Have you seen Toy Story 5? The 2026 Disney and Pixar release marks Pixar’s biggest-ever opening weekend at the box office. It’s the fifth installment in the enduring series, bringing back many of the familiar favorites, including Tom Hanks as Woody, Joan Cusack as Jessie, and Tim Allen as Buzz. Cameos from other celebrities include Keanu Reeves and Bad Bunny, Tyla, Tony Hale, and, of course, John Ratzenberger.
Toy Story 5 marks the studio’s 31st feature-length film.
WHAT ARE PRODUCTION BABIES?
Ever since the very first Pixar movie, Toy Story, debuted in 1995, the studio has followed a fascinating tradition. Disney adopted the practice, as have plenty of other animation studios over time.
They’ve listed the names of any babies born to the staff responsible for the movie in that film’s credits.
Those names appear at the very end, under the heading Production Babies. Because, well, these babies arrived during the movie’s creation.
That’s 31 lists from Pixar alone, if you’re counting.
After all, animated movies take a long time – sometimes years – to go from early concept to finished product. The team involved with the process is considerable, big enough to guarantee at least a few new arrivals. If your family grows while you’re focused on a movie, well, inevitably you’ll think of Elio or Frozen 2 as part of those memories.
For lots of reasons, Snow White and Peter Pan credits didn’t include a list of Production Babies.
But the first Toy Story movie was released in 1995, so this is not exactly a new phenomenon. An entire generation of animators and audiences have grown up with this custom.
But it’s easy to miss unless you’re eagerly watching to the very end of the film. Then again, with mid-credit and end-credit sequences more and more common, it’s not surprising to see film audiences stay seated until the house lights come up.
Also worth noting: these aren’t exactly birth announcements. Production babies lists don’t share gender, date – or even year – of birth, or the parent’s role on the film. A handful of lists might note twins. Occasionally, if two Production Babies share a first name, the initial of their surname (presumably) is also included.
It’s nicely egalitarian, too. It doesn’t matter if the production baby’s parent was the A-list celebrity or the junior accountant, their names appear in alphabetical order.
Past commenters have confirmed that parents decide how their children’s names appear. A name listed as Ellie, for example, might be short for something, or not – but we only know what the parents choose to share.
All of that said, it’s pure delight to peek at the names chosen by the talented creators behind the movies.
ABOUT THE MOVIE TOY STORY 5
Released in June of 2026, Toy Story 5 is the fifth movie in the franchise about the secret lives of toys and how hard they work for their children. This is the second movie to focus on Bonnie, the child who inherited all of Andy’s toys.
Warning: Mild Spoilers Ahead
The tension in Toy Story 5 is about two things: Bonnie’s struggle to make friends who understand the rich and layered imaginary world she creates with her toys and the introduction of Lilypad, a game-playing tablet that all the other kids are using. At several points, a toy declares “the age of toys is over” with some mix of dread, terror, and pure despair.
There’s a showdown, ultimately, between Lily and the toys. But tech meets old-school play by the end, and a fleet of Wifi-enabled Buzz Lightyears arrives in the nick of time. Bonnie makes a sweet friend, a horse-obsessed girl called Blaze. We learn more about Jessie’s backstory. And all ends happily.
WILL NAME BLAZE RISE?
Bonnie has gotten a boost from the Toy Story series. First introduced in 2010, and at heart of 2019’s story, the character arrived at a moment parents were also embracing Sadie, Ellie, and Charlie. The name Bonnie fit.
Movies rarely inspire popular names – even smash hit movies. Animated films behave differently. First, because our families re-watch them again and again, bringing them into our lives more live television series than one-off events. Second, because there’s merch. If your kid carries a Lightning McQueen backpack to preschool or dresses up as Buzz, those character names feel a little more present than something you just watched once.
Blaze isn’t a major character, but it does fit with fiery nature names like Ember – another name with a Disney-Pixar tie-in.
TOY STORY 5 PRODUCTION BABIES: THE LIST
Toy Story 5 lists just 15 production babies – a very small group, compared to 33 for Elemental or KPop Demon Hunters’ 25 names. But it’s a fun list, nevertheless – almost reading like a roster at a Bay Area kindergarten, blending stylish favorites with surprises.
- ELODIE
- EMILIA
- KIANA
- KIERA
- LINUS
- LYRA
- LUKA
- MAEVE
- MARGOT
- MARTIN
- ROSIE
- RUBY
- SCARLETT
- TYRUS
- ZEALAND
ABOUT THE TOY STORY 5 PRODUCTION BABIES NAMES
As per usual, a wide range of styles is represented by the Toy Story 5 production babies.
FAMILIAR FAVORITES
Emilia, Ruby, and Scarlett are all Top 100 girl names in the US. They’re lovely choices for a daughter. The color names, in particular, feel right for animators’ children.
OLD SCHOOL THROWBACKS
Linus and Martin are delightfully old school picks, just slightly outside of traditional favorites for boys now.
And Rosie is sparky, ecovintage, and just plain fun to say.
MAINSTREAM STYLE STARS
If you were picking a style-forward name that everybody loves, but doesn’t feel all that different, it might be one of these.
There’s gently French Margot, lifted by the mega-stardom of Margot Robbie; imported Elodie; night-sky and fantasy series Lyra; Pixar-adjacent Luka; and powerful Irish import Maeve.
SURPRISING FINDS
Kiana and Kiera almost sound like sisters. Kiana ranks in the US Top 1000. Kiera does not, but Keira – the accidental misspelling of Keira Knightley’s name – does. Neither are new, but there’s something very 21st century about them both. Lion King fans might recognize Kiara as the daughter of Simba and Nala, crown princess of Pride Rock. Maybe that’s why these names hit just right.
Tyrus might be an invention, blending Ty and Cyrus. But it was the given name of baseball legend Ty Cobb.
Zealand seems like a nod to either New Zealand, or possibly Zeeland, the Dutch province for which the nation was named. Muppets fans might also think of Lew Zealand, known for his Boomerang fish, and also part of the extended Disney family. It’s also possible the family just loved the Z sound.
