A star like Luka Dončić can inspire thousands of namesakes—then leave town.

In the year 2019, the baby name Luka became a phenomenon. American parents at the time had a growing new appetite for boys’ names ending in -a. When Slovenian basketball standout Luka Dončić joined the Dallas Mavericks, it was the perfect meeting of celebrity and style. Dončić was named the 2019 Rookie of the Year and quickly grew into one of the NBA’s biggest stars. By 2023 the name Luka, a Slavic version of Luca/Luke, had skyrocketed to become one of the top 100 names for American boys.

In 2024, Luka Dončić carried the Mavericks to the NBA finals, sending his personal stardom to new heights. Eight months later, Dallas stunned the basketball world by trading him away to the Los Angeles Lakers.

What happens to the name now?

A Study in Team Loyalty

Sports-inspired names don’t always survive this kind of transition. Back in 1992, the name Shaquille became popular when basketball star Shaquille O’Neal was drafted #1 overall by the Orlando Magic. He turned the team from doormats to contenders overnight, and captured fans with his fun-loving personality. Then O’Neal became a free agent and defected to the Los Angeles Lakers.

For most fans of team sports, team comes first. Diehards say they “root for the laundry”: the team roster may change over the years, but they’re ready to cheer for whoever puts on the uniform. A player who switches uniforms can transform from hero to villain overnight.

In Shaquille O’Neal’s case, Orlando fans not only turned against the superstar they had loved; they turned against his name. Baby Shaquilles all but disappeared in Florida.

Shaquille vs. Luka

Shaquille may have been a particularly vulnerable name. It owed its entire existence to the basketball star, tying its style to his career. The name’s sound could also have been turning a corner, as names like Shamar and Jameel started to decline around the same time. Luka in contrast is still ascendant, and a much bigger, more broad-based hit.

The two basketball players’ experiences were different as well. Because Dončić’s departure from Dallas wasn’t voluntary, fans saw him more as a victim than a traitor. What’s more, the shocking trade made him the focus of headlines for weeks. Nationwide, the baby name Luka might even benefit from the positive exposure. But in Dallas, it’s a different story. The name’s emotional resonance has been turned on its head.

For an example of the power of that emotion, consider the path of the name Brady in New England. In the 2000s football quarterback Tom Brady led the New England Patriots to great heights, and the name Brady became more popular in New England than anywhere else. Then in 2008 Brady’s Patriots suffered a tough Superbowl loss. When the team returned to the field the following season with sky-high expectations Brady injured his knee and was lost for the year.

Nationally, the baby name Brady didn’t suffer much. But in Patriots territory, it took a huge one-year dip. Not because fans abandoned their loyalty to the player, but because his name brought up fresh and painful memories — memories shared by everyone a baby Brady would meet.

The Fan Experience

Some celebrity-inspired baby names are genuine homages. Others are style-driven choices. But there’s a middle ground between tribute and taste that’s specific to team sports: the positivity and excitement of fandom itself.

Rooting for a local team can be part of the rhythm of a person’s life. The season adds shape to the calendar, and the constantly changing team lends a fresh identity to each year. Best of all, it’s a collective experience. Imagine a communal adrenaline rush, a set of personal milestones and memories shared with friends, neighbors and beyond. That’s what keeps fans rooting for the laundry year after year.

That sense of connection makes a sports-inspired baby name especially tempting.  But in this era, few athletes spend their whole careers in one place. Parents who name after an athlete should be certain that their love for the name can be separated from its inspiration. For Mavericks fans, the image of Luka Dončić is now a painful reminder of what was lost. Here’s hoping the name Luka doesn’t suffer the same fate.