Personal popularity statistics

General Name Discussion
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(sorry in advance this is long)

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[name_m]Hi[/name_m] berries!

[name_f][/name_f]

Like a lot of you I anxiously await mother’s day weekend here in the states every year to see the new SSA baby name popularity data. I also religiously check the nameberry site for the updated ‘Playground Analysis’ article once the SSA data drops.

[name_f][/name_f]

Since I love statistics and trend watching so much, starting during covid lockdown, I started keeping track of what my friends and acquaintances were naming their babies. I felt like at the time, the people I know having babies weren’t using the “popular” names as much and I wanted to see if there was a difference in the popular names in my social circle vs. the wider population. I am a mid-90s baby so my social circle is in the pregnancy/having kids phase of life and it feels like every day there’s a new baby announcement on social media…I literally won’t delete social media because of this lol. [name_f]My[/name_f] little list on my phone has turned into a full on spreadsheet. [name_f]My[/name_f] close girlfriends all know about “The List” and we look over it when the topic of babies comes up.

[name_f][/name_f]

Because I did start this list to look at the trends and popularity of names, and NOT to be a stalker I have been looking at some trends now that the list of babies has grown to 330+ names. Since I know there are other statistic nerds on here I thought I would share some of the trends I’ve seen.

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[name_m]Just[/name_m] some cultural notes that give some context… The list contains babies of all races/religions/socioeconomic backgrounds (I’m from DC which is very diverse) but I would say white, middle class, christian (at least culturally) babies make up the majority. Majority east coast as that’s where I’m from, but I have friends all over the US. I did go to college in the south, thus having many southern friends, so there could be a slight southern bias as well.

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Boys first name trends:

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10 babies [name_f][/name_f]- Jack/Jackson (+ variant spellings)
[name_f][/name_f]6 babies [name_f][/name_f]- Names that begin with “Cal” and could use that for a nickname
[name_f][/name_f]6 babies [name_f][/name_f]- Names that begin with “Wes” and could use that for a nickname
[name_f][/name_f]6 babies [name_f][/name_f]- Luca/Luke/Lucas
[name_f][/name_f]5 babies [name_f][/name_f]- [name_m]Miles[/name_m]
[name_f][/name_f]4 babies [name_f][/name_f]- Beau/Bo
[name_f][/name_f]4 babies [name_f][/name_f]- [name_m]Brooks[/name_m]
[name_f][/name_f]4 babies [name_f][/name_f]- [name_m]Graham[/name_m]

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_m]Boy[/name_m] middle name trends: (no spelling variations here)

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9 babies [name_f][/name_f]- [name_m]James[/name_m]
[name_f][/name_f]9 babies [name_f][/name_f]- [name_m]Michael[/name_m]
[name_f][/name_f]4 babies [name_f][/name_f]- [name_m]Andrew[/name_m]
[name_f][/name_f]4 babies [name_f][/name_f]- [name_m]Charles[/name_m]
[name_f][/name_f]4 babies [name_f][/name_f]- [name_m]Joseph[/name_m]
[name_f][/name_f]4 babies [name_f][/name_f]- [name_m]Scott[/name_m]

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]Girl[/name_f] first name trends:

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10 babies [name_f][/name_f]- L alliteration names (think all the different spellings of Lila/Leila/Lily)
[name_f][/name_f]7 babies [name_f][/name_f]- “Eve” names (Evelyn/Everly and all the spellings)
[name_f][/name_f]6 babies [name_f][/name_f]- “El” names (names that start with [name_f]El[/name_f] and could use [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] as a nickname)
[name_f][/name_f]5 babies [name_f][/name_f]- “Mad” names (Madeline/Madison and various spellings)
[name_f][/name_f]4 babies [name_f][/name_f]- [name_f]Caroline[/name_f]

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]Girl[/name_f] middle name trends: (these have some different spelling variations, I reported the most common spelling)

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9 babies [name_f][/name_f]- [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f]7 babies [name_f][/name_f]- [name_f]Mae[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f]6 babies [name_f][/name_f]- [name_f]Grace[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f]6 babies [name_f][/name_f]- [name_f]Rose[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f]5 babies [name_f][/name_f]- [name_f]Ann[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f]5 babies [name_f][/name_f]- [name_f]Jane[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f]5 babies [name_f][/name_f]- [name_f]Lynn[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f]5 babies [name_f][/name_f]- [name_f]Marie[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f]4 babies [name_f][/name_f]- [name_f]Claire[/name_f]

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5 baby boys and 14 baby girls are what I refer to as “doublers” where their first and middle names both are in my trend categories.

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Now I wanted to see how the SSA top 10 measures up to my list.

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Boys:

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[name_m]Liam[/name_m] [name_f][/name_f]- 2
[name_f][/name_f][name_m]Noah[/name_m] [name_f][/name_f]- 1
[name_f][/name_f][name_m]Oliver[/name_m] [name_f][/name_f]- ZERO
[name_f][/name_f][name_m]James[/name_m] [name_f][/name_f]- 2
[name_f][/name_f][name_m]Elijah[/name_m] [name_f][/name_f]- ZERO
[name_f][/name_f][name_m]Mateo[/name_m] [name_f][/name_f]- ZERO
[name_f][/name_f][name_m]Theodore[/name_m] [name_f][/name_f]- ZERO
[name_f][/name_f][name_m]Henry[/name_m] [name_f][/name_f]- 3
[name_f][/name_f][name_m]Lucas[/name_m] [name_f][/name_f]- 1
[name_f][/name_f][name_m]William[/name_m] [name_f][/name_f]- 2

[name_f][/name_f]

Girls:

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[name_f]Olivia[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- 1
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Emma[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- ZERO
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- ZERO
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Amelia[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- ZERO
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Sophia[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- 2
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Mia[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- 1
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Isabella[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- ZERO
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Ava[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- ZERO
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Evelyn[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- 4
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Luna[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- 1

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]My[/name_f] list is a living document so I’m posting this so when I look at the trends again in a few years I can look back to see what changes have happened. But I’m also interested to hear (if anyone actually reads this far down lol) what naming trends you notice socially and if you think that your social group is ahead of the curve or behind it or right on trend or just totally off in space :slight_smile:
[name_f][/name_f](or if anyone else has done something similar because you are as psycho as me)

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This is so interesting, thank you for sharing it! I’m especially intrigued by how many Grahams there are and [name_m]Wes[/name_m]- and [name_m]Cal[/name_m]- names!

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[name_m]Scott[/name_m] as one of the most common middle names is also interesting to me! I’m wondering if it’s usually an honor for dads or grandfathers? I just feel like it’s not nearly as timeless as the other trendy middle names (and in fact is a little “dated” and on the decline popularity-wise?). I guess it does have that “one syllable middle name” appeal.

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There really are so many Grahams! and there is no spelling variations either.

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I do believe [name_m]Scott[/name_m] is an honor name for a few of the babies’ grandfathers!

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Well I also know someone who used the middle Name [name_m]Scott[/name_m] for his son because of the heritage. Her family is originally from Scottland

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This is fascinating!

[name_f][/name_f]

I’m surprised by how many Beaus/Bos, [name_m]Brooks[/name_m] and 'Cal’s you’ve noticed! and Grahams! Where I am that is not[name_f][/name_f] a baby name right now :grin:

[name_f][/name_f]

Also that you’ve noted more Evelyns that Olivias!

[name_f][/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f]

Only one person in my (admittedly very small) social circle has had a baby, so I can’t comment much on my social circle [name_f][/name_f]- but I do like to keep track of the names I hear out and about in my local area, and I’ve noted these trends:

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    [name_f][/name_f]
  • Short, nickname-y style names for boys (notably: [name_m]Albie[/name_m][name_f][/name_f], [name_m]Bertie[/name_m], [name_m]Jack[/name_m], [name_m]Alfie[/name_m], [name_m]Charlie[/name_m], [name_m]Leo[/name_m], [name_m]Zach[/name_m], Kai)
    • [name_f][/name_f]
  • But long names for girls, often used in full (notably: [name_f]Penelope[/name_f], [name_f]Viola[/name_f], [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], [name_f]Imogen[/name_f], [name_f]Harriet[/name_f], [name_f]Arabella[/name_f], Anastasia)
    • [name_f][/name_f]
  • What I’ll call ‘American-feeling’ names [name_f][/name_f]- because they were popular there first (notably: [name_m]Austin[/name_m], [name_m]Phoenix[/name_m], [name_f]Navy[/name_f], [name_f]Nova[/name_f], [name_m]Hunter[/name_m], [name_f]Eden[/name_f], Macey)
    • [name_f][/name_f]
  • hyphenated names for girls (notably using -Jo, -Jay, -Mai, -Mae)
    • [name_f][/name_f]
  • Mismatched sibsets? Does that count as a trend? But I keep encountering siblings with names that are stylistically very different [name_f][/name_f]- or rank very differently in terms of popularity (think [name_f]Riley[/name_f] (g) and [name_f]Keturah[/name_f], [name_m]Jack[/name_m] and [name_m]Edgar[/name_m], [name_m]Arlo[/name_m] and Esther…)
    • [name_f][/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f]

Thanks for sharing your observations!

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I think sometimes national statistics can be misleading, cultural speaking where I live in DC has little in common with places like [name_f]Alaska[/name_f], [name_m]West[/name_m] [name_m]Texas[/name_m], or Maine… so it makes sense that naming trends would be different, but the statistics are all combined. I do appreciate that they break them out by state as well.
[name_f][/name_f]I love seeing how parents navigate naming multiple children. I think it shows how different people perceive certain names differently then we do. But I have to say I get so excited when someone announces a younger child’s name that just goes perfectly with the older sibling/siblings.

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This is such a relatable hyperfixation LOL I love it!! [name_f]My[/name_f] experiences line up with a few of these (though we are in very different parts of the country, as you say DC and [name_m]Texas[/name_m] have very different naming styles). I’ve also met an insane number of Jacksons/spelling variations, [name_m]Miles[/name_m], and so so so so so many Carolines.

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So interesting! I love comparing “real-life” trends to the stats, though I only do so mentally haha. I am not surprised by how many Evelyn’s you’ve seen, I see and hear it everywhere, same for the [name_f]El[/name_f]- names and [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] as a middle.

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Not surprised by all the Jacks either, but shocked you have yet to encounter [name_m]Theodore[/name_m]! I feel like I can’t turn my head without seeing it.

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A typical neighborhood of kids in my area would look something like: [name_f]Mia[/name_f] (sooo many!) [name_m]Brody[/name_m], [name_m]Jack[/name_m], [name_f]Evelyn[/name_f], [name_f]Ella[/name_f], [name_f]Eloise[/name_f], [name_m]Henry[/name_m], [name_m]River[/name_m]. & tons of grandma/grandpa names like [name_f]Betty[/name_f], [name_m]Calvin[/name_m], and [name_m]George[/name_m]!

[name_f][/name_f]

thanks for sharing!!

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This is so interesting to me, thank you for sharing!

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I honestly would love to be able to do something similar or at least have data that is even more regional than my state. I did once go through a middle school year book and look at names used 3+ times in my 8th grade class out of curiousity. This would have been babies named in 1989 and 1990. The list is coped straight from my phone so it isnt in any way organized.

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[name_f][/name_f][name_f][/name_f]Summary[name_f][/name_f]

[name_m]Matthew[/name_m] 4

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[name_m]Jordan[/name_m] variants 6 (5 girls!)

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[name_m]Taylor[/name_m] 4

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[name_m]Michael[/name_m] 3

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[name_f]Rachel[/name_f] 3

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[name_m]Adam[/name_m] 4

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[name_f]Rebecca[/name_f] / [name_f]Becca[/name_f] variants 3

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[name_m]Ian[/name_m] 3

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[name_f]Sarah[/name_f] 4

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[name_m]Aaron[/name_m] 3

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[name_f]Caitlyn[/name_f] and [name_f]Kate[/name_f] variants 5

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[name_m]Alex[/name_m] / [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] 5 (plus 1 [name_m]Aleksander[/name_m], [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f] 2)

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[name_f]Samantha[/name_f] 3

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[name_f]Katherine[/name_f] variants 4

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[name_m]Joe[/name_m] / [name_m]Joey[/name_m] 3

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[name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] 4

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[name_f]Emily[/name_f] variants 3

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Notably, the top 3 names for girls in my state that year aren’t on my list, nor are the number [name_f][/name_f] 1 and 3 boys names. On mobile it is harder for me to look at the top 5 by year by state, but regardless it is interesting to me.

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Oh wow I didn’t even think to look back in time at statistics! I will be digging out my old yearbooks soon haha what a great idea!

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