Fantasy fiction best-sellers are predicted to heavily influence baby names in 2026, as expectant parents draw inspiration from popular fictional characters, new research suggests. For girls, the name Violet, inspired by the protagonist of 2025's highest-selling book, Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros, is expected to see a significant surge.

Already amongst the top 50 most popular names, with over 2.7 million copies of Onyx Storm sold this year, it's forecasted to break into the top 30 for 2026. For boys, the name Rhys, taken from the character Rhysand in the fantasy series A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J.

Maas, is anticipated to gain popularity. With more than 1.8 million TikTok posts dedicated to the series, and the majority of Google searches for Rhysand recorded after February 2024,

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