2011 Baby Names Almanac - Emily Larson [3]
3. Ayden 3. Jaiden 3. Kayden 3. Braydon
4. Aden 4. Jaydon 4. Cayden 4. Braeden
5. Aaden 5. Jadon 5. Kaiden 5. Braiden
6. Adan 6. Jaeden 6. Caiden 6. Bradyn
7. Aydan 7. Jaydin 7. Kaeden 7. Braedon
8. Aydin 8. Jadyn 8. Kadyn
9. Aidyn 9. Jaidyn 9. Kadin
10. Aedan 10. Jaydan
Cameron Tristan Giovanni Devin
1. Cameron 1. Tristan 1. Giovanni 1. Devin
2. Kameron 2. Tristen 2. Giovani 2. Devon
3. Camron 3. Triston 3. Giovanny 3. Davin
4. Camren 4. Tristin 4. Jovanni 4. Deven
5. Camryn 5. Tristian 5. Jovanny 5. Devan
6. Kamron 6. Trystan 6. Geovanni 6. Devyn
7. Kamryn
Kason Jackson Connor
1. Kason 1. Jackson 1. Connor
2. Cason 2. Jaxon 2. Conner
3. Kasen 3. Jaxson 3. Conor
4. Kayson 4. Jaxton 4. Konner
5. Casen 5. Jaxen 5. Konnor
Top 643 Names, Not Top 1,000
Only 64 percent of the top 1,000 girls’ names are unique names. Only 75 percent of the top 1,000 boys’ names are unique names. The rest of the names are spelling variations of those names. Here are the three names with the most spelling variations:
Boys Girls
1. Aiden 1. Kaylee
2. Jayden 2. Carly
3. Kaden 3. Kaelyn, Hailey, Madelyn
Girls
Some of these seemed more obvious—Kaitlyn, for one—but others, like Carly, surprised us with their robust variety.
Kaylee Carly Kaelyn Hailey
1. Kaylee 1. Carly 1. Kaelyn 1. Hailey
2. Kayleigh 2. Carlee 2. Kaylin 2. Haley
3. Caylee 3. Karlee 3. Kailyn 3. Haylee
4. Kailey 4. Carlie 4. Kaylynn 4. Hayley
5. Kaylie 5. Carley 5. Kaylen 5. Hailee
6. Kaleigh 6. Karly 6. Kaylyn 6. Haleigh
7. Kailee 7. Karley 7. Cailyn 7. Haylie
8. Calleigh 8. Karlie 8. Kaelynn 8. Hayleigh
9. Caleigh 9. Karli
10. Kayley
Madelyn Abigail Kaitlyn Lilyana
1. Madelyn 1. Abigail 1. Kaitlyn 1. Liliana
2. Madeline 2. Abby 2. Katelyn 2. Lilliana
3. Madilyn 3. Abbigail 3. Caitlyn 3. Lilyana
4. Madeleine 4. Abbie 4. Caitlin 4. Lilianna
5. Madalyn 5. Abbey 5. Katelynn 5. Lillianna
6. Madelynn 6. Abagail 6. Kaitlin 6. Lilyanna
7. Madalynn 7. Abigale 7. Kaitlynn
8. Madilynn
Adeline Aaliyah Eliana Jaelyn
1. Adeline 1. Aaliyah 1. Eliana 1. Jaelyn
2. Adalyn 2. Aliyah 2. Elliana 2. Jaylynn
3. Adelyn 3. Aleah 3. Iliana 3. Jaylin
4. Adalynn 4. Aliya 4. Elianna 4. Jaylyn
5. Adelynn 5. Alia 5. Aliana 5. Jaylen
Jasmine Allison Emily Laila
1. Jasmine 1. Allison 1. Emily 1. Layla
2. Jazmin 2. Alison 2. Emely 2. Laila
3. Jazmine 3. Allyson 3. Emilee 3. Leyla
4. Jasmin 4. Alyson 4. Emilie 4. Lailah
5. Jazmyn 5. Allisson 5. Emmalee 5. Laylah
Makayla Natalie
1. Makayla 1. Natalie
2. Mikayla 2. Nataly
3. Michaela 3. Nathalie
4. Mikaela 4. Natalee
5. Mckayla 5. Nathaly
What Do the Most Popular Names Start With?
You may find it surprising, but only three of the names in the top 1,000 girl baby names for 2009 start with a W: Wendy, Whitney, and Willow. At the same time, you probably won’t find it surprising that the most popular letter that girls’ names start with is A (162 of the top 1,000), with M as a close second with 106 names. Among the boys’ names, 118 start with J, and A names comprise 90 of the total 1,000 names. In 2008 there were no U names for girls in the top 1,000 (sorry, Uma). What a difference a year makes—in 2009 every single letter in the alphabet has at least one popular boy and girl name, as Unique hopped back onto the chart (at 929) for the first time in four years.
Gender-Neutral Options
Lots of names are popular for both boys and girls, but they’re generally more popular for one gender than the other. Here’s a list of names that appeared on both the boys’ top 1,000 and the girls’ top 1,000, plus how they ranked in 2009 for each gender. Some interesting trends here—despite the popularity of NFL quarterback Peyton Manning, Payton/Peyton are both more popular for girls! And two names are roughly given to equal numbers of boys and girls: Hayden and Dakota.
Spelling Matters!
If you’re going to choose…
Skyler/Skylar: Skylar is the more popular choice for girls, Skyler for boys
Jayden, etc: Jayden is the most popular choice for boys. Jaden, Jadyn, Jaiden, and Jaidyn