View Message

[Facts] My column on top ten names of the year, USA 2023
Here is my annual column on the top names of the year which I prepare by adding together spellings from the full Social Security data, which includes all names given 5 or more times to either male or female babies.https://omaha.com/life-entertainment/local/cleveland-evans-sophia-olivia-liam-and-noah-popular-baby-names-in-2023/article_16b0de16-139a-11ef-a221-cf2547b4848d.htmlI think it's remarkable that Liam, Noah, and Sophia all increased in absoulute numbers despite the total number of births going down about 2.3%. I hope to eventually post list of about the top 225 from my "spellings added together" data as I did last year, but other obligations in my life will probably mean this won't happen for a month a least.
vote up2vote down

Replies

I feel like the top 10 names change so little compared to names that are lower on the charts. Emma's been in the top 10 for over 20 years now.
vote up1vote down
Perhaps it’s a consequence of more traditional names becoming popular — they are less likely to become dated, or at least they date more slowly. Names like Emma, Emily, Olivia, Isabella or Sophia have more staying power than e.g. Madison, which was number 4 20 years ago. In the last decades the top 10 for girls has become more populated by traditional names, which already happened with boys.
vote up1vote down
I wish I didn't have to keep on asking favours of you, Cleveland, but you keep on writing such good columns and omaha.com keeps on imagining that I'm American and can (a) spare a dollar and (b) take a lively interest in its other contents. Once again, then, please can you post me a copy? I really do appreciate it.
vote up1vote down
Great column! I look forward to when you are able to do your combined spellings list.
vote up2vote down