Baby Names (first of several posts on this, I'm sure)
I’ve been doing some research into baby names. The most detailed information available is for births in the USA, not Canada, so that's what I'll be discussing.
The number one girls’ name for each of the last 12 years (1996-2007) is Emily.
The number one boys’ name for each of the last 9 years (1999-2007) is Jacob.
A report was released all over the Internet about 10 days ago:
“Leading the boys list is Aiden for the fourth consecutive year, while Emma returns to the top spot for girls after being bumped in 2007 by Sophia, this year's #2 for girls. ... BabyCenter's Top 100 Baby Names list is derived from over 400,000 names submitted in 2008 by BabyCenter parents.” The original list is at: http://www.babycenter.com/top-baby-names-2008
Instead of using BabyCenter’s parents as a sample, why not use the largest possible sample (i.e., everyone in the USA)? Go to: http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/
In fact, in 2005-2007 Aiden was ranked 50, 32, and 27. In fact, Emma has never been #1. In fact, Sophia has never been in the top 5. (But this is when you don't include variant spellings.)
Using the 2007 data, when you combine the Aidens and Aidans and Aydens and Adens and Aidyns, they account for 1.24% of all male births. Jacob alone (not including variant spellings) accounted for 1.10%.
What variant spellings of Emma would allow it to surpass Emily?
Sophia is a different case. In 2007, Sophia plus Sofia equals 1.09%. But Emily plus Emilie plus Amelie plus Emely plus Emilee equals 1.05%. So, a case could be made for Sophia/Sofia being the most popular girls’ name.
Ontario data from 2005 and 2006 are available at: http://www.gov.on.ca/ont/portal/!ut/p/.cmd/cs/.ce/7_0_A/.s/7_0_252/_s.7_0_A/7_0_252/_l/en?docid=STEL02_198786
Here's another good website: http://www.todaysparent.com/pregnancybirth/becomingparent/article.jsp?content=20050617_144619_5504&page=1
The number one girls’ name for each of the last 12 years (1996-2007) is Emily.
The number one boys’ name for each of the last 9 years (1999-2007) is Jacob.
A report was released all over the Internet about 10 days ago:
“Leading the boys list is Aiden for the fourth consecutive year, while Emma returns to the top spot for girls after being bumped in 2007 by Sophia, this year's #2 for girls. ... BabyCenter's Top 100 Baby Names list is derived from over 400,000 names submitted in 2008 by BabyCenter parents.” The original list is at: http://www.babycenter.com/top-baby-names-2008
Instead of using BabyCenter’s parents as a sample, why not use the largest possible sample (i.e., everyone in the USA)? Go to: http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/
In fact, in 2005-2007 Aiden was ranked 50, 32, and 27. In fact, Emma has never been #1. In fact, Sophia has never been in the top 5. (But this is when you don't include variant spellings.)
Using the 2007 data, when you combine the Aidens and Aidans and Aydens and Adens and Aidyns, they account for 1.24% of all male births. Jacob alone (not including variant spellings) accounted for 1.10%.
What variant spellings of Emma would allow it to surpass Emily?
Sophia is a different case. In 2007, Sophia plus Sofia equals 1.09%. But Emily plus Emilie plus Amelie plus Emely plus Emilee equals 1.05%. So, a case could be made for Sophia/Sofia being the most popular girls’ name.
Ontario data from 2005 and 2006 are available at: http://www.gov.on.ca/ont/portal/!ut/p/.cmd/cs/.ce/7_0_A/.s/7_0_252/_s.7_0_A/7_0_252/_l/en?docid=STEL02_198786
Here's another good website: http://www.todaysparent.com/pregnancybirth/becomingparent/article.jsp?content=20050617_144619_5504&page=1