A new study has found that parents are changing their baby names due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nearly 43 per cent of parents in the UK believe the coronavirus crisis will change the way babies are named, according to a new research by Channelmum.com.

The names being ditched for sounding too close to ‘coronavirus’ include Corah, Corina, Ronan, Viola and Violet.

Parents also believe monikers associated with lockdown, such as Lockie and Lochlan, will be taken out of consideration.

Seven per cent of mums-to-be have also changed their name choice due to the virus.

Some positive names are found to be rising in popularity among the 1,300 parents surveyed.

More than half (54 per cent) of the parents contemplate naming their child after rainbow, in light of the kids’ art trend aimed at “spreading hope” during the outbreak. Popular choices include Iris, Indigo, Blue and Red.

A third of new parents seek to overcome lockdown pessimism with happy names, including Bliss, Joy, Blythe and Felicity for girls as well as Pax and Sol for boys.

One in five parents said they would consider ‘secure’ names for their child, such as Haven and Harbour.

‘Virtue’ names such as Faith, Hope, Patience and Constance are also predicted to come back into fashion.

“Baby names reflect changing times and never more so than when the world is facing a catastrophe,” said the outlet’s baby name expert SJ Strum.

“The current crisis means parents are understandably stressed and anxious, so are using new-born’s names to celebrate new life and joy. Positive names are a wonderful way to keep focusing on the future and means that the child knows their name has real meaning.”