How popular is the baby name Nevaeh in the United States right now? How popular was it historically? Use the popularity graph and data table below to find out! Plus, see all the blog posts that mention the name Nevaeh.

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Popularity of the baby name Nevaeh


Posts that mention the name Nevaeh

How popular are A-endings for girl names?

Did you notice that all five of the five most popular girl names in the nation right now have a-endings?

  1. Isabella
  2. Sophia
  3. Emma
  4. Olivia
  5. Ava

Just how trendy is this end-sound? (I say “sound” to cover names like Hannah and Nevaeh, which don’t end with a, but sound like they do.) Looking at SSA data for 2010, here’s what I came up with:

EndingNamesBabies
-a7,210670,605
-ah1,72093,358
-eh236,649
-e3147
-agh16
TOTAL:8,956770,765

These 770,765 babies represent 43.8% of all the babies on the SSA’s 2010 list. (The a-endings alone represent 38.1%.)

Let’s compare this with, say, 80 years ago. Why 80? Because whenever I think of a-endings, I’m reminded of my grandmother’s family — 9 siblings total, 8 of which were girls, only one of whom had a name that ended with an a-sound (Priscilla). Most of them were born in the 1920s and 1930s, so let’s look at 1930:

EndingNamesBabies
-a2,034288,291
-ah376,459
-eh00
-eh00
-agh00
TOTAL:2,071294,750

These 294,750 babies represent 26.2% of all the babies accounted for on the SSA’s 1930 list. (The a-endings by themselves represent 25.6%).

So, from 26.2% to 43.8% for the end-sound, and from 25.6% to 38.1% for a-endings specifically. Quite a difference between then and now.

Popular baby names in the United States, 2009

Flag of the United States
Flag of the United States

It’s that time of year again! Here are the new top ten U.S. baby names for each gender:

Girl names

  1. Isabella (was 2nd)
  2. Emma (was 1st)
  3. Olivia (was 4th)
  4. Sophia (was 7th)
  5. Ava (was 5th)
  6. Emily (was 3rd)
  7. Madison (was 6th)
  8. Abigail (was 8th)
  9. Chloe (was 10th)
  10. Mia (was 14th)

Boy names

  1. Jacob (was 1st)
  2. Ethan (was 3rd)
  3. Michael (was 2nd)
  4. Alexander (was 6th)
  5. William (was 8th)
  6. Joshua (was 4th)
  7. Daniel (was 5th)
  8. Jayden (was 11th)
  9. Noah (was 15th)
  10. Anthony (was 7th)

Highlights: Isabella trumps Emma. Jayden, Noah and Mia make the top 10. Michael slips out of the top 2 for the first time since the 1950s.

Here’s more from the SSA’s news release:

This year’s winner for the biggest jump is Maliyah, which undoubtedly is related to the popularity of the First Family. Malia (the spelling used by the First Daughter), also is one of the top 10 fastest risers among girls names. Isla, the name of popular actress Isla Fisher (and wife of Sacha Baron Cohen — aka Borat, which thankfully has yet to make the list) was the second fastest riser among girls. On the boy’s side, Cullen had the biggest increase, likely attributable to the popular character Edward Cullen in the “Twilight” novels and movies. King came in as the number three top mover for boys, but more on Elvis later.

The girl’s name Marely, which interestingly had the third largest increase last year, had the biggest drop this year from number 334 to 851. Mylee had the second biggest drop; Miley (as in Cyrus) also dropped in popularity. In the wake of controversies surrounding Lindsay Lohan, Lindsay dropped from number 381 to 524. Brett, Jonas and Alvin are among the boy’s names with the largest decreases. With Brett, Social Security wonders if Americans are ready to retire the name (sorry Vikings’ fans, we mean Jets’ fans, um Packers’ fans). And despite the soaring popularity of singing trios — whether human brothers or the chipmunk variety — fewer people apparently are willing to name their sons Jonas or Alvin.

With 69 baby Baracks born in 2009, Barack continues to move up the list to number 1,993 from 2,424 in 2008, and 12,535 in 2007, but still lags well behind First Dog Bo at 782.

Many patterns of recent years continued. Religious names continue to be very popular, including the girl names Heaven at number 275 and Nevaeh (Heaven spelled backwards) at 34. Messiah was number 663 for boys. An extraordinary 3.7 percent of the Top 1000 boy names rhymed with the word “maiden” and names associated with cities, states, or countries were popular, particularly for girls.

Are you surprised that Isabella is the new #1 girl name? Were you expecting it?

Sources: SSA, Isabella Reigns as New Queen of Baby Names – Takes Top Spot on Social Security’s Most Popular Baby Names List – SSA

Image: Adapted from Flag of the United States (public domain)

Popular baby names in the United States, 2007

Flag of the United States
Flag of the United States

The most popular baby names in the U.S. were updated yesterday!

Here are the new top 25 girl names and boys names. The positive and negative numbers indicate how a name has risen or fallen in rank since 2006.

Girl Names

  1. Emily (0)
  2. Isabella (+2)
  3. Emma (-1)
  4. Ava (+1)
  5. Madison (-2)
  6. Sophia (+3)
  7. Olivia (0)
  8. Abigail (-2)
  9. Hannah (-1)
  10. Elizabeth (+1)
  11. Addison (+17)
  12. Samantha (-2)
  13. Ashley (-1)
  14. Alyssa (+5)
  15. Mia (-2)
  16. Chloe (+2)
  17. Natalie (0)
  18. Sarah (-3)
  19. Alexis (-5)
  20. Grace (-4)
  21. Ella (0)
  22. Brianna (-2)
  23. Hailey (+2)
  24. Taylor (-1)
  25. Anna (-3)

Boy Names

  1. Jacob (0)
  2. Michael (0)
  3. Ethan (+1)
  4. Joshua (-1)
  5. Daniel (+1)
  6. Christopher (+1)
  7. Anthony (+2)
  8. William (+2)
  9. Matthew (-4)
  10. Andrew (-2)
  11. Alexander (+1)
  12. David (+1)
  13. Joseph (-2)
  14. Noah (+1)
  15. James (+1)
  16. Ryan (-2)
  17. Logan (+2)
  18. Jayden (+31)
  19. John (+1)
  20. Nicholas (-3)
  21. Tyler (-3)
  22. Christian (-1)
  23. Jonathan (-1)
  24. Nathan (-1)
  25. Samuel (0)

The biggest jump on the boys’ list was Jayden — 31 spots (!), from 49th to 18th. The number of baby boys named Jayden rose from 9,550 (0.44%) in 2006 to 15,025 (0.69%) in 2007.

The biggest jump on the girls’ list was Addison — 17 spots, from 28th to 11th. The number of baby girls named Addison increased from 7,599 (0.37%) in 2006 to 11,823 (0.57%) in 2007.

Here’s more from the SSA’s news release:

Although “American Idol’s” Sanjaya did not influence this year’s list, other young celebrities influenced the naming of American children. The 2007 success of popular race car driver Danica Patrick undoubtedly inspired her first name moving from number 352 to number 307. Similarly, the name of the first pick in the 2007 NFL draft, Oakland Raiders’ quarterback JaMarcus Russell, rose from number 914 to number 743 on the boys’ list.

Shiloh, the youngest daughter of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, debuted on the list at number 804. Maddox, the name of their oldest child, has seen steady gains since first appearing on the list in 2003 at number 583 and now ranking at number 226. Suri, the name of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes’ daughter, did not make the list. But Britney Spears’ second son is named Jayden, which ranked at number 18. Miley is new to the girls’ list this year, entering fairly high at number 278, attributable to the popularity of teen sensation Miley Cyrus.

For reasons likely to puzzle baby name experts around the world, American parents have become infatuated by names, particularly for their sons, that rhyme with the word “maiden.” These names for boys include: Jayden (No. 18); Aiden (No. 27); Aidan (No. 54); Jaden (No. 76); Caden (No. 92); Kaden (No. 98); Ayden (No.102); Braden (No.156); Cayden (No.175); Jaiden (No.191); Kaiden (No. 220); Aden (No. 264); Caiden (No. 286); Braeden (No. 325); Braydon (No. 361); Jaydon (No. 415); Jadon (No. 423); Braiden (No. 529); Zayden (No. 588); Jaeden (No. 593); Aydan (No. 598); Bradyn (No. 629); Kadin (No. 657); Jadyn (No. 696); Kaeden (No. 701); Jaydin (No. 757); Braedon (No. 805); Aidyn (No. 818); Haiden (No. 820); Jaidyn (No. 841); Kadyn (No. 878); Jaydan (No. 887); Raiden (No. 931); and Adin (No. 983).  This startling trend was present, but less pronounced, with girls names:  Jayden (No. 172); Jadyn (No. 319); Jaden (No. 335); Jaiden (No. 429); Kayden (No. 507); and Jaidyn (No. 561). Social Security spokesman Mark Lassiter indicated that the agency would resist any legislative efforts to standardize the spelling of these names.

Experts also may be surprised by the extent to which American parents are naming their daughters after spiritual and philosophical concepts. One of the most popular names for girls (rising this year to number 31) is Nevaeh, which is “Heaven” spelled backwards. The variant Neveah came in this year at number 891 and Heaven is number 263. Also represented were:  Destiny (No. 41); Trinity (No. 72); Serenity (No. 126); Harmony (No. 315); Miracle (No. 461); Charity (No. 673); Journey (No. 692); Destini (No. 914); and Essence (No. 930). Cutting against this trend was Armani (No. 971). 

American parents were far less likely to name their sons in this way, although the 2007 boys’ list does include Sincere (No. 622) and Messiah (No. 723).

Sources: SSA, Pop Culture Makes Mark on Social Security’s Most Popular Baby Names List – SSA

Image: Adapted from Flag of the United States (public domain)

Popular baby names in Saskatchewan (Canada), 2007

Flag of Saskatchewan
Flag of Saskatchewan

Did you know that only 15% of the 13,352 babies born in Saskatchewan in 2007 were given a “top 20” name?

Girl Names

  1. Ava, 98 baby girls
  2. Emma, 72
  3. Hanna, 64
  4. Olivia, 59
  5. Emily, 54
  6. Madison, 53
  7. Hailey, 52
  8. Brooklyn, 46 (tie)
  9. Sarah, 46 (tie)
  10. Taylor, 43
  11. Abigail, 40 (3-way tie)
  12. Chloe, 40 (3-way tie)
  13. Nevaeh, 40 (3-way tie)
  14. Addison, 39
  15. Alexis, 36 (tie)
  16. Alyssa, 36 (tie)
  17. Sophia, 33
  18. Ella, 31
  19. Avery, 30 (tie)
  20. Grace, 30 (tie)

Boy Names

  1. Ethan, 91 baby boys
  2. Logan, 78
  3. Matthew, 64
  4. Noah, 63
  5. Carter, 61
  6. Alexander, 52
  7. Jacob, 50
  8. William, 49
  9. Chase, 47
  10. Aiden, 45 (3-way tie)
  11. Hunter, 45 (3-way tie)
  12. Samuel, 45 (3-way tie)
  13. Liam, 44 (tie)
  14. Owen, 44 (tie)
  15. Lucas, 43
  16. Brody, 42
  17. Hayden, 41 (3-way tie)
  18. Jayden, 41 (3-way tie)
  19. Joshua, 41 (3-way tie)
  20. Dylan, 40

Sources: StarPhoenix, Leader-Post

Image: Adapted from Flag of Saskatchewan (public domain)