Jacob, Mason, William, Sophia, Isabella, Emma… ring a bell?
Are any of those your children’s names?
If so, then consider yourself cool.
And by cool, I mean uninspired.
Okay, perhaps, that’s a bit harsh, but that’s how I see it.
I’m the type to roll my eyes when popular baby name lists flood my email inbox.
I am equally underwhelmed when I observe parents going gaga when they see their kid’s moniker featured on the Top 10.
Whereas I realize that naming a newborn is among the most critical decisions in any parent’s life, I’m not convinced that moms and dads pour over baby name lists issued by the U.S. government before deciding whether or not their offspring looks more like an Ethan than an Aiden.
If I am wrong, and you’re into seeing what other folks are naming their kids these days, this latest list of Top 100 popular children’s names released by the Social Security Administration may be a gift from the heavens.
For those of you who don’t want to click over, here are the Top 10 names for boys and girls:
BOYS
1. Jacob
2. Mason
3. William
4. Jayden
5. Noah
6. Michael
7. Ethan
8. Alexander
9. Aiden
10. Daniel
GIRLS
1. Sophia
2. Isabella
3. Emma
4. Olivia
5. Ava
6. Emily
7. Abigail
8. Madison
9. Mia
10. Chloe
I find these lists somewhat annoying. After all, are you really going to resist naming your kid Sophia because it’s too popular, even if you absolutely adore the moniker and had it picked out for your first daughter ever since you were in the fifth grade?
What drives me even battier is when a parent chooses a popular name for her child, but mutilates the spelling of it, so it appears as though it is unique or trendy.
Trust me; spelling “Aiden,” A-e-y-d-y-n or “Madison,” M-a-d-d-y-s-y-n or “Sophia,” S-e-w-f-e-e-y-a-h is not hip. It’s confusing.
Just ask your child in a few years… or your kid’s teacher, now.
How much stock do you put into popular baby name lists?
Related Articles:
Baby Names–How Many is Too Many?
Cracking Down on Bizarre Baby Names