--- title: "“Elon” Plummets in Popularity as a Baby Name for Some Reason" description: "According to BabyCenter's \"2022 Hottest Baby Names Trends,\" the name \"Elon\" has cratered in popularity over the last year." date: "2022-11-17" modified: "2022-11-17" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/elon-plummets-popularity-baby-name" categories: - "Future Society" tags: - "babies" - "elon musk" - "parenting" - "the digest" --- # “Elon” Plummets in Popularity as a Baby Name for Some Reason ![According to BabyCenter's "2022 Hottest Baby Names Trends," the name "Elon" has cratered in popularity over the last year.]() *\Image: Theo Wargo/Getty Images for TIME\* ## Big Baby Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's name has clearly lost its luster among the parents of newborns. According to *BabyCenter*'s [review of the data]() the name "Elon" has cratered in popularity over the last year, dropping from 120 babies per million in 2021 to just 90 babies per million, falling in the popularity rankings by 466 spots. The name had seen a meteoric rise over the last seven or so years, but is currently falling out of favor big time, plummeting back down to 2019 levels. The read? It seems like Musk's public reputation has been taking a significant hit. ## Name Game There are countless reasons why Musk could be less popular public figure than he was three years ago. Especially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Musk emerged as a controversial figure, speaking out [against vaccinations]() and [lockdowns](). He has also become synonymous with an unhealthy work culture, firing [practically anybody standing in his way]() and forcing his employees to [work long hours](). The fiasco surrounding Musk's [chaotic takeover of Twitter]() has likely only further besmirched his public image. For reference, other baby names that have fallen out of fashion include "Kanye" — almost certainly in response to the travails of rapper Kanye West, who's had a [years-long relationship with Musk ]()— which fell a whopping 3,410 spots over the last year. **More on Elon Musk:** [*Sad Elon Musk Says He's Overwhelmed In Strange Interview After the Power Went Out*]() ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()