The Top 20 Most Popular Baby Names (Warning: Stupidity alert!)

Netscape News ^ | 1/9/04 | anon.

[VeritatisSplendor]

The Top 20 Most Popular Baby Names

For the first time in more than a decade, the year's most popular baby name for boys is not Biblical. Move over Michael and Matthew and make room for Aidan, Jaden, and Caden--the top three boys' names for 2003, according to BabyNames.com.

Meanwhile, Madison has hung on for another year as the top name for girls, which as near as anyone can figure comes from the 1984 movie "Splash," starring Daryl Hannah in the role of a mermaid named Madison.

Top 20 boys' names:

Aidan/Aiden/Aden

Jaden/Jayden

Caden/Kaden

Ethan

Caleb

Dylan

Jacob

Jordan

Logan

Hayden

Connor

Ryan

Morgan

Cameron

Andrew

Joshua

Noah

Matthew

Addison

Ashton

Top 20 girls' names:

Madison

Emma

Abigail

Riley

Chloe

Hannah

Alexis

Isabella

Mackenzie

Taylor

Olivia

Hailey

Paige

Emily

Grace

Ava

Aaliyah

Alyssa

Faith

Brianna

BabyNames.com compiles this annual ranking of the top 20 most popular baby names using the favorite name lists created on the Web site by more than 100,000 expectant parents.

The shift in the choice of boys' names is really quite notable. "Traditionally, you see more of a fluctuation and creativity in girls' names, but this is the first year we have seen such a big change in the boys' name list," admitted Jennifer Moss, a senior partner with BabyNames.com.

"In the past 20 years, Celtic and English names--such as Ashley, Caitlyn, and Brianna--have been extremely popular for girls," adds Moss. "And now that trend is entering the boys' list with Aidan, Dylan, Logan, and Connor--a huge break from the usual trend of Biblical names like Michael and Jacob. We think as names become uni-gender for girls, parents are taking more risks and being more creative and unique with naming their boys."

[Mannaggia l'America]

For the first time in more than a decade, the year's most popular baby name for boys is not Biblical. Move over Michael and Matthew and make room for Aidan, Jaden, and Caden--the top three boys' names for 2003, according to BabyNames.com.

We were ahead of the curve. We named our son Caden back in 2000!

It was somewhat uncommon at the time, but sounded masculine enough for me. And it was about the only name on my wife's list that I would agree to.

[Jeff Chandler]

Aswipe Bajina?

[PAR35]

I got a new student today named "Quashod" and I am perplexed as to why any parent would name their name son that!

My first thought was that it was an anglicized version of an Islamic word. I googled "Kashood" and got a couple of hits, Kashod gave more than 20. Does Quashod look Pakistani, by chance, or does his family speak Urdu?

[clintonh8r]

Wow...a whole generation of future metrosexuals.

[Nea Wood]

The sad thing is, all these people naming their kids "Caden" and "Madison" think they are being soooo glamorous and unique. They're in for a big shock when they register their kids in kindergarten or preschool and find out how common the names are.

[waterstraat]

I predict Mark, Mike John, Bob and Dave

Only because Mark, Michael, John, David are Bible names. Same goes for Sarah, etc. If it wasnt for the Jewish-Christian cooalition, Bible names would not still be popular.

[cajungirl]

That is a great old thread,,600 plus replies.

[WinOne4TheGipper]

Ronald was at 104 in 1990. It's been falling ever since.

[bwteim]

I first thought you meant the whole thread -- good, too. But 179 is a classic.

You may want to try this link to that post #179 and its replies instead.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/843462/replies?comment=179

[Huber]

What ever happened to George, Gary, Walter, Harry, Roger, Shirley, Sandy, Sherry, Marcella, Betty, Phyllis, Bess, Velma?

You can still see "Velma" on Scooby Doo reruns.

[cajungirl]

Damnit, you had smart parents,,they made you funny!!

[Jeff Chandler]

Quahog?

[Arpege92]

"....what is wrong with the old standbys such as James, William, Joe, David etc.?"

Absolutely nothing. In fact, my son's name is James. He was named after his dad who was also named after his dad. I call my son James because Jim belongs to my father-in-law and Jimmy is what they call my hubby. Confusing I know.

[Jeff Chandler]

Lourdes

Lourde is actually quite common, it's just not English

[PAR35]

Why do they all have to sound like characters on some soap opera?

You may have answered your own question.

[The Great RJ]

They forgot to add:

• Lemonjello
  
• Dibetes
  
• Clymidea

[Jeff Chandler]

We have a very close friend named Lourdes. She is originally from Puerto Rico, and is as close to a living saint as anyone we know.

[oil]

My niece named her daughter Caden Jade in 1995. She goes by Jade. I frequently call her Caden Jaden.

[weef]

I think someone hacked the site.

I agree. If you go to the site it's really a survey of names from the site's visitors, not birth records. Now let me guess who's been visiting it the most...

[cajungirl]

"walter" cronkite was on tv today, I thought he was dead,is he dead?