Straight from the records of the Social Security Administration, here are the top names given to new babies in the U.S. in 2011:
Girls:
1. Sophia
2. Isabella
3. Emma
4. Olivia
5. Ava
6. Emily
7. Abigail
8. Madison
9. Mia
10. Chloe
11. Elizabeth
12. Ella
13. Addison
14. Natalie
15. Lily
16. Grace
17. Samantha
18. Avery
19. Sofia
20. Aubrey
Boys:
1. Jacob
2. Mason
3. William
4. Jayden
5. Noah
6. Michael
7. Ethan
8. Alexander
9. Aiden
10. Daniel
11. Anthony
12. Matthew
13. Elijah
14. Joshua
15. Liam
16. Andrew
17. James
18. David
19. Benjamin
20. Logan
Jacob remained in the top spot from 2010, but Isabella moved down one position, having been replaced by Sophia. Thirteen of the boys’ names appear in the Bible, but only six of the girls’ names do. I looked carefully, but neither Judas nor Jezebel made the list.
Not too many 'made up' names then, although Aubrey was a surprise as a girl's name. It used to be commonly a boy's name in the UK, but I gather it is different in the US.
ReplyDeleteI do have a grand-niece called Madison though - I thought that was my nephew's invention.
I am puzzled as to why these honky lists prevail as it was reported in England very recently that for the first time ever the USA is now recording more non-white than white births.
ReplyDeleteThese are not honky lists. They are the most popular names given to all newborns in the U.S. in 2010, of all races. You are correct, though, that 1.9 million were Caucasian and 2.0 million were Black or Hispanic or Asian or Native American. I suspect that Isabella is a favorite in Hispanic families.
ReplyDeleteSo far, Barack and Hussein have not proven all that popular.
Sorry, 2011.
ReplyDeleteI see Robert didn't make the list given this name's well-known associations with disreputable behaviour. I see what you mean about Isabella.
ReplyDeleteYorkie, fashions do come and go in the naming of children. You don't see Irma or Edith or Mildred or Elton or Bruce or Neal in there either. It proves nothing.
ReplyDeleteP.S. - You are indeed correct; England has many Bobbies (Bobbys?) who, it is well-known, have frequent associations with [persons of] disreputable behaviour.
ReplyDelete