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May 17, 2006
Social
Studies
It's
a fact. You're just not a real celebrity unless you burden your
progeny with an obscure name. Apple's borderline, but honestly Pilot
Inspektor? (Jason Lee's son.) Audio Science? (Shannyn
Sossamon's son.) Banjo? (Rachel Griffiths' son.) Moxie
CrimeFighter? (Penn Jillette's daughter.) It's almost enough
to make one long for the days of Katie, Jennifer, Peter and John.
For most of us mortals, the decision is a delicate balancing act.
We'd like it if only two or three heads turned when we called out
our kid's name in the playground, but we're not willing to go the
Moon Unit route.
The Social Security Administration just released the annual top
names of the past year based on birth certificate data. For the
second year in a row, Emily and Jacob claim the first spot. The
resurgence of traditional names has apparently entered the mainstream
with Abigail, Olivia, Isabella and Hannah among the top ten. No
surprises with the boys – Michael, Jacob and Christopher are
still front and center (in fact, the only new appearance is Anthony
checking in at number eight).
Where this site gets more interesting is in the search options:
not only can you see the top 10 – 50 – 1000 names, you
can search to see how the name you pick has ranked over the years
and follow the popularity of the top 10 names all the way back to
1880, by decade. You can also see the top five names for each state.
What better tome to steer you through the rocky shoals of choosing
what amounts to a brand label for your child – one that's going
to have to do him proud for the rest of his life. To wit: Do
you, Audio Science Sossamon, take Moxie CrimeFighter Jilette to
be your lawful wedded wife?
Doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.
View the most popular baby names of 2005 at socialsecurity.gov.
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