‘ACOTAR’ baby names are bringing your favorite fantasy characters to life

Just like the Harrys and Hermiones, Edwards and Bellas, Katnisses, Daeneryses, and Khaleesis before them, the A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) babies are coming. This beloved fantasy series has captured the hearts of millions, especially those in their 20s, 30s, and 40s,] who are the age groups most likely to have babies. And so, the fandom that’s been steadily building behind the works of author Sarah J. Maas is ready to name babies after tall, sexy fairies. In fact, it’s already happening.

One Redditor combed through some Census data and found that since A Court of Thorns and Roses, Throne of Glass, and Crescent City started hitting shelves in 2015, there have been at least 11 babies named Feyre, seven named Rhysand, and seven named Nesta. 

But the ACOTAR baby name boom is likely just beginning. The Social Security Administration publishes a list of the most popular baby names every year, and along with that, a list of all the names that increased in popularity by at least four spots from the prior year. In 2023, on the list of names that climbed up the ranks, anyone who has read a book from the Maas-iverse will likely recognize a few:

• Cassian, which jumped 403 spots to become the 533rd most popular boys’ name in the U.S.
• Azriel, which climbed 80 positions, and the alternate spelling, Azrael, which jumped up 49 spots.
• Lucien moved up 158 places on the list. An alternate spelling, Lucian, moved up 58.
• Rhysand may have caused a spike in popularity for the slightly more common name Rhys, which climbed 73 spots on the list.
• Rowan, Maas’ fae warrior, climbed 20 spots on the list.

As for girls’ names:

• Aylin climbed 422 spots. This likely has something to do with Maas’ protagonist being named Aelin, but it could also be because Aylin is a gorgeous Turkish name that means “one who belongs to the moon.”
• Elaine climbed 85 spots on the list.
• Emerie moved up 32 positions, while the alternate spelling, Emery, climbed 12 spots on the list.
• Maeve, the series’ dark and powerful queen, moved up 30 spots on the list.
• Rowan, who is a man in the series, climbed 44 spots on the girls’ baby name list. It’s a lovely unisex name and we’re definitely here for it.

This just goes to show that the trend of naming babies after fandoms is solidly still here, and if a Cassian or an Elaine shows up in your kid’s preschool class, you might have something in common with their parent.