Mary Was a Grand Old Name

Mary was the most popular name from about 1880 (when the Social Security Administration began) through the early 1960s. It began a slow decline in the early 60s and picked up declining speed until this year, when Mary finally dropped out of the top 100. For at least 120 years (and most likely more, even though there aren't the records to verify it), Mary has reigned supreme, but last year it fell to 109, just slightly more popular than Aniya, Reagan and Kennedy and slightly less popular than Autumn, Paige and Molly (itself an older pet form of Mary).

Not forgotten, though, other forms of Mary, such as Maria and Mariah are still hanging on at 74 and 88 respectively.

Besides the ones above, the top 700 also has these other forms of Mary: Marissa (#128), Mariana (#164), Marisol (#151), Mariam (#169), Miriam (#271), Marilyn (#407), Maren (#410), Maritza (#413), Marie (#425), Mayra (#494), Mara (#517), Mariela (#531), Maribel (#588), and Maryjane (#592). Plus, according to my non-scientific Middle Name Survey, Marie has been the most popular middle name for girls for at least 50 years and remains so today.

2007 Name Popularity is in!

The Social Security Administration released its annual Baby Name Popularity list! I've grouped the names by spelling to give you a more accurate picture of where names fall in popularity. My method is by no means infallible (check the FAQ).

Here is the top 25 for each sex (the most popular spelling is first, followed by the second etc.):


UUCN top boys' names:

1. Aiden, Aidan, Aden, Adan, Adin, Aedan, Aidyn, Ayden, Aydan, Aydin
   
2. Jayden, Jaden, Jaiden, Jadon, Jaydon, Jadyn, Jaydin, Jaidyn, Jaydan, Jaeden
   
3. Jacob, Jakob
   
4. Michael, Micheal
   
5. Christopher, Cristopher, Cristofer, Kristopher
   
6. Ethan, Ethen
   
7. Joshua
   
8. Daniel
   
9. Anthony, Antony
   
10. Matthew, Mathew
    
11. William
    
12. Nicholas, Nicolas, Nickolas, Nikolas
    
13. Alexander, Alexzander
    
14. Andrew
    
15. Caden, Caiden, Cayden, Kaden, Kayden, Kaiden, Kadin, Kaeden, Kadyn
    
16. Christian, Cristian, Kristian
    
17. David
    
18. Jonathan, Johnathan, Jonathon, Johnathon
    
19. Noah
    
20. Ryan, Rayan
    
21. James
    
22. Logan
    
23. John, Jon
    
24. Caleb, Kaleb
    

UUCN top girls' names:

1. Sophia, Sofia
   
2. Emily, Emely, Emilee, Emilie, Emmalee
   
3. Isabella, Izabella, Isabela
   
4. Madison, Madyson, Maddison, Madisyn
   
5. Olivia, Alivia, Alyvia
   
6. Emma
7. Ava
   
8. Hailey, Haley, Haylee, Hayley, Haylie, Hailee, Haleigh, Hailie, Hayleigh
   
9. Abigail, Abbigail, Abigayle, Abagail, Abigale
   
10. Kaitlyn, Katelyn, Caitlyn, Caitlin, Katelynn, Kaitlin, Kaitlynn, Katlyn
    
11. Brianna, Briana, Breanna, Bryanna, Breana
    
12. Addison, Addyson, Addisyn, Adyson, Adison
    
13. Hannah, Hanna, Hana
    
14. Sarah, Sara
    
15. Elizabeth, Elisabeth
    
16. Alyssa, Alissa, Elisa, Alisa, Allyssa
    
17. Ashley, Ashlee, Ashleigh, Ashly
    
18. Natalie, Nataly, Nathalie, Natalee, Nathaly
    
19. Jasmine, Jasmin, Jazmin, Jazmine, Jazmyn, Jasmyn
    
20. Madeline, Madelyn, Madeleine, Madalyn, Madilyn, Madelynn, Madalynn, Madilynn
    
21. Samantha
    
22. Mia, Miah, Miya
    
23. Kaylee, Kailey, Kayleigh, Kaylie, Kaleigh, Kailee, Kaley, Kayley
    
24. Chloe, Khloe, Cloe
    
25. Lily, Lilly, Lillie
    
    

CONGRATULATIONS, SOPHIA! Sophia has bumped Emily out of the top spot for the first time in about 13 years!

54!

I've found 54 ways to spell /zha NAY/-- real, true spellings used by parents in 1995 alone:

Chanae
Chaney
Genee
Jahnae
Janaay
Janae
Ja'nae
Janai
Janay
Ja'nay
Ja'nea
Janee
Jannae
Jaunae
Jeanae
Jea'nae
Jeanay
Jenae
Jenay
Jene
Jenea
Je'nea
Jenee
Jeneh
Jhanay
Jinae
J'nae
J'nae
J'ne
J'nee
J'net
Johnnae
Johnnai
Jonae
Jonay
Jonaye
Jonnay
Jynae
Shanae
Shanai
Shanay
Shanaye
Shanea
Sha'Nea
Shanee
Shaneye
Shenae
Shenai
Shenaye
Sheney
Zanae
Zchonae
Zhanae
Zhane