Have you decided on a name for your new baby yet? If not, check out the most common trends for baby names in 2011. BabyCenter.com published its list of the 100 most popular baby names in 2011 for girls and boys this week. Just like the past few years, names ending in –aiden are a trend for baby boys, while unisex-sounding “Madison” and “Brooklyn” are some of the top ones for girls. BabyCenter.com has the full list available, but here are the top 10 names for both genders. Note that spelling variations are not counted as separate names:
Girls’ Names
Sophia
Emma
Isabella
Olivia
Ava
Lily
Chloe
Madison
Emily
Abigail
Boys’ Names
Aiden
Jackson
Mason
Liam
Jacob
Jayden
Ethan
Noah
Lucas
Logan
Out of these, as BabyCenter.com points out, “Mason” and “Liam” had the most gains for boys. “Mason,” however, has semi-celebrity connotations. One of the Kardashian sisters, who seem to be everywhere these days, from television to advertisements, named her son “Mason Dash” in early 2011. Being the third most popular name for boys is likely a result of the reality television/socialite family’s influence. Yet, if you are thinking of a name for your child, “Mason” may seem dated in 10 years, after the Kardashians’ influence has waned.
Aside from this change, Aiden, Jayden, Caden, and Brayden all seem to be holding strong. While a recent trend, these –aiden names may not disappear for a while. For girls, on the other hand, popular names like Sophia, Emma, Emily, and Abigail are all distinctly feminine, but Brooklyn, Madison, Addison, and Peyton all sound fairly unisex, if not like names of places. Although model Brooklyn Decker is popular at the moment, this name, too, might sound dated in a few years. And, what kid wants a name sounding too much like a borough of New York? Tacking on a middle name of “Heights” or “Bridge” would approach Moon Unit Zappa proportions of ridiculousness. Before picking a name, think about connotations and meaning.
