New dog owners found inspiration in the Kelce brothers this year as “Kelce” has emerged as the top trending dog name across America, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. The name saw 135% surge in 2023, most-likely to Kelce brothers’ prominence on the national stage.
Both Kelce brothers, Jason and Travis, are recent Super Bowl champions – and Travis’ highly publicized relationship with Taylor Swift – all played a role in the increased excitement surrounding the name. People reports that in her last song at the Eras Tour, Taylor Swift changed the words of “Karma.” She made them about her new relationship with Travis, singing, “Karma is the guy on the Chiefs, coming straight home to me.” Swifties rejoice.
The Kelce Brothers rise in popularity
There might be additional factors beyond just Travis’ blossoming relationship with pop icon Taylor Swift. According to AoI, the popularity of the Kelce brothers’ podcast, “New Heights,” has skyrocketed, claiming the top spot on audio charts recently.
Moreover, Jason Kelce was featured in an Amazon Prime documentary titled “Kelce,” showcasing his 2022 season, that secured a place in the top 10 most-viewed of the streaming service.
NBA players Nikola Jokic and Trae Young also saw their names trending for dogs, with Trae rising by 222% and Nikola by 147%, as reported by ESPN. “Celtic” spiked by 364%, likely due to the Boston Celtics, and “Wemby” entered the list, inspired by San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama.
NFL stars like CeeDee Lamb from the Dallas Cowboys (up by 109%) and Justin Fields, quarterback for the Bears (increased by 97%), also saw their surnames gain popularity as dog names.
Following the 2023 World Cup, U.S. Women’s National Team players were also among the top trending dog names. “Dunn,” inspired by defender Crystal Dunn, rose by 147%, while “Megan,” after forward Megan Rapinoe, increased by 33%.
