Baby Name Popularity News

The popularity of baby names is the subject of these news stories, which look at name popularity trends now and over time. For all the current lists of top names around the world, go to our central Popular Names page.

Name Sage: Is This Name Too Popular?
Tue Jul 14 2015

Name Sage: Is This Name Too Popular?

The Name Sage offers her wisdom this week on deciding if a name is too popular–and if that really matters.
Atticus Tops Baby Names 2015
Mon Jul 13 2015

Atticus Tops Baby Names 2015

by Pamela Redmond Satran Atticus makes major baby name news by topping Nameberry’s count of Most Popular Names for the first half of 2015, on the publication day of the new Harper Lee novel casting the inspirational namesake Atticus Finch as a racist. The ancient Roman boys’ name Atticus, which indicates a person from the […]
Unisex Names of the 2014 Top 1000
Sun Jul 05 2015

Unisex Names of the 2014 Top 1000

Kelli Brady’s exhaustive analysis of just where the 2014 popular names stand on the gender divide.
Literary Baby Names in the News
Sun Jun 28 2015

Literary Baby Names in the News

Baby names from books–both classic and contemporary–are popping up all over the celebrisphere and beyond.
Cute Comeback-Kid Nicknames for Girls
Wed Jun 24 2015

Cute Comeback-Kid Nicknames for Girls

Sadie and Josie have made their comebacks, but there are plenty of other previously popular nickname names for girls to consider.
The Hottest Names of 2015
Mon Jun 22 2015

The Hottest Names of 2015

So what are the next hottest names ready to pop?
Australia’s Fastest Rising Top 100 Names
Thu Jun 11 2015

Australia’s Fastest Rising Top 100 Names

Here Aussie name expert Anna Otto presents the rising name stars in her country, also comparing them to those in the US and UK.
On Choosing a (mega) Popular Baby Name
Thu Jun 04 2015

On Choosing a (mega) Popular Baby Name

Guest blogger Jen Simon’s reflections on giving her son what would become the #1 boys’ name.
Most Popular Spanish Baby Names
Sun May 31 2015

Most Popular Spanish Baby Names

The latest pop list from Spain is out and Lucia and Hugo are at the top.
UK vs US Popular Baby Names
Thu May 21 2015

UK vs US Popular Baby Names

Emma and Noah vs Amelia and Oliver: Eleanor Nickerson's perceptive analysis of the Anglo-American divide.
New Baby Name Trend: The Lu/Lou boys
Wed May 20 2015

New Baby Name Trend: The Lu/Lou boys

Following the path of Lucy and Luna, boys’ name with the lu-sound beginning are forging ahead, from Lucas and Luke to Louis and Lucian.
States’ Most Popular Names 2014
Mon May 18 2015

States’ Most Popular Names 2014

Brooklyn’s the second most popular name in Wyoming, Mia tops the charts in New Mexico–and other fascinating data on the naming preferences in various states.
Best Names Given to Just 5 Babies
Sun May 17 2015

Best Names Given to Just 5 Babies

Here are some of the rarities found at the low end of the popularity list, from Amandine to Xanthe.
The Hottest Celebrity Baby Names
Sun May 17 2015

The Hottest Celebrity Baby Names

Which starbaby name choices impacted this year’s popularity list? Abby Sandel gives us a rundown.
The Best New Baby Names
Thu May 14 2015

The Best New Baby Names

Of all the new names in the Top 1000, here is a selection of the best.
A Tale of 2 Popularity Lists
Wed May 13 2015

A Tale of 2 Popularity Lists

Nameberry’s most popular names list is very different from the national stats, with a lot more adventurous choices in the lead.
The Playground Analysis of the Real Most Popular Names
Mon May 11 2015

The Playground Analysis of the Real Most Popular Names

In her annual Playground Analysis, Kelli Brady shows how the actual #1 names of 2014 are Sophia and JAckson!
Classic Baby Names Make a Comeback
Mon May 11 2015

Classic Baby Names Make a Comeback

The new list of Top 1000 names leaves no doubt–classic baby names like James, Charlotte, Eleanor and Alice are on the rise!
The Top Baby Names of  2014!
Fri May 08 2015

The Top Baby Names of 2014!

The wait is over! Emma and Noah take the top spots in the new Social Security most popular names list! And Princess Charlotte breaks into the Top 10!
Predictions for the New Most Popular Baby Names
Tue May 05 2015

Predictions for the New Most Popular Baby Names

Abby Sandel’s Nameberry 9 this week focuses on some of the questions that may be answered with the imminent release of the new Social Security list. What are your guesses for the top names?
Geographic Names Over Time
Mon May 04 2015

Geographic Names Over Time

The names of US states have been popular since at least the 1880s. Nick Turner takes us through their ups and downs since then.
Game of Thrones Names
Thu Apr 30 2015

Game of Thrones Names

Game of Thrones names influence baby names.
Names by the Numbers
Tue Apr 28 2015

Names by the Numbers

Some of the numerical names of ancient Rome sound remarkably usable today, says guest blogger Kara Cavazos.
Best Names Near the Bottom of the List
Sun Apr 26 2015

Best Names Near the Bottom of the List

As we anticipate the release of the new Top 1000 names, guest blogger Elizabeth Broadbent looks back at the 2013 lists and finds some nuggets in the bottom 50.
Vintage Baby Names
Wed Apr 15 2015

Vintage Baby Names

I was asked by a magazine interviewer recently why I thought some vintage names come back and others don’t. Why Cora and Flora and not Dora? Why Edward and not Edwin? All of which got me thinking about the influences that do propel names out of the attic and into the spotlight.