Popular Names for 2008

[sandtree.livejournal.com]

Every year, my local newspaper has this giant section devoted to the babies who were born over the past year. Being a giant geek, for the past three years, I've compiled all the baby names to see which ones were most popular. Keep in mind that these statistics represent people in my city who have the money and the inclination to put their kid's picture and name into this special feature thing... Anyway, that said:

Out of 664 babies born in 2008...


The number in brackets is the actual number of babies (out of 664) that were named that. Many of the names are tied; for example, there were ten boys named Lucas, and ten boys named Nicholas.

MOST POPULAR NAMES FOR BOYS IN 2008

1. Noah (12)

2. Lucas (10)
Lucas (8)
Lucus
Lukas

3. Nicholas (10)
Nicholas (6)
Nickolas (2)
Nicolas (2)

4. Ethan (8)

5. Nathan (8)

6. Alexander (7)

7. Carter (6)
Carter (5)
Karter

8. Gavin (6)

9. Jack (6)

Other popular names: Aidan(3)/Aiden(2), Benjamin(5), Jackson(3)/Jaxon(2), Liam(4)/Liem, Logan(5), Luca(5), Owen(5), Ryan (5), Zachary(4)/Zackary, Adam(4), Caiden(2)/Kaiden/Kayden, Connor(3)/Conner, Easton(4), Eric(4), Matteo(4), Michael(4), Tyler(4).

Other names:
Andrew, Anthony, Carson, Cohen/Kohen, Colin, Cooper, Evan, Giovanni, Jacob, Maxwell, Nico/Niko. (3 for each.)

Aaron, Austin, Bennett, Brandon, Brendan/Brenden, Brody, Cameron, Dayne, Dylan, Edward, Elliott, Henry, James, Joseph, Joshua, Julian/Julien, Justin, Leo, Luke, Matthew, Nolan, Oliver, Rhys/Reese, Rory/Rorry, Stephen, Sebastian/Sebastien, Theodore, Thomas, William, Zane. (2 for each.)

Names given to only one baby: Adrian, Adriano, Alessio, Anson, Arthur, Ayrton-Anthony, Beau, Brayden, Braylon, Brock, Broden, Brooke, Calen, Calvin, Charlie, Chaseton, Christian, Cillian, Clayton, Cole, Coleton, Curtis, Daniel, Dante, David, Devon, Dmitri, Domenic, Donovan, Eamon, Everett, Francesco, Gage, Gerald, Gian, Gianluca, GianMarco, Griffin, Harrison, Isaac, Jake, Jonah, Jorey, Julius, Kane, Kristopher, Kyle, Landon, Makai, Maksim, Manuel, Marcus, Maro, Mason, Maximus, Maxum, Mitchell, Nathaniel, Parker, Patrick, Pearson, Peter, Pierce, Preston, Quinn, Raymond, Remi, Roarke, Robert, Rocco, Romeo, Salvatore, Sam, Samuel, Santiago, Seth, Seweryn, Skyler, Tariq, Tate, Tiago, Travis, Trevor, Tristan, Troy, Ty, Vincent, Walker, Wayne, Xavier, Zaidan, Zeno.



MOST POPULAR NAMES FOR GIRLS IN 2008

1. Ava (11)

2. Isabella (9)
Isabella (8)
Izabella

3. Sophia (9)
Sophia (7)
Sofia (2)

4. Olivia (8)

5. Addison (7)
Addison (6)
Addyson

6. Emma (6)

7. Leah (6)
Leah (4)
Lea
Lia

8. Claire (5)

9. Emily (5)
Emily (4)
Emilie

10. Makenna (5)
Makenna (3)
McKenna
Mckenna

Other popular names: Adriana(3)/Adrianna, Alexis(4), Brianna(3)/Breanna, Lauren(4), Lilly(2)/Lily(2), Michaela/Mackayla/Mikaela/Mikayla, Madelynn(2)/Madeleine/Madelyn, Meghan(2)/Megan/Meaghan, Sienna(4).

Other names:
Abigail, Alessia, Allegra, Audrey, Avery, Daniella, Elizabeth, Emerson, Grace, Julia, Lexi/Lexie, Mackenzie/Mackennze, Mila, Molly, Ruby, Sadie/Sayde, Sarah, Zoe. (3 each.)

Alexia, Alyssa, Amelia, Angelina/Angellina, Aubrey, Brooke, Cameron, Chelsea, Eden, Eliana/Elliana, Finley/Finnleigh, Hanna/Hannah, Jenna, Kaitlyn/Katelyn, Kalleigh/Kallie, Katie, Kaylee/Kayleigh, Keira, Liliana, Marissa, Maysa, Miley, Paige, Rachel, Sabrina, Sophie, Stella, Teagan. (2 each.)

Names given to only one baby: Abbee, Adalin, Adelaide, Aelwynn, Aevlyn, Aleksandra, Alexa, Alexandria, Alice, Alivia, Aliyah, Allie, Amber, Anna, Annalise, Annie, Anya, April, Arabella, Aria, Arissa, Braylin, Bridgid, Brynn, Calista, Carly, Cassandra, Caylin, Chloe, Christina, Corinne, Dalilah, Danica, Danni, Daria, Daviney, Dea, Eirinn, Elexis, Emelia, Emery, Erika, Esme, Estelle, Evanna, Fallon, Gabriella, Gaia, Georgia, Giada, Gianna, Giuliana, Gracie, Gracyn, Haylie, Irelyn, Ivy, Jade, Jadyn, Jane, Jorja, Juno, Kailey-Ann, Katalina, Katerina, Kayce, Kelsea, Kennadie, Kylee, Lainey, Lana, Leisi, Leonie, Lindsey, Luna, Lyla, Maddalena, Madeline, Madison, Mah’Lani, Maja, Malena, Malia, Mateja, Meleia, Mena, Meridith, Mia, Michela, Milania, Mya, Nancy, Nina, Nuha, Ozegho, Paighton, Pyper, Rebecca, Reina, Ria, Samantha, Savana, Serina, Skye, Summer, Sydney, Taylor, Valentina, Vanessa, Veronica, Victoria, Whitney


MIDDLE NAMES!

The most popular middle name for boys was James (21), followed by Joseph (15), William (13), Michael (11), Daniel (10), and Robert (10).

For girls, it was Marie (22), Grace (19), Rose (18), Ann/Anne (10), and Mae/Mai/May (8). After that came Claire, Elizabeth, Lynn, and Maria, all with 7, and Jean and Leigh, with 6.

And my vote for the worst names for 2008, for boys: Jaxon, Ayrton-Anthony, Braylon, Broden, Chaseton (probably THE worst), and Zaidan.

And for girls: Finnleigh, Braylin, Gracyn, Jadyn, Jorja, Kailey-Ann, Paighton, Pyper.

Comments

[c8rocksit.livejournal.com]

I shouldn't be one to talk about odd spellings of names, but Finnleigh makes me want to gauge my eyes out.

[kilobites.livejournal.com]

I am always interested to see how James is thought of as such a middle name--that's where it seems to be most popular. I intend to use it as a first name, so I'm not too worried about the popularity thing, but I think that's interesting.

Chaseton is really bad. Zaidan just makes me laugh.

[bluedano.livejournal.com]

I'm interested in that too. My son's middle name is James and my husband argued that he didn't want to use it because it's so common, but I really wanted to honor my grandpa. I wonder whether others use it because James/Jim was more common a first name in previous generations and they're honoring someone, or if it's just a go-to middle name like Loise, Ann, and Marie were for girls born in the 80s.

[kristinluffsyou.livejournal.com]

I kinda....like Finnleigh. But not the spelling. And i'd never. ever. ever. EVER. use it.

[sandtree.livejournal.com]

I think the spelling is the worst part, honestly. If I saw a girl named 'Finley', I wouldn't really like it, but I wouldn't think, "Oh my God, that poor girl, what a hideous name."

[qtshorty1625.livejournal.com]

Same here. It's like, you kind of have to think about it a second to ponder how to pronounce it. But then, if I remember correctly "Ashley" was originally spelled "Ashleigh". I think part of the reason I don't really like Finley is because I knew someone whose last name was Finney, and that's what it reminds me of.

[qtshorty1625.livejournal.com]

I like:

Ethan
Nathan
Alexander
Aidan/Aiden
Eric
Andrew
Evan
Aaron
Brandon
Brendan
Matthew
Kristopher
Kyle

Ava
Isabella
Emma
Leah
Lily
Grace
Alyssa
Kaitlyn
Jenna
Katie (though I like it better as a nickname)
Liliana
Rachel
Alexa
Annalise
Chloe
Danni (I prefer it spelled Dani and as a nickname)
Gracie (I like it better as a nickname)
Gracyn
Sydney

I could do any of the boy middle names.

Marie
Rose
Anne
Mae
Lynn

I don't know, it's funny but as I look through names, I found there are some that it's not that I don't like them, it's just that they don't stick out to me, or I know so many people with them that I just don't hold an opinion because I associate it with someone(s).

[heatherpantss.livejournal.com]

Luna? Really? All I can think of is Harry Potter, haha.

[0o-faerie.livejournal.com]

Lucus? That's...so gross.

I do like:
Nicholas
Nathan
Jack
Jake
Adam
Matteo
Mason
Dylan
Joseph
Leo
Adrian
Nathaniel
Sam
Seth

Leah
Emily/Emilie
Audrey
Julia
Sadie
Paige
Anya
April
Lana
May

[0o-faerie.livejournal.com]

*Ooh I totally missed Luna. I like that one too!

[roseofjuly.livejournal.com]

Lucus, looks like mucus.

That's my 8-year-old self speaking.

[stummyflies.livejournal.com]

Noah
Ethan
Jack
Andrew
Henry
Patrick
Tristan

Ava
Sophia
Olivia
Leah
Claire
Lily
Madelyn
Mila
Ruby
Anna
Corinne
Madeline
Vanessa
Veronica
Mae

[skittles22088.livejournal.com]

I like:
Nicholas
Alexander
Jack
Benjamin
Logan
Owen
Michael
Edward
Leo
Luke
Sebastian
Griffin
Harrison

Isabella
Olivia
Leah
Emily
Madelyn
Sienna
Avery
Aubrey
Chelsea
Eden
Keira
Adelaide
Danica
Luna
Sydney

[snoglobel.livejournal.com]

I think Abbee is one of the worst ones.

[laminy.livejournal.com]

I like (*s are on my list)

Noah*
Alexander
Jack*
Benjamin
Liam
Luca*
Cohen
Austin
Brendan
Dayne*
Dylan
Henry
James
Rhys*
Sebastien*
Beau*
Cillian
Nathaniel*
Salvatore
Sam, Samuel*
Santiago
Seth
Tristan

Michaela
Avery*
Ruby*
Cassandra*
Georgia
Juno*
Valentina

It really does irk me that the boys names I like are so popular. I think it's because my taste for boys names is a lot different than girls names, they're mostly names that have been popular for awhile, the classic names, I guess.

[patsfan610.livejournal.com]

i like:
Noah
Lucas/Lukas
Nathan
Aiden
Benjamin
Jackson
Liam
Owen
Adam
Connor
Matteo
Michael
Tyler
Andrew
Anthony
Colin
Cooper
Jacob
Maxwell
Austin
Bennett
Edward
Henry
James
Joshua
Julian
Justin
Leo
Matthew
Oliver
Thomas
William
Arthur
Brayden
David
Griffin
Landon
Marcus
Nathaniel
Samuel
Seth
Travis

Isabella
Olivia
Addison
Emma
Leah
Claire
Emily/Emilie
Alexis
Lily
Elizabeth
Grace
Jenna
Esme

[kilobites.livejournal.com]

I don't get how Gavin is so popular. I am really not a fan.

[heure-actuelle.livejournal.com]

i actually don't mind Jorja. Seweryn? oh geez.

names that are on my list [with diff. spelling]: Evan, Elliot, Colin, Leo, Jonah, Adrian, Parker, Remy, Giovanni, Gavin, Danica, Ivy, Summer, Mina

[subluxate]

Lucus? Seriously? How cruel of the parents.

[lind-saay.livejournal.com]

Noah
Lucas
Nicholas
Nathan
Alexander
Jack
Benjamin
Ryan
Zachary
Adam
Michael
Andrew
Anthony
Colin
Evan
Nico
Cameron
Elliott
Henry
James
Joseph
Leo
Luke
Matthew
Nolan
Oliver
Sebastian
Theodore
Thomas
William
Adrian
Arthur
Calvin
Charlie
David
Isaac
Jonah
Nathaniel
Patrick
Samuel

Leah
Lia
Emily
Lily
Allegra
Audrey
Elizabeth
Molly
Ruby
Amelia
Sophie
Stella
Alice
Anna
Esme
Madeline

[sxylilwitch.livejournal.com]

Chaseton and Karter LOL

I love that someone named their kid Maximus. That kid better grow up to be a bad ass or he's fucked.

[biancasablancas.livejournal.com]

Oh dear, I love Leah, Emily, Claire and Sofia :( and Noah, Alexander and Lucas. This is so unfair! I hope by the time I have kids (in ten years or so) they wont be dated because of their popularity now.

[lava-sharks.livejournal.com]

"McKenna"? Ew.

[deer-lanterns.livejournal.com]

Calvin & Alice.

[ugottafriend.livejournal.com]

Makenna and McKenna are not the same name. Makenna is African and means "Happiness". McKenna is a Celtic surname meaning "Son of Ken".

I agree 100 percent with your worst names list. Ugh.

[sandtree.livejournal.com]

I've never heard of Makenna being an African name. Everything I've seen gives it as a variant of 'McKenna'. I'm pretty sure that's what these people were going for, in any case.

[daydream11.livejournal.com]

Well, true. But I bet the parents view them as variations of the same name, since the pronunciations are alike/similar. If Makenna and McKenna end up in the same class in five years, I'm sure the parents will glance at the roster and huff, "Some lady stole my child's name, and then had the nerve to spell it wrong."

[pythianlegume7.livejournal.com]

Where in Africa does it mean happiness?

[corielcries.livejournal.com]

Interesting that there were four Matteos. I love that name!

I definitely agree with you on the worst name list. Broden and Paighton?

[roseofjuly.livejournal.com]

See, I have a think for popular boys' names -- I love Noah (but my fiance's boss named his son Noah, and so I can't name my son that), Nicholas, Ethan (I love this name but the fiance hates it), Nathaniel, and Alexander. I also love Adam (my favorite boys' name right now). I also think Adrian is nice, but I prefer it on a girl (as Adrienne). I also really like Jonah.

But for my girls, I'd just really rather them have a classic and yet unique name -- you know, so they don't have to be Addison B in their kindergarten class. In my experience girls seem more annoyed by it than boys, plus I'm more into very pretty, classic and not-trendy girls' names. Beyond that, I can't stand Addison anyway (or Madison, I hate both of those names).

I think Isabella and Sophia are pretty (my little cousin's name is Sophia), and I like Emma and Leah too. Claire I love, and even though it's fairly popular I would keep that, possibly as a middle name. Ava would be pretty as a middle name (I've seen so many babies named Ava Marie, why is this name suddenly so popular?)

I like Madeleine but only spelled that way -- maybe without the second 'e', but I don't like variants with a y in them. I also like Sienna, and Julia, Abigail (nn Abby -- I think it's so cute!), Audrey, Elizabeth, Mila, and most of the names on the one list (except the creative spellings)

And sorry, but I think that Ozegho is probably the worst girl's name for the year, although I think Paighton is a close second (it's Peyton, why get creative?!)

[stormqueen280.livejournal.com]

Lots of Italian names in that list... love them!

And Lucus? Seriously, I'd ask, what was your mother smoking, honey? It's like they're giving people a written permission to turn their kid into the laughing stock of the town.