Baby Names

Baby Names

Baby Names
Written by Robert Wilder, W. Grant Eppler, and Paul Banas Presented by

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Baby Names

Whats Inside...
What's in a Name? ................................................................................................ 4 Naming Names ...................................................................................................... 5 Baby Names Checklist .......................................................................................... 7 Brainstorming Names for Your Baby.................................................................... 9 Unexpected Naming Issues................................................................................ 10 How to Overcome Hurdles While Naming the Baby...................................... 11 Baby Names Do's and Don'ts.......................................................................... 12 Baby Name Meanings ........................................................................................ 13 Giving Your Child an Ethnic Name ................................................................... 14 Naming Children after Presidents ..................................................................... 16 Celebrity Names .................................................................................................. 17 Most Popular Baby Names for Boys - 2005....................................................... 18 Most Popular Baby Names for Girls - 2005 ....................................................... 21 Most Popular Baby Names for Boys - 2006....................................................... 24 Most Popular Baby Names for Girls - 2006 ....................................................... 27 Most Popular Baby Names for Boys - 2007....................................................... 30 Most Popular Names for Baby Girls - 2007 ....................................................... 31 New Popular Baby Names in 2007 .................................................................... 32 About the Authors ............................................................................................... 33 Recommended Reading ................................................................................... 35 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................ 36

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Baby Names What's in a Name?

In June, I saw a former student of mine, Amy, who is pregnant with her first child. As we were discussing childbirth and the long strange trip that follows, the topic of names came up. "We have a few names picked out," she said happily. "Don't tell me," I snapped. "Don't tell anyone. Ever."

Amy was taken aback by a tone I haven't used with her since I was ranting about The Great Gatsby in her English class. I apologized for my teacherly tourette's but explained my theory on baby naming. Everybody, especially your family (and your friends), has an opinion on what you should name your kid. Grandma will want you to choose a family name even if it rhymes with asparagus; your mother will think her maiden name needs to be freed from the darkness of male oppression; your sister will say you stole that name from her; and your dad will hope you'll consider his favorite blues singer's moniker as a possible candidate.

If you do make the terrible mistake of letting people know the name you're considering, they'll pick at it more feverishly than a starving vulture on a petrified boar carcass. They'll say (insert your name here) is too dull or too exotic. Your kid will be forgotten or teased with a name like that. They'll say it doesn't sound right next to your last name (which also sucks by the way). Your name is too long or too short, too easy to forget or hard to pronounce, too girlish or boyish, or contains far too many consonants or vowels. Your choice is too Jewish-sounding for the Southwest or Arab enough to land him on a no-fly list. Your kid will positively change her name when she turns 18. And hate you for naming her that to boot.

What happens is that once a name is attached to an actual kicking and screaming baby, it adheres like gum to a shoe. This comes from a man who named his daughter Poppy and son London. Although I've heard of a few cases where parents have changed their child's name a few times in the hospital, once the child is named and presented to the world, it's pretty hard to switch. So my advice to expecting parents (and veterans who've been burned) is to keep your baby label a secret until you stick it to the kid.

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Naming Names
Never-ever-ever-ever-ever-ever-ever-ever-ever-ever mention that you are having trouble choosing a name, especially around family members who have been imbibing. What will inevitably happen is that you, because you can, will make an all-out attempt to immediately anaesthetize yourself with adult beverages. After the third, fourth and fifth time the same person says, What about Rose? I like the name Rose, you will be sorry the topic was ever broached, and you will be up at 3:45 a.m. looking for an Alka Seltzer.

Hey, Seltzer is kind of a neat name! Which reminds me of a David Lettermen show that I saw. The guest was Demi Moore. Ms. Moore was pregnant with her second child and was evidently having trouble selecting a name. True to Late Night form, Demi brought her own Top Ten list that she and her husband Bruce Willis had made. The list was entitled, Top ten names that we might name our child:

10) Beavus 9) Forklift 8) Kemo Sabe 7) Ibuprofen 6) Siskel 5) Dr. Pepper 4) Marmaduke 3) Manute 2) Retsyn 1) Buttafuoco

Erudis, Lotrimin, and Acetaminophen could be added to this list to help round out the cool semi-medical terms.

It must be noted here that guys and gals approach the child-naming problem-solving concept from two different viewpoints. Gals generally think of wonderful poetic got a ring to em type names while guys try to diminish the future possibility of their child being made fun of, getting the crap kicked out of them, or even worse than that, not getting the babes in high school. I agreed on the proposed boys name of William Berkeley or Berk because William is the family name (from my side of the family, of course), Berk is a strong, tough name, and Berk is a guy who gets all the chicks.

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So, if you and your wife have as much trouble agreeing on a name as my wife and I did, it is probably due to the different approaches the two of you are coming from and the different criteria you each are using to measure a proposed name. It is believed that people live up to, or down to their given names. Perhaps this is one of the reasons people change their names. A name can make or break a personality, so it is a huge responsibility to name a human being.

Along these lines, nicknames are of importance too. Have you ever heard of a CEO of a major corporation or of an elected President of the United States whose nickname was Critter?

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Baby Names Checklist

We all face the naming decision differently. Some couples throw a yellow legal pad on the kitchen counter and use it to toss ideas back and forth to create a list of baby names. Some wives and husbands work each in their own corner, and only pull out the names they seriously want to throw in the ring. You may find this checklist for baby names useful as you cull through literally hundreds of names that have immediate positive associations but could never make the final cut after a little analysis. Print and save this guide for your top naming choices: Pronunciation is easy:

Positive

Neutral

Negative

Clear on gender:

Positive

Neutral

Negative

Personal impression:

Positive

Neutral

Negative

Initials/monogram:

Positive

Neutral

Negative

Meaning:

Positive

Neutral

Negative

Popularity:

Positive

Neutral

Negative

Nicknames:

Positive

Neutral

Negative

Fit with last name:

Positive

Neutral

Negative

Sound of name:

Positive

Neutral

Negative

Namesakes in the news, history, family:

Positive

Neutral

Negative

Uniqueness:

Positive

Neutral

Negative

Give 2 points for Positive, 0 for Neutral, and 1 for negative. The name with the most points would be the winner.

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Baby Names Naming Trends

Naming a child can be tricky. While selecting names for their children, many parents simply pick names they like. Others however may be influenced, consciously or not, by popular trends. There is nothing wrong with this. However, being aware of such trends may help parents understand the reasons for their choice better. It may also help them discriminate between names that are creative or expressive, and plain weird. Some common naming trends include selecting names on the basis of: Tradition: Parents today are rediscovering names from earlier times that somehow lost out to more trendy ones. These not only include names that were in vogue until not so long ago, but may even be drawn directly from ancient or historical sources, for instance, biblical names such as Ananiel, Delilah, or Hanamiel. Exotic value: Many parents increasingly opt for exotic names with foreign ethnic roots for their children. These may include familiar names in their foreign versions, such as the Greek Georgius for George, or more unfamiliar ones such as Tatyana or Estefania. Meaning: There is a trend of naming children with words of positive or personal significance. While overall a good trend, parents need to avoid choosing names that could typecast the child with specific aspirations. Novelty: Many parents create new names by combining two or more accepted names. Others convert surnames into names or switch traditional names between genders. However, parents need to understand that, especially in the case of the latter, such names may expose children to unnecessary ridicule.

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Brainstorming Names for Your Baby

Sure, you can wade through 60,000 names and look for the one that catches your fancy. Another approach is to sit down with a glass of wine (grape juice for mom-to-be) and make the following questions into a game. Brainstorm using some or all of these questions and see what kind of ideas they spark. Remember, there is no rule that says a baby can only have one name. If you work together, you might find a few that you both like and respond to at the same time. Who are your favorite artists? What is your favorite movie? Who are the stars? What is your favorite novel? Who are the main characters? Name every family member as far back or distant as you can remember? What part of American history do you like? What countries are your ancestors from? What languages do you speak? What is your favorite city? What is your favorite state? Where did you go on your first date? Where were you married? Where did you honeymoon? Favorite teachers? Favorite flowers, gems, trees?

About the Baby Where was he or she conceived? Where will the baby be born? City? Address? What do you want baby's name to say about you? What do you think your baby will look like? What kind of personality will she or he likely have? What color hair or eyes do you imagine? What is the name of your OB/GYN?

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Baby Names Unexpected Naming Issues

You may have expended thought and consideration in selecting an appropriate name for your child. However, some things you could overlook may result in your childs name ending up with an unintentional blooper attached to it.

Consider the following points while selecting your childs name: Avoid names that lead to cruel nicknames: Accepted, kids will always be kids, and almost any name can be twisted to conjure up an appropriately cruel nickname. However, try to avoid names that obviously lend themselves to a negative nickname. Consider your childs initials: While choosing a name, always keep in mind the initials that the name will form along with the middle name and the surname. Write these initials down and check that they do not connote something negative or undesirable. For instance, if your childs full name is Peter Oliver Taylor, the initials will spell out as POT, which may not exactly be flattering. Consider how the name will be shortened: Almost all names having two or more syllables invariably get shortened to an informal abbreviation. Consider what the most obvious shortened version of your childs name will be. For instance, its fine when Timothy becomes Tim and Daniel is shortened to Dan, but remember, Madison will be Mad, and Fatima, Fat!

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How to Overcome Hurdles While Naming the Baby

In the hectic frenzy that goes into preparing or caring for a newborn, selecting a name may seem to be the least of the challenges. While for some the process of selecting a name may be quite uneventful, for others there may be some hurdles. Difference of opinion: Couples may sometimes have a problem agreeing upon a name for their baby. To avoid this, it helps if both parents jointly list potential names, for boys and girls, early on during the pregnancy. Each can then select names that appeal to them individually. There are bound to be at least some common choices and the final selection may be made from among these. Criticism from others: The name you finally choose could provoke criticism from others. If this happens to be from people whose opinions matter to you, it may be a difficult choice to make. It is ultimately up to you to decide whether you want to stick to your resolve or change your plan to please others. Family traditions: Sometimes family tradition may dictate the choice of names. If you dont like them, it is up to you to decide whether you should honor the tradition at the cost of your own wishes. One option would be to go along with the tradition, but shorten or modify the name to make it sound more modern. Unsolicited suggestions: Prospective parents are often subjected to endless advice on various matters, and that includes options for naming the baby. This can be exasperating, but the best way to deal with it would be to at least consider the options offered. You may even like some of them. If you dont, you can of course reject them.

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Baby Names Baby Names Do's and Don'ts

Dont's Don't call the fetus Jellybean or Ladybug. Such names stick even after the child is born. Don't name your baby after someone you hate or dislike. Don't name your baby with terms that have slang meanings related to parts of the human anatomy. Check your baby name initials together with your surname. Initials of names like Christopher David Player (C.D. Player) or Annie Sue Stiles could be embarrassing. Don't make your baby name sound like a tongue twister. Consider the confusion involved in naming your child after yourself or someone in the family. Make sure to fully research your chosen name, especially if it seems unique and foreign. It would be embarrassing to discover later that your child has the name of an infamous character from history or a foreign country. Avoid involving your friends in your name search. Their input will only complicate a process that is already difficult with two people. And, in the worst case, someone might 'steal' your perfect name for their baby before you have claimed it. Don't wait until the delivery to decide on the name if you want to have any say in the matter. If you do, make sure you're ready to give in to whatever your wife decides. When the baby is handed to you, the doctor or nurse will ask what you have decided for a name. At this point, it is very difficult to argue with a woman who has been in labor for eight hours. Forewarned is forearmed. Do's Use online naming engines to help you throw a wide net for your name search. Select the top 5-10 names you like. After your baby is born, you might find the fifth name more suitable to his or her appearance. Let the baby's appearance dictate the final choice. Of-course, you wouldn't keep terms like Toothless Wonder or mashed potato in your list. Meaningful names or names of historical personalities you admire can help children gain direction in their lives.

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Baby Name Meanings

There are a number of reasons why parents select the baby names they do. It could be because they admire someone who has the same name. It could also be because a name is popular at a given time. On the other hand, an unusual baby name may be chosen precisely because it has novelty value. Sometimes, parents may even pick a baby name simply because they like its 'sound'. Baby name meanings, thus, are not always the primary consideration while selecting a baby name. Having said so, it is important to realize that most baby name meanings also have a definite historic or cultural meaning and significance. Here is a list of some popularly chosen baby name meanings. Andrew is a Biblical name, which means 'brave' or 'courageous.' Andrew is also the name of the first apostle. Anna is a Native American name that stands for 'mother.' Christopher is Latin for 'one who bears Christ in his heart.' According to an ancient belief, Saint Christopher carried the infant Christ across a river. Daniel is a name meaning 'God is my judge.' It is also the name of the prophet from the Old Testament. David in Hebrew stands for 'beloved.' According to the Old Testament, David was a king of Israel. Elizabeth stands for 'oath of God.' In the Bible, it is the name of the mother of John the Baptist. Ethan is a Biblical name that occurs in the Old Testament. It stands for 'strong,' 'constant,' or 'enduring.' Grace means 'God's favor.' Isabella is a Hebrew name that means 'devoted to God.' John stands for 'mercy of the Lord.' John the Baptist and John the apostle are two Biblical instances of the name. Michael is a Biblical name that stands for 'one who is like God.' Natalie is a Latin name that stands for 'born at Christmas.' Samantha is the female version of Samuel. It can be translated as 'listener.' Sarah is a Biblical name that means 'princess.' In the Bible, Sarah was Abraham's wife. Sophia is a Greek name meaning 'wise.' Victoria stands for 'victorious.' It was the name of a Roman goddess.

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Baby Names Giving Your Child an Ethnic Name

While naming their children, parents often choose unusual baby names with an ethnic origin. This trend has gained popularity also in the US, a melting pot of people from various ethnicities living together. Unusual baby names such as Rosalie, Maxime, Kamal, or Galina no longer raise eyebrows.

Not all parents necessarily choose unusual baby names from their own culture. They often opt for a name because they like the ring of its sound, or because of the exotic flavor that it conveys. While this is quite okay, it is important for parents to be aware of some of the larger issues surrounding ethnic names.

Ethnic names are integral to the land, language, and culture from which one is drawn. Choosing a name from your own culture is a way to acknowledge and honor your roots. It identifies your child as belonging to your specific ethnic group.

On the other hand, selecting an unusual baby name that is not from your culture, may pose some problems for your child. These could include: Difficulty in usage: Many non-English names may require a special pronunciation. Besides, their spellings may be awkward or difficult to remember. For instance, the Irish name Siobhan, is pronounced Shiv-ahn. Similarly, the Polish name Andrzej is correctly pronounced, Ahn-drzhey. Unusual baby names such as these are likely to lead to incorrect spellings and pronunciation. Could attract ridicule: Names that sound distinctly odd or different may put your child at risk of teasing by peers and friends. This may discourage your child from socializing normally. In extreme cases, unusual baby names could even lead to shyness or introversion. May lack significance: While you may find the sound of an unusual baby name, or its exotic meaning, appealing, your child may not share your enthusiasm. It might be better to have a name your child can identify with.

While none of these issues should prevent you from choosing the name of your dreams, as with all names, you should be aware of the strengths and weaknesses of any chosen name.

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Baby Names
Also, remember, especially if it is your first baby, that a choice of a name is less about you than it is about your baby and his or her future and identity. Your new child will have to wear an unusual name for a lot longer than youll introducing him with it.

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Baby Names Naming Children after Presidents

Parents looking for a name for their newborn baby draw inspiration from various sources. This includes political figures, such as presidents or presidential candidates. In fact, new presidents often spawn naming trends and many past presidents' names have been on the popularity lists of the time. At various points in history, scores of parents have chosen to name their children Abraham, Andrew, Dwight, Franklin, and Woodrow.

Today, parents are somewhat more cautious now about naming children after presidents. Nevertheless, presidential names remain more popular than ever before. (In comparison, however, instances of children named after vice presidents seem to be rarerfor instance, there are not too many Hannibels or Spiros around.)

What, one wonders, is the attraction of naming babies after presidents? Is it about political affiliation or inclination? Yes, but only to a certain extent. Actually what is attractive about a new presidential name is that it soon becomes a household name. Most Americans choose presidential names because they represent America and its essential spirit.

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Celebrity Names
We adore them, criticize them, and follow details of their personal lives with interest. And some of us go a step further and even name our children after them.

Naming children after celebrities is hardly new and the names of movie stars, sportsmen, and people in the news, have spawned generations of children with common names. This is because parents like to give their children names of people they admire. Also, they hope that by sharing the name of their idol, the children will also be assured success, fame, and fortune in their lives.

While there is nothing wrong with naming children after celebrities, there are many reasons why this need not be the sole criterion for selecting a name. Naming your child after a public figure will mean that people will always associate the name with that person. This is not fair to your child. The image conjured up by the name may not match the personality of your child. Some celebrities enjoy only a brief moment in the limelight. You may even grow over your fascination for a star. In such circumstances, it may not be appropriate to name your child on a momentary whim. All too often, celebrities are associated with controversies. If this happens, your child may become an innocent victim of someones scorn. Some star-struck parents, who name a baby after a celebrity, tend to set high expectations for their child. This benefits neither the parent nor the child. Often, one of the parents may decide on a celebrity name, which the spouse dislikes.

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Baby Names Most Popular Baby Names for Boys - 2005

Top 20 Names for 2005 Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Male name Jacob Michael Joshua Matthew Ethan Andrew Daniel Anthony Christopher Joseph William Alexander Ryan David Nicholas Tyler James John Jonathan Nathan

Top Five Male Names by State in 2005 State Alaska Alabama Rank 1 Ethan William Rank 2 Jacob James Rank 3 Joshua Joshua Rank 4 Michael John Rank 5 William Michael

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Arkansas Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Ethan Angel Daniel Jacob Ryan William Jacob Jacob Jose James Daniel David Joseph Nicholas Alexander Joshua Joshua Michael Joshua Ethan Anthony Michael Anthony

Anthony Angel Joshua Alexander

Matthew Michael John James

Dist. of Columbia William Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Iowa Idaho Illinois Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Massachusetts Maryland Maine Michigan Minnesota Missouri Mississippi Montana North Carolina North Dakota Nebraska

Michael Matthew Ryan Joshua William Joshua Ethan Ethan Jacob Jacob Jacob Jacob Ethan Michael Anthony Joshua Jacob Jacob Jacob

Christopher Jacob Michael Elijah Tyler Logan Matthew Michael Logan Joshua Christopher John Matthew Benjamin Michael Andrew Tyler

Christopher Jacob Noah Logan Gabriel Ethan Andrew Michael Alexander Joshua Joseph James Jacob Nicholas William Andrew Joshua Jack Andrew

Michael Daniel Ethan Ethan Ethan Andrew Andrew William

Michael Joshua

Matthew Michael Ryan Joshua Jacob Jacob Ethan Jacob William Jacob William Ethan Jacob Michael Ryan Tyler Andrew Jacob Ethan James Ethan Jacob Jacob Ethan Alexander Ethan Samuel William John Michael Joshua Carter Samuel

Christopher Jacob Joseph Logan

Christopher Michael Noah Alexander Dylan Noah

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Baby Names
New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico Nevada New York Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia Vermont Washington Wisconsin West Virginia Wyoming Jacob Ryan Matthew Benjamin Anthony Daniel Angel Anthony Michael Michael Alexander Ryan Ethan Joshua Tyler James Daniel Samuel Joshua Samuel Andrew Alexander Logan Michael Tyler Joseph Elijah Joshua Ryan Logan William Joshua Nicholas Ryan John Landon Joshua Christopher Andrew Christopher Ryan Daniel Logan James Joseph

Michael Matthew Ryan Joshua Isaiah Jacob Daniel

Anthony Jacob

Michael Matthew Joseph Jacob Jacob Jacob Andrew Ethan Ethan Ethan Joshua Andrew Matthew

Michael Jacob

Michael Matthew Jacob William Jacob William Jose Jacob William Jacob Jacob Ethan Jacob Jacob Jacob Ethan Jacob Jacob Ethan Jacob Connor Ethan Jacob Ethan Ethan James Carter Ethan Joshua Joshua Michael Matthew Alexander Tyler Hunter Tyler

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Most Popular Baby Names for Girls - 2005

Top 20 Names for 2005 Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Female name Emily Emma Madison Abigail Olivia Isabella Hannah Samantha Ava Ashley Sophia Elizabeth Alexis Grace Sarah Alyssa Mia Natalie Chloe Brianna

Top Five Female Names by State in 2005 State Alaska Alabama Rank 1 Rank 2 Rank 3 Emily Emily Rank 4 Rank 5

Madison Emma Madison Emma

Samantha Hannah Anna Hannah

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Baby Names
Arkansas Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Emily Emily Emily Emily Olivia Madison Mia Ashley Emma Emily Olivia Emma Ashley Hannah Isabella Alexis Emma Mia Abigail Isabella Katherine Alexis Sophia Abigail Kayla Ava Abigail Abigail Abigail Madison Abigail Olivia Sophia Kayla Madison Olivia Ella Olivia Hannah Alexis Abigail Grace Grace

Samantha Isabella Isabella Ava Elizabeth Sarah Madison Emma Mia Madison Emily Olivia Emily Olivia Emma Emily Ava Emma Emily Madison Emma Emily Anna Olivia Madison Madison Madison Madison Emma Kayla Emma Emma Hannah Alyssa Emily Hailey Isabella Olivia Abigail Hannah Hannah Olivia Abigail Hannah Ava Emily Abigail Emily Emily Hannah Olivia Olivia

Dist. of Columbia Sophia Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Iowa Idaho Illinois Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Massachusetts Maryland Maine Michigan Minnesota Missouri Mississippi Montana North Carolina North Dakota Nebraska

Madison Emily Emily Emily Emma Emma Emma Emily Emma Emma Isabella Madison Madison Olivia Madison Emma Madison Emily

Madison Emily Madison Emma Emma Emily Emma Emma Ava Emma Emily Madison Abigail Emily Grace Madison

Madison Emma Emma Emily Emma Emma Madison Emma Hannah Emily

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New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico Nevada New York Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia Vermont Washington Wisconsin West Virginia Wyoming Emma Emily Alyssa Emily Emily Emma Emma Emma Emily Olivia Emily Emily Isabella Emily Madison Ava Madison Ava Olivia Isabella Ashley Olivia Emily Hannah Hannah Olivia Emily Hannah Emily Hannah Ashley Abigail Hannah Olivia Olivia Ava Hannah Hannah Olivia Samantha Destiny Madison Madison Ava Abigail Olivia Abigail Madison Abigail Grace Abigail Emma Hannah Abigail Madison Isabella Abigail Olivia Olivia

Samantha Isabella Isabella Madison Madison Emily Madison Ava Madison Emma Olivia Emily Madison Emma Abigail Emma Olivia Emily Madison Olivia Emma Hannah Madison Emily Emma Hailey

Madison Emma Madison Emma Emily Emma Emily Emma Emma Emma Mia Emily Madison Emily Emily Olivia

Madison Emily Madison Emma

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Baby Names Most Popular Baby Names for Boys - 2006

Top 20 Names in 2006 Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Male name Jacob Michael Joshua Ethan Matthew Daniel Christopher Andrew Anthony William Joseph Alexander David Ryan Noah James Nicholas Tyler Logan John

Top Five Male Names By State in 2006 State Alaska Alabama Arkansas Arizona California Colorado Rank 1 James William William Angel Daniel Jacob Rank 2 Jacob Jacob Ethan Daniel Anthony Ethan Rank 3 Michael James Jacob Jacob Angel Rank 4 Andrew Joshua Landon Anthony Jacob Rank 5 Ethan John James Jose David Noah

Alexander Joshua

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Connecticut Michael Matthew Michael Michael Michael Joshua Joshua Jacob Jacob Michael Ethan Ethan William Ryan Nicholas Anthony

Dist. of Columbia William Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Iowa Idaho Illinois Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Massachusetts Maryland Maine Michigan Minnesota Missouri Mississippi Montana North Carolina North Dakota Nebraska Ryan Joshua William Noah Ethan Ethan Daniel Jacob Jacob Jacob

Christopher Alexander Anthony Jacob Anthony John Matthew

Christopher Jacob Michael Elijah Andrew Logan

Christopher Jacob Ethan Noah Joshua Jacob Andrew Logan Ethan Joshua Michael William Benjamin Logan Logan Andrew Joshua Michael Jacob Jacob Dylan Logan Noah

Alexander Joshua Michael William

Alexander William James Jacob Nicholas Jacob Tyler Michael Benjamin Ethan Landon Christopher Andrew Matthew Logan Andrew Jack William

Landon Ethan Matthew Ryan Joshua Jacob Jacob Ethan Jacob William Jacob William Logan Jacob Michael Ethan Ethan Jacob Logan James Logan Joshua Ethan

Christopher John William James

Christopher Michael Carter Andrew William Joseph Daniel Jacob Anthony Michael William Noah Logan Andrew Anthony Joseph David Christopher Noah Michael Noah

Alexander Ethan Ryan Benjamin Daniel Gabriel Angel Joseph Ethan Joshua

New Hampshire Jacob New Jersey New Mexico Nevada New York Ohio Oklahoma Oregon

Michael Matthew Isaiah Joshua

Anthony Daniel Michael Matthew Jacob Jacob Jacob Andrew Ethan Ethan

Alexander Logan

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Baby Names
Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia Vermont Washington Wisconsin West Virginia Wyoming Jacob Ryan William Jacob William Jose Ethan William Jacob Jacob Ethan Jacob Ethan Michael Jacob Ryan Nicholas Joseph Michael Jacob Logan Ethan Daniel Samuel Joshua Owen Daniel Mason Landon Ryan Matthew Benjamin Joshua Landon James Christopher Benjamin Christopher Aiden Logan Alexander Hunter Hunter

Christopher James Ethan Jacob Jacob Joshua Jacob Noah Carter Joshua Joshua Jacob Michael William

Alexander Ethan Jacob Ethan Jacob Logan Logan Logan

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Most Popular Baby Names for Girls - 2006

Top 10 Female Names for 2006 Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Female name Emily Emma Madison Isabella Ava Abigail Olivia Hannah Sophia Samantha

Top Five Female Names for Births in 2006 State State Alaska Alabama Arkansas Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Rank 1 Emma Rank 2 Rank 3 Rank 4 Rank 5

Madison Emily Anna Emma

Isabella Ava Emily Abigail Hannah Hannah Emma Samantha

Madison Emma Madison Emily Mia Emily Isabella Isabella Emily

Isabella Ashley Mia

Isabella Ashley Emily Emily Emma Ava

Hannah Abigail Olivia Ava Emma Emma Sophia Olivia Emma

Dist. of Columbia Katherine Elizabeth Ashley Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Iowa Idaho Illinois Indiana Madison Emily Isabella Emily Ava

Madison Sophia Emma

Madison Emily Isabella Emma Emma Emily Emma Emma Ava Olivia

Hannah Ava Ava

Madison Hailey Olivia

Madison Hannah

Abigail Hannah Madison Olivia Ava

Isabella Emma Ava Olivia

Madison Emily

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Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Massachusetts Maryland Maine Michigan Minnesota Missouri Mississippi Montana North Carolina North Dakota Nebraska Emma Emily Abigail Madison Ava Emily Ava Hannah Abigail Emily Sophia Hannah Olivia Ava Madison Emily Sophia Emily

Madison Emma Madison Emma Ava

Isabella Emma

Madison Emily Emma Ava Ava Emma Abigail Emma Grace

Abigail Emma Emily Olivia

Madison Olivia Olivia Emma Abigail

Madison Ava Emma

Madison Anna Emma Abigail

Hannah Emily Hannah Hannah

Madison Grace Emma Grace Abigail

Madison Emily Ava Emma Emma Ava Olivia Ava Alyssa

Madison Alexis

Madison Addison Emily Emily Emily Emily Ava Sophia Mia Emma Olivia Olivia Abigail Madison Olivia Madison Ashley Sophia Emily Hannah Abigail Olivia

New Hampshire Emma New Jersey New Mexico Nevada New York Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia Vermont Washington Isabella Isabella Emily Emily Emma Emma Emma Ava Isabella

Isabella Mia Isabella Ava Madison Ava Madison Emily Emily Emily Olivia

Madison Olivia Madison Emma Ava Emily

Madison Emily Hannah Olivia Grace Madison

Madison Emma Emma

Hannah Ava Emily Ashley Olivia

Madison Emma Emily Emma Mia Abigail

Hannah Abigail Isabella Madison Elizabeth Emily Hannah Olivia Isabella

Madison Emily Emma Emma Ava Emily

Abigail Emma Abigail Grace Ava Olivia

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Wisconsin West Virginia Wyoming Ava Emma Emily Olivia Abigail Isabella Alexis Hannah

Madison Hannah Emily Emily Emma

Madison Alexis

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Baby Names Most Popular Baby Names for Boys - 2007

Top 10 Male Names for 2007 Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Male name Aiden Ethan Jacob Jayden Caden Noah Jackson Jack Logan Matthew

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Most Popular Names for Baby Girls - 2007

Top 10 Female Names for 2007 Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Female name Sophia Isabella Emma Madison Ava Addison Hailey Emily Kaitlyn Olivia

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Baby Names New Popular Baby Names in 2007

The year 2007 is over. When it comes to baby names, some names lost favor with parents this past year, while others gained in popularity. Here are some of the naming trends that were observed: Emma seems to have been pushed out of its reigning position as the most popular girls' name since 2004! Sophia, which gained slowly through 2002, and made it to the 10 most popular names of 2005, is now in the number one position. Addison rose by 20 places to occupy a place in the top 10 popular names for girls. Dr. Addison Montgomery-Shepherd, played by Kate Walsh on the popular TV series Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice, may have something to do with it. Some other new names such as Adriana, Alana, Callie, Kaelyn, Lila, Maria, Reagan, Sadie, and Sienna, made it to the list of girls' top 100 names this year. When it comes to boys' names, Aiden remains in the top position it has held since 2005. Jayden, Caden, and Jackson are the new names to have made it to the category of top 10 boys' names. New boys' names in the top ten list include Adrian, Cody, Colton, Jeremiah, Nolan, and Oliver. On the other hand, names such as Rebecca, Adam, Robert, and Nathaniel went down in popularity.

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About the Authors

Robert Wilder Robert Wilder was born on Long Island but raised with his three brothers in Westport, Connecticut, a country block away from Martha Stewart. He has worked as a gas station attendant, dishwasher, factory worker, landscape grunt, grass cutter, lackey, busboy, waiter, concession stand clerk, housepainter, soccer camp director, dog show researcher, fundraiser, and advertising executive. He now lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with his wife, artist Lala Carroll, and their two children, Poppy and London.

Wilder is a graduate of the Warren Wilson MFA Program for Writers, New Mexico State University (M.A.), and Wesleyan University (B.A.). He has published fiction and nonfiction in Salon, Creative Nonfiction, The Greensboro Review, The Colorado Review, Hayden's Ferry Review, and elsewhere. He has been a commentator for NPR's Morning Edition, "The Big Show with Honey Harris" on KBAC FM in Santa Fe, and Back Roads Radio. His fiction and essays have been nominated for numerous awards, including The Pushcart Prize. He is the former director of the Southwest Literary Center of Recursos de Santa Fe, which includes the Writers Reading Series and the Santa Fe Writers Conference.

His column, "Daddy Needs a Drink," is published monthly in the Santa Fe Reporter. Daddy Needs a Drink is his first book.

W. Grant Eppler W. Grant Eppler is author of "Every Guy's Guide as to What to Expect When She's Expecting."

Paul Banas As a new dad, Paul Banas was looking for a business idea that would allow him the flexibility to spend time with his family. And, as a dad, he became very aware that many dads today are more involved in parenting but have limited resources from a mans point of view from which to better understand the challenges of their changing role. Based on this insight and his experience of more than 20 years of marketing and business development at companies including Unilever, Visa International, Alibris.com and most recently, Yahoo! Inc., Banas founded GreatDad.com.

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Baby Names
While nothing can imitate or replace the special mother/child bond, dads develop incredible relationships with their children and it is vitally important that they have a place to discuss the parenting process from a male perspective. Data indicates that fathers today are more involved in family life versus a generation ago due to factors including post-911 security fears, loss of career-long job security, and increased demands on working moms and dual-career families, said Banas. GreatDad.com enables all dadsworking, stay-at-home, single, gay, domestic partners, and moreto find ways to be involved and understand how dads are functioning as parents today.

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A GreatDad eBook

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Recommended Reading
Book by Robert Wilder Daddy Needs a Drink

Book by W. Grant Eppler Every Guy's Guide as to What to Expect When She's Expecting

A GreatDad eBook

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Baby Names Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Robert Wilder for the following article: What's in a Name?

We would like to thank W. Grant Eppler for the following article: Naming Names

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A GreatDad eBook

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A GreatDad eBook

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