The U.S. Social Security Administration has released its annual list of the top baby names for 2009. The list — which, though released this year, actually looks at baby names from 2008 — shows Jacob holding the top spot for boys for its 10th consecutive years. On the girls’ side, Emma jumped up to the number 1 spot.
“Emma” (and “Isabella,” for that matter) has ended “Emily’s” 12-year reign as the top name for baby girls. Jacob kept its spot for the 10th year in the row for boy names.
Some interesting tidbits from the Social Security Administration’s baby names report for 2009:
–”Barack” didn’t make the top 1,000, but it did move up a record 10,126 spots, to No. 2,409.
–”Elvis” is still in the building, but it fell from 673 to 713.
–”Miley,” you know, like as in teen queen Miley Cyrus, moved up 152 spots to No. 127. (Her stage name, “Hannah” fell from No. 9 to No. 17.)
–This year’s winner for the biggest jump is Khloe, which is undoubtedly related to the popularity of Khloe Kardashian from the show Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Khloe with a K increased 469 spots to number 196 in 2008, up from 665 in 2007 and 960 in 2006 (the name’s first year on the list).
– Biblical names dominate the top choices for boys while popular culture appears to have influenced some of the girls’ names.
Top Baby Names 2009 List
Some interesting points from the list:
• The name Barack blasted up a full 10,000 spots on the list, making it to number 2,409. The SSA expects it to crack the top 1,000 by next year.
• The name Khloe some strong growth, too, catapulting 469 spots from number 665 to number 196. Chloe with a “C” has also broken into the top 10 for the first time ever. Sadly, the SSA ties the surge in popularity to Khloe Kardashian’s growing fame.
• Another pop culture effect can be seen with the name Miley, climbing 152 spots to become the 127th most popular name. The name was never on the list at all until last year.
• Some unusual names that debuted on the list this year: Isla, Mareli, Dayami, Nylah, and Jazlene for girls; and Aadon, Chace, Marley, Kash, Kymani, Ishaan, Jadiel, and Urijah for boys. (There is a Marley brother named Kymani, by the way. Coincidence?)
Top Baby Names: The Top 10 Breakdown
Here’s the top 10 breakdown of most popular baby names for boys and girls.
Boys:
1. Jacob
2. Michael
3. Ethan
4. Joshua
5. Daniel
6. Alexander
7. Anthony
8. William
9. Christopher
10. Matthew
Girls:
1. Emma
2. Isabella
3. Emily
4. Madison
5. Ava
6. Olivia
7. Sophia
8. Abigail
9. Elizabeth
10. Chloe
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