Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Top 2022 Boys' Names, Grouped by Spelling

 Here are the top Boys' names in the USA from the Social Security Administration Database, grouped by spelling. That is, Connor's popularity is added to that of Conor, Conner, Konnor, etc. in order to give a clearer vision of popularity. The names are grouped by how they SOUND, so Rain, Rayne, Rein, Reign etc. are all grouped together-- figuring if someone shouts "HEY RAIN!" on a crowded subway platform, Rein and Reign will also turn around. This ranking is especially useful for names like Jackson and Grayson where spellings like Jaxson, Jaxon, Jaxxon and Greyson, Gracen, and Graysen are also popular, and without the addition such names wouldn't chart in the top 10 spots.

The Full list is here: Top 2022 Boys' Names in the USA, Grouped by Spelling

The detailed list of highlights is here: 2022 Boys' Highlights

The fastest growing names in the top 200 last year were:

Wesley, Luis, Adriel, Cohen, Arthur, Kai, Zyaire, Leon, Santiago, Cooper, Emmanuel, Arlo, Juan, Amari, Enzo, Emiliano, Matias, Atlas, Dawson, Cade, Thiago, Walker, Theo

The biggest names in the top 200 that fell in popularity were:
Ryker, Camden, Bentley, Brody, Connor, Sawyer, Zachary, Evan, Braxton, Landon, Easton, Cole, George, Wyatt, Colton, Hunter, Cash, Messiah, Steven, Maxwell, Lincoln, Jude, Ryan, Emmett, Bryson, Maddox, Tyler, Mason, Logan, Jeremiah, Kingston, Chase

Overall, the biggest gainers and fallers were:

Biggest gainers Biggest fallers
Maziyon 1700% Adore -81%
Kuiper 600% Abdirahim -79%
Navon 420% Kiko -77%
Vishaan 420% Nahim -76%
Amirion 350% Jayston -76%
Majestic 340% Nahil -76%
Kamelo 333% Prentice -75%
Kix 320%         Markee -75%
Arsha 320% Taquan -74%
Layson 300% Jaydis -72%
Orhan 291% Matson -72%
Forever 271% Javaris -71%
Burech 267% Casher -71%
Maynard 257% Knightly -71%
Baldemar250% Audren -70%
Deuce 245% Delson -69%
Dutton 242% Maki -69%
Mayco 240% Meshach -68%
Jeyder 240% Keefer -68%
Dupree 233% Zed         -68%
Zimri 229% Jestin -67%
Xaivius 225% Kaique -67%
Weslyn 225% Qusai -66%
Hayaan 220% Alvi     -65%
Myheir 213% Philopater-65%
Zoraiz 213% Safir -65%
Seyven 200% Sharod -65%
Venture 200% Sherwin -65%
Maximos 200% Talib -65%
Nayden 200% Bran -64%
Buster 200% Saketh -64%
Hanan 200% Antonius -64%
Jorawar 200% Jazion -63%
Zabdiel 200% Lebron -63%
Motley 193% Taft         -63%
Treylin 189% Yandriel -63%
Arch 188% Ireoluwa -63%
Badr 186% Bashar -63%
Damiri 186% Traeger -63%
Namari 183% Zakeem -63%
Kyliam 181% Kasir -62%
Akito 180% Agamveer-62%
Bud         180% Boyan -62%
Filiberto 180% Creston -62%
Johnmark180% Griff -62%
Kendriel 180% Kwasi -62%
Maguire 180% Quavion -62%
Mohab 180% Delaney -62%
Saim 180% Taurus -61%
Jabin 178% Deshun -61%
Zaxton 178% Navid -60%
Mehdi 177% Halim -60%
Nishan 175% Eyoel -60%
Shyne 175% Oluwatobi-60%
Yoni 173% Ayat         -60%
Kerrion 171% Brannon -59%
Yuki 171% Lord -59%
Swae 171% Aliou -59%
Sakai 168% Ole         -58%
Chidubem167%         Anh         -58%
Georges 167% Anyelo -58%
Hasiel 167% Atlantis -58%
Azariel 167% Diar     -58%
Attila 163% Javar -58%
Abdulsalam160% Nam -58%
Adorian 160% Ronav -58%
Campion 160% Samuele -58%
Chetan 160% Wills -58%
Jaquavion160% Brigg -58%
Jaraiya 160% Bronn -58%
Shaddai 160% Eldrick -58%
Tadeusz 160% Fenn -58%
Icarus 160% Miyon -58%
Kahiau 160% Malex -58%
Aldair 160% Corwin -58%
Tahmid 160% Zahair -58%
Power 158% Ashad -57%
Skanda 157% Aliyar -57%
Faolan 157% Jamian -57%
Weller 157% Damone -57%
Denilson 156% Jameis -57%
Michoel 156% Malaquias -57%
Otoniel 155% Mclaren -57%
Amal 150% Nobel -57%
Oluwafemi150% Norbert -57%
Pio         150% Phor -57%
Prem 150% Raynard -57%
Sheridan 150% Quban -57%
Whelan 150% Omri -57%
Azaire 149% Freedom -57%
Braxley 146% Worth -57%
Adlai 144% Zealan -57%
Anir         144% Delmar -56%
Kulture 144% Dyland -56%
Amore 143% Garner -56%
Hazem 143% Boyce -56%
Kiam 143% Cordero -56%
Ozair 143% Errol -56%
Ruvim 143% Nihit -56%
Muhammadumar142% Saifan -56%
Agamjot 140% Larenz -56%
Avriel 140% Urias -56%
Braddock140% Xian -56%
Etzio 140% Elgin -56%
Jujhar 140% Liban -56%
Mackinnon140% Esben -55%
Seydina 140% Joash -55%
Waiks 140% Kj         -55%
Jyree 140% Jahkor -55%
Rayleigh 140% Loai         -55%
Acee 140% Rev         -55%
Niyan 140% Travell -55%
Drin         138% Ayo         -55%
Edinson 138% Bao         -55%
Itzan 138% Brio         -55%
Nikodem 138% Dearies -55%
Rama 138% Jamori -55%
Kymir 137% Jinu         -55%
Ediel 136% Victoriano-55%
Ahnaf 136% Brinley -55%
Antonios 133% Emar -55%
Abid 133% Amel -54%
Alazar 133% Kedar -54%
Feliciano 133% Ikaia -54%
Inigo 133% Kazim -54%
Miquel 133% Portland -54%
Rosalio 133% Roddy -54%
Munasar 133% Severiano-54%
Quan 133% Tahsin -54%
Zebedee 133% Zekari -54%
Amadi 133% Deaire -54%
Zuko 132% Jonte -54%
Eladio 130% Alamin -53%
Karma 130% Vadim -53%
Kenshin 130% Corbett -53%
Graylen 129% Igor         -53%
Abenezer 129% Lui         -53%
Katrell 129% Manvik -53%
Murdock 129% Sergey -53%
Zo         129% Zyrus -53%
Canden 129% Jabri -53%
Acre 129% Castle -53%
Erlin 127% Brixon -53%
Jaeger 127% Rise         -53%
Nyx         127% Wylan -53%
Fennec 125% Nalan -52%
Akshat 122% Filemon -52%
Chapel 122% Valerio -52%
Anmay 120% Lamarcus-51%
Bereket 120% Advay -50%
Cosmas 120% Feras -50%
Endymion120% Jabir -50%
Eyas 120% Richmond-50%
Jaior 120% Arvik -50%
Kova 120% Shiva -50%
Kurrency 120% Ubaldo -50%
Osinachi 120% Yves -50%
Owens 120% Jadarius -50%
Rasul 120% Sabian -50%
Saban 120% Andoni -50%
Sadiel 120% Ara     -50%
Tavius 120% Abelino -50%
Nishanth 120% Dayden -50%
Sajan 120% Henning -50%
Malosi 120% Teal     -50%
Raymir 120% Endy -50%
Leano 120% Fowler -50%
Casimir 117% Liel         -50%
Callisto 117% Michele -50%
Havi 117% Narayan -50%
Montreal 117% Ontario -50%
Yunuen 117% Renny -50%
Zayland 117% Tegveer -50%
Monaco 117% Coltrane -50%
Naujour 117% Gurveer -50%
Zahan 117% Louden -50%
Zay         117% Marson -50%
Miran 116% Mihailo -50%
Josian 115% Odie -50%
Macaulay115% Volvy -50%
Kaizen 115% Yomar -50%
Elios 114% Channon -50%
Cayetano 114% Lateef -50%
Chiron 114% Rafeeq -50%
Coyote 114% Damaris -50%
Jamiri 114% Admir -50%
Mikolaj 114% Aesir -50%
Montavious114% Axen -50%
Wave 114% Chatham -50%
Hershy 113% Chavez -50%
Durrell 113% Dathan -50%
Truen 113% Dontez -50%
Jurgen 111% Elend -50%
Kenrick 111% Nike -50%
Promise 111% Vic         -50%
Brazen 110% Yuva -50%
Jacque 109% Biruk -50%
Mustafo 109% Eiker -50%
Cielo 108% Oberon -49%
Geralt 107% Nas         -49%
Kior         107% Mishael -48%
Ciro         106% Eivan -48%
Maykel 106% Takai -48%
Carin 106% Hal         -48%
Magic 106% Huxson -48%
                Jeremih -48%
                Ausar -48%
                Nain -48%



Of the boys' names that debuted last year, the biggest was Maziyon, with 82 babies given the name. The second biggest was Kaiyzen with 67 babies. Maziyon had debuted last year with the spelling Mazion, but this is the first with a Y, which was way more popular (Mazion only had 8 namesakes). Other big debuts: Jahkarri (36), Xacari (20), Amiriyon (18), Heziah (18)


Here are all the Boys' names that debuted in 2022:





Sunday, July 02, 2023

Top 2022 Girls' Names Grouped by Spelling

 I have finally finished the 2022 SSA Baby name list, grouped by spelling. For the 12th year, Sophia takes the #1 spot!

Here's the top 100:



The long list is here


Boys' names hopefully coming soon!

Monday, February 27, 2023

Caitlin and Friends

 The name Caitlin was first recorded in the Social Security Name Database in 1955 when it was given to 5 girls. It's possible that it was pronounced like Kate-lyn, or that is was pronounced in its original Irish form (cot-leen); we don't know because the SSA does not record diacritical marks. FUN FACT: the name Kathleen is actually an anglicization of the Irish form, which is spelled Caitlín. Caitlín (sometimes found Caitilín) is the Irish Gaelic form of Cateline, a medieval French form of Catherine, which was brought to Ireland by the Normans in the 12th century. Catherine ultimately comes from the Greek Aikaterine, which has an uncertain origin. It was the name of a 3rd century saint, with who the name became associated. Because of this saintly association, the name was connected to Greek katharos, meaning "pure," and today most baby name books list it as meaning "pure," when it probably has no etymological connection to that root. It may derive from aikia meaning "torture," or could derive from the Greek goddess name Hecate.

Caitlin didn't become popular in the USA until the 1980s, peaking in 1988. In this time, a bunch of other spellings came into vogue, some of them surpassing the original in popularity. In 2021 (the most recent year for which we have data at this posting), the most common spelling was Kaitlyn, followed by Katelyn, Caitlyn, and Katelynn, with Caitlin being  the 5th most popular spelling. 

Here is every spelling of Caitlin recorded in the SSA database:


Note: I have included the -land, -lynd, -lind spellings because the Kateland I met pronounced it like Kaitlin. Some may actually pronounce the -d on the end, but based on other people I have met of the same generation with -land names (Ashland, Ryland), the final "d" is often silent.

A strange spelling that I didn't add to the general list was Katelund-- I wasn't sure about that one, and there are aren't many other -lund names in the database.

Based on the spellings of Cait (Caet, Cate, Kate, Kait etc.) and the spellings of Lin (Lyn, Lynn, Linn etc.), I have made a chart of all the possible ways you could spell Caitlin. The names in bold are ones that actually have shown up in the SSA database, meaning that at least 5 girls in a given year would have that spelling.


There are actually tons of unused possibilities! Do you want an unusual spelling? How about Catelinn? Some are a little weird, like Kaytelain and Caetlind, but Caytlen and Kaetlin seem plausible.

It's interesting that there's a Kayte- but not Cayte-. also, the absence of -linne is interesting, since it shows up in a lot of alternate spellings of other names out there, like Jacquelinne, Madelinne, Adelinne, etc.

So... want a spelling nobody else has dreamed of? Try Caytelinne.

Sunday, September 18, 2022

Names Unique to Certain States

 The SSA publishes lists of baby names from each state every year. From this list, it's possible to determine the names that are uniquely popular to each state. While the main all-USA baby name list includes every name that appears more than 5 times, the state lists show names that are used 5+ times in each state. So, if a name is on the Unique to State list, it may be used in other states, but not more than 4 babies were given the name in any other single state. Thus said, here's a map of some names uniquely popular to most states (a few states didn't have any unique names, usually because their populations are very low, so they don't have as many baby names to register). There are several names that are truly unique to states (that is, their popularity in the state data matches the number given in the national data), but these only occur in 2 states for girls: California and NY, and 6 states for boys (California, NY, Texas, Hawaii, and surprisingly Indiana and South Carolina). See individual states below for lists of these.



It's no surprise that the states with the largest populations have the most state-unique baby names. California, which has the largest population of any state had the most. The most popular Californian boys' name, Narek is Armenian, which corresponds to CA's high Armenian population. The Boys' names in California that don't show up at all in the rest of the country are Avetis, which is Armenian, and Jasraj & Shant, which are Sanskrit in origin.

California also has a high Indian population, and the most popular state-unique girls' name, Avni, reflects that. California has 100% of girls named Guillermina and Gayane (the frequencies of these names correspond exactly to the frequency of the names in the general USA list).


The next most populous state is Texas, which correspondingly, had the second largest amount of state-unique names. The most well-used unique boys' name is Roel, which is popular among Spanish-speakers. Brazos is the only boy name whose usage is 100% in Texas. It's Spanish for "arms" and also the name of a river in Texas. The river's name is a shortening of "Los Brazos de Dios" or "arms of God."


For girls, the most popular state-unique name was Darianna. All the other names on this list showed up in the rest of the country, but no state had more than 4 babies given each of these names. Texas didn't have any girl names that weren't also found in the rest of the country in low levels, but it did have more girls named Debanhi (64% were born in Texas) and Alayssa, Bayler, and Efrata (all 55%) than in the rest of the country combined. Texas also had 53% of all girls in the country named Steelie.


On the other coast, NY is the 4th most populous state (Florida is the 3rd), but it had the third largest collection of state-unique names. Many of these names reflect NY's large population of Jewish people. New Jersey, right next door, has similar population demographics, so I included NJ's state-unique names as well. The top state-unique boys' names in NY are: 
Mendel, Lipa, Simcha, Shmiel, Usher, Yechiel, Avrum, Cheskel, Naftuli, Yossi, Pinchus, & Hershel, 
all oh which are Yiddish or Hebrew.
The same trends apply to NJ:
(boys) Avrohom, Boruch, Laksh, Moksh, Nachum
3 of the top NJ state-unique boys' names are Yiddish or Hebrew, while Laksh and Moksh are of Sanskrit origin, reflecting the state's large Indian population.

NY had 100% of the country's babies named Avrumi, Berel, Burech, Chaskel, Cheskel, Leibish, Luzer, Mechel, Meilech, Naftula, Naftuli, Naftuly, Nuta, Pinches, Pinchus, Shiya, Shloime, Shloime, Volvi, Volvy, Yida, and Yidel. All of the above names are Yiddish and/or Hebrew, with many being Yiddish forms of Hebrew names. 

The most popular state-unique girls' names in NY are: Gitty, Malky, Chany, Esty, Goldy, Pessy, Shifra, Perel, Frady, Shaindel, Fraida, & Tzirel, all of which are Yiddish or Hebrew. In fact, the names Blimi, Brany, Brucha, Bruchie, Feigy, Frady, Freidy, Frimy, Henchy, Kreindy, Nechuma, Ratzy, Rifka, Serel, Trany, Tzivy, Udy, Yachy, and Yittel are all Yiddish or Hebrew and only are given to girls in NY, making them truly unique to the state.
For NJ, the top 5 state-unique girls' names are: Gittel, Leeba, Shulamis, Tzvia, & Leba, all of which are Yiddish or Hebrew.

As for the rest of the states, AlaskaConnecticut and Delaware did not have any state-unique names. Neither did Idaho, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, or Wyoming. These all happen to be states with very small populations, so it makes sense.

Here are all the state-unique names in Alabama. Crimson makes sense since the Crimson Tide is the University of Alabama's football team!



Arizona only had 5 state-unique girls' names: Ariza, Aolanis, Graciella, and Nizhoni. Nizhoni is a Navaho name meaning "beautiful", while the other three are Spanish. The only state-unique boys' name was the Spanish compound name Luisfernando.

Arkansas had only 2 state-unique names, and they were for boys: Aycen and Jadyn.

Colorado had one state-unique name, and it was for boys: Angelito.

Florida had the following names, reflecting its large African-American as well as Spanish-speaking populations. The most popular state-unique girls' name was Keisha, and for boys it was Marvens. 


Georgia's most popular state-unique name for boys was Chauncey, and for girls was Choyce.



Though Hawaii has the 9th smallest population of any state in the USA, it still has a lot of state-unique names. This is because it has a lot of names in use in its native language, Hawaiian. Hawaiian names have been popular on the continent for years (particularly Leilani, and other names ending in -lani), but Hawaii still has a bunch of native names that are not used elsewhere. The most popular state-uniqur girls' name is Lilinoe, which is the name of a goddess whose name means "mist; haze; fog." For boys it was Kainalu, which means "sea wave."


Illinois's most common state-unique name for girls in 2021 was Aasiya, an Arabic name whose meaning I can't find agreement on. In the Q'u'ran, Asiya was the wife of the Pharaoh who took care of the baby Moses. It may mean "melancholy; aggrieved," or "healer." It seems to be especially popular among Pakistani populations. For boys, the most popular state-unique name was Vuk, a Slavic name meaning "wolf" that is popular among Serbians. 


In Indiana, Gatlin and Theodosia were tied for the two most popular state-unique girls' names. For boys, it was Oaklyn. Indiana, however, was one of the states with a name that was 100% given to boys of that state, and that name was Kenlin.


Iowa had 3 state-unique names in 2021, one for girls: Maize, and two for boys: Cael and Kinnick.

Kansas had one state-unique name. It was for girls-- Breckyn.

Kentucky had 4 state-unique names, 3 for girls: Averleigh, Caraline, and Crosley. ONe for boys: Enos.

Here are the state-unique names for Louisiana. The most popular state-unique girls' name was Amyri, and the boys' name was Acen. 

Maryland had six state-unique names, two for girls: Edyn and Harlym. For boys, it was: Tavon, Edvin, Dyson, and Rahim.

Massachusetts had only 2 state-unique boys' names: The Portuguese Heitor, and Jayvien. For girls, there was: Heloisa, Maryaalice, Aleysha, Aine, Anaclara, Analiz, Eloah and Vitoria.

in Michigan, the most popular state-unique girls' name was Raneem, an Arabic name meaning "sweet voice." The most popular boys' name was Ameir, a variant on Amir, which means "prince" in Arabic.


Minnesota has a high percentage of Muslims, and this is reflected in the number of Arabic names. Almost all of these names are Arabic in origin, with a small handful being Scandinavian (Signe, Sigrid, Britta, Solveig, Solvi, Nels).


Mississippi had 3 state-unique names: Chyna and Caisley for girls, and Swayze for boys.

Missouri had 7 state-unique girls' names: Brenley, Damiya, Jozie, Kamori, Ramiyah, Renleigh, and Saloma. It had two for boys: Jansen and Lexton.

New Mexico had one state-unique name: Azriella for girls.

North Carolina's most popular state-unique girls' name was Lawson, followed by a 4-way tie for second place: Barrett, Favor, Omni, and Tailynn. For boys it was a 4-way tie for first place: Nylan, Nymir, Sampson, and Whitaker.



North Dakota had one state-unique name. It was Dekker for boys.

The most popular state-unique name for girls in Ohio was Larkyn, With Mahayla the second most popular. For boys, it was a tie between Jyaire and Marquan for first place, with Ayush, Bakari, Jibril, Mason and Pryor tied for second.


Oklahoma had three state-unique names, all for girls: Dim, Kodie, and Copelyn. Dim is possibly Arabic, meaning "light rain," although I can't find any good info about it.

Pennsylvania is the 5th most populous state in the USA, and it seems to be the only state that likes older names, like Barbie, Rosanna, Maryann, Lynda, and Suzanne. Also, I like that PennSYLVANia is the only state to boast the name Sylvan.


South Carolina has only 8 state-unique names: Naiah, Britton, Jamaica, and Kansas for girls and Bowman, Jos, Holston, and Kyland for boys. However, it does have 100% of the boys named Jos in the nation!

South Dakota has one state-unique name: Kimimila for girls, which is a Lakota name meaning "butterfly."

The most popular state-Unique girls' name in Tennessee is Callaway. Calloway is also a state-unique name for boys in Tennessee, though the most popular one was Neyland.


Utah has a lot of Mormons, who are very non-traditional baby namers. Many of the top Utah state-unique names are popular with Mormons for various reasons. Ammon, the most common state-unique boys' name is in the Book of Mormon, while Dallin and Oaks were the names of a prominent figure in Mormon history. For girls, Scotland was the most popular state-unique name, followed by Alta and Swayzee. 


Virginia had 6 state-unique names for girls: Heba, Husna, Yemariam, Yohanna, Aamirah, and Jena.
The state-unique boys' names were: Ezana, Barkon, Malakhai, Raekwon, and Walid.

Washington State's state-unique girls' names were: Ellinor, Azaylia, Dempsey, Ravenna, and Solomia.
The boys' list was: Amnen, Dashel, Ole, Sven, Tor, and Vihan.

Last but not least, Wisconsin had two state-unique girls' names: Rosetta and Alona. It also had 2 boys' names: Cylas and Dameir.





Tuesday, August 23, 2022

Top names in the USA for 2021!

 Finally, I have finished grouping the top 7000+ names from 2021 in the USA by spelling. Here are links for BOYS' NAMES 


and GIRLS' NAMES


This year the spreadsheets contain multiple worksheets! Modern technology is working for us! Click at the tabs at the bottom of the spreadsheet to see sheets for comparisons in rank and number between 2020 and 2021, and for a list of names that dropped out, that are brand new in 2021, and names that have appeared in the past, but were absent in 2020 and reappeared in 2021.




Wednesday, December 15, 2021

2020 names in England and Wales, Grouped by Spelling

 The Top Names in England and Wales, grouped by Spelling are up. 

Girls' Names Here and Boys' Names Here


Here are the top 100s:






Wednesday, August 18, 2021

2020 Boys' Names Grouped by Spelling

 At long last, I finished grouping the Boys' names of 2020 from the Social Security database by spelling. Check it out!

2020 Boys' Names in the USA

Here's a quick preview of the top 150: