I'm Not Sure What to Name This Blog!

The landscape of baby naming continues to evolve - reflecting broader cultural trends, aesthetic preferences, and a blend of traditional and modern influences. Parents have been seeking unique yet familiar names for their children. The Social Security Administration releases a list of the top 1,000 most popular baby names to celebrate Mother's Day each year. The agency began compiling the baby names list in 1997, with names dating back to 1880. The top five names for both boys and girls did not change from 2022 to 2023. In fact, the number one boy name - Liam - just celebrated its seventh year in the top spot! Olivia has been the top girls' name for the previous five years.

In ranked order, the most popular baby boy names in 2023 were Liam, Noah, Oliver, James, Elijah, Mateo, Theodore, Henry, Lucas, and William. Mateo was the only new name to join the top 10, knocking Benjamin down to number 11. The boy names with the highest rise in popularity last year were Izael and Chozen.

In ranked order, the most popular baby girl names in 2023 were Olivia, Emma, Charlotte, Amelia, Sophia, Mia, Isabella, Ava, Evelyn, and Luna. The girl names with the highest rise in popularity last year were Emryn and Alitzel.

Television shows such as "Game of Thrones" have influenced baby names, even years after a show goes off the air; Khaleesi and Daenerys are still in the top 1000 names for newborns. Some parents find their baby's name from a social media star that they follow. Examples include Eiden for boys (named after TikTok star Wyatt Eiden) and Kaeli for girls (named after YouTube and TikTok star Kaeli McEwen).

Reflecting the broader societal shifts towards gender fluidity, names like River, Avery, and Quinn are gaining popularity. These names often draw from nature, mythology, or are used interchangeably for boys and girls. Other popular unisex names include Finley, Baylor, and Justice.

When compared to the past, baby names are growing more diverse. In 1973, there were 14,000 distinct names given to newborns. But last year in 2023, there were almost 29,000 distinct baby names. An additional statistic to show this trend: last year, only 71% of babies were given names in the 1000 most popular names, down from more than 90% of given names in the top 1000 in 1973.

These insights into naming trends provide a snapshot of how societal shifts and personal preferences converge in the choices that define the newest generation. As always, the names chosen for children reflect a combination of personal taste, cultural heritage, and collective consciousness, making the art of naming a truly dynamic and evolving form of expression.