They’re Here! The Top 10 Baby Names of 2016

At around 9:15 AM, the Social Security Administration updated their website and released the data for the most popular baby names of 2016!  Believe me when I say that waiting for their arrival was more intense than being a kid and waking up on Christmas to see what Santa brought.  I’m so glad they’re here!!!

I’m also pleased to find out how on or off the mark my predictions were.  You can read and compare those here.

The 10 most popular baby girls’ names of 2016:

1. Emma (0 rank change; usage fell)
2. Olivia (0 change; usage fell)
3. Ava (+1 rank change; usage fell)
4. Sophia (-1 rank change; usage fell)
5. Isabella (0 change; usage fell)
6. Mia (0 change; usage fell)
7. Charlotte (+2 change; usage rose)
8. Abigail (-1 change; usage fell)
9. Emily (-1 change; usage fell)
10. Harper (0 change; usage rose)

The top 10 most popular baby boys’ names of 2016:

1. Noah (0 rank change; usage fell)
2. Liam (0 rank change; usage fell)
3. William (+2 rank change; usage fell)
4. Mason (-1 rank change; usage fell)
5. James (+2 rank change; usage rose very slightly)
6. Benjamin (+4 rank change; usage rose)
7. Jacob (-3 rank change; usage fell)
8. Michael (+1 rank change; usage fell)
9. Elijah (new, +2 rank change; usage rose)
10. Ethan (-4 rank change; usage fell)

The only name that left the top 10 for either gender was Alexander…wow.  I honestly thought it would be Michael!  Perhaps more surprising is that nothing entered or left the girls’ list.  That, and the boys’ top 10 is unusually volatile this year. 

The only names that rose usage-wise were Charlotte, Harper, Benjamin, Elijah, and James!  Everyone else fell, even if their ranks rose.

What are your favorite names in the top 10?  Let me know in the comments!  In the meantime, check back later for info on the top 100, top 1000, and beyond!