| Lists of baby names are always fun to look at, | | | | attended grad school, of a class of approximately |
| whether | | | | forty |
| you're seeking a name for your soon-to-be-born | | | | students, there were no less than three baby |
| baby boy or | | | | boomers |
| baby girl, wondering about the popularity of your | | | | named Barbara. Should I thank the actress Barbara |
| own first | | | | Stanwyck for this? Alas, my first name later |
| name, or just curious about what baby names are | | | | suffered a slow, |
| currently | | | | steady decline and placed at a pitiful number 628 |
| hot.What I find particularly interesting is tracking the | | | | position |
| popularity | | | | on the baby names popularity list for the U.S. in |
| of baby names over the decades. In looking through | | | | 2003.Robert, on the other hand, has survived the |
| U.S. | | | | vicissitudes of |
| government baby name lists from 1880 to the | | | | baby name popularity. It held a coveted spot on the |
| present, | | | | top ten |
| some amusing patterns emerge, particularly in | | | | most popular baby names list every year from 1896 |
| regards to | | | | to the |
| baby names for girls.For example, in Victorian times | | | | late 1980s, often peaking at number 1 between the |
| Biblical names, such as | | | | 1920s |
| Mary, Sarah and Ruth were very popular for baby | | | | and the 1950s. It has gradually slipped since the |
| girls. There | | | | 1990s, but |
| were also many baby names that sounded very | | | | still managed to hold the respectable slot of number |
| old-fashioned to me, as a kid growing up in the | | | | 35 in |
| 1960s, | | | | 2003.When naming a baby there are, of course, |
| including names like Martha, Alice, Bertha and | | | | many other |
| Minnie.From the 1920s to the 1950s certain baby | | | | points to consider besides how popular or unique a |
| names rose in | | | | name |
| popularity. For example, I went to school with many | | | | is. Here are some helpful tips that you can use with |
| Susans, | | | | your |
| Debbies, Patricias, and Lindas. All of these baby | | | | other children to get them involved in choosing a |
| names | | | | name for |
| have since waned, to be replaced, by the 1980s, | | | | the new baby and to make the process fun:1. Baby |
| with fancier | | | | names need to go nicely with the sound of your last |
| names such as Jennifer, Jessica and Nicole. When I | | | | name. Also, pick a first name and a middle name |
| was a | | | | that go |
| children's librarian in the 1980s my preschool | | | | together well. (So maybe not something like |
| storyhours | | | | Erasmus |
| were populated with little girls named Lauren and | | | | Beelzebub Smith!)2. When your family finds a name |
| Jenny, | | | | you all like, look at the |
| and little boys named Alex and Matthew.More | | | | initials to be sure that you don't give the new baby |
| recently there's been a lot of renewed interest in | | | | a name |
| more "old-fashioned" baby names like Hannah, Abigail | | | | with initials that will make people laugh. (So maybe |
| and | | | | not |
| Ethan, plus many Biblical names such as Sarah, | | | | Pamela Iris Green, which equals P.I.G.!)3. You might |
| Rachel, | | | | not want a baby name that is so unusual that |
| Joshua, Jacob, and Samuel. There's also been a | | | | the other kids will make fun of your little brother or |
| surge in | | | | sister as |
| nontraditional baby names including Madison, Ashley | | | | he or she grows up. (So maybe not Rosebud or |
| and | | | | Molasses!)4. You also might not want a baby name |
| Brianna for baby girls, and Brandon and Logan for | | | | that is so trendy |
| baby | | | | that it will sound funny by the time the baby is ten |
| boys.It's interesting to consider the whys and | | | | years old. |
| wherefores of | | | | (So maybe not Sunshine!)5. You probably shouldn't |
| such developments. Sometimes, I suspect, the | | | | pick a name that's really cute for |
| popularity of | | | | an adorable little baby but will sound silly when the |
| a specific actor or fictional character might result in | | | | baby |
| many | | | | grows up. (So maybe not Dimples!)6. Avoid baby |
| babies with a particular name. For example, were | | | | names that might produce insulting |
| some of | | | | nicknames when people shorten them. (So maybe |
| the Lauras born in the 1970s and 1980s given a | | | | not |
| name | | | | Smellonius, or Smelly for short!)7. You and your |
| suggested by older brothers and sisters who were | | | | family might not want a name that is so hard |
| growing | | | | to spell or to pronounce that people will always get |
| up watching "Little House on the Prairie ?" Were | | | | it wrong |
| some | | | | and your poor little brother or sister will have to go |
| attributable to the super popular Laura of "General | | | | through |
| Hospital" | | | | life correcting people. (So maybe not something like |
| fame ?Today Madison is a very highly ranked baby | | | | Incandescence, or is it Incandessints? )8. You and |
| name for girls | | | | your family might want to pick baby names in |
| (ranking number 3 in 2003) but, when the film | | | | honor of favorite relatives or ancestors, or special |
| "Splash" | | | | names |
| came out in 1984, Tom Hanks' character told Daryl | | | | that show your family's ethnic roots. You might |
| Hannah's character that Madison was not a bona fide | | | | even find a |
| first | | | | special name from a book or movie that you love. |
| name.While baby girls' names seem quite subject to | | | | (Like |
| the whims | | | | Harry?)9. You might want to look through books of |
| of fashion and the top ten lists can change radically | | | | baby names and |
| over | | | | pick one that has a special meaning that you like - |
| time, I've noticed that, in general, the top baby | | | | maybe |
| names for | | | | something that means "sweet" or "kind" or "brave." |
| boys remain far more stable. Names like John, | | | | (So |
| William and | | | | maybe not wimp!)10. You might want to think about |
| James are perennials, perhaps because baby boys | | | | names that will go nicely |
| are | | | | with your name and your other brothers' and sisters' |
| often named for their fathers, perpetuating the | | | | names, |
| popularity of | | | | so that if mom or dad are calling you all for dinner or |
| certain baby names from generation to generation. | | | | signing |
| The | | | | a birthday card to grandma it won't sound too crazy. |
| "Junior" factor aside, baby boys are also less apt to | | | | (So maybe not "Happy Birthday, Grandma! Love, |
| be given | | | | Joey, |
| fanciful names.A comparison of the changing | | | | Cindy and Dweevo!")There are hundreds of names |
| fortunes of my own first | | | | waiting for you out there, so |
| name, Barbara, with those of my husband's name, | | | | good luck on your search for the perfect |
| Robert, | | | | name!Barbara Freedman-De Vito, professional |
| gives a good illustration of the difference in stability | | | | storyteller, teacher |
| between | | | | and artist, has a website with baby clothes, children's |
| baby girl names and baby boy names over time.My | | | | |
| name grew in popularity in the 1930s, '40s and '50s, | | | | clothing and gift items decorated with her colorful |
| peaking at the number 2 position in baby name | | | | and |
| popularity, | | | | amusing artwork for kids. |
| which it tenaciously held from 1937 to 1944. When I | | | | |