the numbers of names
Because I was a trivia-crazed child, when I was young I really liked names. Between the ages of 8 and 15, I remember going through phases where I would pore over baby name books, look up statistics on the popularity of names, and make lists of my favorite names. When I played school at age 9, my favorite part was creating the “gradebook” where I would get to make up and write down each imaginary student’s full name. I have diaries from high school where I would periodically interrupt my blathering to make a list of my current favorite names (the boys column heavily influenced by the objects of my crushes).
Names don’t interest me nearly as much anymore. In fact, I think I dislike most names. (Forrest was my dearest-loved male name until “Forrest Gump” came out and ruined it forever. How can I name my son Forrest now?) However, it was fun to relive the fixation and comb through the Social Security Administration’s web site on names. The SSA is responsible for, among other things, compiling statistical info on what Americans are naming their babies. You can look at popularity lists from each decade and even individual years since 1990, and you can track how the popularity of your name has changed through the years.
It is hilarious to me that Emily has been the #1 American girl name since 1996 - seven years running! In the 70’s, Emily was #64. I haven’t met too many Emilys in their 20’s like me, and it’s weird to think that there’s a huge number of Emilys toddling around in diapers. That means when I’m 40-something, there will be all of these 20-something Emilys flitting about. Strange… I can understand how a name that has been #1 the year before will stay at #1 pretty easily, but how did the name Emily get into the #1 slot in the first place? It’s not like in the mid-90’s there were particularly famous Emilys, either in real life or in fiction. What could account for the leap?
- Link via SoapBoxGirls
Ryan said,
May 29, 2003 @ 8:16 pm
Out of pure vanity, I searched for my name. Ryan went from #622 in the 50s to #242 in the 60s to #26 in the 70s to #14 in the 80s, where it has basically stayed since then, not varying more than three spots in either direction. The migration of names is always an interesting subject, especially when you consider the future possibility of retirement homes populated by thousands of Brittneys, Michaels, Christinas, Julias, Matthews (or Matts), and Joshs. And many, many more.
But the rise and fall of names is definitely something that it seems no one knows much about. What does cause a name to rise (or fall), as you asked? As my name grew in popularity, Brian (my arch-nemisis) dropped rapidly in popularity, which would explain why I know Brians my age and older, while most of the Ryans I know are younger than me. Hmmmm…
KA said,
May 29, 2003 @ 8:16 pm
I can’t get into the link! I just wanted to see how low my name was on the totem pole. I think it would be weird to go around and meet a bunch Kari-Anns on a regular basis. I have known a couple people with the same name, but not the same spelling, and usually Ann is their middle name, not part of their first. I wish I could get into the site!
Emily said,
June 2, 2003 @ 3:56 pm
testing
Pamela said,
June 23, 2003 @ 8:39 pm
Oh, the name game. Emily, I know EXACTLY what you are talking about. First I went through my french name phase–it was all about Michelle, Monique, Colette. Then I went through my classics name phase–
EMILY (was my #1 for years), Olivia, Charlotte (my own middle name), Sarah. Then I went through an all names Irish phase–Fiona, Dylan, Maureen, Shannon.
It IS funny to watch the phases. When I was a tot (and this will date me), there were very few Pamelas (I haven’t checked the popularity polls yet). Pamela stays steady in that I meet one or two, but it doesn’t rise and fall too much. In my youth (the 60’s/70’s), everyone seemed to be Lisa, Laura, Laurie, Cindy, Tracey, Stacey, Debbie, Leslie. Then some kids appeared with “cool” names like Jackie and Jaimie. For guys in that era it was DEFINATELY Brian, Robert, John, Jim, Gary, Larry, Rick, David.
Then a few of my friends had children in the early 80’s and I will reveal the TRUE source of name trends– Television. Yup, and particularly soap operas. It was all about the Chelseas, Ashley’s, Caitlin’s, Brittany’s, Madison’s, all these sort of “out there” romantic names. All my friend’s sons were named Shane, Jake, Jason, Colby, Drake (I swear!), Dylan, and the ubiquitous Jeremy (sorry Jer). Jeremy was a name that made teenage girls cry for some reason. I think it had to do with a Robbie Benson movie.
Now I see trends back to “meaty” real names.
So, what are your current favs, Emily? My all-time favorite name seems to be Zoe. It’s a name that goes with so many others, and it has a zany, original feel, without being daft. I like it! It’s lasted the longest in my top 5.
Pamela said,
June 23, 2003 @ 8:41 pm
POSTSCRIPT: The name Pamela+ is not among the top 1,000 names for 1991-2002.
No wonder it was always difficult to find a license plate for my bicycle!