Potter among top Yahoo!, Google searches of 2003

  December 29, 2003 at 11:16 AM ET
  Geri     iharrypotter.net (via Business Wire/Google)
 


Search engine company Yahoo! today announcedopens in new window that the world's favorite wizard, Harry Potter took honors as the second most popular search term for the year, whizzing up from No. 10 in 2002 and beating out heavy-hitters such as Britney Spears and "American Idol".

Erik Gunther, an editor of Yahoo! Search, points out that three of this years' top searches -- Harry Potter, Britney Spears and WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment), have held spots in Yahoo!'s Top 10 for three years in a row.

The Yahoo! 2003 Top 10 Searches:

  1. KaZaa
  2. Harry Potter
  3. "American Idol"
  4. Britney Spears
  5. 50 Cent
  6. Eminem
  7. WWE
  8. Paris Hilton
  9. NASCAR
  10. Christina Aguilera

In June of this year Yahoo! reported that Harry Potter readers stay loyal through the years and the phenomenon has only strengthened its appeal beyond young readers.

Google's 2003 year-end "Zeitgeist"opens in new window also lists Harry Potter as the #2 most popular query (behind Britney Spears, and soundly beating Lord of the Rings, which came in at #8), and the #2 most searched-for fictional character (behind The Simpsons). The boy hero shows up in other international catagories as well.

Google's 2003 Top 10 Queries:

  1. Britney Spears
  2. Harry Potter
  3. Matrix
  4. Shakira
  5. David Beckham
  6. 50 Cent
  7. Iraq
  8. Lord of the Rings
  9. Kobe Bryant
  10. Tour de France
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