Google's top 5 people searches of 2025: Politics, popes and tragedy

Google’s annual trends report has revealed the names people searched for the most in 2025.

Here are the top 5:

Zohran Mamdani

Zohran Mamdani, the mayor-elect of New York City, tops Google’s list of most-searched people for 2025.

Mamdani was a state lawmaker unknown to most New York City residents when he announced his run for mayor in October 2024.

But that was before the 34-year-old democratic socialist crashed the national political scene with a stunning upset over former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in June’s Democratic primary. In November, Mamdani completed his political ascension, again vanquishing Cuomo, as well as Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, in the general election.

The former foreclosure prevention counselor and one-time rapper becomes the city’s first Muslim mayor, first born in Africa, and first of South Asian heritage — not to mention its youngest mayor in more than a century.

RELATED: What the world searched on Google in 2025: Trends, tech and tragedy

Tyler Robinson

Tyler Robinson is the man charged with shooting and killing Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk at a college speaking event in Utah. 

Robinson, 22, is charged with aggravated murder, two counts of obstruction of justice for hiding the rifle and discarding his clothing, two counts of witness tampering for instructing a roommate to delete texts and stay silent and one count of committing a violent offense in front of children.

Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty.  Robinson is being held in jail without bail.

Robinson’s mother told investigators she had watched her son change dramatically in the year leading up to the shooting. Once a college scholarship recipient with a promising future, Robinson had "become more political," leaning left and supporting "pro-gay and trans rights," his mother said, according to court documents.

She also recounted heated arguments between Robinson and his father, who held sharply different views and regularly sparred over their competing ideologies.

At one point, she told police, her son dismissed Kirk’s Utah Valley University (UVU) event as a "stupid" venue and claimed Kirk "spreads too much hate."

d4vd

Musician d4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, was among the top people searches on Google this year after the body of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez was found in a car belonging to the singer. He’s also the No. 1 music search trend on Google this year. 

Multiple reports have said he is a suspect in her death.

D4vd is known for his songs "Here With Me" and "Romantic Homicide," with billions of streams on Spotify. 

He released his second studio album, "Withered," earlier this year. He was in the middle of his "Withered" world tour when her body was found. 

Erika Kirk

Erika Kirk is the widow of Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist and Turning Point USA today founder who was assassinated in September while speaking at an event at a college in Utah. 

Erika Kirk took over as CEO of Turning Point USA after her husband’s murder. She’s been an outspoken voice of conservative values in the wake of her husband’s death. She’s also a close ally of Vice President JD Vance and recently endorsed him for president in 2028.

Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV, or Cardinal Robert Prevost, was chosen to lead the Catholic Church in May following the death of Pope Francis. 

RELATED: Pope Leo XIV calls for 'peace and consolation' in first Christmas Mass

Leo is the first American pope ever selected by the conclave. He is a Chicago native born in 1955.

After joining the Order of Saint Augustine in 1977 and making his solemn vows in 1981, he earned degrees in mathematics, divinity, and canon law—including a doctorate from the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.

Prevost was ordained in 1982 and began his pastoral and academic service in Peru in 1985, where he served in roles such as chancellor, seminary rector, canon law professor, and judicial vicar.

In 1999, Prevost was elected provincial prior of the Augustinians in Chicago, and just a few years later, he became prior general of the worldwide order, serving two terms until 2013. 

He then returned to Peru at Pope Francis’ request to serve as apostolic administrator—and later bishop—of the Diocese of Chiclayo. 

In January 2023, Pope Francis appointed Prevost prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, a powerful Vatican role responsible for episcopal appointments worldwide.

He was made a cardinal in September of the same year.