topic Re: Top Baby Names for 2016 in Community Chat

Top Baby Names for 2016

Oznell — Fri, 12 May 2017 23:32:00 GMT

The Social Security Administration has released its list of the most popular names in 2016. Here are the top five for boys and girls:

Boys: Noah, Liam, William, Mason, James

Girls: Emma, Olivia, Ava, Sophia, Isabella

Not too terribly surprising, is it? We know a fair number of kids with most of those names, or variations of them.

It's interesting that in the number two and three position for boys, are two versions of William (with Liam being the Irish version). I really like the Welsh form of William, "Gwilym", but don't expect it to catch on soon!

The trend for girls names ending in "a" is still going very strong, I see.

I'm a name nerd, so I love these lists. Any surprises for you?

Re: Top Baby Names for 2016

MoJoV — Fri, 12 May 2017 23:35:12 GMT

No surprises,all pretty common. Matter of fact my younger granddaughter is named Ava,she's 10. So it's been popular for awhile.

Re: Top Baby Names for 2016

stevieb — Sat, 13 May 2017 00:09:15 GMT

At least Jacob has finally dropped out of the top five...

Re: Top Baby Names for 2016

stevieb — Sat, 13 May 2017 00:11:18 GMT

I'm not really wild about any of these names, boy or girl, but I also don't actively dislike any of them... I am, however, tired of hearing some of them...

Re: Top Baby Names for 2016

ROMARY — Sat, 13 May 2017 00:17:41 GMT

I like 'Isabella'. Trying to think of names that I've liked......

Re: Top Baby Names for 2016

Nomorebirthdays — Sat, 13 May 2017 00:19:02 GMT

I like them, and they won't have to through life with a name no one knows how to spell or pronounce. My husband has an odd name and he hates it. And to top it off it is gender neutral.

Re: Top Baby Names for 2016

ROMARY — Sat, 13 May 2017 00:22:28 GMT

Just thought of one that I haven't heard in years: Laurine. Pretty name. Gabriella or Gabrielle.

Re: Top Baby Names for 2016

ROMARY — Sat, 13 May 2017 00:32:55 GMT

Can't think of any unique male names, so far. Mentally going down the alphabet..........can't think of any unique, handsome names..........

Re: Top Baby Names for 2016

mistriTsquirrel — Sat, 13 May 2017 01:43:32 GMT

"Mason" I could do without. I'm not a fan of last names as first names. The others are okay.

I've gotten a little sick of Caitlin, Hayley, Madison, Mikayla...and I'm sooo sick of the "aden" names, which were never good to begin with. (Jaden, Braden, Caden...ad nauseam.)

Re: Top Baby Names for 2016

Oznell — Sat, 13 May 2017 12:16:43 GMT

I've liked so many names over the course of my lifetime, that I keep forgetting half of them! But have been poring over them and "collecting" them since I was a teenager, and a pattern is recognizable:

I tend to like Welsh, other Celtic names, especially Manx and Cornish; a lot of traditional names that might not be that common; Biblical names; medieval names; and botanical names. Some people want to beat me over the head for some of the weird names I like, yet some are very familiar and "comfortable". Were I naming a child now, I might or might not choose from this selection:

Girls:

Honour

Tess

Sibyl

Bryony (a botanical)

Marigold (ditto)

Fleur (ditto)

Phoebe

Olwyn

Dominy

Mavis

Jocelyn

Keturah (unusual Biblical; nickname "Kit")

Mabyn (Cornish saint)

Eloise

Malkyn (medieval diminutive for "Mary")

Glynis

Boys:

Barnaby (old English version of Biblical "Barnabas")

Oliver (in the last 20 years though, it's gotten a little too popular-- still like it though)

Malcolm

Hugh

Christian

Cadoc (dashing Welsh medieval name)

Peregrine (medieval again) pronounced "PARE-a-grin"-- means "wanderer"

Peter

John Wesley

Solomon

Colin

Tobias

Reuben

Re: Top Baby Names for 2016

ValuSkr — Sat, 13 May 2017 11:18:52 GMT

Sorry that "Caitlyn" is plunging in popularity. But I guess it's not a surprise. Wonder if Caitlyn J. will want to change her name now.

Re: Top Baby Names for 2016

just bee — Sat, 13 May 2017 12:36:18 GMT

@Oznell

Like you, I have a penchant for Celtic/Gaelic names and use them for dogs. I work in a hospital and can't help think that I spend more time choosing a solid name for a puppy than some people spend choosing a name for a child.

I work in psychiatry and have a theory. If you can't find your name on one of those license plate keychains that they sell at truck stops, chances are you may end up with psych issues.

Re: Top Baby Names for 2016

Oznell — Sat, 13 May 2017 12:43:38 GMT

Expounding more on my names obsession, even if I'm just talking to myself, ha.

Over time, I've had to reluctantly drop certain names from my mental list, if the name catches on and becomes popular with either the snob elite or the callow celebrity culture. If it becomes too popular with either of them, it does lose some of its luster for me.

Examples: Before they caught on with the above groups, "Henry", "Miles", "Milo" "Lily/Lilly", etc. were big with me-- I still like them but...

Sometimes I'll be drawn to a name for its meaning, despite being somewhat popular. A name like "Christian" would be a great example of this-- it has such deep, positive meaning for me. I'd personalize it by sometimes using the archaic nickname for Christopher/Christian-- "Kit" or "Kip", instead of "Chris".

Feel the same about the Biblical and geographical name "Israel". Popular in Puritan and colonial times. Bestowing this name on a child would be among other things, an affirmation of a cherished entity, one of my favorite countries and people. I would worry somewhat that, given this sorry world, it might attract hostility or violence....

I believe in giving multiple names. My mother had four names, not including her surname-- and when still little, she opted to use her second name instead of her first, and it stuck. I only had one middle name, but I ended up being called by it instead of my first, just like her! More names gives flexibility to the child, and allows you to honor various family members...

Re: Top Baby Names for 2016

faeriemoon — Sat, 13 May 2017 12:46:12 GMT

Sick of all of them except for William and James.

Re: Top Baby Names for 2016

Oznell — Sat, 13 May 2017 13:00:13 GMT

just bee, ha, that is very clever, and probably very true! I always like the way your mind works.

Your theory might apply to me, since my name is a slightly anomalous variant spelling of a fairly familiar name. It is actually a medieval variant spelling, dating back to the times before standardized spelling was applied to most names.

So, all my life, I've had to explain, patiently listen to mispronunciations, receive mail that has my name misspelled, cheerfully correct others on the spelling of my name, listen to them say either "Oh". Or, "I love that spelling-- where does that come from?", or among the linguistically savvy "Oh, is that Welsh or something?" or, in a less-than- complimentary tone, "Oh-- that's different".

it's either made me bonkers, per your theory, or given me this inordinately passionate interest in names, or, mor likely, a little of both...

Re: Top Baby Names for 2016

Oznell — Sat, 13 May 2017 13:01:54 GMT

faeriemoon, we are in accord! Of that Social Security list, "William" and "James" are my favorites too. Time-honored, distinguished classics.

Re: Top Baby Names for 2016

missy1 — Sat, 13 May 2017 13:02:28 GMT

I am not into trendy names. I also like names spelled the traditional way.

Re: Top Baby Names for 2016

just bee — Sat, 13 May 2017 13:56:31 GMT

@Oznell wrote:
just bee, ha, that is very clever, and probably very true! I always like the way your mind works.

Your theory might apply to me, since my name is a slightly anomalous variant spelling of a fairly familiar name. It is actually a medieval variant spelling, dating back to the times before standardized spelling was applied to most names.

So, all my life, I've had to explain, patiently listen to mispronunciations, receive mail that has my name misspelled, cheerfully correct others on the spelling of my name, listen to them say either "Oh". Or, "I love that spelling-- where does that come from?", or among the linguistically savvy "Oh, is that Welsh or something?" or, in a less-than- complimentary tone, "Oh-- that's different".

it's either made me bonkers, per your theory, or given me this inordinately passionate interest in names, or, mor likely, a little of both...

@Oznell

Like I said... separated at birth.

Re: Top Baby Names for 2016

qualitygal — Sat, 13 May 2017 15:14:11 GMT

@just bee wrote:
@Oznell

I work in psychiatry and have a theory. If you can't find your name on one of those license plate keychains that they sell at truck stops, chances are you may end up with psych issues.

@just bee, oh my gosh,thank you, that explains so much for me. LOL

Re: Top Baby Names for 2016

qualitygal — Sat, 13 May 2017 15:16:22 GMT

@Oznell, Seriously I have never met a Dave, that I haven't liked!!!

My name is never on those lists. That's ok.