She’s 21st century Hollywood royalty, and certainly part of the reason so many parents have chosen gender neutral surnames for their daughters.

In honor of her March 22, here’s a look at Names Worn By Reese Witherspoon.

Reese’s breakout role was 1991′s The Man in the Moon, but her character’s name – Dani – wasn’t boosted by her success.  Danielle was an established Top 20 pick in the US for several years before.  Other names were more interesting:

• In 1993, she wore the name Nonnie in A Far Off Place, and appeared as a female Ferris in the tv miniseries Return to Lonesome Dove;
• She wore Wendy, Nicole and Vanessa in a series of not-much-remembered films before playing Ivy in Overnight Delivery – another not-much-remembered film.  I’d like to give her credit for Ivy’s revival but her roadtripping stripper-a-heart-of-gold probably didn’t influence many parents.  Still, Ivy is on the rise, reaching #298 in 2008;
• Reese was a blast as Jennifer and her black-and-white alter ego, Mary Sue, in 1998′s Pleasantville;
• Then came 1999′s controversial Dangerous Liaisons goes to high school, Cruel Intentions.  Her character’s name – Annette – languished, but the movie helped push Sebastian into the Top 100 in 2000;
• In 2001, she invented fashionista-cum-legal-eagle Elle Woods in Legally Blonde.  Reese’s influence is undeniable here.  From unranked in 2001, Elle appeared in the US Top 1000 at #613 in 2002.  She charted at #494 in 2008;
• A few more roles followed, including Vanity Fair’s Becky Sharp and The Importance of Being Earnest’s Cicely Cardew, but her next influential name was in 2005, when she nabbed the Best Actress Oscar as June Carter Cash in Walk the Line.  After many years’ hibernation, June re-entered the US Top 1000 at #863 in 2008;
• Since adding an Oscar to her resume, Reese has worn Isabella, Annie and Kate - all solidly established names.

Among other projects, Reese is said to be working on an upcoming movie adaptation of New York Times bestseller Water for Elephants.  She’ll play ill-fated circus performer Marlena.

In this case, the actress’ biggest naming influence probably comes from her personal life.  Born Laura Jean Reese Witherspoon, she dropped her first name in favor of her second middle – mom Betty’s maiden name.  As her star has climbed, so has the use of Reese for girls.  The name debuted in the US Top 1000 in 2000 at #886, and today charts at #154.  That’s not quite Madison or Taylor, but it is undeniably a popular gender-bending pick.

Her own kids’ names have been influential, too.  While Deacon is still relatively rare, at #642 in 2008, the name didn’t chart in the US at all until her son’s 2003 birth.

Then there’s Ava.

Make no mistake – Ava was in use before 1999.  She was steadily climbing the charts, helped along by Aidan Quinn, Heather Locklear and more parents who discovered her many charms.  In fact, Heather Locklear probably deserves much of the credit – her daughter with Richie Sambora was born in 1997.  Ava leapt from #618 to #350 in one year.  But Reese cemented Ava’s Top Ten destiny, as the name rose from #259 to #180, entered the Top 100 two years later and the Top Ten by the time the original Avas were in elementary school.

Even without her daughter’s name considered, Reese Witherspoon might just be the most influential actor I’ve profiled so far – she knocks the socks off Christina Ricci and might even outdo Anne Hathway’s naming influence.