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 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.

Modern names · Name Lists

Nature Names for a Christmas Baby

December 23, 2022 Elizabeth1 Comment

The Holidays aren’t just celebrations – they’re feelings. Christmas is one day, but we associate an entire season with mistletoe, carols, and eggnog. Though the flowers are gone and the leaves have died away, we cling to whatever ecological beauty remains. Still, when you reach a time of year that’s meant to be joyous and happy, nostalgia and fondness for our surroundings abound. It’s only natural that these feelings and associations transfer to baby names for children born at this time of year.

Here’s a list of nature names associated with Christmas and the Holiday Season:

Holly – a 70s and 80s mom name that’s starting to come back, this name is about as Christmasy as it gets! For more information about Holly, check out my post from earlier this month. US Rank: #465.
Ivy – Usually mentioned in conjunction with Holly thanks to the song, Ivy is a great pairing option with Holly if you’re having twins. A vintage plant name, it’s all the rage right now. Rank: #49.
Douglas – Ranks at #739. We might think of Douglas as a vintage boys’ name, but it’s also a type of fir tree! Bring on the evergreens! Speaking of…
Evergreen – Evergreen is an extremely rare and unique baby name usually only given to girls, but I think it makes a great gender-neutral name option precisely because of its rarity! Only 6 girls were named Evergreen in 2021.
Frost – Frost is trendy among the namenerds of Instagram, but this surname has only ever been used as a baby name a handful of times.
Spruce – I’m surprised Spruce doesn’t have a baby name history because it rhymes with Bruce and fits firmly within the nature names trend. Get moving, parents!
Poinsettia – A beautiful red and green flowering plant that blooms in glorious Christmas foliage.
Pine – Actor, tree, and possible baby name? You decide on that last one.
Snow – Everyone loves snow until they have to drive in it. Still, it’s one of the prettiest things on the planet, and the parents of 56 baby girls agreed on paper in 2021! Or maybe they just love Game of Thrones (who knows?).
Lumi – Lumi is the Finnish word (and name) for snow! 57 girls were named Lumi in 2021. Read more here.
Ice – If Snow is feminine, Ice is unisex. 9 boys and 6 girls were named Ice in the U.S. in 2021, 8 girls were named Icy, 44 girls were named Icelynn, and 5 girls were named Icylinn. The latter two might be variations of Iceland, which was given to 6 girls.
Apricity – An intriguingly rare word name that means “the warmth of the sun in winter,” Apricity is a holiday darling of Instagram’s baby naming community.
Solstice – Okay, we’re just past the solstice, but there’s something lovely about the idea that the days only grow longer from here. 16 baby girls were named Solstice in 2021.
Robin – Robin is unusually old-school for a gender-neutral name, but that’s part of what makes Robin so great! It can be an honorific for Robert, Robin Williams, or reference the beautiful bird. It currently ranks #896 for boys and #916 for girls.
Amaryllis – If you love Greek Mythology, flowers, and Christmas baby names, Amaryllis is for you! 67 girls were named Amaryllis in the U.S. in 2021.

Do you have a favorite nature name for Christmas? Let me know, and have a Merry Christmas!

Classic, Old, and Traditional Names · Religious Names

Ebenezer: No Longer a Scrooge?

December 15, 2022December 15, 2022 Elizabeth2 Comments

Everyone’s talking about holiday-themed and Christmas-themed baby names right now. Whether or not they’ll admit it, Ebenezer falls into this category! Just a few years ago, children named Ebenezer were practically unheard of. Until the 1990s, Ebenezer appeared only sporadically in Social Security Administration baby name data. That hasn’t been the case in the new millennium.

At least 40 babies have been named Ebenezer every year since 2012. 2017 saw 55 boys receive the name, which is the highest usage Ebenezer has ever reached in the birth data extending back to 1880 (though said data isn’t necessarily accurate or complete until the 1930s). Its traditional nickname Eben frequently ranks higher, though in 2021 there was only a difference of one baby with 47 boys getting Eben and 46 getting Ebenezer. Historically, Eben‘s usage has been a lot more steady but peaked at 100 boys just a decade ago. Going forward, it looks like Ebenezer may be more stalwart than its more accessible short form. And hey, Ebenezer is no longer just for boys – over thirty girls have been named Ebenezer since 2008!

But what is Ebenezer‘s deal? None of us can forget the cultural icon that is Ebenezer Scrooge. A lonely old man who’s cruel to everyone, especially at Christmas? Whose main catchphrase is “bah, humbug?” This Dickensian character creation permanently tainted a fine Biblical name for many, but we should remember that Scrooge came around at the end. His experience with the three ghosts permanently changed him for the better, and so he’s not so much a villain as someone who needed a wake-up call. Moreover, nobody is born that bitter, but it takes a lot to overcome bitterness like that. A Christmas Carol is a story of redemption and healing. We all love that at the Holidays, don’t we? I’d argue that makes Ebenezer an awesome Christmas baby name.

A_Christmas_Carol_-_Scrooge_and_Bob_Cratchit — Scrooge after the ghosts

If you’re cynical about the Holiday Season and are prone to complaining about it, Scrooge may still be the namesake you want. Naturally, the Victorian Grinch is everyone’s main association with Ebenezer. I personally have another association via the 1948 movie Portrait of Jennie, which is coincidentally another ghost story (though much more romantic). One of the main characters is an artist named Eben Adams.

As to why the name Ebenezer has gotten a lot more popular than before, I have few ideas. It offers serious old-school Puritan and Bible vibes, which imports weight considering the widespread popularity of names like Noah, Elijah, Asher, and Ezra. Also…is it at all possible that Ebenezer is losing some of its association with Scrooge, in the way that Benedict isn’t always associated with Arnold now? It has an appealing meaning, too: “stone of help.”

Ebenezer has great nickname potential! Besides the obvious Eben, you could call an Ebenezer by Ben, Ezra, Benno, Benny, Bennett, and Benz. Because of its meaning, you could even go for Rocky! Middle names should ideally be one or two syllables, as in Ebenezer John or Ebenezer Samson.

What do you think of the name Ebenezer?

My sources were the Social Security Administration, A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, Behind the Name, and Nancy’s Baby Names.

Originally published July 21, 2016.

American Names · International · Modern names

Name Profile: Lumi

December 12, 2022December 11, 2022 Elizabeth3 Comments

Lumi pronounced "lou + me" Means "snow" in Finnish.

Does a name ever get stuck in your mind? Like, you hear it for the first time and then you can’t stop thinking about it? That’s been me for the past week and a half since I joined Instagram (P.S., my handle is @wellinformednamer). I’m seeing the name Lumi everywhere and it’s imprinted! Pronounced like “Lou + me”, Lumi is a Finnish name meaning “snow.” As my neighborhood sees its first snow of the year, this name feels apropos of the weather.

Although I’ve been seeing Lumi all over Instagram, the sightings are almost always discussion from other name enthusiasts or Finnish posts about the weather. Only 57 American baby girls were named Lumi in 2021, which means it’s still pretty rare here. It’s a lot more popular than it was 5 or 10 years ago though; from its U.S. data debut in 2008 until 2017, fewer than 20 babies a year were named Lumi. It spiked in 2018 and 2019, peaking at 68 girls with the name in the latter year. I’m not 100% sure what caused the jump, considering Americans aren’t usually too familiar with Finnish names. Lumi is popular in Finland, though, where it’s now a Top 50 baby name for girls.

So why name a baby Lumi? Lumi hits a sweet spot for baby names in 2022 and 2023 because it’s short, unique, international, and nature-adjacent. If you’re having a baby during snow, winter, or the December Holidays, it makes for a great seasonal option. There aren’t many nickname choices, it’s easy-to-spell, and vowel-heavy (even the consonants it does use are popular ones). If you do want a longer name, you can make it short for Lumina (another name on the rise). Chances are, a baby Lumi isn’t going to meet another Lumi in the classroom. And according to this post from Nancy’s Baby Names about Finnish names, it changed gender associations over time in its original country, which means it probably started off as a men’s name before it became popular for women (just like so many unisex and gender-neutral names in the U.S). So while Americans almost exclusively name daughters Lumi, I think it could work for any gender.

Lumi is fun to consider for middle name combinations. Some of the best middle name options for Lumi either have only one syllable (like Rose, James, or John) or at least three (Evergreen, Anastasia, Jonathan). Nature combos are great too (Ocean, Azalea, Storm). I’d avoid combos like Lumi Marie that are challenging to say quickly, and while I think Lumi Louise works (you can shorten to Lulu!), “Lumi Louis” rhymes a little too much if the ‘s’ in Louis is silent. Unless it sounds amazing to you, try to stay away from middle names that would repeat the “ee” sound at the end of Lumi; likewise, names starting with “Mi” don’t work great in the middle name spot (Lumi Minerva) but shine when reversed (Minerva Lumi). Lumi and Luna probably shouldn’t be in the same name either. For good measure, here are some great potential middle names for Lumi:

Lumi Anastasia
Lumi Evergreen
Lumi Fritz
Lumi Sophronia
Lumi Jasper
Lumi James
Lumi Cecilia
Lumi Rosalie
Lumi Emmanuel / Lumi Emmanuelle – This combination is great specifically for Christmas babies.
Lumi Evangeline
Lumi Elizabeth
Lumi Azalea
Lumi Kit
Lumi Christopher
Lumi Ocean
Lumi Storm
Lumi Kehlani
Lumi Frost

What do you think of Lumi? Would you use it? What other middle names would you try with it? Let me know!

Sources: Social Security Administration data and (linked twice above) Nancy’s Baby Names.

American Names · Classic, Old, and Traditional Names · Religious Names

“Nick” Names

December 6, 2022December 5, 2022 ElizabethLeave a comment

Most Americans associate Santa and gift-giving with a single Christmas date, December 25th. Very few know about a certain tradition on December 5th of leaving out shoes for St. Nicholas to fill with gifts on December 6th (I only know about it because I studied German in high school…that was a fun lesson!). Whether jolly old St. Nick brings your gifts on Christmas Day, St. Nicholas Day / Nikolaustag, or somewhere in-between, here’s a list of baby names related to Nicholas and other Nicks for inspiration this Holiday Season! All of these were used in 2021 and are listed by popularity, according to the Social Security Administration. I’ve also grouped spellings by pronunciation with the most popular version at the top.

The Major Nick Families

Nicholas – 6508 baby boys in total were named Nicholas or some spelling variation in 2021. It’s one of the most timeless names in the lexicon and has been out of the U.S. Top 200 only once!

Nicholas – 3824 boys were given this spelling. U.S. Rank: #92.
Nicolas – 1996 boys. Rank: #188
Nickolas – 168 boys
Nikolas – 472 boys
Niklas – 20 boys
Nikoloz – 10 boys
Nicklas – 8 boys
Nikkolas – 5 boys
Nykolas – 5 boys

Nico – 2876 boys and 62 girls for an overall total of 2938 babies named Nico or a variant.

Nico – 1351 boys, 35 girls. Rank: #259 for boys
Niko – 1158 boys, 19 girls. Rank: #291 for boys
Nikko – 213 boys
Neko – 55 boys, 8 girls
Nicco – 48 boys
Nyko – 24 boys
Nieko – 17 boys
Nicho – 5 boys
Nykko – 5 boys

Nicole – 1094 girls total.

Nicole – 949 girls. Rank: #340
Nichole – 62 girls
Nicolle – 40 girls
Nicol – 19 girls
Nikole – 14 girls
Nickole – 5 girls
Nikol – 5 girls

Nikolai – 824 boys total.

Nikolai – 617 boys. Rank: #480
Nicolai – 50 boys
Nikoli – 20 boys
Nikolay – 16 boys
Nicholai – 15 boys
Nickolai – 12 boys
Nicolae – 10 boys
Nicoli – 9 boys
Nikolaj – 9 boys
Nikkolai – 7 boys
Nicholi – 5 boys

Nixon – 405 boys and 23 girls for an overall total of 428 children. Nixon means “Nick’s son.”

Nixon – 377 boys, 17 girls. Rank: #695 for boys.
Nixxon – 12 boys
Nickson – 8 boys. Taking the spelling more literally?
Nyxon – 8 boys
Nixyn – 6 girls

Niklaus – 385 boys total. Rank: #839.

Niklaus – 280 boys
Nikolaos – 55 boys
Nikolaus – 33 boys
Nicklaus – 17 boys

Nicolette – 152 girls total.

Nicolette – 141 girls
Nicholette – 6 girls
Nikolette – 5 girls

Nikola – 180 boys and 21 girls, totaling 201 babies.

Nikola – 145 boys, 12 girls
Nicola – 35 boys, 9 girl

Nick – 131 boys; this is the only spelling I could find.

Nikki – 88 girls, 20 boys for a combined total of 108 babies

Nikki – 66 girls
Nicky – 20 boys, 6 girls
Niki – 16 girls

Niccolo – 96 boys total.

Niccolo – 51 boys
Nicolo – 40 boys
Nikolo – 5 boys

Nika – 66 girls

Nicolina – 38 girls total

Nicolina – 23 girls
Nikolina – 15 girls

Nicoletta – 35 girls total

Nicoletta – 22 girls
Nikoletta – 8 girls
Nikoleta – 5 girls

Nikos – 20 boys. Behind the Name says this is a Greek nickname for Nikolaos.

Other relatives of Nicholas without the “Nic”:

Colin – Total of 2098 boys and 36 girls (Combined 2134). One of Colin‘s origins is as a medieval nickname for Nicholas.

Colin – 1282 boys, 5 girls. Rank: #269.
Collin – 726 boys, 10 girls. Rank: #421
Kollin – 38 boys
Kolin – 25 boys
Collen – 9 boys
Collyn – 8 boys, 7 girls
Colyn – 5 boys
Kollyn – 14 girls, 5 boys

Collins – Total of 1348 girls and 47 boys (combined 1395). If you like last names as baby names and want to honor a Nicholas, this relative of Colin is a good alternative to Nixon.

Collins – 998 girls, 47 boys. Rank: #326.
Kollyns – 163 girls
Kollins – 104 girls
Collyns – 78 girls
Kolynns – 5 girls

Colette – 767 girls total. Colette is a nickname for Nicolette.

Colette – 684 girls. Rank: #454
Collette – 69 girls
Kolette – 14 girls

Kai – Total of 4684 boys and 392 girls (combined total: 5052 babies named Kai in 2021). Kai can sometimes be a German or Scandinavian nickname for Nicholas’s counterparts in those languages.

Kai – 4599 boys, 368 girls. Ranks #71 for boys and #770 for girls.
Cai – 85 boys, 24 girls

Klaus – 76 boys. The old-school German version of Nick.

I also found a bunch of mostly unrelated names that share that “Nick” sound. A lot of them can use Nick or Nikki as a, well, nickname!

Miscellaneous:

Nikita – 75 boys, 51 girls (126 total)
Nyx – 61 girls, 8 boys (69 total)
Nikhil – 67 boys
Nicodemus – 39 boys
Nixie – 18 girls. Is this the next Nikki?
Nike – 10 boys, 7 girls (total). Besides being a shoe brand, Nike was the Greek goddess of victory and provides the root for the first half of Nicholas.
Nicha – 9 girls
Nichelle – 9 girls
Nikayla – 9 girls
Nicanor – 8 boys
Nicandro – 8 boys
Nikai – 8 boys
Nikan – 8 boys
Nikodem – 8 boys
Nekoda – 8 boys
Nikash – 7 boys
Nix – 7 boys
Nicasio – 6 boys
Nicodemo – 6 boys
Nikiya – 6 girls
Nyxie – 6 girls
Nektarios – 5 boys
Nykeem – 5 boys

Do you have any favorites from this list? Let me know!

American Names · Analysis · Modern names

The Name Holly

December 5, 2022December 4, 2022 Elizabeth3 Comments

For one reason or another, I’ve been hearing a lot of buzz about the name Holly lately! Now that we’re into the month of December, that seems especially fitting.

Holly is the perfect name for a baby born around the Holidays because it evokes a sense of place and feeling for a joyful, magical time. It can take a religious association like the Holly & Ivy carol, but because it’s a plant it can also be as secular as the eggnog and jingles we fill our lives with in December. A baby Holly could be born to a family of any religious or cultural background who simply enjoys the time of year or celebrates a holiday in early winter and wants to commemorate the baby’s birth.

I’ve noticed that Holly is starting to rise in popularity again after a 40-year decline. It peaked in the 70s and 80s, but it doesn’t feel as dated as some of the other names that were trendy then. I suspect that’s because it’s never been in the top 10 or even the top 25, which makes it harder to associate with one specific era even if it belonged to one! At its most popular, Holly ranked only #48 in 1979 and 1983. Currently, it ranks #465 with 668 baby girls, slowly creeping from its most recent low point in 2016 at #526 (589 girls). Why has Holly stabilized and grown? My guess is that there’s a couple of things going on.

One of the biggest things the name Holly has going for it in the 2020s is that it’s a nature name. Nature names are massively trendy; I’m sure you know at least one baby girl named Violet, Hazel, or Willow. River is popular for any gender. Though Holly doesn’t have the vintage-American style laurels that Magnolia and Olive boast, it is the name of a tree (however seasonally specific). Today’s parents love tree names! You can’t find a corner of the internet where even tree-adjacent names like Asher and Oaklynn aren’t being discussed. For nature-loving parents having a December baby, Holly is the name to choose.

The other thing I think may be associated with Holly‘s growing popularity is the rising trendiness of similar-sounding names. Holland debuted in the top 1000 for girls in 2014, and now ranks its highest at #638 (462 girls; 87 boys also received the name). When one name becomes popular, similar names grow in turn; though Hollyn is still rare, it was given to 135 girls in 2021 – more than double the number named Hollyn in 2016 (56). Hollynn is an ultra-rare spelling at 11 uses, but 5 years earlier only 6 girls were given that spelling. You can also find babies named Hollynd, Hollin, and Hollan. Another increasingly trendy name to consider here is gender-neutral Hollis, which was given to 163 girls and 199 boys in 2021. Similar sounds boost names together by creating familiarity.

What do you think of Holly? Would you use it? Do you have any other ideas why it’s getting more popular? Let me know!

American Names

The ABC’s of #1 Names, 1880-2015

December 16, 2016December 30, 2016 Elizabeth3 Comments

Have you ever wondered what the most popular name was for each letter of the alphabet?

Two years ago I began a mini-project to find that out for every year since 1880, the first year for which the Social Security Administration publishes birth data. At some point I walked away from it and forgot about it, only to recall it last week. So, two years later, I finally can visualize exactly how long Felicia was the number one ‘F’ name or how many times the letter ‘I’ changed hands between Isaac and Ira since the late 19th-century.

Below you’ll see every #1 name per letter for the past 136 years, according to the available SSA birth data. The birth data is incomplete and not always accurate in the years before around 1937, but I’ve included those early years as well. They still provide a general sense of the truly popular names, and you’ll spot some gems among the rarer letters. Come on, who doesn’t get excited to see Zeno or Queenie at #1?

Anna (1880-1929), Alice (1930-1941, 1944), Ann (1942, 1943, 1945-1959), Angela (1960-1968), Amy (1969-1978), Amanda (1979-1983), Ashley (1984-1998, 2000, 2001), Alexis (1999, 2002), Abigail (2003-2005), Ava (2006-Present)
Arthur (1880-1904, 1906, 1912, 1917, 1918, 1920-1947), Albert (1905, 1907-1911, 1913-1916, 1919), Anthony (1948-1978, 2007), Andrew (1979-1994, 1997-2006), Austin (1995, 1996), Alexander (2008-Present)

Bertha (1880-1888, 1890-1893, 1895-1897, 1899, 1901, 1904, 1907-1912), Bessie (1889, 1894, 1898, 1900, 1902, 1903, 1905, 1906), Beatrice (1913-1916), Betty (1917-1934), Barbara (1935-1960), Brenda (1961-1974), Brandy (1975-1982), Brandi (1983), Brittany (1984-1996), Brianna (1997-2010), Brooklyn (2011-Present)
Benjamin (1880-1909, 2005-Present), Bernard (1910-1925), Billy (1926-1945), Bruce (1946-1956), Brian (1957-1983), Brandon (1984-2004)

Clara (1880-1905), Catherine (1906-1931), Carol (1932-1952), Cynthia (1953-1966), Christine (1967-1972), Christina (1973-1980, 1985-1988), Crystal (1981-1984), Courtney (1989, 1990, 1993-1999), Chelsea (1991, 1992), Chloe (2000-2012), Charlotte (2013-Present)
Charles (1880-1964), Christopher (1965-2013), Carter (2014-Present)

Daisy (1880, 1882, 1883), Dora (1881, 1884-1893), Dorothy (1894-1942), Donna (1943-1949, 1959-1967), Deborah (1950-1955), Debra (1956-1958), Dawn (1968-1975), Danielle (1976-1997), Destiny (1998-2012), Delilah (2013-Present)
David (1880-1897, 1899-1911, 1939-1984, 1986-1989), Dewey (1898), Donald (1912-1938), Daniel (1985, 1990-Present)

Emma (1880-1886, 2008-Present), Elizabeth (1887-1895, 1897-1991), Ethel (1896), Emily (1992-2007)
Edward (1880-1964), Eric (1965-1997), Ethan (1998-Present)

Florence (1880-1909), Frances (1910-1965), Felicia (1966-1994), Faith (1995-Present)
Frank (1880-1990), Francisco (1991-2005, 2007, 2012-2014), Fernando (2006, 2008-2011), Finn (2015/Present)

Grace (1880-1900, 1999-Present), Gladys (1901-1924), Gloria (1925-1953, 1960-1962), Gail (1954-1959), Gina (1963-1987), Gabrielle (1988-1998)
George (1880-1944), Gary (1945-1961), Gregory (1962-1993), Gabriel (1994-Present)

Hattie (1880-1884), Helen (1885-1963), Holly (1964), Heidi (1965, 1966), Heather (1967-1991), Hannah (1992-2009, 2011, 2012), Hailey (2010), Harper (2013-Present)
Henry (1880-1887, 1890, 1894-1914, 1952-1956, 1959-1991, 2012, 2014-Present), Harry (1888, 1889, 1891-1893), Harold (1915-1951, 1957, 1958), Hunter (1992-2011, 2013)

Ida (1880-1900), Irene (1901-1984, 1987-1989), India (1985, 1986), Isabel (1990, 1992, 1993), Iesha (1991), Isabella (1994-Present)
Isaac (1880, 1882, 1886, 1893, 1896, 1899, 1904, 1909, 2003, 2007-Present), Ira (1881, 1883-1885, 1887-1892, 1894, 1895, 1897, 1898, 1900-1903, 1905, 1907, 1930, 1932, 1933, 1937-1957, 1960), Irving (1906, 1908, 1910-1929), Ivan (1931, 1934-1936, 1958, 1959, 1961-1966), Ian (1967-1996), Isaiah (1997-2002, 2004-2006)

Jennie (1880-1884, 1886-1889, 1891), Julia (1885, 1890, 1892-1898, 1900, 2008-Present), Josephine (1899, 1901-1920), Jean (1921-1929), Joan (1930-1938), Judith (1939-1949), Janet (1950-1957), Julie (1958-1965), Jennifer (1966-1984), Jessica (1985-2005), Jasmine (2006, 2007)
John (1880-1928, 1961-1965, 1968), James (1929-1960, 1966, 1967, 1969-1972), Jason (1973-1982), Joshua (1983-1994), Jacob (1995-Present)

Katherine (1880-1929), Kathleen (1930-1937, 1947-1950), Karen (1938-1946, 1951-1965), Kimberly (1966-1977, 1979-1987), Kelly (1978), Kayla (1988-2008), Kaylee (2009-2014), Kennedy (2015/Present)
Kenneth (1880, 1889-1958), Karl (1881-1888), Kevin (1959-1989, 2000-Present), Kyle (1990-1999)

Laura (1880-1887, 1982-1985), Lillian (1888-1923, 2013, 2014), Lois (1924-1937), Linda (1938-1960), Lisa (1961-1981), Lauren (1986-2006), Lily (2007-2012, 2015/Present)
Louis (1880-1931), Lawrence (1932-1934), Larry (1935-1983), Luis (1984-1994), Logan (1995-2010), Liam (2011-Present)

Mary (1880-1966), Michelle (1967-1974), Melissa (1975-1984), Megan (1985-1996), Madison (1997-2011), Mia (2012-Present)
Michael (1880, 1885-1922, 1935-2010), Martin (1881-1884), Melvin (1923-1926), Marvin (1927-1934), Mason (2011-Present)

Nellie (1880-1919), Norma (1920-1929), Nancy (1930-1969), Nicole (1970-2000), Natalie (2001-Present)
Nathan (1880, 1882, 1971-1977), Norman (1881, 1883-1966), Nicholas (1967-1970, 1978-2005), Noah (2006-Present)

Olive (1880-1903), Opal (1904-1939), Olivia (1940-1955, 1958, 1965, 1974-Present), Olga (1956, 1957, 1959-1964, 1966-1973)
Oscar (1880-1978, 1981-2001)), Omar (1979, 1980), Owen (2002-2013), Oliver (2014-Present)

Pearl (1880-1910), Pauline (1910-1923), Patricia (1924-1989), Paige (1990-2007), Peyton (2008-2013), Penelope (2014-Present)
Peter (1880-1885), Paul (1886-1982), Patrick (1983-2006), Parker (2007-Present)

Queen (1880-1883, 1885-1969), Queenie (1884), Quanda (1970), Quintina (1971-1974), Qiana (1975-1979), Quiana (1980-1987, 1989), Quinn (1988, 1992-Present), Quanisha (1990, 1991)
Quincy (1880-1883, 1885-1892, 1894-1903, 1905, 1907, 1909-1912, 1915, 1917, 1974-1981), Quince (1884), N/A (1893), Quentin (1904, 1908, 1913, 1914, 1916, 1918-1959, 1963-1973, 1982-1989, 1995-1998), Quinton (1906, 1990, 1990-1994), Quintin (1960-1962), Quinn (1999-Present)

Rose (1880-1890), Ruth (1891-1948), Rebecca (1949-1956, 1967-1983), Robin (1957-1965), Rhonda (1966), Rachel (1984-2006), Riley (2007-Present)
Robert (1880-1989), Ryan (1990-Present)

Sarah (1880-1920, 1977-1989, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1999-2002), Shirley (1921-1940), Sandra (1941-1947), Susan (1948-1970), Stephanie (1971-1976), Samantha (1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2003-2005), Sophia (2006-Present)
Samuel (1880-1914, 1994-Present), Stanley (1915-1939), Stephen (1940-1949), Steven (1950-1961, 1964-1967, 1976-1993), Scott (1962, 1963, 1968-1975)

Theresa (1880-1897, 1941-1950), Thelma (1898-1940), Teresa (1951-1962), Tammy (1963-1973), Tracy (1974, 1975), Tiffany (1976-1991), Taylor (1992-Present)
Thomas (1880-1966, 1968-1975, 1982-1989, 2013-Present), Timothy (1967, 1976-1981), Tyler (1990-2012)

Una (1880-1904, 1906-1908, 1910-1922, 1924-1926, 1928, 1931, 1932, 1934, 1938, 1940), Ursula (1905, 1909, 1923, 1927, 1929, 1930, 1933, 1935-1937, 1939, 1941-1945, 1960-1988), Unknown* (1946-1959, 1989-1991, 1995), Unique (1992-1994, 1996-Present)
Ulysses (1880-1948, 1962-1988), Unknown (1949-1961, 1989, 1991), Uriel (1990, 1992-Present)

Viola (1880-1906), Virginia (1907-1953), Vicki (1954-1958), Valerie (1959-1968), Victoria (1969-1971, 1989-Present), Veronica (1972-1978), Vanessa (1979-1988)
Victor (1880-1906, 1908-1910, 1918, 1942-1945, 1954, 1956, 1957, 1974-1987, 1992-2009), Virgil (1907), Vincent (1911-1917, 1940, 1941, 1946-1953, 1955, 1958-1973, 1988-1991, 2010-Present), Vernon (1919-1939)

Willie** (1880-1920, 1922, 1923), Wilma (1921, 1924, 1925), Wanda (1926-1959), Wendy (1960-1983, 2001-2007), Whitney (1984-2000), Willow (2008-Present)
William (1880-Present)

N/A*** (1880-1893, 1896, 1898-1911, 1922, 1924, 1936-1938, 1940, 1942-1944, 1951, 1953, 1957), Xenia (1894, 1895, 1897, 1912-1921, 1923, 1925-1935, 1939, 1941, 1945-1950, 1952, 1954, 1956, 1959, 1968), Xochitl (1955, 1967, 1971-1977, 1979), Xiomara (1958, 1960-1964, 1969, 1970, 1978, 1980-1995, 1999, 2000), Xan (1965, 1966), Xena (1996-1998), Ximena (2001-Present)
N/A (1880-1885, 1887-1889, 1891-1893, 1895, 1898-1906, 1908-1911), Xavier (1886, 1890, 1894, 1896, 1897, 1907, 1912-Present)

Yetta (1880, 1884-1891, 1896), N/A (1881), Yvonne (1892-1895, 1897-1966), Yolanda (1967-1986), Yesenia (1987-2003), Yasmin (2004-2009), Yaretzi (2010-Present)
Young (1880-1887, 1889-1892, 1895-1899, 1901-1904, 1907, 1909, 1911, 1912, 1935, 1936, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1954, 1955), York (1888, 1905), Yee (1893, 1894), Yancy (1900, 1958-1975), Ysidro (1906, 1933, 1937, 1940, 1941, 1943-1946, 1953, 1956), Yale (1908, 1939, 1942, 1951, 1952), Ygnacio (1910, 1934), Yoshio (1913-1930, 1932), Yukio (1931), Yvonne (1938), Yolanda (1949), Yul (1957), Yusef (1976), Yisroel (1977, 1984, 1997), Yusuf (1978, 2015/Present), Yoel (1979-1983), Yosef (1985, 1988-1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001), Yaakov (1986, 1987), Yehuda (1995), Yousef (2000), Yahir (2002-2014)

Zella (1880-1898, 1890), Zelma (1899, 1901-1951, 1954), Zoe (1952, 1957, 1958, 1970, 1973-2010), Zelda (1953, 1955, 1956, 1959-1962, 1968), Zina (1963-1967), Zandra (1969, 1971, 1972), Zoey (2011-Present)
Zack (1880-1901, 1903, 1905-1915, 1918-1921), Zeno (1902), Zeb (1904), Zigmund (1916, 1917), Zane (1922-1946, 1948), Zachary (1947, 1949-Present)

*I doubt anyone was actually named Unknown – it’s more likely a designation for people whose original names are somehow unknown.

**Willie is shaded blue because it was stricly masculine in 2015. A hundred years ago, it was very much unisex.

***N/A indicates that there were no names starting with that letter for a year.

Do any of these names stand out to you? Let me know and stay posted for my analysis and predictions!

	Elizabeth on They’re Here! The Top 10…
	Miranda's Vegan Comi… on They’re Here! The Top 10…
	Elizabeth on They’re Here! The Top 10…
	Miranda's Vegan Comi… on They’re Here! The Top 10…
	They’re Here!… on Baby Name Predictions for the…

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