Remember frantically choosing a name for your Skyrim character or Sims family? Now parents are facing that same excitement (and pressure) when naming actual humans. Gone are the days when baby name books ruled supreme – today’s parents are turning to their favourite gaming universes for inspiration.
“Gaming has grown – and continues to grow – to be such a big part of modern culture, it’s part of who we are,” says Serge Eliseeff, CEO of Online Free Games. “The characters we connect with through hundreds of gameplay hours become meaningful to us, so it makes perfect sense that their names would top the list when parents are brainstorming baby names.”
To see which video game names are trending in nurseries, Online Free Games analysed global Google searches for baby name queries related to famous gaming characters. They tracked search patterns over the past year for names from IGDB’s top 100 games, looking at how often people searched things like “[name] baby name” or “is [name] a boy or girl name.”
Table 1: Top 10 Most Searched Baby Names Inspired by Video Games
| Rank | Name | Interest Over Time (avg, total) | Associated Video Game | Gender |
| Rank | Name | Interest Over Time (avg, total) | Associated Video Game | Gender |
| 1 | Jade | 89.72 | Beyond Good & Evil | Female |
| 2 | Max | 84.91 | Life is Strange | Female |
| 3 | Arthur | 82.91 | Red Dead Redemption 2 | Male |
| 4 | Lee | 81.75 | The Walking Dead | Male |
| 5 | Isaac | 80.23 | Dead Space | Male |
| 6 | Faith | 78.91 | Mirror’s Edge | Female |
| 7 | Apollo | 78.66 | Ace Attorney | Male |
| 8 | Chloe | 78.55 | Uncharted | Female |
| 9 | Claire | 77.60 | Resident Evil | Female |
| 10 | Link | 77.38 | The Legend of Zelda | Male |
Jade (Beyond Good & Evil) – #1
Topping the list with an interest score of 89.72 is Jade, the protagonist from Ubisoft’s cult classic Beyond Good & Evil. As a photojournalist fighting against alien conspiracies, Jade represents courage and determination.
The name, meaning “precious stone,” bridges traditional appeal with gaming cool factor. Though the original game came out in 2003, anticipation for the long-awaited sequel has kept Jade relevant in gaming culture. The name’s somewhat gender-neutral sound and short, punchy style fits modern naming trends, while still honouring gaming history.
Max (Life is Strange) – #2
Coming in second with 84.91 points is Max, the time-rewinding photography student from Life is Strange. This choice highlights the growing preference for shorter, unisex names that work across gender lines. Max (short for Maxine in the game) represents a character known for compassion and complex decision-making.
The name’s gender flexibility mirrors current naming trends, with parents increasingly choosing names that work for any gender. Life is Strange’s emotional storytelling and focus on relationships likely resonates with millennial and Gen Z parents who grew up gaming.
Arthur (Red Dead Redemption 2) – #3
Rounding out the top three with 82.91 points is Arthur Morgan, the rugged outlaw with a heart of gold from Red Dead Redemption 2. This showcases how classic names can get a popularity boost when connected to compelling modern characters.
Arthur, meaning “bear” or “noble,” delivers traditional masculinity with a touch of cowboy cool. The character’s redemption arc and moral complexity make him more than just a typical video game protagonist, giving the name depth and resonance for parents who appreciate nuanced storytelling alongside Western aesthetics.
The Other Contenders
The rest of the top 10 features a balanced mix of classic and contemporary names.
Lee from Telltale’s The Walking Dead (81.75) and Isaac from the horror series Dead Space (80.23) represent strong male options, while Faith from Mirror’s Edge (78.91) offers spiritual meaning alongside gaming cred.
Apollo from Ace Attorney (78.66) brings mythological weight, while Chloe from Uncharted (78.55) and Claire from Resident Evil (77.60) represent timeless female options.
Surprisingly, the iconic Link from The Legend of Zelda barely makes the top 10 with 77.38 points, suggesting parents may prefer names that blend more easily into traditional naming conventions.
The data also reveals some interesting gender breakdowns, which can be seen in the following tables:
Table 2: Top 10 Video Game-Inspired Baby Names for Boys
| Rank | Name | Interest Over Time (avg, total) | Associated Video Game |
| Rank | Name | Interest Over Time (avg, total) | Associated Video Game |
| 1 | Arthur | 82.91 | Red Dead Redemption 2 |
| 2 | Lee | 81.75 | The Walking Dead |
| 3 | Isaac | 80.23 | Dead Space |
| 4 | Apollo | 78.66 | Ace Attorney |
| 5 | Link | 77.38 | The Legend of Zelda |
| 6 | Cloud | 75.30 | Final Fantasy VII |
| 7 | Joel | 75.04 | The Last of Us |
| 8 | Leon | 68.83 | Resident Evil |
| 9 | Nathan | 67.60 | Uncharted |
For boys, the top choices blend traditional masculine names with gaming credibility. The list features a mix of classic options like Arthur, Lee, and Isaac alongside more distinctive gaming-specific names like Link and Cloud.
Many of these characters represent strong, protective figures who undergo significant character development – qualities parents might hope to instil in their sons.
Table 3: Top 10 Video Game-Inspired Baby Names for Girls
| Rank | Name | Interest Over Time (avg, total) | Associated Video Game |
| Rank | Name | Interest Over Time (avg, total) | Associated Video Game |
| 1 | Jade | 89.72 | Beyond Good & Evil |
| 2 | Max | 84.91 | Life is Strange |
| 3 | Faith | 78.91 | Mirror’s Edge |
| 4 | Chloe | 78.55 | Uncharted |
| 5 | Claire | 77.60 | Resident Evil |
| 6 | Emily | 72.36 | Dishonored 2 |
| 7 | Ellie | 67.19 | The Last of Us |
| 8 | Maya | 61.21 | Ace Attorney |
| 9 | Lara | 50.83 | Tomb Raider |
| 10 | Zelda | 29.81 | The Legend of Zelda |
For girls, the names on the list reflect strong female protagonists who drive their own stories. Surprisingly, Zelda – perhaps the most recognisable gaming-inspired name – ranks lowest on the girls’ list despite its long history, suggesting parents might be drawn more to modern heroines like Jade, Max, and Faith.
The higher interest scores for female character names overall may indicate parents are more comfortable using game-inspired names for daughters than sons.
Serge Eliseeff, CEO of Online Free Games, commented:
“What we’re seeing here is the natural evolution of how culture shapes our most personal choices. Parents have always named children after heroes – it’s just that today’s heroes are more likely to be virtual. Most game characters have complex stories and personalities that resonate deeply with players after hundreds of hours of interactive storytelling.
“The popularity of names like Jade and Arthur shows that parents are looking for names with substance and meaning. They’re choosing characters known for their courage, resilience, and moral complexity – qualities any parent would want their child to embody. It’s fascinating to see how the lines between virtual worlds and real life continue to blur, with video games now influencing one of the most significant decisions a parent can make.”