Google reveals its annual zeitgeist – the people, places and things that are clicking the most with UK internet users in 2011.
Top of the most-searched celebrities is US reality star Kim Kardashian, whose profile was boosted further this year after marrying and then divorcing basketball player Kris Humphries in just three months.
Next behind her was Victoria Beckham, who gave birth to her and husband David’s first daughter, Harper Seven, in July, followed by Harry Potter actress Emma Watson in third.
Amy Winehouse, who died earlier this year in tragic circumstances, comes in fifth.
Ricky Gervais, undoubtedly buoyed by his notorious appearance as MC for the Golden Globes, was the only male to make into the top ten.
Google also revealed the year’s fastest-rising searches which was topped by a country mile by the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, who also featured in the top ten fasting-rising people section.
Another American reality TV star, the late Ryan Dunn of Jackass fame, was the fastest-rising person ahead of singer Adele, while Breaking Dawn leads the fastest-rising movies list.
X Factor hit number 1 in the TV shows chart.
CELEBRITIES
1. Kim Kardashian
2. Victoria Beckham
3. Emma Watson
4. Scarlett Johansson
5. Jennifer Aniston
6. Britney Spears
7. Megan Fox
8. Ricky Gervais
9. Jessica Jane
10. Angelina Jolie
FASTEST-RISING SEARCHES
1. Royal wedding
2. iPhone 5
3. Fifa 12
4. Groupon
5. iPad 2
6. Ryan Dunn
7. Adele
8. Minecraft
9. Rebecca Black
10. Ed Sheeran
PEOPLE (FASTEST-RISING)
1. Ryan Dunn
2. Adele
3. Rebecca Black
4. Ed Sheeran
5. Amy Winehouse
6. Charlie Sheen
7. Steve Jobs
8. Kate Middleton
9. Nicki Minaj
10. Darren Criss
TV SHOWS (FASTEST-RISING)
1. X Factor 2011
2. Apprentice 2011
3. X Factor USA
4. NCIS season 9
5. House season 8
6. Glee season 3
7. Thundercats 2011
8. Big Brother 13
9. Supernatural season 7
10. Smallville season 10
There is also a list of the most popular “what is…” searches, in which AV – the Alternative Vote – clearly baffled electors the most. This was followed, bizarrely, by scampi, piles and truffles.
Also revealed are the fastest rising travel destinations, sports terms, news, food and drink, music and top TV searches.
The Google zeitgeist list – meaning spirit of the times – is compiled from the searches through Google each year. Individual searchers are not identified.
SPORTS (FASTEST RISING)
1. Haye vs Klitschko
2. Olympic tickets 2012
3. Arsenal transfer
4. Six Nations 2011
5. Wimbledon 2011
6. Grand National 2011
7. Wrestlemania 27
8. Copa America 2011
9. Randy Savage
10. Dan Wheldon
TRAVEL (TOP DESTINATIONS)
1. Las Vegas
2. New York
3. Disneyland Paris
4. Jamaica
5. Orlando
6. Barbados
7. Hawaii
8. Caribbean
9. Florida
10. Cuba
“WHAT IS…” (TOP SEARCHES)
1. AV
2. Scampi
3. Truffles
4. Piles
5. 4d
6. Cookies
7. Copyright
8. Zumba
9. iCloud
10. Probate
“HOW TO…” (TOP SEARCHES)
1. Revise
2. Snog
3. Reference
4. Wallpaper
5. Draw
6. Sleep
7. Flirt
8. Geek
9. Pronounce
10. Shuffle
MOVIES (FASTEST-RISING)
1. Breaking Dawn
2. Final Destination 5
3. Mean Girls 2
4. True Grit
5. Conan the Barbarian
6. Scream 4
7. The Inbetweeners
8. Little Fockers
9. Transformers 3
10. Unstoppable
PETS
1. Cavapoo (dog)
2. Cavachon (dog)
3. Cockapoo
4. Tibetan mastiff
5. Pomeranian
6. Bearded dragon (lizard)
7. French bulldog
8. Dog de Bordeaux
9. Savannah cat
10. Shih tzu
