Although in many situations baby names are often a matter of taste, certain names simply become off-limits to use — though some people definitely don't get the memo. Based on current events and pop culture scandals, it's easy to see how some baby names would become controversial — at least while these moments are still fresh in people's minds. And after the year we've all had, we can think of more of a few of them that no baby deserves to carry around for the rest of their lives.
Whether we're thinking about former presidents who didn't leave office without a fight or celebrities who stirred up all kinds of drama this year, we can't help but think that these names probably should be retired for the next few years — or maybe until new scandals have taken their place.
Read on for the most controversial baby names of 2021. If you're thinking of names for your baby-to-be, you might want to leave these off of your list … unless, of course, you're into a little controversy.
DONALD
Although 2021 was the year the US presidency changed hands between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, it wasn't a smooth transition by any means. Given that Trump was already a controversial choice — and everything that happened on January 6 was just scratching the surface — it makes sense that "Donald" would be a baby boy name that would certainly raise a few eyebrows at a time like this.
PIERS
Piers Morgan has never been one to avoid conflict, but this year, he really didn't hold back. In March, he quit his show on ITV after receiving backlash for the way he spoke about Meghan Markle — not that this was the first time he'd spoken about the Duchess of Sussex like this. It seems the name "Piers" would bring similar moments to mind.
JAMIE
We'll always remember 2021 as the year that Britney Spears finally got her freedom, but we'll also always remember the villain in all of this: her father, Jamie Spears. It seems as if, for at least the next several years, the name "Jamie" is immediately going to make people think about Britney's former conservator.
KANYE
Kanye West has had a lot of ups and downs this year. He had to deal with the backlash of his failed presidential run and his divorce from Kim Kardashian, along with a whole host of bizarre behavior that has come out since. But he did finally release his highly anticipated album, Donda.
BRANDON
Over the last few months, "Let's Go Brandon" has become the rallying cry of the alt-right after a reporter misunderstood an anti-Joe Biden chant at a NASCAR race in October. At this point, a baby named "Brandon" would seem supportive of that message — even if you aren't.
ELON
Another year, another chance for Elon Musk to continue to be controversial. After his space travel program has drawn some major backlash — as does his billionaire status — using the name Elon could actually end up being offensive to some, even if it's not in reference to the Tesla CEO.
BRIAN
For weeks, the country watched and waited as the search for Gabby Petito continued this fall. After she was found dead, the search for her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, who had allegedly abused her before killing her, was on until he, too, was eventually found dead. Any other time, "Brian" would be a fine name, but maybe choose something else this year.
JAKE
As Taylor Swift continues to rerecord her music, in November, she dropped Red (Taylor's Version), including a 10-minute extended version of her song All Too Well, which is reportedly about her relationship with Jake Gyllenhaal. It didn't exactly paint him in a positive light, and a boy named "Jake" might be a bad idea for the near future.
DELTA
As one of the most ominous variants of the coronavirus so far, it might be fair to stay away from the name "Delta" for now — even Kristen Bell wishes she did! In fact, on an episode of her podcast, she called it a "big big bummer" that her daughter shared her name with the variant.
ELLEN
It appears 2021 was not a good year for Ellen DeGeneres. Though there had been buzz about the way Ellen allegedly treated her staff behind the scenes, this year she faced those accusations head on, and in May, she announced that she was ending her show the following season. "Ellen" might not be the best choice for a baby girl — at least, for now.
HILARIA
This year, Hilaria Baldwin found herself at the center of controversy when she was accused of faking her Spanish accent after someone who knew her when she was younger claimed that she'd grown up in the United States. Things quickly became very awkward, and as pretty as it is, it might be best to avoid "Hilaria" for a little while.
MEGHAN
As much as we love Meghan Markle, that's certainly not true of everyone! After walking away from royal life with Prince Harry at her side last year, this year, Meghan didn't shy away from drama and shared her truth during an interview with Oprah Winfrey. Using "Meghan" as a baby name would put you squarely on Team Sussex, so stay away from the option unless you want to make a statement!
CORONA
Much like Delta, Corona is a name that would be better off avoided — possibly forever. It practically goes without saying that the name of a virus that killed millions of people worldwide isn't the best inspiration for a baby name, even if someone thinks it sounds pretty.
CHRISSY
Chrissy Teigen quickly went from universally beloved to canceled this year. After allegations that she'd cyberbullied Courtney Stodden, among more tone-deaf tweets about expensive dinners that were out of most people's reach, Chrissy slowly cut back on her social media presence, maybe for good.
OLIVIA JADE
Lori Loughlin's daughter, Olivia Jade, is still working on her comeback after her mom served her prison sentence for her involvement in the college admissions scandal. She's appeared on Red Table Talk and even has a TikTok account, but people don't seem to be too accepting of her quite yet. Olivia is fine — but maybe choose a different middle name.
NICKI
Nicki Minaj got into hot water this year when she made claims about her cousin and the COVID-19 vaccine that were later proven to be false — as were her later claims that the White House invited her to visit. It was a cringeworthy moment for sure, and potentially not one you'd want to memorialize with a baby's name.
