2011 Baby Names Almanac - Emily Larson [7]
Options still off the radar: Artemis, Antigone, Aphrodite, Ariadne, Athena, Calliope, Cassandra, Circe, Cleopatra, Echo, Electra, Eurydice, Euterpe, Gaia, Halcyone, Ione, Iris, Juno, Lavinia, Maia, Medea, Minerva, Persephone, Psyche, Rhea, Selene, Thalia, Venus
Boys’ Names
1998 Rank
2009 Rank
Alexander
22
4
Cassius
—
998
Jason
40
66
Marcus
96
123
Hector
185
204
Antony
832
984
Ways to Make This Trend Your Own
Options still off the radar: Achilles, Aeneas, Apollo, Cadmus, Dionysus, Endymion, Hercules, Hermes, Hyperion, Icarus, Janus, Mercury, Midas, Minos, Morpheus, Odysseus, Orion, Orpheus, Pegasus, Perseus, Prometheus, Ptolemy, Theseus, Vulcan, Zeus
A CORNUCOPIA OF PURITAN NAMES
Many names have remained popular for hundreds of years, such as Emily, Olivia, Michael, and Matthew. However, in recent years, names with a Puritan bent in particular have been all the rage. You probably know at least one Ethan or Emma—names that would be equally at home in 1700s Salem, Massachusetts, and on today’s playgrounds. Here’s a look at trends in Puritan names from this decade and the last.
Girls’ Names
1995 Rank
2009 Rank
Abigail
36
8
Leah
103
28
Faith
172
80
Hope
193
233
Martha
305
682
Charity
496
876
Constance
748
—
Ways to Make This Trend Your Own
Options still off the radar: Honor, Mercy, Providence
Boys’ Names
1995 Rank
2009 Rank
Caleb
54
31
Levi
158
88
Asher
929
165
Boys’ Names
1995 Rank
2009 Rank
Silas
755
254
Tobias
722
506
Asa
799
553
Frederick
316
536
Hugh
806
988
Ways to Make This Trend Your Own
Options still off the radar: Ebenezer, Abner, Enoch, Sylas
NAMES ENDING WITH AN N SOUND
For years, parents have selected names ending with an n sound. It’s not hard to see the appeal—they go well with both usual and unusual last names. Many have noted how many hot 100 boys’ names rhyme with Aiden (Jayden, Brayden, Caden), but there are countless other common names that end with that familiar, last-name-friendly consonant ending.
Girls’ Names
2000 Rank
2009 Rank
Madison
3
7
Brooklyn
177
37
Evelyn
150
39
Peyton
168
43
Madelyn
126
59
Jocelyn
122
70
Payton
163
84
Vivian
272
164
Quinn
311
258
Kaylen
—
681
Ways to Make This Trend Your Own
Options still off the radar: Raelin, Avan, Jessamyn, Jean (while this name seems traditional, it hasn’t appeared in the top 1,000 since 1994)
Boys’ Names
2000 Rank
2009 Rank
Ethan
25
2
Jayden
194
8
Aiden
324
12
Logan
40
17
Nathan
30
24
Jackson
72
25
Landon
200
36
Brayden
199
47
Grayson
313
172
Jaylen
224
175
Anderson
781
288
Ways to Make This Trend Your Own
Options still off the radar: Runyan, Jameson, Ryman, Wilson
SHE’S NO LADY…SHE’S A PALINDROME
A number of fairly common girls’ names are palindromes—words that are spelled the same backward and forward—but only one palindrome pops up in the boys’ top 1,000: Asa. Of course, one of the most popular boys’ names has a nickname that fits the bill: Bob, for Robert. Note that a popular twin combination, Aidan and Nadia, is a palindrome.
Name
2009 Rank
Ava
5
Hannah
23
Anna
29
Elle
442
Eve
582
Ways to Make This Trend Your Own
Options still off the radar: Aviva, Emme, Aja
LAST NAMES FIRST
We’ve already looked at gender-neutral names on page 20, and the surname as first name fad is a deeper twist on that. It’s interesting that the top 10 names for both genders in 2009 were all “traditional” first names, considering last names as first names is perhaps one of the biggest trends of the past 10 years. Take a look at some of the more popular choices for boys and girls.
Girls’ Names
2009 Rank
Peyton
43
Morgan
56
Mackenzie
77
Kennedy
114
Reagan
128
Kendall
133
Shelby
167
Macy
286
Ansley
658
Ways to Make This Trend Your Own
Options still off the radar: Golden, Kingsley, Sheridan, Easton, Curtis, Banfield,