Trends in Baby Names

Every year, the Social Security Administration publishes the list of most popular baby names.  This has particular interest to the families I work with.  I think we need to shake up the list a little.  For the past 12 years, Jacob has topped the list as the most popular name for boys.  Isabella has been the most popular girls' name for the past two years running.  I might have bought into that hype a little.  When I found and adopted my little dog this past year, I did name her "Bella".  For the first time since 1957, Elvis has left the building...um, the list.  It has remained on the top 100 list for 55 straight years, which is astounding.  I've never known an Elvis.  The top names in 2010 are as follows;

Girls                                                  Boys

1. Isabella                                          1. Jacob
2. Sophia                                           2. Ethan
3. Emma                                            3. Michael
4. Olivia                                            4. Jayden
5. Ava                                               5. William

Not surprisingly, the names moving up fastest on the lists came from reality shows about teen moms.  Maci and Bentley are moving up the list.  The most popular girl names all end in the letter "a", indicating a trend toward feminine names.  Remember a few years ago, there were many unisex names on both lists.  Jayden, Hayden, Aiden, and Braden, are all on the boys' list -- a bit trendy too.  Aiden makes the list three times with different spellings, so is more popular than it may seem. 

Baby names tend to be cyclical.  Michael and William are likely named after older relatives and they cycle through generations.  A current trend in names is to be different and yet popular.  That's a tough task.  That may be why Aiden has so many spellings.  I favor simple, easily spelled names that can't be shortened to nicknames.  Of course, the best intentions don't always go as planned.  I named my youngest son Dylan.  That seems simple enough and went well with the names of his siblings, Ryan and Erin.  Who knew everyone would try to spell it "Dillon", like Matt Dillon, the sheriff?   When I chose the names of my children, there weren't too many with their names around, but it seems that simultaneously everyone had the same idea.  My son, Ryan, had 5 other Ryans on his soccer team.  It's a good thing he has an easy last name.  With Erin, I thought of the Waltons and liked the Irish connection to match our Irish roots.  I had never known another girl named Erin.  But my daughter does.  A bunch of them.  Even our neighbor is Erin.  So, in trying to be unique and yet not saddle a child with a name that everyone will get wrong, requiring the child to continually correct it, it becomes a balancing act and a difficult one at that.

Studies show that names make a difference in the classroom.  Michaels or Deborahs  tend to be favored by teachers over Freds or Beulahs.  So, keep in mind when you are naming a child that there is more to it than just liking the name.  Consider spelling, pronounciation, and popularity.  That way, William and Ava won't have an uphill battle.