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The Most Popular U.S. Baby Names
Parade Magazine ^ | Published: May 11, 2008 | Contributors: Lyric Wallwork Winik and Matt Bushlow

Posted on 05/11/2008 5:45:33 AM PDT by mware

The Most Popular U.S. Baby Names Forget Britney and Brad—Americans can’t get enough of Emily and Jacob. Once again, those top the list of the nation’s favorite baby names, according to the Social Security Administration, which tracks names based upon card applications for newborns. This Mother’s Day, PARADE has the exclusive first look at the most popular names for girls and boys in 2007. To see more names popular around the country, as well as America’s favorite baby names of the last century, click here.

Boys 1 Jacob (#1 since 1999) 2 Michael (last year: #2) 3 Ethan (#4) 4 Joshua (#3) 5 Daniel (#6) 6 Christopher (#7) 7 Anthony (#9) 8 William (#10) 9 Matthew (#5) 10 Andrew (#8)

Girls 1 Emily (#1 since 1996) 2 Isabella (last year: #4) 3 Emma (#2) 4 Ava (#5) 5 Madison (#3) 6 Sophia (#9) 7 Olivia (#7) 8 Abigail (#6) 9 Hannah (#8) 10 Elizabeth (#11)


TOPICS: Society
KEYWORDS: babynames; mothersday; topten
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You can check out how your name ranks since 1880 if you want to. The closest my name came to the top ten is in 1880 at #16.

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/OACT/babynames/

Interesting that the popular names seem to be names from the Bible.

1 posted on 05/11/2008 5:45:34 AM PDT by mware
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To: mware

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/OACT/babynames/


2 posted on 05/11/2008 5:45:56 AM PDT by mware (mware...killer of threads.)
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To: mware

Boys
1 Jacob (#1 since 1999)
2 Michael (last year: #2)
3 Ethan (#4)
4 Joshua (#3)
5 Daniel (#6)
6 Christopher (#7)
7 Anthony (#9)
8 William (#10)
9 Matthew (#5)
10 Andrew (#8)

Girls
1 Emily (#1 since 1996)
2 Isabella (last year: #4)
3 Emma (#2)
4 Ava (#5)
5 Madison (#3)
6 Sophia (#9)
7 Olivia (#7)
8 Abigail (#6)
9 Hannah (#8)
10 Elizabeth (#11)


3 posted on 05/11/2008 5:46:24 AM PDT by mware (mware...killer of threads.)
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To: mware

I don’t understand why “Sarah” is not on that list. I have 5 granddaughters with that name.


4 posted on 05/11/2008 5:47:38 AM PDT by Alouette (Vicious Babushka)
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To: mware
I remember when Time magazine was ga ga in 1993 when the top girl baby name was "Hillary."
5 posted on 05/11/2008 5:49:42 AM PDT by SkyPilot ("I wasn't in church during the time when the statements were made.")
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To: Alouette
Yes, I am a school teacher and Sarah is a popular name. Sarah is #18 for 2007. You can check out its popularity by going to this site.

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/OACT/babynames/

6 posted on 05/11/2008 5:51:42 AM PDT by mware (mware...killer of threads.)
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To: SkyPilot
Sky, there are some weird names out there. They claim that a popular name right now for girls is Heaven spelled backwards.

Nevaeh, I don't even know how to pronounce that one.

7 posted on 05/11/2008 5:53:10 AM PDT by mware (mware...killer of threads.)
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To: mware

Monday is the birthday of my son, Jacob. He was born in 1999. We thought we were being very creative.

Actually, I was so sedated they could’ve named him “Pencil” and I’d have loved it!


8 posted on 05/11/2008 5:53:25 AM PDT by kimmie7 (<<<---- Too surly for the hoarde.)
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To: Alouette

Every little girl I meet is named “Taylor.”


9 posted on 05/11/2008 5:53:55 AM PDT by Tax-chick (Yes, but how does that help?)
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To: mware

I like all of these names, with the exception of Madison.


10 posted on 05/11/2008 5:54:11 AM PDT by dinoparty
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To: SkyPilot
Ranking for Nevaeh

2007 #31

2006 #43

2005 #69

2004 #104

2003 #145

11 posted on 05/11/2008 5:56:29 AM PDT by mware (mware...killer of threads.)
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To: dinoparty
I've taught two Madison's, both girls.

Weird I have NEVER taught anyone named Martha, my given name.

12 posted on 05/11/2008 5:57:45 AM PDT by mware (mware...killer of threads.)
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To: dinoparty

The really dippy names start in the 20’s, although I assume the general “Madison” includes all the goofball spellings, like “Maddisyn.”


13 posted on 05/11/2008 5:58:01 AM PDT by Tax-chick (Yes, but how does that help?)
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To: kimmie7

I like the name Jacob, is his nickname Jake, or Jack???


14 posted on 05/11/2008 5:58:41 AM PDT by mware (mware...killer of threads.)
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To: SkyPilot
I remember when Time magazine was ga ga in 1993 when the top girl baby name was "Hillary."

For at least 6 years the most popular Texas baby names have been Jose and Emily.

Anchor baby names. And for SIX years now.

15 posted on 05/11/2008 5:59:49 AM PDT by TLI ( ITINERIS IMPENDEO VALHALLA)
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To: mware

Rank 39 in 2000. Jason. Good. I’m glad I have a less-than-popular name.


16 posted on 05/11/2008 6:01:25 AM PDT by arderkrag (Libertarian Nutcase (Political Compass Coordinates: 9.00, -2.62 - www.politicalcompass.org))
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To: mware

I named my daughter Emily Elizabeth back in 1977 before it was popular. She was named after my Aunt Emily. But then I was always ahead of the curve.


17 posted on 05/11/2008 6:02:57 AM PDT by heylady
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To: mware

Most definitely Jake. But we call him Jacob most.

I think my hubby wanted something close to Jack because that was my grandfather’s nickname — although his real name was McKinley. How they got Jack, I don’t know! lol


18 posted on 05/11/2008 6:03:17 AM PDT by kimmie7 (<<<---- Too surly for the hoarde.)
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To: All
Well, I'm off to Mass.

Have a Happy Mother's Day everyone.

If she is still with you, call your mom today. She'll love you for it. She'll love you if you don't call, but call her anyway.

19 posted on 05/11/2008 6:04:06 AM PDT by mware (mware...killer of threads.)
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To: mware

George Forman never saw the site.


20 posted on 05/11/2008 6:04:13 AM PDT by philetus (Keep doing what you always do and you'll keep getting what you always get.)
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To: heylady

Emily Elizabeth is the name of the little girl in Clifford the Big Red Dog!

LOL

I’ve read way too many of those books aloud, and seen way too many of the shows! LOL


21 posted on 05/11/2008 6:05:23 AM PDT by kimmie7 (<<<---- Too surly for the hoarde.)
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To: mware; Xenalyte; Moose4
Sometimes the best names are in the byline:

Lyric Wallwork Winik

And yes, that is a woman, not a marketing firm. I googled it to be sure!

22 posted on 05/11/2008 6:07:59 AM PDT by Tax-chick (Yes, but how does that help?)
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To: mware

I see my daughter’s name, Cecilia, only rates in the high 200’s. Ah, well. :)


23 posted on 05/11/2008 6:08:29 AM PDT by Doohickey (SSN-681; SSN-671; SSN-669; SSN-712)
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To: mware

My name “peaked” in 1980, most likely due to Princess Diana’s popularity. People at work call me “Lady Di.” Dad named me after an old movie star, Diana Lynn. Mom was passed out cold from a forty hour labor, and when she awoke, the deed was done. ;)

My sister, however, cuts to the chase and calls me “Di-arrhea.” LOL!


24 posted on 05/11/2008 6:09:55 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
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To: philetus
Where I teach, there is a family that named every boy Eddie.

I am now teaching the 3rd of 5 of them

25 posted on 05/11/2008 6:13:48 AM PDT by mware (mware...killer of threads.)
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To: mware
A Census Bureau guest was on Fox with the Friends discussing this...the ditzy blonde excitedly kept asking where "Barack" appeared on this list. Must every segment be an Obamamercial! Of course, his name is nowhere to be found. The guy also pointed out that "Hillary" took a huge fall after she came onto the scene.
26 posted on 05/11/2008 6:14:11 AM PDT by Miss Didi ("Good heavens, woman, this is a war not a garden party!" Dr. Meade, Gone with the Wind)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

LOL, better than my name which now is ranked in the 500’s.


27 posted on 05/11/2008 6:14:56 AM PDT by mware (mware...killer of threads.)
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To: Miss Didi
Miss, I was watching that segment. The rankings only go to the top 1000.

With some of the names of the kids I teach, there must be some doozies that didn't make the cut.

28 posted on 05/11/2008 6:17:02 AM PDT by mware (mware...killer of threads.)
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To: Doohickey

I named my daughter “Hannah” back in 1987 when there were none. Everyone thought it was “wierd”. Suddenly there were a million of them. I HATE THAT!


29 posted on 05/11/2008 6:17:05 AM PDT by bonfire
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To: SkyPilot
I remember when Time magazine was ga ga in 1993 when the top girl baby name was "Hillary."

Memory is a funny thing.

Popularity rank of the name "Hillary":

2007	960
2006	979
2005	883
2004	810
2003	Not in top 1000
2002	Not in top 1000
2001	887
2000	876
1999	856
1998	868
1997	725
1996	693
1995	684
1994	566
1993	261
1992	131

30 posted on 05/11/2008 6:18:53 AM PDT by ReignOfError
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To: mware
Interesting that the popular names seem to be names from the Bible.

That could be further evidence that Christians produce more offspring than atheists.

31 posted on 05/11/2008 6:21:42 AM PDT by hellbender
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To: mware

I would have thought that “Jose” would have been number one.


32 posted on 05/11/2008 6:22:26 AM PDT by dljordan
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To: mware

I’m happy to see there are no mohammeds or jamals or jameikas.


33 posted on 05/11/2008 6:24:58 AM PDT by Leftism is Mentally Deranged
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To: mware

I find the changing popularity of names fascinating. My grandmother changed her name from Sarah to Shirley back in the 20’s because Sarah was so old-fashioned and Shirley was hip (or whatever the term was back then). Now, Shirley barely makes the top 1000 and Sarahs are everywhere. And I don’t think there’s a single John or Mary in our local school system, yet when I was in school they were the most popular names. I wonder if, thirty years from now, when Jaydon and Emily marry they’ll name their kids Mabel or Hubert?


34 posted on 05/11/2008 6:26:42 AM PDT by jalisco555 ("My 80% friend is not my 20% enemy" - Ronald Reagan)
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To: hellbender
That could be further evidence that Christians produce more offspring than atheists.

I'll bet it's more a fashion thing than anything else. I think the popularity of biblical names waxes and wanes. Names come in and out of style just like clothes.

35 posted on 05/11/2008 6:29:36 AM PDT by jalisco555 ("My 80% friend is not my 20% enemy" - Ronald Reagan)
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To: mware
Interesting that the popular names seem to be names from the Bible.

Biblical names have the advantage that there's usually a version of them in any Western language. For example, my name, Andrew, is Andre, Andrei, Andreas, Andrea, Anders, Anderson, and probably some others I've missed.

36 posted on 05/11/2008 6:32:52 AM PDT by ReignOfError
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To: jalisco555

If you want to know what names are coming up next, just check back about 100 years. Sophie and Max have just reappeared. Can Norma, Nancy, and Alan be far behind?


37 posted on 05/11/2008 6:33:48 AM PDT by proxy_user
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To: proxy_user
If you want to know what names are coming up next, just check back about 100 years. Sophie and Max have just reappeared. Can Norma, Nancy, and Alan be far behind?

Yes, I've noticed the re-emergence of Sophie and Max also. These were names that were ridiculed when I was growing up, now they're back.

38 posted on 05/11/2008 6:36:37 AM PDT by jalisco555 ("My 80% friend is not my 20% enemy" - Ronald Reagan)
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To: ReignOfError
Biblical names have the advantage that there's usually a version of them in any Western language.

This is true. My wife is Mexican and we needed names for our sons that would work in both English and Spanish so we chose biblical names for them.

39 posted on 05/11/2008 6:38:13 AM PDT by jalisco555 ("My 80% friend is not my 20% enemy" - Ronald Reagan)
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To: mware

I’m #7 for boys.

I like Autumn for a girl.


40 posted on 05/11/2008 6:39:21 AM PDT by wastedyears (The US Military is what goes Bump in the night.)
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To: Alouette

I have a daughter by that name.

When we named her, we didn’t know anyone named Sarah. Then, when we took her to school, it seemed half the girls were named Sarah.


41 posted on 05/11/2008 6:42:25 AM PDT by Skooz (Any nation that would elect Hillary Clinton as its president has forfeited its right to exist.)
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To: mware
That's Jacob in the middle. Born October 2005!
42 posted on 05/11/2008 6:49:02 AM PDT by Sybeck1 (It's truly bad when your Savior in November is Judas Himself.)
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To: dljordan

I heard a lot of Javier’s being called to on the playground yesterday.


43 posted on 05/11/2008 6:51:03 AM PDT by Sybeck1 (It's truly bad when your Savior in November is Judas Himself.)
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To: mware

I didn’t realize how trendy my name was when my parents hung it on me in 1962...and how uncool it is now!!!!!


44 posted on 05/11/2008 7:00:27 AM PDT by perez24 (Dirty deeds, done dirt cheap.)
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To: mware

We named our son Jacob (1988). At that time, we didn’t think folks were using it much and his great-grandfather had that name. Because I am his mother, I have sometimes called him Jakey. Some of the family call him “Japut” because one of his younger cousins couldn’t pronounce his name correctly and it came out something like that. Sometimes that is shortened to “Jape.” He answers to everything!


45 posted on 05/11/2008 7:05:41 AM PDT by gingerky
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To: TLI

My family has Texas roots back to the 1830s, and I can tell you that a lot of the Jose’s are not anchor babies. Texas was part of Mexico until 1836 and there are many ethnically Mexican Texans that go back to the 1800s.


46 posted on 05/11/2008 7:06:06 AM PDT by Richard Kimball (We're all criminals. They just haven't figured out what some of us have done yet.)
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To: perez24

> I didn’t realize how trendy my name was when my parents hung it on me in 1962...and how uncool it is now!!!!!

Heh, you’re lucky. I got pegged with a name that hit its popular peak in the early 1920s (#2 in 1922). It was an old traditional family name (which is why I was given it), but it was uncool when I was *born*. The only people I meet with the name are at least 70 years old...

The one upside to having an unusual name is that people remember you better! :-)


47 posted on 05/11/2008 7:09:45 AM PDT by VictoryGal (Never give up, never surrender!)
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To: mware

Bogus. Madison is not the third most popular name in the country. I don’t know a single person or kid named Madison.


48 posted on 05/11/2008 7:20:50 AM PDT by Norman Bates (Freepmail me to be part of the McCain List!)
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To: mware

My twins’ names are going to be Sarah and Samuel—didn’t make the top ten, but that’s okay by me! :-)


49 posted on 05/11/2008 7:24:50 AM PDT by pillut48 (CJ in TX --Soccer Mom and proud Rush Conservative with no dog in the presidential race now *sigh*)
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To: jalisco555; proxy_user

My daughter is named after a great-aunt, Sophie, who is about 85 years old. I think that is how these names skip multiple generations. There are a lot of Grandma and Great-Grandma Sophies out there.


50 posted on 05/11/2008 7:25:16 AM PDT by gridlock (The natural state of the world is Darfur. The freakish aberration is America - - Ann Coulter)
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