When picking out a baby name, there are lots of things to consider: its meaning, possible nicknames, family traditions and… taking inspo from your favorite athlete?
A recent survey by Gambling ‘N Go revealed the most popular baby names related to sports, and Floridians may or may not be surprised at the results. The expert casino and betting website asked 3,115 couples across the U.S. which sports stars they’d name a future child after. ‘Leo’ (as in Messi) topped the list in the Sunshine State, thanks to his game-changing presence in Inter Miami.
With the football world’s top records and honors under his belt, it’s no surprise that his 2023 move to Miami put the MLS on the global map.
“Messi’s a soccer god who’s turned Miami into his personal playground – naming a kid Leo feels like bottling that magic,” Gambling ‘N Go wrote.
In addition to the Argentine star, overall favorites for Florida also included ‘Trevor’ Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars in No. 2, ‘Anthony’ Richardson of the Colts (and former quarterback for the Florida Gators) in No. 3 and the Miami Dolphin’s Tyreek Hill in No. 4.
“Lawrence and Richardson, both football legends with Sunshine State ties, hint at a mix of pride and hope that a name might spark some gridiron greatness. It’s a melting pot of influences, just like Florida itself.”
Other athletes inspiring baby names
Across the country, baby names like ‘Jalen’ Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles was the most popular in Alabama, ‘Nikola’ Jokić of the Miami Heat in Colorado, Olympic gymnast ‘Simone’ Biles in Texas and ‘Caitlin’ Clark of the Indiana Fever in Iowa.
The survey reported that 74% of parents cared more about who the athlete is outside of the field, rather than just their talent, and football led the pack in garnering the most inspiration — with 47% of responses — followed by the NBA, MLB and MLS.
Now, naming a baby after a whole team? Only 19% of respondents were on board, as most weren’t quite ready for a toddler named “Raven” or “Laker.” I mean, little “Inter Miami” sure has a ring to it!
You can find the full survey here.