Popular Girls’ Names that Rose or Fell 100+ Ranks within the U.S. Top 1000 (2023)

May 14, 2024 ElizabethLeave a comment

It’s the Tuesday after Mother’s Day, which means it’s also the Tuesday after Data Release Day! The Social Security Administration released brand new American baby name data on Friday. We’ve already talked about the Top 10 and the Top 100, but what about names within the Top 1000? It’s worth looking at the names whose popularity changed drastically within the Top 1000 because many of those names describe ongoing trends. So, mainly out of curiosity, I’ve compiled a list of baby girls’ names whose popularity changed by at least 100 ranks between 2022 and 2023 in either direction! I will post a list of the boys’ names later. For these lists, I’m *not* including the names that entered or left the top 1000 (with one notable exception, which you’ll see in my notes); like the boys’ list, the new and exiting names will be part of a separate post.

Girls’ Names that Rose at least 100 Ranks within the U.S. Top 1000 from 2022 to 2023:

*Name*	*2023 Rank*	*2022 Rank*	*Rank Change*
Scottie	617	923	+306
Miley	452	703	+251
Inaya	736	971	+235
Halo	567	770	+203
Maisy	791	987	+196
Lakelynn	778	967	+189
Elowyn	693	880	+187
Tallulah*	817	999	+182
Lottie	775	950	+175
Lenora	763	931	+168
Jaylani	599	766	+167
Sariyah	577	733	+156
Whitley	733	885	+152
Antonella	287	436	+149
Murphy	519	667	+148
Sunny	406	553	+147
Giana	749	895	+146
Jovie	588	732	+144
Arlet	604	741	+137
Cielo	859	996	+137
Itzel	364	498	+134
Goldie	685	815	+130
Wrenlee	584	712	+128
Lainey	54	174	+120
Navy	363	483	+120
Amirah	458	577	+119
Aurelia	371	488	+117
Lacey	759	877	+118
Alanna	453	567	+114
Marigold	714	828	+114
Georgina	770	881	+111
Nyomi	811	922	+111
Aitana	217	327	+110
Emberlynn	798	908	+110
Wrenley	175	284	+109
Meilani	845	952	+107
Kaiya	797	903	+106
Mallory	429	533	+104
Anahi	462	565	+103
Araceli	803	905	+102
Emory	366	468	+102
Florence	580	623	+102
Kataleya	672	774	+102
Maxine	513	615	+102
Amoura	633	734	+101
Maddie	839	940	+101
Birdie	701	801	+100
Luz	843	943	+100

Data from the Social Security Administration

Honorable mentions go to Aliza, Calliope, Chana, Kaliyah, Paula, Taytum, Winona, and Xiomara for rising over 90 places!

So, what’s especially interesting to me are the names that rose at least 200 places: Scottie, Miley, Inaya, and Halo. Scottie has never been popular as a girls’ name until a few years ago, though it has some literary-adjacent cred as the nickname of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald’s daughter Frances Scott Fitzgerald. Miley’s popularity is volatile because it’s already dipped out of the Top 1000 once since the initial Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana craze and has a tendency to spike usage in either direction. Inaya is an international favorite originating from Arabic and Urdu, meaning “care” or “concern.” Halo has been trending upwards ever since the 2008 Beyonce song, though lately popularity is more tied to celebrity baby names (Nick Cannon and Halle Bailey both have young children named Halo).

Trendwise, I’m seeing a few different things here. International hits like Inaya, Amirah, and Antonella. Spanish-language and indigenous Latin-American names as a subcategory or adjacent to international names, i.e. Arlet, Araceli, Itzel, Aitana, Anahi, Luz. Sunny, golden, and generally happy-vibe names: Sunny, Goldie, Luz, Miley, Aurelia, Marigold, Jovie all fit. Vintage choices like Maxine, Goldie, Florence, Lenora, Lottie, and Birdie. Standalone nicknames with “ie” or similar endings: Scottie, Birdie, Lottie, Goldie, Maddie, Lainey, and Maisy. What I’m *not* seeing is as many names ending in “-Lynn,” an older trend that may be on its way downwards; Emberlynn and Lakelynn are two of the newest options in that category, but they’re late to the party.

Do keep in mind that names closer to the top of the charts are even trendier with significant rises than ones much lower in the charts, so names like Lainey, Aitana, Antonella, and Aurelia within the top 500 are trending harder than Maddie, Meilani, and Nyomi closer to the bottom.

Other notes:

Regarding Tallulah: SSA data edits made this new to the 2022 Top 1000, yet many namers on the web and social media (myself included) had Tallulah in their predictions for 2023. When SSA published the 2022 list last year, Tallulah wasn’t on there.
Arlet didn’t rise alone; variants Arlette and Arleth also grew more popular in between 2022 and 2023.
In conjunction with Itzel’s rise, Alitzel was new to the Top 1000 in 2023.
Maisy grew because Maisie got more popular; another spelling, Mazie, returned to the Top 1000 in 2023.
Lainey is likely the hottest name of 2023 thanks to country singer Lainey Wilson. It’s highly unusual for names to jump over 100 places into the Top 100!

What about the girls’ names that fell more than 100 spots between 2022 and 2023?

Girls’ Names that Fell at least 100 Ranks from 2022 to 2023 (and Stayed in the U.S. Top 1000):

*Name*	*2023 Rank*	*2022 Rank*	*Rank Change*
Marleigh	924	711	-213
Jayleen	788	610	-178
Addilyn	746	574	-172
Malaysia	776	608	-168
Madilynn	727	566	-161
Angelique	998	842	-156
Natasha	986	833	-153
Zendaya	834	681	–153
Joelle	936	785	–151
Kai	940	789	-151
Bria	910	760	–150
Kensley	755	614	–141
Hayley	972	832	–140
Malaya	847	708	-139
Kassidy	962	824	-138
Royalty	562	427	–135
Allyson	979	845	–134
Ashlynn	921	787	-134
Liberty	891	761	-130
Mikaela	819	689	–130
Malayah	969	839	–130
Waverly	880	751	-129
Ailani	593	467	-126
Scout	821	695	-126
Annika	956	835	–121
Avianna	561	441	–120
Ezra	762	643	–119
Zaylee	831	713	-118
Adley	765	648	-117
Jolie	906	792	–114
Elliot	898	786	-112
Nola	739	627	–112
Estella	610	499	–111
Bellamy	828	718	-110
Kimber	884	775	–109
Rylie	554	447	-107
Roselyn	926	821	–105
Cheyenne	790	686	-104
Anika	928	825	-103
Izabella	483	381	-102
Kayleigh	631	529	-102
Dani	779	678	-101

Data from the Social Security Administration

Names that fell between 90 and 100 places include Ainsley, Araya, Belen, Braelynn, Cadence, Raegan, Ryan, and Sariah.

The names that fell at least 100 ranks are a bit harder to classify within trend categories, though as I mentioned before I think we are starting to see the downturn of a lot of “-Lynn” names (Addilyn, Ashlynn, Roselyn) and some of the “-Leigh” names too (Kayleigh, Kensley, Marleigh, Zaylee). I think it’s interesting that Ezra fell so far on the girls’ side considering it jumped 10 places within the Top 25 on the boys’ side. Similarly, there’s no reason Ailani should have dropped because two of the newest entries to the Top 1000 are Ailany and Aylani, which are different spellings of that name.

What do you think of these names? What are some trends you’re seeing? Let me know and keep an eye out for the boys’ list!

The New Top 100 Most Popular Baby Names

May 10, 2024 ElizabethLeave a comment

The Social Security Administration just released its list of the Top 100 most popular baby names in the U.S. in 2023! While SSA publishes data for the Top 1000 and beyond, the Top 100 list is where you’ll find today’s most familiar names. From tried-and-true classics to the trendiest modern classics, these are the most common baby names on throughout the U.S. Your child will likely know many other children bearing these names!

Here are the 100 most popular names given to baby boys in 2023:

Rank	Name	# of Babies	Rank Change
1	Liam	20802	0
2	Noah	18995	0
3	Oliver	14741	0
4	James	11670	0
5	Elijah	11452	0
6	Mateo	11229	+5
7	Theodore	11041	+3
8	Henry	10941	-1
9	Lucas	10842	-1
10	William	10598	-4
11	Benjamin	10172	-2
12	Levi	9347	0
13	Sebastian	8865	0
14	Jack	8683	+1
15	Ezra	8437	+10
16	Michael	8383	0
17	Daniel	8356	-3
18	Leo	8120	+4
19	Owen	7985	-1
20	Samuel	7973	-1
21	Hudson	7935	+6
22	Alexander	7875	-5
23	Asher	7853	-3
24	Luca	7770	+4
25	Ethan	7763	-4
26	John	7750	0
27	David	7354	+4
28	Jackson	7284	-5
29	Joseph	7237	+1
30	Mason	7237	-6
31	Luke	7217	+3
32	Matthew	7190	+7
33	Julian	7078	+2
34	Dylan	7054	+8
35	Elias	6980	+8
36	Jacob	6976	-4
37	Maverick	6962	-3
38	Gabriel	6745	-2
39	Logan	6686	-6
40	Aiden	6675	-11
41	Thomas	6598	+4
42	Isaac	6581	-1
43	Miles	6558	+13
44	Grayson	6449	-7
45	Santiago	6328	+3
46	Anthony	6237	-2
47	Wyatt	6237	-9
48	Carter	5847	-1
49	Jayden	5627	-3
50	Ezekiel	5569	-1
51	Caleb	5488	+1
52	Cooper	5425	+1
53	Josiah	5404	-2
54	Charles	5395	-4
55	Christopher	5171	0
56	Isaiah	5121	+2
57	Nolan	5112	+8
58	Cameron	5069	+6
59	Nathan	5049	-2
60	Joshua	5035	0
61	Kai	4946	-2
62	Waylon	4881	+4
63	Angel	4865	-1
64	Lincoln	4842	-10
65	Andrew	4781	-4
66	Roman	4777	+2
67	Adrian	4646	-4
68	Aaron	4551	+3
69	Wesley	4539	+1
70	Ian	4538	+2
71	Thiago	4505	+36; NEW
72	Axel	4498	+5
73	Brooks	4469	+3
74	Bennett	4411	+9
75	Weston	4356	+7
76	Rowan	4195	+20
77	Christian	4125	-4
78	Theo	4122	+21
79	Beau	4090	+11
80	Eli	4081	-11
81	Silas	4070	+7
82	Jonathan	4066	-3
83	Ryan	4020	-9
84	Leonardo	4012	-9
85	Walker	4006	-7
86	Jaxon	3918	-19
87	Micah	3875	+2
88	Everett	3808	-7
89	Robert	3807	-5
90	Enzo	3796	+31; NEW
91	Parker	3792	+3
92	Jeremiah	3750	+1
93	Jose	3704	-7
94	Colton	3696	-3
95	Luka	3650	+22; NEW
96	Easton	3637	-16
97	Landon	3637	-10
98	Jordan	3632	-6
99	Amir	3620	+14; NEW
100	Gael	3616	+4; NEW

Data from the Social Security Administration

Here are the 100 most popular names given to baby girls in 2023:

Rank	Name	# of Babies	Change in Rank
1	Olivia	15270	0
2	Emma	13527	0
3	Charlotte	12596	0
4	Amelia	12311	0
5	Sophia	11944	0
6	Mia	10808	+2
7	Isabella	11359	-1
8	Ava	9682	-1
9	Evelyn	9082	0
10	Luna	7811	0
11	Harper	7769	0
12	Sofia	7641	+1
13	Camila	7565	-1
14	Eleanor	6739	+2
15	Elizabeth	6566	0
16	Violet	6342	+4
17	Scarlett	6288	-3
18	Emily	6154	-1
19	Hazel	6154	+8
20	Lily	6146	+10
21	Gianna	6129	+1
22	Aurora	6054	+9
23	Penelope	6041	-2
24	Aria	5996	-1
25	Nora	5994	+3
26	Chloe	5960	-7
27	Ellie	5951	+6
28	Mila	5895	-10
29	Avery	5859	-3
30	Layla	5678	-1
31	Abigail	5661	-7
32	Ella	5643	-7
33	Isla	5357	+2
34	Eliana	5329	+8
35	Nova	5248	-3
36	Madison	5160	-2
37	Zoe	5160	+1
38	Ivy	5036	+3
39	Grace	4886	-3
40	Lucy	4858	+8
41	Willow	4670	-4
42	Emilia	4670	+2
43	Riley	4617	-4
44	Naomi	4456	+2
45	Victoria	4434	-2
46	Stella	4357	-6
47	Elena	4261	+2
48	Hannah	4102	-1
49	Valentina	4075	+8
50	Maya	4067	+1
51	Zoey	4040	-6
52	Delilah	4031	+6
53	Leah	3953	-1
54	Lainey	3928	+120; NEW
55	Lillian	3927	-5
56	Paisley	3727	-3
57	Genesis	3651	+8
58	Madelyn	3632	+2
59	Sadie	3586	+9
60	Sophie	3578	+3
61	Leilani	3543	-2
62	Addison	3520	-8
63	Natalie	3418	-8
64	Josephine	3347	+6
65	Alice	3336	-1
66	Ruby	3333	-4
67	Claire	3195	-1
68	Kinsley	3188	-7
69	Everly	3159	-12
70	Emery	3104	-12
71	Adeline	3074	+22
72	Kennedy	3069	+2
73	Maeve	3046	+30; NEW
74	Audrey	3032	-7
75	Autumn	3001	-4
76	Athena	2984	+2
77	Eden	2924	+40; NEW
78	Iris	2921	+6
79	Anna	2918	+4
80	Eloise	2916	+6
81	Jade	2908	+7
82	Maria	2893	+9
83	Caroline	2859	-6
84	Brooklyn	2850	-12
85	Quinn	2846	-12
86	Aaliyah	2845	-17
87	Vivian	2801	+17; NEW
88	Liliana	2787	+9
89	Gabriella	2782	0
90	Hailey	2776	-10
91	Sarah	2749	+4
92	Savannah	2739	-16
93	Cora	2738	-18
94	Madeline	2726	+8; NEW
95	Natalia	2717	-16
96	Ariana	2716	-6
97	Lydia	2716	-4
98	Lyla	2651	+7; NEW
99	Clara	2648	+11; NEW
100	Allison	2641	+1; NEW

Data from the Social Security Administration

The newest names to the Top 100 are:

Boys: Thiago, Enzo, Luka, Amir, Gael
Girls: Lainey, Maeve, Eden, Vivian, Madeline, Lyla, Clara, Allison

The names that exited the Top 100 are:

Boys: Adam, Xavier, Nicholas, Greyson, Jameson
Girls: Aubrey, Bella, Skylar, Ayla, Serenity, Nevaeh, Everleigh, Raelynn

Thiago, Enzo, and Amir are all names I predicted would hit the boys’ Top 100. I’m kicking myself for not seeing Luka since Luca has been so trendy! For the girls, I correctly anticipated Maeve and Lyla. Another prediction, Millie, landed just outside the Top 100 at #102!

The name that absolutely shocks me is Lainey. I’m betting no name nerds had this one on their Top 100 predictions…she ranked #174 in 2022, which means she jumped #120 places (!!!) to fall in at #54 in 2023. Guys, that just doesn’t happen very often! Over 2,220 more girls were named Lainey in 2023 than in 2022, which is baby name insanity! Actually, usage more than doubled. I think Lainey wins the new “it name” award!

All 5 of the girls names I predicted would drop out of the Top 100 did: Aubrey, Bella, Skylar, Serenity, and Nevaeh. What I didn’t anticipate is that there would be 8 new girls’ names on the list, which seems like a lot! Everleigh surprises me a little because it’s been trendy for a few years. Maybe Everly/Everleigh’s a flash-in-the-pan? Nicholas and Greyson were my correctly predicted exits on the boys’ side.

Something else I’m noticing is that it seems like there’s more volatility in the charts this year. Maybe it’s normal and I just didn’t notice it last year, but a lot of names I’d expect to thrive are flagging. Here are some of the fasted rising names last year, in terms of rank:

Boys:

Thiago: +43; NEW
Enzo: +31; NEW
Luka: +22; NEW
Theo: +21
Rowan: +20
Amir: +14; NEW
Miles: +13
Beau: +11
Ezra: +10
Bennett: +9

Girls:

Lainey: +120; NEW
Eden: +40; NEW
Maeve: +30; NEW
Adeline: +22
Vivian: +17; NEW
Clara: +11; NEW
Lily: +10
Aurora: +9
Liliana: +9
Maria: +9
Sophie: +9

And here are the fastest falling names, in terms of rank and including names that left the Top 100:

Boys:

Greyson: – 22; OUT
Jaxon: – 19
Jameson: – 18; OUT
Easton: – 16
Aiden: – 11
Eli: – 11
Nicholas: – 11; OUT
Landon: – 10
Lincoln: – 10
Wyatt: – 9

Girls:

Everleigh: – 49; OUT
Nevaeh: -24; OUT
Bella: – 21; OUT
Aubrey: – 20; OUT
Skylar: -20; OUT
Cora: -18
Aaliyah: -17
Natalia: – 16
Savannah: – 16
Brooklyn: – 12
Emery: – 12
Everly: – 12
Quinn: – 12
Raelynn: – 12; OUT
Hailey: – 10
Mila: – 10

What do you think about 2023’s Top 100 most popular baby names? Would you use any of them? What surprises you? Let me know!

P.S. – It feels like we’re in the midst of a major style shift, but it’s hard to put my finger on what’s happening to cause it. The most popular names *are* getting more cosmopolitan, but in many ways they’re also getting more traditional. Vintage names have been “in” for awhile, but I’m wondering if the economy has anything to do with it.

American Names

They’re Here! The Top 10 Most Popular Baby Names of 2023

May 10, 2024 Elizabeth4 Comments

Happy Mother’s Day weekend! The Social Security Administration just released its list of America’s most popular baby names according to applications it received for babies born in 2023. This is *the* baby name list for the U.S., and pretty darn accurate save for the occasional unregistered baby. For name nerds like me, this is bigger than the Super Bowl. Happy Data Release Day!

The most important names (i.e., the names everyone will be looking at) to consider are the Top 10 most popular boys’ and girls’ names, since these will be the names you’ll most likely encounter in classrooms and on playgrounds over the coming years. If you’re pregnant right now or planning on having kids in the near future, you might be worried about your favorite name’s popularity. Alternatively, maybe you want a name that’s popular or standard to fit in. Writers should consider popularity lists to avoid anachronistic character names. All in all, these are the names that best embody the zeitgeist of American baby culture in 2023 and 2024.

For starters, what were the most popular names in 2023? To nobody’s surprise, Olivia and Liam remain at #1. They’ve sat at the very top for several years now, and I especially don’t expect Liam to drop down anytime soon. Anyway, what happened in the rest of the Top 10? Here’s the list of the most popular baby girls’ names in 2023:

Rank	Name	# of Babies	Rank Change
1	Olivia	15270	0
2	Emma	13527	0
3	Charlotte	12596	0
4	Amelia	12311	0
5	Sophia	11944	0
6	Mia	11359	+2
7	Isabella	10808	-1
8	Ava	9682	-1
9	Evelyn	9082	0
10	Luna	7811	0

Data from the Social Security Administration

I knew Olivia would stay at #1 but I’m surprised Emma and Charlotte stayed in situ. I was so sure Bridgerton would give Charlotte a boost! I had also predicted Violet as a kind of “dark horse” candidate for similar reasons, but she’s ranking at #16 and Mia is still in the top 10.

Here are the boys’ names!

Rank	Name	# of Babies	Rank Change
1	Liam	20802	0
2	Noah	18995	0
3	Oliver	14741	0
4	James	11670	0
5	Elijah	11452	0
6	Mateo	11229	+5, NEW
7	Theodore	11041	+3
8	Henry	10941	-1
9	Lucas	10842	-1
10	William	10598	-4

Data from the Social Security Administration

Mateo is the only new name on either side. I predicted it would hit the Top 10, though I don’t think I expected it to come in at #6! The big surprise is how far William dropped. I think I had that slated for moving down 2 rungs, but it went from #6 in 2022 to #10 in 2023. A lot of parents are opting for Liam instead. Benjamin is now gone from the Top 10 at a comfortable #11.

What do you think about this year’s U.S. Top 10 most popular baby names? Were there any surprises for you? For fun, check out my 2023 predictions and see how they stacked up against the real data.

American Names · Analysis

Baby Name Predictions for the New 2023 U.S. Popularity Charts

May 9, 2024 Elizabeth1 Comment

OK, we’re probably just one day away from the biggest day in the naming community – the U.S. annual baby name data release! Each year, the Social Security Administration releases American baby name popularity lists just in time for Mothers’ Day. The Top 10 (and especially the #1) names get the most hype and news attention, and with good reason: these are the names you’re most likely to encounter on the playground or preschool class. These are the names that are popular across the country, mostly independent of regional preferences. They, along with the rest of the Top 100 most popular names, set the tone for American baby naming across the board.

For name nerds, Baby Name Release Day is our big holiday, akin to running downstairs on Christmas morning to open a giant mound of presents left by Santa. We eagerly anticipate this date all year long and spend the weekend pouring over data, looking for trends and intriguing new names. We’re not *only* interested in the Top 10 or Top 100. Since the SSA actually releases the Top 1000, we’re excited to see what names are newly popular or unexpectedly trending. We may also mourn the growing or shrinking popularity of favorite names, while gleefully cackling when names we secretly hate take a tumble. Meanwhile, how many of our predictions came true? Name Release Day is the Super Bowl for geeks. To parents, this is the chance to check their favorite names and decide whether popularity or rarity will change choices.

This year, I’m rather late to posting my predictions. I got married less than a month ago (!!!) and until about a week or two ago, I could barely even think about names. Ultimately, it was a beautiful wedding and more perfect than we ever could have imagined. Now that the stressful planning is over and I’ve had a chance to relax…it’s back to the names, just in time for one of my favorite days of the year!

So, without further ado, here are my predictions for tomorrow!

Top 10 Predictions for 2023:

Olivia (0)
Charlotte (+1)
Emma (-1)
Amelia (0)
Isabella (+1)
Sophia (-1)
Evelyn (+2)
Luna (+2)
Ava (-2)
Violet (+10)

Charlotte and Violet are both Bridgerton names, and 2023 saw a major Netflix spin-off for Queen Charlotte. Admittedly Violet is a dark horse candidate since she ranked #20 in 2022 but she ranked #35 in 2021, and frankly, I’m hearing this one everywhere. It’s a fast riser, and floral names are in this decade! I do think Olivia will stay at #1, though it may be her last year before Charlotte becomes the new “it” name for girls. Further down the line, I expect Luna or Violet will eventually peak at #1. If my 2023 predictions come true, Mia will fall out of the Top 10. Violet may be wishful thinking for 2023, but if not this year, then maybe 2024 or 2025.

As for the boys’ Top 10, I personally expect the following:

Liam (0)
Noah (0)
Oliver (0)
James (0)
Theodore (+5)
Elijah (-1)
Henry (0)
William (-2)
Mateo (+2)
Sebastian (+3)

The current popular boys’ names are steady, and I don’t see Liam dropping out of the #1 spot anytime soon. The biggest gainers near the Top 10 in 2022 were Theodore (which kept its rank of 10 from 2021 but saw a large increase in raw numbers), Mateo, and Sebastian; hence, I’ve included all three in my predictions. In this scenario, Lucas and Benjamin would leave the Top 10. I do think Levi is a back-up contender for the Top 10 as well, since he’s also recently seen some gains. Considering the trendiest boys’ names in the Top 30, Leo, Ezra, and maybe Luca are potential dark horse candidates.

What about the Top 100? I have my eyes on the following names for entry into the Top 100:

Girls: Maeve, Lyla, Juniper, Millie, Freya
Boys: Thiago, August, Amir, Enzo, Atlas

Today’s trendiest girls’ names are often distinctly feminine (i.e. Lyla and Freya), vintage (Millie), mythological (Freya), and/or nature-based (Juniper). My predicted boys’ names are international (Thiago, Amir, and Enzo), vintage (August), and mythological (Atlas). Atlas is additionally a character in It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover, and Amir taps into a wider (albeit waning) trend towards royalty and title names like Reign and King (Amir means “prince” in Arabic).

The ones I expect will leave the Top 100 are:

Girls: Serenity, Nevaeh, Skylar, Bella, Aubrey
Boys: Nicholas, Greyson, Colton, Landon, Jeremiah

Most of those have a vibe from 10-20 years ago.

Then there are the Top 1000 predictions, which are the most fun for me. They’re definitely the hardest to predict though! So much depends on trends, but there are always pop culture wildcards nobody expects. Here are some names I have my eye on this year.

Girls: Agnes, Ailany, Amyra, Arden, Arisbeth, Arizbeth, Ayra, Beverly, Colbie, Darcy, Eleanora, Elouise, Elowen, Essence, Evelina, Etta, Indy, Lettie, Maelynn, Mazie, Memphis, Miller, Ruthie, Solana, Tallulah, Tilly, Viola, Violette, Winifred, Wrenleigh, Xena, Yuna, Yusra
Boys: Aizen, Aspen, Beck, Blaise, Boaz, Brett, Campbell, Coen, Cristiano, Decker, Dereck, Dhruv, Gianluca, Gus, Hollis, Jahmir, Jireh, Laith, Lev, Link, Mariano, Massimo, Mike, Ollie, Rishi, Rowdy, Shai, Teddy, Tiago, Veer, Wren, Zabdiel

This year I’m not going to predict exits from the Top 1000. When you get that far down the charts, anything can happen! I’m sure there are a few names I haven’t even considered that will teeter back and forth for a couple years.

Do you have any name predictions? Check back tomorrow to see which names make the cut!

American Names · Analysis · Modern names · Name Lists

Beyond Harper and Arlo: Names with an “Ar” Sound

May 6, 2024 ElizabethLeave a comment

Names rarely become trendy on their own. When one name hits the Top 10 or 20 in popularity, it tends familiarize other similar names and popularize them too. For example: a few years back, Jayden and Brayden were the *it* names for baby boys. A lot of those Jaydens and Braydens are hitting middle and high school now, but you’ll still find plenty of babies with those names plus Kayden, Rayden, and Zayden. Millennial Ashley grew up and has kids now: Paisley and Kinsleigh. Same with Kaitlyn, who helped pave the way for both modern Oaklynn and vintage Evelyn. In picking baby names, many parents subconsciously choose favorite, familiar, and popular sounds even as they seek unique spellings and monikers.

In 2024, we all know about the trendiness of girls’ names ending in Lynn and many people have likely noticed the ubiquity of boys’ names ending in “-n.” What are some other popular name elements? Lately I’ve been pondering names with an “ar” sound, and yes, that is “arr” the way a pirate would say it. While the other elements I mentioned usually go at the end of names, this one is more likely to be in the front or middle. You already know a few of the most popular “ar” names: Charlotte, Harper, Scarlett, and Aria, a quartet of girls’ names in the U.S. Top 25. It’s not hard to understand why these particular names are so beloved either! They boast a bright, fresh, friendly vibe – musical, even, accounting for Harper and Aria. They are simultaneously modern and elegant, bolstering our oldest and newest names alike. Even steadfast Margaret ranks higher than it did 20 years ago! When you see names like Margot, Yara, Amara, and Zara become popular, know that they aren’t coming out of nowhere. Even when there are pop culture influences from movies and TV shows to introduce them, they’re already totally on trend!

While “ar” names seem to be trendier for baby girls, you can still find plenty of boys’ names that follow this style. The four most popular options within the Top 100 for boys are Carter, Charles, Leonardo, and Parker – options which are more or less classic, or at least standard. Even trendier names lie somewhere outside the Top 100, from rapidly rising Arlo to timeless yet revitalized classic Arthur. Archer is another one, having gone from zero to hero in less than 15 years thanks to multiple pop culture influences (namely, the cartoon Archer but also possibly Colleen Hoover’s novel Ugly Love). Meanwhile, Archie isn’t only popular because of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s son, though he was the catalyst – Archie is also increasingly popular because it sounds like other trending names.

Gender-neutral “ar” names are trending too. Parker is one of the most evenly gender-neutral names in America right now; in 2022, it ranked just within the Top 100 for boys and just outside for girls. Some other popular choices in this category are Charlie, Amari, Marley, Ari, Armani, and Kamari. You can also find a decent number of unisex names that are within the Top 1000 only for boys OR girls but are trending below the charts. These include names like Artemis and Harlem, which are respectively popular for baby girls and boys but rare in the reverse order.

If “ar” names are on-trend, what are some rare names that fit the style? Here are some unique options to consider:

Adara – Means “noble” in Hebrew.
Antares – A star in the constellation Scorpius.
Arbella – An old variation on Arabella made famous by Arbella Stuart, who was once in the English and Scottish line of succession during the lifetime of Queen Elizabeth I. Ultimately, James Stuart became king instead.
Artemidora – Ancient Greek name meaning “gift of Artemis.”
Artemisia – An Ancient Greek name (variation of Artemis) borne by queens and Baroque-era Italian artist Artemisia Gentileschi.
Balthazar – One of the Three Wise Men or Magi.
Barbie – This might just take off because of the movie, not to mention that one celebrity who named her daughter Malibu Barbie in 2022. I’m curious to see if Barbara has a revival too.
Carbon – Why not take name inspiration from the Periodic Table of Elements?
Carlisle – For fans of Twilight and Belinda Carlisle.
Cartimandua – My fans of maximalist and Ancient Roman girls’ names will appreciate this queenly moniker from early Britain!
Charleston – Place names are perennially popular, so I’m surprised Charleston isn’t more common! You’d think with all the Great Gatsby fans out there that this 1920s dance would be a bigger naming influence today.
Darcy – Last popular as a unisex name for Americans born in the mid-to-late 20th-century, Darcy is almost exclusively a girls’ name now (despite all the Pride & Prejudice fans out there).
Eleazar – The original Hebrew form of Lazarus. I’d wager some kids would love to be called “Laser” for short!
Ermengarde – Medieval Germanic name meaning something like “whole enclosure.” Ermengarde is a minor character name in A Little Princess.
Ferrari – Sports car name that fits well with other luxury brand names like Armani and Dior.
Garnet – Gender-neutral gem name for nature lovers!
Harbor – Summery and maritime, perfect for a baby born along the water or to Navy or Coast Guard parents.
Harvest – Agricultural names exude tranquility.
Hildegard – Old Germanic name with a meaning like “battle enclosure.” St. Hildegard of Bingen was a famous medieval scholar and mystic.
Inara – Ancient Hittite goddess of wild animals.
Lark – A beautiful bird name. Unfortunately lark can also mean “frolic” or “prank” in certain dialects, so Larkin may be a safer choice if you plan on traveling to the U.K.
Luminara – Star Wars character name and a great formal option for Lumi.
Marius – Ancient Roman form of Mario or masculine form of Maria.
Margalit – Hebrew name meaning “Pearl.” It’s a cognate of Margaret.
Mariposa – Spanish for “butterfly” and the name of a flower. Whatever you do, though – do *not* name a child Barbie Mariposa (or the reverse) since there was, in fact, a Barbie: Mariposa movie! Or…do, because there’s a little girl named Malibu Barbie out there. The choice is yours.
Marnie – Although Marnie is a titular Alfred Hitchcock movie, parents today are likely more familiar with the Stardew Valley character.
Mars – Ancient Roman god of war, akin to the Greek Ares.
Maru – Like Marnie, Maru is a Stardew Valley character name.
Nefertari – An Egyptian queen and a wife of Pharaoh Ramesses II. Despite its niche nature, it’s currently one of the more popular Ancient Egyptian baby names and was given to 21 girls in 2022.
Ragnar – A Viking name made famous in modern times by the show Vikings‘ portrayal of Ragnar Lodbrok *and* a Skyrim drinking song. “There once was a hero named Ragnar the Red…”
Solaris – Expect Solaris and other solar names to be a bit trendier after this year’s total eclipse.
Starling – A bird name that’s only really given to baby girls but works well as a gender-neutral option.
Yarden – Gender-neutral Hebrew name that means “flow down” or “descend.” It’s equivalent to the English name Jordan.
Yardley – A variation of Yeardley, an old English surname.

Do you have a favorite name with an “ar” sound? Are there any you think may take off? I do think we could see a resurgence of girls named Barbara thanks to the Barbie movie, though I wonder if Baby Reindeer‘s popularity will doom Martha in the near future. Only time will tell.

American Names · Name Lists

Baby Names Inspired by Fall Foliage

October 17, 2023October 16, 2023 Elizabeth1 Comment

If you live in the Northern Hemisphere like me, you’re probably watching the trees for their change from verdant greens into a vibrant quilt of reds, yellows, and oranges. Unless you live in the uppermost northern environs, chances are you haven’t experienced peak foliage just yet. Every day the landscape grows more beautiful. Truly, fall and spring are my favorite seasons for the rainbow of colors nature brings!

Seeing as today’s parents can’t get enough of baby names related to nature, autumn leaf colors make for fantastic, out-of-the-box naming inspiration. If you’re having a baby during this glorious season, consider these baby names inspired by the colors of fall foliage!

Reds:

Auburn – Auburn is a rare name, but at least some of the children who bear it are so-named after Auburn University’s football team. See Crimson.
Burgundy – Like the region or the wine, burgundy is a deep, dark red.
Carmine – Pronounced exactly how it looks, like the words “car” and “mine.” A unique alternative to Carmen!
Claret – Another name for Bordeaux or a Bordeaux wine blend, this is pronounced like Claire with a t at the end. Clare-it. Pair this name with a sister named Margaux or Margot for a clever wine joke!
Crimson – Children are often named Crimson (or Krimson, or Krimsyn) to reference the University of Alabama’s football team. See Auburn…yes there’s a rivalry there!
Ginger – I’ve seen some leaves that look like the hair color! Ginger is a somewhat traditional nickname for Virginia, but it works well on its own too.
Jasper – A precious stone.
Redmond – Red’s literally in the name!
Rouge – The French word for “red” and a type of cosmetics. Since Sephora, Dior, and Chanel are all names associated with make-up or perfume, I can see Rouge working too!
Ruby – There are different shades of ruby, but the gem also makes for a lovely association.
Scarlett – One of the trendiest baby girls’ names in the U.S., I’d wager most of the children named Scarlett today are named (directly or indirectly) after Scarlet Johansson. I’d also bet a few reference scarlet, a vivid shade of red.
Vermilion – Also spelled Vermillion, this would be a unique formal name for a girl called Millie or Vera! Vermilion is a deep, vibrant red.

Yellows and Golds:

Amber – A semi-precious resin containing fossils.
Aurelia / Aurelius – Latin for “golden.”
Bowie – The English form of a Gaelic name meaning “yellow.”
Cressida – The posh Shakespearean version of Chryseis, an Ancient Greek name meaning “golden.”
Electra – Ancient Greek for “amber.” You may also love its Italian version, Elettra.
Goldie is both a nickname for Marigold and a variation of the Yiddish name Golda.
Honey – Fans of recent historical fiction may remember this character name from The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek and its sequel, The Book Woman’s Daughter.
Lemon – Rare, but not as unusual and unique as you might think. Well over 100 girls have been named Lemon in the U.S. since 2013.
Ochre – Fans of names like Onyx and Ocean will love this color name that starts with ‘O!’
Saffron – The rarity and expensiveness of saffron puts the name in league with Ruby and Pearl, popular names denoting something very precious.
Turmeric – “Rick” for short! Turmeric is famous for its anti-inflammatory properties.
Xanthe – From Ancient Greek meaning “yellow.” Shorten to “Zan” for extra cuteness and pizzazz!

Oranges and Browns:

Bruno – Literally, “brown.”
Cinnamon – This name was briefly popular for women in the late 1960s, but now it’s so rare it doesn’t even chart in the USA’s extended baby name data. If you want a unique girls’ name that nobody else is using, Cinnamon fits the bill!
Ember – A softer, fresher alternative to Amber that’s reminiscent of campfires on cold nights.
Mahogany – Also a red, Mahogany probably makes most people think of luxurious wooden furniture.
Maple – Just as Chianti supposedly tastes best in Tuscany, I’ve discovered that Vermont maple syrup tastes better in Vermont than anywhere else. As a name, Maple is completely on-trend with a short and sweet sound, nature theme, and proximity to increasingly popular Mabel. I personally feel that it’s one of the most accessible unusual celebrity baby names used recently.
Persimmon – Now that we’re starting to see babies named Strawberry and Plum, don’t be surprised if some adventurous parents discover Persimmon. Perry, Percy, Simon…lots of nickname potential!
Pumpkin – Yes, I’m basic and drink at least 5 Pumpkin Spice Chai Lattes a year. I’ve even made Pumpkin Spice Challah! While I’m not sure Pumpkin works that well as a regular person’s name, I can almost guarantee that a celebrity or influencer will eventually pick Pumpkin as their baby’s name. It *is* cute…
Russet – Potatoes are tasty, but how about a gender-neutral alternative to Russell?
Rusty – 2023 parents are a little rusty on this one, but I can see some people pulling it out of grandpa’s yearbook. Dusty’s mildly trendy, isn’t it?
Sienna – Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy.
Sinopia – A unique addition to any collection of girls’ names ending in “-ia.”
Tawny – This one has a very 80s mom vibe, but I’m surprised it never took off much even back then.

Can you think of any other baby names related to fall foliage? Blaze, Leaf, and Autumn are the first things that come to my mind, but maybe other names come to yours? Let me know in the comments!

American Names · Classic, Old, and Traditional Names · Name Lists

Unusual Names of Revolutionary War Veterans from Virginia

July 4, 2023July 4, 2023 ElizabethLeave a comment

Happy 4th of July!

Several months ago, I went into my favorite used bookstore and acquired a volume called “Revolutionary Soldiers and Sailors of the Commonwealth of Virginia,” which lists Virginia veterans who received “land bounty warrants” in the late 1700s after the American Revolution’s end. I love genealogical resources like this not just for the historical research potential but for the names! Books like this one are a goldmine for character and baby name inspiration…and to be completely honest, occasional snarking! Because of data limitations in the Social Security Administration birth database (which only extends to 1880) and the Census along with spotty records elsewhere and who knows what else, it’s challenging to conduct name research in certain eras and areas of the United States. And let’s face it, we don’t see very many widely-circulating lists of baby names before the Victorian era unless they’re poking fun at New England Puritans or (most recently) 18th-century Quakers.

Here is a list of unusual, unique, and occasionally weird or hilarious first names worn by Virginian veterans of the American Revolution! I don’t list surnames unless the full name is amusing (i.e., Hammer Tear) or tickles my fancy (i.e., Stapleton Crutchfield). I’ve kept spellings the same as listed in the book with one exception**, though I will note if another spelling is more standard and I do list variations. Anyway, If you’re looking for baby boys’ names from the 1700s, this list might just be for you!

Absalom (x3) / Absolom
Achilles – This one is only semi-unusual today, but it probably wasn’t too common for English-speakers in the 1700s.
Addison
Alben
Albion – he was a Jr
Albridgton
Alman
Anderson (x2)
Angus (x2)
Anselin
Appoles
Aquilla / Acquilla – Aquila is now the standard spelling. This is an ancient Roman name meaning ‘eagle,’ though the probable namesake is an Aquila in the New Testament.
Archelaus (x2) – Rare Biblical and Greek mythological name.
Aries / Aris
Armand
Armstead (x4) – Full name of one was Armstead Long.
Artaxerxes** – Transcribed as Artax’s in accordance with the original document. Interestingly, I found another 18th-century Artaxerxes in England!
Arton
Baker (x2) – One’s last name was Angel. He was a sailor – Baker Angel the sailor. Love it!
Ballard
Bardill
Barker – Full name Barker Minter. Sounds like a command: “Bark her! Mint her!” Like ‘take the bark off a tree and mint it into coinage,’ which is amusingly nonsensical.
Barnabas (x2) – Barnabas Mars was the delightful full name of one.
Barney – Even the past can’t escape the purple dinosaur.
Bartholomew (x3)
Bartlett (x2)
Bassil – Perhaps a variation of Basil, or maybe a surname?
Baxter
Bazaleel – Usual spelling is Bezaleel. Biblical.
Benone (x2) – Variation of Benoni, the birth name of Benjamin in the Bible.
Beriah – Biblical
Berry – Full name Berry Carroll, which sounds a lot like Chuck Berry reversed!
Beverley (x3) / Beverly
Bluett – Full name Bluett Pasteur.
Bolling / Bowling – Bolling’s last name was Bolton. Talk about alliteration!
Boswell (x2)
Bradock
Bucham
Buckner
Burdett
Burgess (x2) – Probably started as a surname, but the House of Burgesses was Colonial Virginia’s governing body
Burtus – Full name Burtus Ringo.
Burwell (x2) – One was evidently related to someone named Ludwell, both names intertwined with connections of the Bacon family.
Cadwallader – Full name Cadwallader Jones. Cadwalader / Cadwaladr is an old Welsh name that means “battle leader.”
Caley
Calis
Callohill – Add that to the list of names starting with Cal!
Calvert
Carey
Casper
Chiswell
Churchill (x2)
Clairborne (x4) / Clairbourn / Claiborne / Clairborn – Though Clairborne was the most frequent spelling, Claiborne is the standard spelling.
Clanders
Clem
Clement (x3)
Cleon
Clough
Coldrop – When you have a cold and you slur your words while asking for medicine.
Conrod – Could be a variation of Conrad, a surname, or both.
Conway
Cosby
Craven – This word means “cowardly.”
Custus
Dabney
Dade (x2)
Darby (x2)
Darmon
Dedrick
Demsy
Dinwiddi – The usual spelling is Dinwiddie, as in Robert Dinwiddie or Dinwiddie County.
Drury (x8) – This isn’t the first time I’ve seen multiple people named Drury in early Virginia records, which leads me to believe it was relatively common in the 18th century (at least regionally) and is simply one of those archaic, forgotten baby names that’s dwindled to extinction. Possible meanings, derived from Old French, are “sweetheart” (in the romantic sense), “love,” and “loved one.”
Dudley
Ebenezer
Eliazer
Eliphalet
Elkanah
Eneas – Variation of Aeneas, the titular character of The Aeneid.
Enoch / Enock
Epaphroditus – Full name Epaphroditus Rudder. This is another one of those Greek-derived obscure New Testament names!
Ephraim
Eppa – Elsewhere I see a woman Eppa listed as an heiress. I suspect in the man’s case it could be a nickname for Ephraim.
Erasmus
Euclid
Evans – Full name Evans Long.
Everard
Evert
Ewel
Falvey
Farral
Ferdinand
Ferguson
Fielding
Florence
Fortunatus (x2) – This time, we have a Roman-derived obscure New Testament namesake. These gentlemen’s full names were Fortunatus Pope (amazing!) and Fortunatus Sydnor!
Frizzel – Makes me think of the Magic School Bus
Gaines
Garrott – Garrett is a lovely-sounding name. Garrott looks like “garotte,” which is violent.
Giles
Gilson
Godfrey
Goodrich
Granville
Green – May be two
Griffith (x2)
Gustavus
Hack – Full name Hack Poplar. Hacking a tree is ill-advised.
Hamilton
Hamlin (x2)
Hammer – Full name Hammer Tear.
Hardy
Hardyman
Harmon
Haynes
Henly
Hensley
Herbert
Higgins
Hildry
Holland
Holman (x2)
Hopewell – Hopewell Hull
Horatio – Horatio Gates was a famous general during the war, and incidentally, the single Horatio listed. Horatio is the Shakespearean English version of an old Roman name.
Howson
Hughes
Hutchens
Humphrey (x2)
Ironmonger – Full name Ironmonger Major; he was a private. Ironmonger appears to be a family surname.
Isham (x7) – An old surname baby name related to the area of Isham, Northamptonshire in England. Pronounce this “ish-um,” no matter how tempted you may be to say “is-Ham.” Might make a good name for a pet pig!
Iverson
Javan
Jeduthin / Jidethan – Jeduthun is an obscure Bible name. I found an early Congressman from New England named Jeduthun Wilcox.
Job
Justinian – Justinian Cartwright
Larkin (x5)
Laughlin – Think Lachlan or McLaughlin, not “laugh line.”
Leander
Lemuel (x2)
Leven
Lindsay
Lipscomb – Not to be pronounced “lips comb,” the true “lips come” pronunciation sounds even worse! Once distinguished and now vaguely vulgar, I suspect this isn’t even suitable as a middle name now.
Littleberry (x5) – One may be related to someone named Poindexter!
Littleton – Full name Littleton Cockrell.
Lodwick (x2) / Lodowick (x2) – I’m actually familiar with this name as I have a Lodwick in my own family tree, but I’ve never figured out if it’s related to Ludwig or if it’s some kind of surname.
Lot – Full name Lot Harcum. The story of Lot in Genesis is, well, a lot. Thankfully, I think (and hope) today’s parents have better sense than to name their children after incest.
Low
Ludwell (x3) – One was related to Burwell Bacon. There may have been a third Ludwell in the form of Lud. Philip Huffman.
Mace
Machen – German verb meaning “to make” or “to do.”
Mackness – Full name Mackness Bowman, which sounds like a village archer. I wonder…is Mackness a surname, or perhaps a variation of Magnus?
Mag
Mahlon
Major (x5) – Four were privates. One was a Sergeant, known in full by Major Lipscomb.
Mallory
Manlove
Markham – Full name Markham Marshall
Marks / Markes
Marquis
Massey
Maximillion (x2)
Mayo – I also spotted this as a middle name later on.
Meredith (x2)
Micajah (x2) – Biblical name that sometimes shortens to Cage.
Millington
Moody – Hmm
Moore
Mordecai – could be 2
Mosby
Moss
Mourning (x3) – One’s full name was Mourning Hay. I’ve spotted this on women too, so Mourning may have been the 1700s equivalent of a gender-neutral baby name. I’ve often wondered if it was a name used in cases when the father died before the birth or in similar grief situations. Nameberry mentions that the name was also used among enslaved Americans in the 1800s.
Munacan
Nabas
Newton
Ning
Notley
Obedience – Virginia isn’t famous for Puritan names, but the locally-preferred religious names still occasionally got hardcore.
Opie
Osburn
Otway
Peregrine – Possibly the same person as Perregrine.
Peyton
Philemon
Phillison
Pitman
Pleasant – This would be more pleasant if his full name weren’t Pleasant Cocke. Yes, that was his name!
Pratt
Presley (x6) / Presly
Pridaux
Radford
Raley
Randolph
Rawleigh
Read
Reaps – Reaps Mitchell
Redman
Rhodius
Rice – Looks like food, but when derived from the surname it’s a variation on Rhys or Reese.
Richardson
Roberson
Rodham (x5)
Rowland (x2)
Royal – Ironic; he fought the royals.
Rush – Full name Rush Hudson, which sounds like a 1950s movie star!
Sabred – A sabre is a type of sword. Does this mean he had a brother named “Stabbed?”
Sacker
Sampson
Sanders
Sawney – Full name Sawney Whistlor
Seaton
Segismond
Severn
Shadrack (x4) / Shadrach – Biblical
Shapleigh – Full name Shapleigh Waddy. Shapleigh is probably phonetic, but it’s funnier if you say it like “shapely.”
Sherod
Sherwood
Silvanus – Full name Silvanus Stokes.
Simmons
Southy
Spillsby
Stacey
Stapleton – Full name Stapleton Crutchfield. Sounds like a literary romantic hero!
Strother (x2)
Swann
Sydnor
Taliaferro – Note: The traditional pronunciation for Taliaferro is Tolliver. It’s an old Italian surname that’s been in Virginia since the 1600s, and just as the English get “Chumley-Fanshaw” from Cholmondeley-Featherstonhaugh, Virginians got Tolliver from Taliaferro. Nowadays you hear two very distinct pronunciations.
Tandy
Tapley
Tarlton (x2)
Tarpley
Thaddely – Full name Thaddely Kelly…it rhymes?
Theodorick (x2) – In case Theodore gets too popular for you! Note that Theodorick and Theodore are completely different names; Theodorick is the English spelling of Theodoric, a Gothic name that means “ruler of the people,” while Theodore is a Greek name that means “gift from God.” Today, Derek and Terry are probably the most popular forms of Theodoric.
Thompson
Thornberry – Full name Thornberry Bowling, which sounds like a new sport. Alternatively, it makes me think of Nigel Thornberry!
Tilman (x2)
Underwood
Uriah
Valentine (x4)
Venct
Warner
Warrington
Watts
Weedon
Wellcome – Full name Wellcome Miller
West
Westerbrook
Whitehead – Like a pimple?
Whitfield
Williamson (x2)
Williby – We’re more familiar with Willoughby now.
Willis (x2) – including a Willis Wilson
Wilmore – Full name Wilmore Wail.
Windel
Windsor
Winslow
Womack (x2)
Wright
Yancy
Zaddock
Zebediah
Zenas
Zephaniah

These were almost certainly all men, though occasionally I’d spot a woman’s name when someone inherited from or represented the named soldier. Ephemia and Theodocia were interesting.

My favorite name combination here is Fortunatus Pope, but Pleasant Cocke is all kinds of (unfortunately) funny. There are some more “normal-sounding” names that also gave me a chuckle:

Austin Lawless – Makes me think of Texas cowboys or Wild West lawlessness.
Richard Long
Tucker Rest – “Tuck her rest?” “Tuck Arrest?”
John Conner
Robert Flippin – Shorten to “Bob” and you get “Bob Flippin,” like flipping one’s hair.
Richard Joy

Overall, most of the soldiers bore timeless names like William and James, while others frequently had semi-common names like Archibald, Obadiah, and Reuben. Biblical names were fairly popular, and occasionally parents combined religious learning with Classical Mythology to name their sons epic oddities like Epaphroditus. And if this list is anything to go by, the 18th century was a popular time for “last names as first names.” Some things never change!

What are your favorite names from this list? And once again, happy 4th!

Source: Wilson, Samuel M. 1913. Catalogue of Revolutionary Soldiers and Sailors of the Commonwealth of Virginia to whom Land Bounty Warrants Were Granted by Virginia for Military Services in the War for Independence. Originally published in Year Book of the Kentucky Society Sons of the Revolution in 1913 and last reprinted in 1993 for Clearfield Company, Inc., by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. of Baltimore, MD.

American Names · Analysis

Baby Girls’ Names that are Popular (Top 100) in Just One, Two, and All the States

June 12, 2023 ElizabethLeave a comment

We recently learned the most popular baby names in the U.S., but what does that really mean? The Social Security Administration compiles data about baby names used across the country, which doesn’t tell us much about regional naming. Luckily, they also publish state data! Going off of the popularity lists of each state and D.C., here are the baby girls’ names that were in the Top 100 in just one, two, or all the states!

Here are the girls’ names that reached the Top 100 in only one state:

Alabama: Katherine
Alaska: Alaina, Alora, Bristol, Lauren, Winter
Delaware: Amari, Noelle
District of Columbia (DC): Dior, Eve, Frances, Reign, Sevyn
Georgia: Kali
Hawaii: Aila, Ailani, Aleia, Anela, Azalea, Halia, Hope, Kaia, Kaiya, Kalea, Keilani, Kiana, Kiara, Kira, Leila, Lilinoe, Mahina, Maia, Malia, Noelani
Idaho: Evelynn
Iowa: Alivia
Louisiana: Camille, Demi, Evangeline
Maine: Poppy
Maryland: Amy
Massachusetts: Laura
Minnesota: Aisha, Mabel
Mississippi: Ari, Kennedi, Malaysia, Miracle, Royalty, Taylor, Trinity
Montana: Maggie
Nebraska: Palmer
Nevada: Jasmine
New Hampshire: Maisie
New Mexico: Aitana, Angela, Cataleya, Daleyza, Kimberly, Mariana, Nayeli, Selena
Oregon: Harlow
Rhode Island: Briella, Lilliana
South Dakota: Blair, Kylie, Lilly, Oaklee
Texas: Regina
Utah: Lola, Navy, Scottie
Vermont: Esme, Fiona, Hattie, Vera, Willa
West Virginia: Charlee, Gracelyn
Wyoming: Adelaide, Avianna, Dorothy, Hadlee, Kimber, Opal, Ophelia

Camille is always uniquely popular in Louisiana, probably thanks to the state’s French Cajun heritage. Hawaii boasts many indigenous names in its Top 100 that aren’t popular or even used anywhere else in the country; you’d be hard pressed to find a Lilinoe living outside the Islands. Many (if not all) of the uniquely popular names in New Mexico are common or trendy among native Spanish-speakers.

Bristol’s appearance in Alaska makes me think there’s a connection to Bristol Palin.

Here are the names appearing in the Top 100 of two states:

Adalyn: West Virginia, New Hampshire
Alana: Hawaii, Florida
Alani: Mississippi, Louisiana
Alexandra: D.C., New Jersey
Amira: D.C., Minnesota
Ana: Texas, Arizona
Annabelle: Vermont, New Hampshire
Ariella: New Mexico, New York
Blake: Alaska, Wyoming
Briar: Montana, Iowa
Chana: New Jersey, New York
Chaya: New York, New Jersey
Delaney: New Hampshire, Pennsylvania
Dream: D.C., Delaware
Everlee: Montana, Wyoming
Faith: Wyoming, New Mexico
Finley: Montana, Idaho
Francesca: New Jersey, Vermont
Gemma: Kansas, Oregon
Gracelynn: West Virginia, Kentucky
Gracie: Utah, North Dakota
Haisley: Wyoming, South Dakota
Haven: Hawaii, Wyoming
Jane: D.C., Utah
Juliana: Delaware, New Jersey
Kaylee: Mississippi, Rhode Island
Leia: Hawaii, Nevada
Lila: Maine, Rhode Island
Logan: Delaware, D.C.
Margot: D.C., Colorado
Miriam: New Jersey, New York
Noa: Hawaii, D.C.
Presley: Oklahoma, West Virginia
Rachel: New York, New Jersey
Rivka: New Jersey, New York
Rosalie: Alaska, Rhode Island
Rowan: Vermont, Alaska
Ruth: Vermont, D.C.
Sara: New Jersey, New York.
Zara: D.C., Delaware

Hebrew-language names like Chana, Chaya, and Rivka are popular in New York and New Jersey owing to the two states’ large Orthodox Jewish populations. Other traditional or popular Jewish names like Miriam, Rachel, and Noa are widely also found outside Orthodoxy, and indeed, outside Judaism.

Interestingly, Sara is more popular than Sarah in New Jersey. The reverse is true in New York.

And here are the universally popular names across the Top 100 of each and every state plus D.C.:

Olivia: #1 across the country. Top (#1) name in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah.
Emma: #2 across the country. Top name in New Jersey.
Charlotte: #3 nationally. Top name in D.C., Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Misssouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Amelia: #4 nationally. Top name in Vermont and West Virginia.
Sophia: #5 nationally. Top name in Delaware and New Mexico.
Isabella: #6 nationally.
Ava: #7 nationally. Top name in Maryland and Mississippi.
Mia: #8 nationally.
Evelyn: #9 nationally. Top name in Maine and South Dakota.
Luna: #10 nationally.
Elizabeth: #15 nationally.
Eleanor: #16 nationally.
Mila: #18 nationally.
Aria: #23 nationally.
Avery: #26 nationally.
Hazel: #27 nationally.
Layla: #29 nationally.
Aurora: #31 nationally. Top name in Alaska.
Stella: – #40 nationally. I’m surprised to find a name with a #40 ranking enjoy universal popularity across the 50 states and District of Columbia.

At least a couple of names would have been universally popular if not for a single state. Parents in Rhode Island and West Virginia respectively vetoed Harper (#11) and Lily (#30). Any ideas why?

Usually, the names in the national top 10 are the names the entire country agrees on. Outside the top 10, the popularity of timeless names like Elizabeth tends to be spread more evenly across geography than trendy modern names which may be concentrated along regional lines. Other names that are universally popular can help name enthusiasts determine what *might* become a Top 10 name, or they tell us which established or newly established names are least objectionable to parents in distinct naming cultures (i.e., names that are popular in both the Deep South and New England).

What do you think? Are there any surprises for you? Let me know! And if you’re curious about the boys’ names, you can read those here.

American Names · Analysis

Baby Boys’ Names that are Popular (Top 100) in Just One, Two, and All the States

June 2, 2023 ElizabethLeave a comment

In May, the Social Security Administration released the U.S. national baby name data for 2022 to much fanfare. What’s less known is that they also released state data! While SSA does publish extended state numbers stretching down to 5 births in a year (just as they do for the entire country), their website showcases the Top 100 lists for all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. Let’s look at the baby boys’ names that reached the Top 100 popularity threshold in just one, two, and all the states!

Here are the boys’ names that reached the Top 100 in only one state:

Alaska: Alex, Killian, Mark, Timothy
Arizona: Aziel, Javier
California: Nicolas
District of Columbia: Ari, Kairo, Nasir, Simon
Hawaii: Blake, Duke, Hezekiah, Israel, Kaimana, Keanu, Koa, Koen, Makoa, Tristan, Zane
Idaho: Grant
Louisiana: Kash
Maine: Gavin, Reid
Michigan: Cade
Minnesota: Mohamed
Mississippi: Jamir, Karson, Kashton, Kyrie
Montana: Bodie, Colt, Daxton, Ridge
New Hampshire: Abel, Callum, Colby, Rory
New Jersey: Shmuel, Yaakov, Yehuda, Yosef
New Mexico: Luciano, Manuel
New York: Abraham, Muhammad
Oklahoma: Baker
Rhode Island: Armani, Jeremy
South Dakota: Atticus, Kyler, Odin
Texas: Matias
Utah: Crew
Vermont: Brantley, Louis, Oakley, Otis, Warren
West Virginia: Gunner, Jensen, Remington
Wyoming: Augustus, Boone, Colson, Lukas, Tobias

Hawaii and New Jersey have especially distinct names that may or may not appear in the national Top 1000. Both states have ethnic and/or religious communities that strongly influence regional naming. Kaimana and Makoa are Native Hawaiian names; Shmuel, Yaakov, Yehuda, and Yosef are the Hebrew forms of Biblical names that are most popular among certain Jewish populations, especially Orthodox/Traditional. Kaimana, Makoa, and Yaakov did not rank within the national Top 1000, but can be found within the extended data.

And here are the names appearing in the Top 100 of two states:

Ali: D.C., Michigan
Bodhi: Hawaii, Vermont
Brody: Hawaii, Wyoming
Chaim: New Jersey, New York
Dallas: Alabama, Mississippi
Elliott: Maine, Vermont
Emilio: Arizona, California
Finley: Maine, Vermont
Jason: Alaska, Delaware
Jesse: Alaska, Wyoming
Kayson: West Virginia, Mississippi
Lane: Iowa, Montana
Malakai: Alaska, Hawaii
Matteo: California, Connecticut
Moshe: New Jersey, New York
Paxton: Maine, West Virginia
Peter: Idaho, Utah
Riley: Hawaii, Wyoming
Tyler: Massachusetts, Delaware
Walter: D.C., Montana

Finally, here are the few names that are popular enough to be in the Top 100 of every state plus D.C.!

Liam – Ranks #1 nationally. #1 in AZ, CA, CT, DE, FL, KS, KY, LA, MD, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OK, PA, RI, TN, TX, & VA.
Noah – Ranks #2 nationally. #1 in GA, HI, IL, MA, MI, SC, WY
Oliver – #3 nationally. #1 in AK, AR, CO, ID, IN, IA, ME, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, OR, SD, UT, WA
James – #4 nationally. #1 in MS.
Elijah – #5 nationally. Highest rank: #2 in AR and LA.
William – #6 nationally. #1 in AL, MT.
Henry – #7 nationally. #1 in D.C., VT, WS.
Lucas – #8 nationally. Highest rank: #3 in FL, NJ, NY
Benjamin – #9 nationally. Highest rank: #5 in MA, NH, PA, & RI. Clearly this one’s favored in New England!
Levi – #12 nationally. Highest rank: #6 in LA & VT.
Alexander – #17 nationally. Highest rank: #8 in D.C.
Samuel – #20 nationally. Highest rank: #9 in GA and OR.
Mason – #24 nationally. Highest rank: #11 in GA and PA.
John – #26 nationally. Highest rank: #2 in MS. I was surprised by this one since it’s not in the Top 25, but it goes to show the staying power of timeless names.
Luke – #34 nationally. Highest rank: #4 in LA.
Grayson – #37 nationally. Highest rank: #2 in WV.

Theodore and Asher were respectively the #1 names in New Hampshire and West Virginia, though they didn’t rank in every state.

Traditionally, the Top 10 are the names parents across the country can agree on. That said, #10-ranking Theodore is curiously missing – when I looked through the states, I found that Mississippi is the culprit! Theodore was given to 27 baby Mississippians last year, while the #100 ranking name (Myles) was given to 31. Hmm…

Any remaining names that are popular across the country can typically be found within the Top 20 or so. I was surprised John, Luke, and Grayson are so universally beloved! Maybe I shouldn’t be shocked about John because it’s never dipped below the national Top 30, but Luke and Grayson have never reached the Top 25. Luke, like John, is a name with major religious significance to Christians. I can’t explain Grayson’s universality.

What do you think? Naming is incredibly regional, and it can be hard to see that just looking at the national data. I will post a girls’ list later, but in the meantime, for different ways to look at names within the states; check out Nancy’s analysis of unique appearances in the extended data and Namerology’s state style sampler!

American Names · Analysis

Almost Popular: Baby Names that Just Missed the Top 1000

May 20, 2023 Elizabeth2 Comments

One week ago, the Social Security Administration honored a modern Mother’s Day tradition by releasing the previous year’s Top 1000 most popular baby names just before the holiday. The 2022 list is out and we know the names, but what about the names that *almost* made it? The names that would have been popular if not for alphabetical ranking order or alternative spellings?

In 2022, the two names ranked #1000, the names at the very bottom of the top, were Kahlani and London. Kahlani was given to 260 girls, while London is the name of 222 infant boys. Just below them were several other names that could have or should have made it. Here is a chart containing the names that were used up to 10 times fewer:

Boy Name	Number	Girl Name	Number
Massimo	222	Jazlynn	259
Mordechai	222	Kynlee	259
Branson	221	Tallulah	258
Deandre	221	Jaycee	257
Maurice	221	Kaisley	257
Graysen	220	Maylee	257
Ulises	220	Nataly	257
Wren	220	Leylani	256
Carl	219	Lilia	256
Coen	219	Esperanza	255
Kristopher	219	Haylee	255
Boaz	218	Ruthie	255
Decker	218	Clare	254
Fox	218	Kailey	254
Blaise	217	Etta	253
Rogelio	217	Paisleigh	253
Shai	217	Essence	252
Beck	216	Tori	252
Brett	216	Dana	251
Crosby	216	Ellen	251
Lev	216	Kaya	251
Aspen	215	Eleanora	250
Billy	215	Memphis	250
Bishop	215
Kole	215
Mariano	215
Ollie	215
Veer	215
Campbell	214
Kolt	214
Jireh	213
Karsyn	213
Tiago	213
Blaine	212
Cristiano	212
Foster	212
Hollis	212
Yadiel	212

Table created by extracting from Social Security Administration extended data

Many of the names just left the Top 1000. Massimo and Mordechai were common enough that they should have been in the Top 1000, but the SSA ranks alphabetically after their numerical rankings and does not extend the national Top 1000 further for popular names that are later in the alphabet. Other names should have made it in, but were hindered by alternate spellings; Leylani comes to mind, as Laylani was the preferred version to enter in 2022.

As I mentioned, Massimo and Mordechai were given to enough babies that they should have been in the Top 1000 this year. What are some other common-enough baby names that the SSA rejected from the Top 1000 by alphabetical order? Let’s look back 10 years:

2021: Aarya** (255 girls) and Davian (218 boys) were the named ranked #1000. The same number of girls were named Ansley, Eleanora, and Jaelynn; Harris, Koen, and Merrick were equally popular for boys.
2020: Belle (254 girls) and Kylian (212 boys) were the names ranked #1000. Jaelyn and Laylani were equally popular to Belle.
2019: Adrienne (257 girls) and Aayan (209 boys) ranked #1000. Runner-ups: Ariadne, Dixie, Libby, and Marisol for girls; Cedric, Rome, and Seven for boys.
2018: Elina (261 girls) and Kenny (207 boys) were #1000. Runner-ups: Maliah and Paityn; Korbyn, Marquis, and Zackary.
2017: Zendaya (260 girls) and Jaxx (201 boys) were #1000. Runner-up: Mordechai.
2016: Kensington (264 girls) and Gus (204 boys) were #1000. Runner-ups: Luz and Sonia; Jamar, Jeremias, Menachem, Reagan, Shmuel.
2015: Jocelynn (269 girls) and Camren (204 boys) ranked #1000. Runner-ups: Mattie and Sidney; Deshawn, Jayvion, Simeon, Tristian.
2014: Kaya (264 girls) and Musa (206 boys) were #1000. Only Musa had runner-ups: Reagan, Rylen, and Sutton.
2013: Tinley (251 girls) and Clyde (196 boys) were #1000. Runner-ups for boys: Graeme and Yisroel.
2012: Aurelia (253 girls) and Augustine (199 boys) were #1000. Runner-ups: Aya, Dalilah, Hayleigh, and Tegan; Ephraim, Jaylon, and Kamdyn.

**Originally, Annabella was the girls’ name ranked #1000 in 2021. The birth data changes slightly from year to year, though whether that’s due to late applications or name changes is unknown.

Do you think the SSA should extend the Top 1000 to account for alphabetical order? With the Top 1000 creating a clear demarcation between popular and rare, I’m not sure it’s fair that two equally-common baby names could be so differently classified. In 2022, a baby boys was just as likely to be named Massimo as London, and yet London is the one we call popular.

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