Google's 'FrightGeist' lists the most popular 2021 Halloween costumes. Is yours one of them?
Jordan MendozaWorried about someone having the same costume as you at the Halloween party you are going to? Google may be able to help you.
With COVID-19 cases down compared to last year and Americans expected to spend over $10 billion on Halloween this year, much of the United States will be partaking in celebrating the spooky holiday.
From the sexy-styled costumes, creative DIYs, last-minute put-togethers and pop-culture-inspired outfits, some costumes are bound to be the same ones you see while trick-or-treating or partying.
Luckily, Google Trends has released its 2021 FrightGeist, which lists the top costumes nationally, as well as the most popular ones in cities across the country. You can look at the list here, but here are some of the most notable mentions in this year's list:
Top Halloween costumes of 2021
The top 10 Halloween costumes this year include some iconic horror movie characters and some inspired by popular films of the past year. Yet, the most popular costume of them all? That'd be a witch.
Despite recently trending down on Twitter, witch costumes remain the most popular nationwide, according to Google Trends' list. FrightGeist lists the witch under the horror films category, and with Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) of "Wandavision" taking over the first half of the year, as well as the everlasting impact of "Hocus Pocus," there's no magic trick behind this being one of the most popular costumes of the year.
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Other character-inspired costumes in the top 10 include Cruella de Vil, who most recently portrayed by Emma Stone in the self-title movie released in May, and Harley Quinn, played by Margot Robbie, who appeared in the role for the third time in this year's "The Suicide Squad."
The full top 10 for 2021 Halloween costumes:
- Witch
- Rabbit
- Dinosaur
- Spider-Man
- Cruella de Vil
- Fairy
- Harley Quinn
- Cowboy
- Clown
- Chucky
Notable trending costumes
FrightGeist lists hundreds of the most popular costumes, and a quick look into the top 100 offers give some good ideas if you still haven't decided on a costume.
The Netflix-show "Squid Game" has had a meteoric rise in recent weeks, becoming one of the most popular shows on the streaming platform and just in time to take over Halloween. "Squid Game" costumes are the 23rd most popular one in Google's search, and it continues to trend high, being the most searched costume idea in Detroit.
In 2020, the mobile game "Among Us" was the talk to the gaming world, and it is the 16th most popular costume with its popularity spiking in Jacksonville, Florida.
Other notable costumes in the top 50 include Pokémon at no. 50, Fortnite at No. 44, Velma Dinkley (of "Scooby-Doo" fame) at No. 42, Poison Ivy (the comic book villain) at No. 33, Beetle Juice at No. 24 and 1980s at No. 18.
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Popular Halloween costumes by region
Google Trends lists the most popular costume in at least one city in each state. Some of the costumes not in the top 50 are the most popular ones in certain regions, like "space cowgirl" is the top costume idea searched around Glendive, Montana, "Baby Yoda" in Rockford, Illinois and "Hugh Hefner" is No. 1 around Eureka, California.
Here are some of the most popular costumes in notable cities:
- Los Angeles and Phoenix – Cruella De Vil
- Washington D.C., New York City and Chicago – Spider-Man
- Miami – Fairy
- Kansas City, Missouri – Pirate
- Atlanta and Nashville – Rabbit
Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @jordan_mendoza5.
