According to data released earlier this year by the North Dakota Department of Health, the most popular baby names in the state in 2016 were Harper & Olivia (tie) and Oliver.
Here are North Dakota’s top 10 girl names and top 10 boy names of 2016:
Girl names
- Harper, 65 baby girls (tie)
- Olivia, 65 (tie)
- Emma, 63
- Evelyn, 59
- Amelia, 45 (tie)
- Charlotte, 45 (tie)
- Ella, 43
- Nora, 42
- Addison, 39
- Ava, 38
Boy names
- Oliver, 74 baby boys
- William, 64
- Easton, 54
- Owen, 52
- Liam, 51
- Mason, 49
- James, 46
- Henry, 45
- Wyatt, 44
- Hudson, 43
In the girls’ top 10, Evelyn, Amelia, Ella, and Addison replaced Sophia, Avery, Paisley, and Aubrey.
In the boys’ top 10, James and Hudson replaced Carter and Noah.
In 2015, the top names were Emma (now 3rd) and Liam (now 5th).
Interestingly, North Dakota is the only state where Easton is a top-five boy name. Switching over to the SSA data, we can track the rise of Easton in ND:
- 2016: Easton ranked 3rd in ND
- 2015: Easton ranked 9th in ND
- 2014: Easton ranked 6th in ND
- 2013: Easton ranked 5th in ND
- 2012: Easton ranked 29th in ND
- 2011: Easton ranked 9th in ND
- 2010: Easton ranked 23rd in ND
- 2009: Easton ranked 47th in ND
- 2008: Easton ranked 42nd in ND
- 2007: Easton ranked 64th in ND (first time in top 100)
In the four states that share a border with North Dakota — Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, and Minnesota — the name Easton ranked 52nd, 11th, 31st, and 35th (respectively) in 2016.
Sources: North Dakota Fast Facts 2016 (pdf), Popular Names by State
Image: Adapted from Flag of North Dakota (public domain)
It’s likely you can credit at least some of the increase in 2013 to Easton Stick, quarterback of the NDSU Bison. He was recruited from a Nebraska prep school and committed to NDSU in the fall of 2013, which means his name likely was in the local sports news chatter for at least a few months prior.
That could definitely be why the name has been in the top 10 since 2013. Thanks Ellyn. :)
Anyone have any ideas about what happened in 2011 (and earlier)?
Easton is a smashing boy’s name! Is manly, yet light & airy. Bravo!