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Home › Articles › Preparing for Baby › Baby Naming Methods

Baby Naming Methods

The Methods Some Use to Name Their Babies

By Charlene Torkelson

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List Toppers
According to the Social Security Administration, the top 10 boys' names in 2004 were Jacob, Michael, Joshua, Matthew, Ethan, Andrew, Daniel, William, Joseph and Christopher. There seems to be a common theme here – most are names from the Bible or saints' names. The top girls' names were Emily, Emma, Madison, Olivia, Hannah, Abigail, Isabella, Ashley, Samantha and Elizabeth. Compare these to just a little over a decade ago when the top 1990 girls' names were Jessica, Ashley, Brittany, Amanda, Samantha, Sarah, Stephanie, Jennifer, Elizabeth and Lauren. Some are the same, but there are several new choices.

It may be true that when looking at a name, you can almost tell when that person was born due to the popularity of certain names during specific decades. For example, popular names in 1900 included Florence, Ethel, Lillian and Henry. In 1910, it was Willie, Marie and Alice, and 1920 saw such favorites as Mildred, Virginia and Frances. And the 1930s included top 10 favorites Betty, Dorothy, Helen, Joan, Doris, Ruth and George. You don't find as many Ethels or Bettys in kindergarten these days.

Whatever your method for choosing a name, your child will at some point in time question your choice. I remember my daughter asking why I didn't name her Mittens. I don't ever recall that name on my list of possibilities for her. By the way, in addition to being a name from the Dukes of Hazard, Beau is French for "beautiful or handsome." As a mother, I must say I certainly picked the right name there.

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