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NEW YORK CITY — If you can’t catch that Pokemon you’ve been desperately seeking, you can always create your own version.
That’s right, parents across the globe are naming their children after the digital creatures, according to a new report by BabyCenter.
The parenting website, which allows users to share their baby’s name when registering, reports a significant spike in Pokemon-related names. This is likely due to the fact that about half of BabyCenter moms report being active "Pokemon Go" players.
“Parents are always looking to pop culture for baby name inspiration and, right now, it doesn’t get hotter than 'Pokemon Go,'” BabyCenter Global Editor-in-Chief Linda Murray said in a news release. “It’s possible that parents’ enthusiasm for the game will reignite their love for the brand and spark a full-fledged naming trend.”
While Pikachu and Jigglypuff may be the most recognizable names in the Pokemon universe, the most popular Pokemon name in the real world is currently Roselia. That creature name has risen 5,859 spots in the past year.
Onyx, Star, Eevee and Ivy round out the top five, BabyCenter reports.