Saturday, May 17, 2008

Mary Was a Grand Old Name

Mary was the most popular name from about 1880 (when the Social Security Administration began) through the early 1960s. It began a slow decline in the early 60s and picked up declining speed until this year, when Mary finally dropped out of the top 100. For at least 120 years (and most likely more, even though there aren't the records to verify it), Mary has reigned supreme, but last year it fell to 109, just slightly more popular than Aniya, Reagan and Kennedy and slightly less popular than Autumn, Paige and Molly (itself an older pet form of Mary).

Not forgotten, though, other forms of Mary, such as Maria and Mariah are still hanging on at 74 and 88 respectively.

Besides the ones above, the top 700 also has these other forms of Mary: Marissa (#128), Mariana (#164), Marisol (#151), Mariam (#169), Miriam (#271), Marilyn (#407), Maren (#410), Maritza (#413), Marie (#425), Mayra (#494), Mara (#517), Mariela (#531), Maribel (#588), and Maryjane (#592). Plus, according to my non-scientific Middle Name Survey, Marie has been the most popular middle name for girls for at least 50 years and remains so today.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

2007 Name Popularity is in!

The Social Security Administration released its annual Baby Name Popularity list! I've grouped the names by spelling to give you a more accurate picture of where names fall in popularity. My method is by no means infallible (check the FAQ).

Here is the top 25 for each sex (the most popular spelling is first, followed by the second etc.):


UUCN top boys' names:


  1. Aiden, Aidan, Aden, Adan, Adin, Aedan, Aidyn, Ayden, Aydan, Aydin
  2. Jayden, Jaden, Jaiden, Jadon, Jaydon, Jadyn, Jaydin, Jaidyn, Jaydan, Jaeden
  3. Jacob, Jakob
  4. Michael, Micheal
  5. Christopher, Cristopher, Cristofer, Kristopher
  6. Ethan, Ethen
  7. Joshua
  8. Daniel
  9. Anthony, Antony
  10. Matthew, Mathew
  11. William
  12. Nicholas, Nicolas, Nickolas, Nikolas
  13. Alexander, Alexzander
  14. Andrew
  15. Caden, Caiden, Cayden, Kaden, Kayden, Kaiden, Kadin, Kaeden, Kadyn
  16. Christian, Cristian, Kristian
  17. David
  18. Jonathan, Johnathan, Jonathon, Johnathon
  19. Noah
  20. Ryan, Rayan
  21. James
  22. Logan
  23. John, Jon
  24. Caleb, Kaleb


UUCN top girls' names:


  1. Sophia, Sofia
  2. Emily, Emely, Emilee, Emilie, Emmalee
  3. Isabella, Izabella, Isabela
  4. Madison, Madyson, Maddison, Madisyn
  5. Olivia, Alivia, Alyvia
  6. Emma
  7. Ava
  8. Hailey, Haley, Haylee, Hayley, Haylie, Hailee, Haleigh, Hailie, Hayleigh
  9. Abigail, Abbigail, Abigayle, Abagail, Abigale
  10. Kaitlyn, Katelyn, Caitlyn, Caitlin, Katelynn, Kaitlin, Kaitlynn, Katlyn
  11. Brianna, Briana, Breanna, Bryanna, Breana
  12. Addison, Addyson, Addisyn, Adyson, Adison
  13. Hannah, Hanna, Hana
  14. Sarah, Sara
  15. Elizabeth, Elisabeth
  16. Alyssa, Alissa, Elisa, Alisa, Allyssa
  17. Ashley, Ashlee, Ashleigh, Ashly
  18. Natalie, Nataly, Nathalie, Natalee, Nathaly
  19. Jasmine, Jasmin, Jazmin, Jazmine, Jazmyn, Jasmyn
  20. Madeline, Madelyn, Madeleine, Madalyn, Madilyn, Madelynn, Madalynn, Madilynn
  21. Samantha
  22. Mia, Miah, Miya
  23. Kaylee, Kailey, Kayleigh, Kaylie, Kaleigh, Kailee, Kaley, Kayley
  24. Chloe, Khloe, Cloe
  25. Lily, Lilly, Lillie



CONGRATULATIONS, SOPHIA! Sophia has bumped Emily out of the top spot for the first time in about 13 years!

Sunday, May 04, 2008

54!

I've found 54 ways to spell /zha NAY/-- real, true spellings used by parents in 1995 alone:

Chanae
Chaney
Genee
Jahnae
Janaay
Janae
Ja'nae
Janai
Janay
Ja'nay
Ja'nea
Janee
Jannae
Jaunae
Jeanae
Jea'nae
Jeanay
Jenae
Jenay
Jene
Jenea
Je'nea
Jenee
Jeneh
Jhanay
Jinae
J'nae
J'nae
J'ne
J'nee
J'net
Johnnae
Johnnai
Jonae
Jonay
Jonaye
Jonnay
Jynae
Shanae
Shanai
Shanay
Shanaye
Shanea
Sha'Nea
Shanee
Shaneye
Shenae
Shenai
Shenaye
Sheney
Zanae
Zchonae
Zhanae
Zhane