Popular Names of 2010

bsidebella

I'm obsessed with names. I like finding names, creating names, and, above all, naming characters. When you do a lot of writing you like to keep up on naming trends (I also buy baby name books every few years to keep myself current) and Yahoo just posted an article about the Top 100 Baby Names of 2010 (<--- click for link)

What I always find interesting is what names are trending and why. For example, according to the article, Glee was a huge influence this year. The name Quinn jumped in popularity by 60% and the names Finn, Jenna (as in Ushkowitz, who plays Tina) and Lea (as in Michele, who plays Rachel) are also gaining popularity.

Believe it or not, Teen Mom also influenced naming trends this year! Maci rose in popularity by 60% and Farrah by 51%! However, Amber dropped 15%.

Before anyone asks, NO I don't have plans for kids any time soon, I just think it is a totally fascinating article with some really interesting points as to how pop culture influences the next generation!

bethsmiles

I love names. BF and I talk about names all the time. If either one of us hears a name that we like we mention it to each other to see what they think. We prefer names that aren't super popular though. Neither of us like any of the names that you mentioned jumped up in popularity but I do think naming trends are interesting.

Elle1036

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_popular-names-of-2010?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:8d04570f-6598-4b5d-a53d-7aad7783b6dfPost:986c030e-d063-4d11-997e-634b43a2b2f7">Popular Names of 2010</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm obsessed with names. I like finding names, creating names, and, above all, naming characters. When you do a lot of writing you like to keep up on naming trends (I also buy baby name books every few years to keep myself current) and Yahoo just posted an article about the Top 100 Baby Names of 2010 (<--- click for link) What I always find interesting is what names are trending and why. For example, according to the article, Glee was a huge influence this year. The name Quinn jumped in popularity by 60% and the names Finn, Jenna (as in Ushkowitz, who plays Tina) and Lea (as in Michele, who plays Rachel) are also gaining popularity. Believe it or not, Teen Mom also influenced naming trends this year! <strong>Maci rose in popularity by 60%</strong> and Farrah by 51%! However, Amber dropped 15%. Before anyone asks, NO I don't have plans for kids any time soon, I just think it is a totally fascinating article with some really interesting points as to how pop culture influences the next generation!
Posted by bsidebella[/QUOTE]

That name should be spelled with a 'y'.  The chick on Teen Mom had it wrong.

:)

CASK85

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_popular-names-of-2010?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:8d04570f-6598-4b5d-a53d-7aad7783b6dfPost:2794515e-8c5b-4c2c-ac50-8272ad23e747">Re: Popular Names of 2010</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Popular Names of 2010 : That name should be spelled with a 'y'.  The chick on Teen Mom had it wrong. :)
Posted by Elle1036[/QUOTE]
Not if you want your kid to grow up to be a stripper. "i" replaces "y" in that case -- duh!

heyimbren

I think I'm name-shallow. I really do think names say a lot about a person, and so if I am writing I pay a lot of attention to the context of names and their meanings, origins, etc.

And I've bought baby name books too, Bella. I use them for characters mainly.

tafft1

I wonder if my husband and I are the odd ones out when we don't dicuss possible baby names even though we talk about every other aspect of raising and having children of our own in the next year or so. It might be because there is still a huge question mark on the possibility of me getting pregnant on my own without medical intervention. Sometimes I wish I was more normal...

bsidebella

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_popular-names-of-2010?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:8d04570f-6598-4b5d-a53d-7aad7783b6dfPost:3636938d-f097-4bc2-b5d8-71a04ef06b4b">Re: Popular Names of 2010</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Popular Names of 2010 : Not if you want your kid to grow up to be a stripper. "i" replaces "y" in that case -- duh!
Posted by cschiano[/QUOTE]

.....Or a teen mom =P

Elle1036

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_popular-names-of-2010?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:8d04570f-6598-4b5d-a53d-7aad7783b6dfPost:3636938d-f097-4bc2-b5d8-71a04ef06b4b">Re: Popular Names of 2010</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Popular Names of 2010 : Not if you want your kid to grow up to be a stripper. "i" replaces "y" in that case -- duh!
Posted by cschiano[/QUOTE]

Oh yeah, I had forgotten that rule.  'I' before 'E' except after 'C', and 'I' instead of 'Y' if you work in the sex industry.

bsidebella

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_popular-names-of-2010?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:8d04570f-6598-4b5d-a53d-7aad7783b6dfPost:b4bc4659-c948-4761-8780-53485416ccb2">Re: Popular Names of 2010</a>:
[QUOTE]I think I'm name-shallow. I really do think names say a lot about a person, and so if I am writing I pay a lot of attention to the context of names and their meanings, origins, etc. And I<strong>'ve bought baby name books too, Bella. I use them for characters mainly.</strong>
Posted by heyimbren[/QUOTE]

I do too, though I used to get super-weird looks at the bookstore, being 13 or 14 years old and buying a baby-name book! I have a pretty good collection of them now - I think 6?

calindi

When I was a kid, my brother's best friend's name was Justin and our neighbor's baby was named Brittany.  I thought they were absolutely beautiful names, and at the ripe age of 10 years old I decided someday I would name my children those names.

Then N*Sync (Justin Timberlake) and Britney Spears happened.

CASK85

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_popular-names-of-2010?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:8d04570f-6598-4b5d-a53d-7aad7783b6dfPost:36e5cf9e-210b-4b20-a412-8e659679026d">Re: Popular Names of 2010</a>:
[QUOTE]I wonder if my husband and I are the odd ones out when we don't dicuss possible baby names even though we talk about every other aspect of raising and having children of our own in the next year or so. It might be because there is still a huge question mark on the possibility of me getting pregnant on my own without medical intervention. Sometimes I wish I was more normal...
Posted by tafft1[/QUOTE]
But being normal is over rated :) <div>
</div><div>Seriously I hope that everything works out for your guys. And there is no shame in medical intervention - we have technologies and using them is totally ok.</div>

bakes218

I work at a school and it is amazing how many names I have loved but have been ruined by some crazy kid with the same name!

Elle1036

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_popular-names-of-2010?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:8d04570f-6598-4b5d-a53d-7aad7783b6dfPost:8e76d857-58e1-4c67-a15e-e85c9190c1f3">Re: Popular Names of 2010</a>:
[QUOTE]I work at a school and it is amazing how many names I have loved but have been ruined by some crazy kid with the same name!
Posted by bakes218[/QUOTE]

Did anyone else see that episode of How I Met Your Mother? 

bsidebella

Well, see? Perfect example of how pop culture influences naming trends! As of 3 months ago, the #1 name in the US was Isabella ... thanks, of course, to Twilight!

CASK85

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_popular-names-of-2010?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:8d04570f-6598-4b5d-a53d-7aad7783b6dfPost:22357942-07cd-4dfb-9ec3-8c84504c502f">Re: Popular Names of 2010</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Popular Names of 2010 : Did anyone else see that episode of How I Met Your Mother? 
Posted by Elle1036[/QUOTE]
Yes :) I love HIMYM 

Elle1036

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_popular-names-of-2010?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:8d04570f-6598-4b5d-a53d-7aad7783b6dfPost:dbe34af2-ee11-4567-823e-85b1b40efb8e">Re: Popular Names of 2010</a>:
[QUOTE]Well, see? Perfect example of how pop culture influences naming trends! As of 3 months ago, the #1 name in the US was Isabella ... thanks, of course, to Twilight !
Posted by bsidebella[/QUOTE]

Bella is also one of the (if not the) most popular names for female dogs.

<img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-tongue-out.gif" border="0" alt="Tongue out" title="Tongue out" />

Elle1036

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_popular-names-of-2010?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:8d04570f-6598-4b5d-a53d-7aad7783b6dfPost:de95a163-7e8c-40ba-965b-d3d261f32fc5">Re: Popular Names of 2010</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Popular Names of 2010 : Yes :) I love HIMYM 
Posted by cschiano[/QUOTE]

Seriously, C, you need to stop trying to be like me.  I know I'm awesome, but it's getting a little creepy.

CASK85

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_popular-names-of-2010?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:8d04570f-6598-4b5d-a53d-7aad7783b6dfPost:5a9df149-d0f2-49d2-8ed2-7fd61976f26c">Re: Popular Names of 2010</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Popular Names of 2010 : Seriously, C, you need to stop trying to be like me.  I know I'm awesome, but it's getting a little creepy.
Posted by Elle1036[/QUOTE]<div>You're just stalking my facebook and trying to be like me :-P</div><div>
I actually hated it when BF first showed it to me 2 years ago. . . now I'm addicted and we watch it together every week (and all the reruns on lifetime get recorded into our DVR). </div>

bsidebella

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_popular-names-of-2010?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:8d04570f-6598-4b5d-a53d-7aad7783b6dfPost:398461cc-1553-4c1b-bafa-6c21a7efd27c">Re: Popular Names of 2010</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Popular Names of 2010 : Bella is also one of the (if not the) most popular names for female dogs.
Posted by Elle1036[/QUOTE]

Oh trust me, I know. My nickname IRL is also Bella, and my mom's across-the-way neighbor has a cocker spaniel named Bella =/

leia1979

I think some of those names are kind of weird, though my friend's daughter is Stella, one of the up and coming names. My coworker's daughter is Zoe, which is number 13 on the list (both girls were born this year).

I grew up with a bunch of Jennifers, and that doesn't make the top 100. And my name is certainly never on any lists, nor can I get any of the mugs/keychains with names on them.


ETA: Oh, look. In the year I was born, Jennifer was the #1 girl's name. http://www.babycenter.com/popularBabyNames.htm?year=1979
And I giggled at #39 & 40 being Brandy and Monica.

heyimbren

Speaking of HIMYM... Stella and Zoe were all I could think of after reading Leia's post.

Elle1036

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_popular-names-of-2010?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:8d04570f-6598-4b5d-a53d-7aad7783b6dfPost:5e5fb764-df0f-494a-a752-12bd93b33feb">Re: Popular Names of 2010</a>:
[QUOTE]Speaking of HIMYM... Stella and Zoe were all I could think of after reading Leia's post.
Posted by heyimbren[/QUOTE]

I really want to know what's going to come out of that Zoe character.  I expected her to be gone by now, but she's still showing up in just about every episode, so I can only assume that she's important in some way.

jemmini6

2 of my friends that are pregnant right now are both planning to name their boys Aiden (one being spelled Aydon - the Irish spelling).  I liked having a unique-ish name growing up because I can't even tell you how many Jennifers, Michaels, Daniels, etc I went to school with.  I always swore I would never choose a name in the top 50 of that year.  Sucks for my friend though because ever since I've known her she's liked the name Aydon and of course it had to get popular as soon as she was going to have a baby...

Hazel_B

Almost all of the babies I know that were born in the last 2 to 3 years have those names. I even know a Paisley!

Sadly, the names I like are on the fast riser list, how normal of me?

PaigeMcC

Being a daycare teacher for years has ruined some names for me.  I just can't name one of my kids after someone who gave me a hard time as a 5 year old.  So when we have a kid I'm going to be hella picky.

Also, Tafft is going to make a wicked mom someday very soon;)

[Deleted User]

I do think it's interesting how names go in and out of fashion. One of my girlfriends named her daughter Olivia and I thought it sounded so old-fashioned at the time, but older names are really coming back into style.

I've had a girl name picked out for a long time: Aubrey. It was actually my great grandfather's name, but I think it sounds beautiful for a girl.

I had a friend in HS who was named Ashby, but he didn't like it so he went by his middle name, Lee. I always thought it was a unique name for a guy, but BF doesn't like it at all - so maybe I can get someone else to use it!

I've also thought about using my mom's name because it is so unique: Dotsy. She's only ever met 1 other Dotsy in her whole life and I feel like maybe I should try to keep it in the family...

bsidebella

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_popular-names-of-2010?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:8d04570f-6598-4b5d-a53d-7aad7783b6dfPost:5703bf7a-cf7a-422f-9eaa-7b3e133cf5a0">Re: Popular Names of 2010</a>:
[QUOTE]I do think it's interesting how names go in and out of fashion. One of my girlfriends named her daughter Olivia and I thought it sounded so old-fashioned at the time, but older names are really coming back into style. <strong>I've had a girl name picked out for a long time: Aubrey. It was actually my great grandfather's name, but I think it sounds beautiful for a girl.</strong>
Posted by allusive007[/QUOTE]

I don't know any Aubreys personally, but it is gaining popularity as a girl's name! It's like Leslie, Sidney and Ashley - once wildly popular for men, now it's seen more for girls.

Blue & White

Parents these days are insane. 

My friends that are having babies....have named their kids the weirdest names ever.  Madison, Kennedy, and Jefferson (or something equally ridic) were all in the running for one kid - thank God he was born a boy (and he still has a terrible name)

I don't have kids, so I don't understand these things   And for the record, I like Madison, but I don't like choosing ALL the president names for one kid.

skyler1108

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_popular-names-of-2010?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:8d04570f-6598-4b5d-a53d-7aad7783b6dfPost:bce88031-baa4-44d2-b12b-c5639eeddca6">Re: Popular Names of 2010</a>:
[QUOTE]And my name is certainly never on any lists, nor can I get any of the mugs/keychains with names on them. Posted by leia1979[/QUOTE]

This is the case with not just me but FI as well. We both have different names that are not very common.

Growing up I hated that I could not get all the cool stuff with my name on it like my friends had. Now that I am older I love having a name that is not common. FI and I want our future kids to have unique names like their parents do.

P.S. and no skyler is not my name lol

bsidebella

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_popular-names-of-2010?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:8d04570f-6598-4b5d-a53d-7aad7783b6dfPost:c490c0a3-fbc0-4ba4-9dc7-c8efdfcf58c3">Re: Popular Names of 2010</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Popular Names of 2010 : This is the case with not just me but FI as well. We both have different names that are not very common. Growing up I hated that I could not get all the cool stuff with my name on it like my friends had. <strong>Now that I am older I love having a name that is not common. FI and I want our future kids to have unique names like their parents do. </strong>P.S. and no skyler is not my name lol
Posted by skyler1108[/QUOTE]

I'm almost the complete opposite. I also have a very uncommon name and the only place I found it on keychains or mugs or anything else was in England, which was weird and thrilling! But I hate my name still. I want my future kid to have an easier time. A friend of mine wanted a name for her daughter that was easy to say and spell, pretty and feminine but common, but not a name you hear all the time (she named her Nina). I liked her reasoning and will probably follow it for my own kid(s).

Elle1036

My name (which is not Elle) is pretty uncommon, too.  When I was younger, most people had never heard of it, but it's been popping up more and more the last few years.

I don't like that I usually have to repeat myself a couple of times when I introduce myself to people, since my name may not be one they've heard before.  But, I do think there are fun things about having an unusual name.

Random:  I will never name a child of mine a name that starts with the letter 'm'.  My name starts with 'm' and it makes introducing myself more difficult.  Most people just say "Hi, I'm _____", but if I do that, the m sounds at the end of "I'm" and the beginning of my name run together, so I always end up saying, "Hi, my name is _____".  Small thing, but it really bugs me.