultural conversation.

Emanuel spiked 368% in November 2008 when Rahm Emanuel was appointed as President-elect Barack Obama's White House Chief of Staff, bringing the name into the national spotlight.

Fable surged in October 2008 following the release of Fable II, a major Xbox 360 exclusive that generated significant gaming enthusiasm and media coverage.

Search interest in 'Ike' spiked dramatically in September 2008 during Hurricane Ike, one of the most destructive Atlantic hurricanes of that year.

Danica spiked in April 2008 after racing driver Danica Patrick won her first major IndyCar race, bringing the name into the mainstream spotlight.

The name Carey spiked in 2008 following Mariah Carey's major hit single 'Touch My Body,' which dominated charts and drove global search interest in the artist.

Fay spiked in August 2008 during Hurricane Fay, when the Atlantic storm made multiple landfalls across Florida and generated extensive media coverage.

Carlin searches spiked in June 2008 following the death of legendary comedian George Carlin, bringing renewed attention to his name and legacy.

Clinton saw a 196% search spike in early 2008, coinciding with Hillary Clinton's prominent presidential campaign during the Democratic primary race.

Fey spiked in September 2008 when 30 Rock's fourth season premiered, bringing renewed attention to star Tina Fey and her distinctive surname as a potential baby name.

Gustav saw a notable search spike in August 2008 coinciding with Hurricane Gustav, a major Atlantic hurricane that dominated weather news and public attention that summer.

Aniston spiked in late 2008 following an E! Entertainment Special dedicated to Jennifer Aniston, generating holiday season media attention and search interest.

The name 'Barker' spiked in 2008 following the release of stand-up comedian Arj Barker's comedy special 'Balls,' which generated significant search interest around its theatrical and broadcast release.

Alexandra saw increased search interest in early 2008 around the release of the historical drama film 'Alexandra,' focusing attention on the name and its royal Russian heritage.

Cinco spiked in May 2008 following promotional materials for DreamWorks' Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, which introduced the young lion character to audiences ahead of its November release.