James PowelUSA TODAY
The country is in the thick of spooky season, and if you're still deciding on a costume for Halloween, Google's Frightgeist site can offer ideas.
The tech giant's annual microsite uses search data to list the top costumes both nationally and regionally.
Don't be surprised to see multiple iterations of Barbie at Halloween parties this year, as the cultural dominance of the Greta Gerwig film has the costume at the top of multiple lists.
While pink may dominate overall, Frightgeist offers a variety of costume ideas for the young, old and four-legged.
These are the most popular costumes for Halloween 2023.
Most popular costume 2023
For the first time in three years, witches have been knocked off their pedestal as the most searched for costume with Barbie taking the top spot. Spider-Man stays in the top three, sliding down one spot to make way for princess at number two.
In what may be the upset of the year, Taylor Swift does not feature in the top 20, landing at 22.
- Barbie
- Princess
- Spider-Man
- Witch
- Fairy
- Wednesday Addams
- Dinosaur
- Cowboy
- Ninja
- Bunny
Popular costumes for couples, babies and dogs
Given that Barbie tops the most popular list, it comes as no surprise that Barbie and Ken lead the list for most searched couples costumes (Ryan Gosling's abs not included).
- Barbie and Ken
- Mario and Luigi
- Bonnie and Clyde
- Cosmo and Wanda
- Lilo and Stitch
The most searched family costumes centered around movies and shows that are available on streaming services typified by the latest entry into the Addams Family cannon, "Wednesday," playing on Netflix.
- Addams Family
- Toy Story
- Mario
- Flintstones
- Monsters, Inc.
The movie franchise "Toy Story" lands at the top of the list of most searched costumes for babies, with Woody's loyal sidekick Slinky Dog No. 1. The horror character Chucky also appears on this list, proving that frights are for any age.
- Slinky Dog
- Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm
- Chucky
- Barbie
- Theodore Chipmunk
Halloween is not limited to bipeds as people across the country are searching for costumes for dogs. Chucky costumes are also in fashion for the four-legged friends as it tops the dog searches and is the only costume to appear on both the baby and dog lists.
- Chucky
- Spider
- Cow
- Scooby-Doo
- Stitch
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Popular costumes across the US by city
While Barbie held an iron (or in this case plastic) grip on the top spot across the country, there is some regional variation in the most popular costume choice.
In Lafayette, Indiana, cop held the top spot while other cities in the area rode the pink wave and chose Barbie. In Presque Isle, Maine, Minnie Mouse takes the top spot, and pirate was the most searched for costume in Alexandria, Louisiana.
- Memphis: Barbie
- Knoxville: Barbie
- Indianapolis: Barbie
- Reno: Barbie
