Top 10 names for boy & girls

Emma ousted Emily as America’s favorite name for a baby girl, according to just-released government data, while Jacob held on to the top spot for baby boy names for the 10th year in a row.

But tradition did not completely hold sway: Each gender got a new addition to its Top 10 list. Alexander joined the boys’ club, coming in at No. 6. Chloe arrived at No. 10 in the girls’ rankings.

Emma — the name of a Jane Austen heroine, the daughter of Rachel and Ross on “Friends,” and, for a certain generation, television’s sexiest spy (Mrs. Peel, played by Diana Rigg on “The Avengers”) — shot to the top after coming in at No. 3 the previous year. The name is based on the German word “ermen,” which can mean “strong,” but is usually defined as “whole” or “complete.”

Comeback kid
The No. 1 ranking represents something of a comeback for Emma. While very popular in the late 1800s, the name dipped in the 1970s and fell out of the Top 300.

But Emma came roaring back in the past seven years, always finishing in the Top 5. Emily had been the most popular baby girl name since 1996.

Every year the Social Security Administration compiles the rankings based on the names of babies applying for Social Security numbers. (Most children receive their numbers at birth.)

More than 4.2 million births were registered in 2008. The rankings are based strictly on spelling, not how the name sounds. That’s why the names Kaitlin, Kaitlyn, Kaitlynn, Katelin, Katelyn, Katelynn and Katlyn are considered separate entries. (In 2007, Kaitlin ranked Number 421.)

The latest Top 10 names for baby girls, based on 2008 statistics:

Emma
Isabella
Emily
Madison
Ava
Olivia
Sophia
Abigail
Elizabeth
Chloe
The Top 10 names for baby boys:

Jacob
Michael
Ethan
Joshua
Daniel
Alexander
Anthony
William
Christopher
Matthew

Source

Re: Top 10 names for boy & girls

Funny, I was JUST reading that on MSN. LOL! None of the names I picked out for is on there, but I do love a lot of the names on there

Re: Top 10 names for boy & girls

I was literally just reading this article.

Re: Top 10 names for boy & girls

Re: Top 10 names for boy & girls

very interesting .. the girls names i kinda knew already but the boys names i didnt know

Re: Top 10 names for boy & girls

Emma was our girl pick!

Re: Top 10 names for boy & girls

The only thing wrong with that list is that Social Security, who compiles the list, ranks each name by spelling....

So the names with usually only one spelling rank farther up the list....

I think either way Emma was on top..But I know, for example, my son's name, Caden, was in the top 10 when you didnt take spelling into account.

Re: Top 10 names for boy & girls

None of the first names we picked are on these lists A few of the boys names are on our "middle name" list.

With a name like Athina I guess I went with tried and true traditional names.... well traditional for Bensonhurst Brooklyn!

Re: Top 10 names for boy & girls

I saw this on the Today show this morning.

I'm happy to say that name is not on the list. Although I do love a lot of the names that did make the top 10.