Top Baby Names Announced

Just before Mother's Day every year, the Social Security Administration releases the top baby names of the previous year. This data is compiled from social security card applications around the country for babies born in 2007. The top baby names are always wildly popular.

Baby Boy Names

1. Jacob
2. Michael
3. Ethan
4. Joshua
5. Daniel
6. Christopher
7. Anthony
8. William
9. Matthew
10. Andrew

More top baby boy names.

What Do You Go For Popular Unusual Or Unique Baby Names

Naming your baby is a real challenge, if you go for a popular name your child might not like it because it’s too common, if you go for an unusual baby name it’s hard to get a balance between unusual and weird. Then there’s the unique baby names but what constitutes as unique when there are 100,000’s of names to choose from.

Some say go for names of your ancestors but then you can struggle because names are like clothes in that fashions come and go. A name that was popular in years gone by can be seen as absolutely horrendous when associated with a young child. And then there are personal tastes, what one person likes another hates, even close families can often disagree so how on earth do you make a decision as to what name your child would like before your baby is even born.

Naming babies is a challenge that so many of us face and some get it right while others get it totally wrong. All’s you can do is do your best, put time and effort into finding that perfect name, consider the pro’s and con’s of the extremely popular (perhaps one of the top 10 baby names), selecting from the top 100 baby names or going for the unusual or unique baby names and go for what you feel is right.

It’s often useful to run your short list of names by close family and friends to gauge their reaction and get a feel as to how your favourite baby names are perceived by others. Also, seek the opinion of different age groups as the older generation may be inclined to go for traditional names while others might like the more unusual or unique baby names.

What is so important is that you do not choose an unusual or unique baby name that will be seen as a joke allowing your baby to be ridiculed from birth, through school and beyond. Do not select a name that is cute for a baby but a nightmare as your baby grows up and think carefully before choosing a name that is so popular that there will be three or more in every class and several in the office when they start work.

Once you have chosen your baby’s name always say it out loud several times and write down the initials. The most perfect baby name might prove an embarrassment to your child if it doesn’t fit well with your surname and if the initials stand for something it could result in your baby being ridiculed for life!

New Ideas In The Top 100 Baby Names

- By: Benedict Manovill -
Is it time to choose that wonderful name? Perhaps you are looking at the top 100 baby names. Or, you may be interested in names and their meanings.
Among the top 100 baby names are several new trends. Perhaps you can use them to help you make your choice.Here 5 ideas from the latest top baby names:
1) Parents are choosing many biblical names. In fact, among the most popular baby boy names are Jacob, Michael, Joshua and Matthew. Each of these names is from the Hebrew. High on the list of baby girls names are Hannah, Abigail, Elizabeth, Samantha and Sarah. These names are also Hebrew in origin.
2) Last names are used as first names. There is a tendency for parents to give their children family names. Until the 1970s, such last names were reserved for boys. But from the 1970s until today they are increasingly given to girls. Ashley, Madison, and Sydney are high on the list of baby girls names. Tyler and Taylor remain popular as baby boy names.
3) Names and their meanings are important. Today, parents are looking at the meaning of names. For instance, Olivia means “olive tree,” the symbol of peace. Alyssa means “noble.” William denotes “valiant protector. And Alexander means “brave.”
4) Unusual baby names are more popular than ever. Baby girl names include Aaliyah, Autumn, Brooklyn, Destiny, Nevaeh, and Trinty. Among unusual baby boy names are Aiden, Caden, Jaden, and Xavier.
5) Baby names reflect the culture. Parents often choose baby boy names and baby girl names based on movies, TV shows, books and songs. Among popular baby girls names are Alexis from “Dynasty,” Ashley from singer Ashley Judd, and Samantha from the TV show “Bewitched.” Among celebrity baby boy names are Brandon from “Beverly Hills 90210,” and Ryan from the series “Ryan’s Hope.”
Whether you are researching the meaning of names or looking for unusual baby boy names, the name you give your baby is a gift that lasts a lifetime.

The Top 100 Baby Names Tell An Interesting Story

It’s interesting what story the top 100 baby names have to tell. Every few years you hear that new name popping up and you immediately know what everyone was watching on TV or who the nation’s hero was in sport a few years back.Then you look at those names that remain constant, those that never get knocked off the winning post no matter what’s going on below.

Take for instance, Jack has remained in top position (boys, UK) for 11 years, Jacob (boys, US) for seven years and Emily (girls, US) for 10 years.I do wonder why people just follow a trend and go for the #1 in the top 100 it’s just like a best seller where the more people read something the more other people want to read the same book.

Yet, for baby names, following the common line takes away an element of individuality, sometimes making one child feel the same as the next and taking away that little element that makes a child feel special.

Then there’s the really weird names which make you wonder how on earth so many people decided it was a good name for their baby. I was looking through the top 100 baby names (US) the other day and noticed Angel as #32, now Angel to me is a really weird name for a boy that I would detest being called as a lad but them obviously I’m well off the mark given it’s popularity.

At the end of the day people tend to have very differing opinions as to the best baby names and whether they should be common, unusual or down right weird. For me, a child should love their name it should make a statement and make them feel special. For me baby names should be chosen with care, not to popular, with an element of originality but never weird. Your baby has to live through life from childhood to grave and should love and be proud of the name they have been given and not made to feel one of a crowd or mocked and abused.

Article by Terry Ross