The Playground Analysis of the Real Most Popular Names

By Kelli Brady, The Name Freak!

Now that the 2014 SSA list has been released, I can present the “real” Top 50 to you! By combining the different spellings of each name, we can determine which name is truly more popular. Because when you hear “Sophia!” on the playground, you have no idea how her name is spelled, but you know you hear the name a lot. Where does it really rank compared to other names?

Note: These are the combined spellings of the names in the Top 1000 only. When the numbers from the entire list are added, positions could change. The main name listed is the spelling given to the most babies in 2014 (SSA Rank is in parentheses). The others are in alphabetical order. Opinions vary on how different spellings are pronounced. I went with my best judgment.

GIRLS

With the 2014 list, we had a very surprising new #1 in Emma. But as you can see below, Sophia is still on top when you also take the alternate spelling Sofia into consideration. Emma was pushed down to #3 after the variants of Olivia were also included. The rest of the list varies as well, sometimes greatly. The largest jumps are by Adalynn (#128 to #22), Elena (#121 to #43), and Madelyn (#59 to #12)

1. Sophia (3) – Sofia

2. Olivia (2) – Alivia, Alyvia

3. Emma (1)

4. Isabella (4) – Isabela, Izabella

5. Ava (5) – Avah, Ayva

6. Emily (7) – Emely, Emilee, Emilie, Emmalee

7. Mia (6) – Miah

8. Zoey (22) – Zoe, Zoie

9. Aubrey (20) – Aubree, Aubri, Aubrie

10. Madison (9) – Maddison, Madisyn, Madyson

11. Abigail (8) – Abbigail

12. Madelyn (59) – Madalyn, Madalynn, Madeleine, Madeline, Madelynn, Madilyn, Madilynn

13. Chloe (18) – Khloe

14. Ariana (37) – Arianna, Aryana, Aryanna

15. Layla (29) – Laila, Lailah, Laylah, Leila, Leyla

16. Amelia (15) – Emelia, Emilia

17. Avery (13) – Averi, Averie

18. Riley (47) – Rylee, Ryleigh, Rylie

19. Charlotte (10)

20. Elizabeth (14) – Elisabeth

21. Lily (27) – Lillie, Lilly

22. Evelyn (16) – Evalyn, Evelynn

23. Adalynn (128) – Adalyn, Addilyn, Addilynn, Adeline, Adelyn, Adelynn

24. Harper (11)

25. Brooklyn (26) – Brooklynn

26. Natalie (23) – Natalee, Nataly, Nathalie, Nathaly

27. Ella (17)

28. Aria (31) – Ariah, Ariya, Ariyah, Arya

29. Addison (24) – Addisyn, Addyson

30. Allison (38) – Alison, Alisson, Allyson, Alyson

31. Mackenzie (69) – Makenzie, Mckenzie

32. Victoria (19)

33. Kaylee (52) – Caylee, Kailee, Kailey, Kayleigh, Kaylie

34. Hailey (51) – Hailee, Haley, Haylee, Hayley

35. Grace (21)

36. Hannah (28) – Hana, Hanna

37. Lillian (25) – Lilian

38. Leah (35) – Lea, Leia, Lia

39. Maya (74) – Maia, Miya, Mya, Myah

40. Peyton (56) – Paityn, Payton

41. Anna (34) – Ana

42. Scarlett (30) – Scarlet, Scarlette

43. Elena (121) – Alaina, Alayna, Elaina

44. Kylie (73) – Kiley, Kylee, Kyleigh

45. Camila (41) – Camilla, Kamila

46. Nora (49) – Norah

47. Katherine (83) – Catherine, Kathryn

48. Sarah (50) – Sara

49. Gabriella (43) – Gabriela

50. Annabelle (57) – Anabel, Anabelle, Annabel, Annabell

If we were to compare this year’s Playground Analysis with last year’s, the following names entered the Top 50 in 2014: Annabelle, Nora, and Scarlett; the following names fell out of the Top 50: Aaliyah, Kaitlyn, and Samantha.

Another interesting tidbit: the most popular spelling of Ariana changed from Arianna in 2013 to Ariana in 2014.

BOYS

While the 2014 list had no major changes to the Top 5, except for Jacob and Mason switching places (Mason moving up to #3 and Jacob moving down to #4), a comparison of the Playground Analyses show a change in the #1 name… Jackson has overtaken Aiden for the top spot! Jayden falls from #3 to #7 and Liam jumps from #7 to #4. The biggest movers, again, were Kayden (#90 to #9) and Jace (#68 to #20). Grayson also makes a big move up from #63 to #37.

1. Jackson (17) – Jaxen, Jaxon, Jaxson

2. Aiden (14) – Aaden, Adan, Aden, Aidan, Aidyn, Aydan, Ayden, Aydin

3. Noah (1) – Noe

4. Liam (2)

5. Mason (3) – Maison, Mayson

6. Jacob (4) – Jakob, Jaycob

7. Jayden (15) – Jaden, Jadon, Jaiden, Jaydon

8. William (5)

9. Kayden (90) – Caden, Caiden, Cayden, Kaden, Kaeden, Kaiden

10. Ethan (6)

11. Alexander (8) – Alexzander

12. Michael (7) – Micheal

13. James (9)

14. Elijah (11) – Alijah

15. Daniel (10)

16. Lucas (19) – Lukas

17. Benjamin (12)

18. Logan (13)

19. Matthew (16) – Mathew

20. Jace (68) – Jase, Jayce, Jayse

21. Carter (27) – Karter

22. David (18)

23. Joseph (20)

24. Caleb (35) – Kaleb

25. Anthony (21)

26. Dylan (29) – Dilan, Dillon

27. Andrew (22)

28. John (26) – Jon

29. Christopher (30) – Cristopher, Kristopher

30. Samuel (23)

31. Gabriel (24)

32. Joshua (25)

33. Luke (28)

34. Isaac (31) – Issac

35. Christian (42) – Cristian, Kristian

36. Landon (43) – Landen, Landyn

37. Grayson (63) – Graysen, Greyson

38. Connor (52) – Conner, Conor, Konner, Konnor

39. Jonathan (44) – Johnathan, Johnathon, Jonathon

40. Nicholas (57) – Nickolas, Nicolas, Nikolas

41. Oliver (32)

42. Henry (33)

43. Cameron (53) – Camren, Camron, Kameron, Kamron, Kamryn

44. Sebastian (34)

45. Owen (36)

46. Ryan (37)

47. Nathan (38)

48. Wyatt (39)

49. Hunter (40)

50. Jack (41)

If we were to compare this year’s Playground Analysis with last year’s, the following names entered the Top 50 in 2014: Grayson, Oliver and Sebastian; the following names fell out of the Top 50: Brayden, Dominic, and Isaiah.

So what do you think? Does this reflect what you are hearing out there?