A mother has defended her decision to name her daughter after a My Little Pony character, despite criticism over the unusual choice.
When Sybilla Hart became pregnant with her fourth child more than 12 years ago, she struggled to find a name. She had already used all of her favourite options for her older children.
That changed when her daughters, Beatrice and Florence, were watching an episode of the popular franchise and a new character appeared: Princess Celestia.
The then-34-year-old expectant mother was immediately drawn to the name.
‘It sounded like Celeste, which was a name I liked but felt was a little abrupt for my taste – only better,’ said Sybilla, from Essex.
‘I loved the name, and so did my husband, Charles.’
The choice nevertheless sparked debate, with Sybilla saying several people assumed there had to be a direct connection between the television character and her newborn daughter.
She said: ‘When I announced her name, friends joked on my Facebook page and asked, “You’re naming your daughter after My Little Pony?”‘
Sybilla Hart has stood by her daughter’s distinctive name, despite criticism that it was inspired by a My Little Pony character
The Essex mother had run out of her favourite baby names when she became pregnant with her fourth child more than 12 years ago
‘I proudly told them yes, and said that I loved it. It didn’t matter where I had discovered the name – I had completely fallen for it.
‘Some people have been rude and asked whether it is even a “real” name. I tell them that it is – it is simply a longer version of Celeste.’
Sybilla said many others embraced the choice, while one friend of a friend even asked whether she could use Celestia for her own daughter.
Sybilla, now 45, added that people have occasionally confused the name with ‘Celestial’, particularly after Ed Sheeran released a song with that title in 2022.
Celestia, now 12, has fully embraced her name, and her mother says she is proud of the unexpected inspiration behind it.
While the names of Celestia’s sisters have grown more popular, her own remains relatively rare.
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‘She loves her name and is proud to have something unusual in common with me,’ Sybilla said.
‘She is proud of having an uncommon name.’
The story comes as figures from BabyCentre, the UK’s leading pregnancy and parenting platform, suggested that parents welcoming babies in 2026 could take inspiration from pop stars including Lily Allen, Dua Lipa and Olivia Rodrigo.
The organisation’s research indicated that pop culture would play a major role in baby-name choices this year, while social media trends centred on the spiritual idea of names having an ‘aura’ are also expected to influence parents.
Twelve-year-old Celestia has embraced her distinctive name and is proud of its unusual inspiration, according to her mother
‘Baby names are always a reflection of the cultural moment, and this year’s data shows exactly what is capturing parents’ imaginations,’ said Faye Mingo, the group’s Growth Officer, when it published its top 100 baby names for 2025.
‘This has been one of the most expressive naming years yet, with choices shaped by identity, intention and personal values.’
According to naming expert SJ Strum, the names expected to rise in popularity in 2026 will also be influenced by ‘aura points’, a newer trend spreading across social media.
‘Modern parents want names with meaning – names that reflect personality, values and positive energy. The viral Aura Points trend has helped inspire this shift,’ she said.
‘The trend rates names according to qualities such as kindness, strength and joy. These distinctive, meaningful choices are gaining momentum because what a name represents matters just as much as how it sounds.
‘Aura Points are more than a passing trend; they reflect the way parents now think about names.
‘Families want names with personality and values built in. Aura Points names convey meaning, character and positivity – qualities that strongly appeal to modern parents.’
There is no precise formula for calculating these points, but examples for girls include Maeve, Myla, Gianna and Esme.
For boys, possible choices include Ahmad, Caleb, Asher, Jude and Ronnie.
Names associated with ‘light’ and rich in symbolism are also expected to gain ground.
‘The Glow Up trend is reshaping baby-name popularity lists by celebrating names linked to meaning, beauty and brightness,’ the centre said. ‘These names combine powerful symbolism with style, balancing timeless appeal and a modern feel.’
