Expert: Britney Spears Influencing Baby Names

For any parents having trouble picking out baby names for their impending arrivals, perhaps Britney Spears can help.

According to one baby name expert, the pop star, who named her second son Jayden James, has launched the name Jayden to the second most popular baby name for boys in New York City — and Britney isn’t the only celebrity parents are naming their kids after.

The New York City Department of Health announced their annual list of most popular baby names on Wednesday and Jayden rocketed to the second spot on the list. Two years ago, before Jayden James Federline was born, the name didn’t even crack the top ten.

Baby name expert Laura Wattenberg, who runs the Web site BabyNameWizard.com, attributes the rise in the name’s popularity to Britney and the way she chose to spell it.

“Britney Spears seems to have shifted the standard spelling. That name used to be spelled every which way, but now the ‘y’ spelling has become dominant,” Laura told the New York Times’ City Room.

And Brit’s not the only celebrity New York City parents are naming their kids after.

The name Rhianna came in at the 70th spot, Sienna closer to the top at 60, Keira right behind at 61, Charlize at 84 and Suri edging her out with the 83rd spot.