Boys’ Names 2012: Nameberry’s Top 100
Now it’s the boys’ turn at the Top 100 list. These are the most popular names gauged by visitors to their pages so far in 2012.
As with the national list, the boys’ top names are more stable than the girls’ — though the Nameberry list is very different from the U.S. list. Our Top 5 names are the same as in 2010, with the exception of new entrant Milo.
Trends on our boys’ Top 100:
— The Nameberry list is geared to non-traditional but deeply-rooted boys’ names. We see this trend on the U.S. list as well, but it’s even more pronounced in our statistics — which indicates that overall trend will continue to move toward unconventional boys’ names and away from standards such as Robert and John. The exceptions: Henry, James, and William. But however unconventional, the Nameberry favorites, from mythological Irish Finn to Biblical Asher, have deep roots.
— Celebrities and pop culture are important, but not as important as for girls. We see Finn, partially inspired by Glee, at Number 1 and Atticus in the Top 10 thanks to To Kill A Mockingbird. While other names — Jude, Liam, Emmett, Hudson, Arlo — have risen on the heels of popular stars, celebrity babies, and movie and TV characters — we see this influence on boys’ names less pronounced than on girls’.
— Boys’ names are getting softer. The whole badass boys’ name — Stryker, Wilder, Maverick — thing aside, we see a softening of boys’ names, with vowel endings (Milo, Levi, Ezra), sibilant sounds (Asher, Dashiell, Sebastian), and choices that are derived from girls’ names or can also be used for girls (Rowan, Emerson, Elliot).
Here, the Nameberry Top 100 for boys so far in 2012.
In case you missed it, check out the Girls’ Top 100.
Guess Number 101 on the boys’ list and win a free signed copy of our book Beyond Ava & Aiden!
One guess per person and first guess wins the prize….so don’t pick a name that someone else has already guessed!