Meghan Markle Effect: Duchess Of Sussex’s Popularity Extends To Baby Names

Meghan Markle’s popularity has impacted this year’s most popular baby name trend.

According to parenting website BabyCenter, the popularity of the name Meghan for a baby girl increased by 49 percent this year after the Duchess of Sussex tied the knot with Prince Harry. The name Louis also became more popular after the birth of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s youngest child on April 23.

“In April, Prince William and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, welcomed their third child, Prince Louis Arthur Charles. Louis rose 17 percent in popularity this year,” the website revealed.

Baby Center also predicted the possibility of British royals impacting baby names next year. A spokesperson for the site said that Markle and Prince Harry’s baby’s name will also be a top choice among non-royals next year.

And the royal family’s “Fab Four” aren’t the only ones that may leave a mark on royal fans next year. Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank are also included in the list since the couple may also welcome a baby in 2019.

“In October, Princess Eugenie married her longtime sweetheart, Jack Brooksbank. We wouldn’t be surprised if Eugenie and Jack also climb the baby name popularity lists,” BabyCenter said.

In related news, the Meghan Markle Effect has also extended to Markle’s impact on the fashion industry. According to global fashion search platform Lyst, searches for halter neck dresses were up by 40 percent after Markle and Prince Harry’s royal wedding. The term halter neck tops increased by 20 percent week on week.

Markle’s second wedding dress was a white halter neck top designed by Stella McCartney.

“This was also the first time we ever saw such huge demand for the halterneck,” Yasmine Bachir, Lyst’s senior communications executive told Elle UK.

Markle has also boosted the name and the sales of lesser-known fashion brands like Line The Label. The Duchess of Sussex wore a white coat from the Canadian brand when she and Prince Harry announced their engagement last year.

“We’re not a huge company and it’s the end of the season so we don’t stock a lot of these coats. They are all handmade,” John Muscat, the co-founder and president of Line the Label told WWD.