How popular is the baby name Chance 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 Chance.

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Popularity of the baby name Chance


Posts that mention the name Chance

Numerology: Baby names with a value of 7

Baby names with a numerological value of 7

If you’re on the hunt for baby names with a numerological value of 7, you’re in luck! Because today’s post features hundreds of 7-names.

Before we get to the names, though — how do we know that they’re “sevens” in numerology?

Turning names into numbers

Here’s how to calculate the numerological value of a name.

First, for each letter, come up with a number to represent that letter’s position in the alphabet. (Letter A would be number 1, letter B would be number 2, and so forth.) Then, add all the numbers together. If the sum has two or more digits, add the digits together recursively until the result is a single digit. That single digit is the name’s numerological value.

For instance, the letters in the name Victoria correspond to the numbers 22, 9, 3, 20, 15, 18, 9, and 1. The sum of these numbers is 97. The digits of 97 added together equal 16, and the digits of 16 added together equal 7 — the numerological value of Victoria.

Baby names with a value of 7

Below you’ll find the most popular 7-names per gender, according to the latest U.S. baby name data. I’ve further sub-categorized them by total sums — just in case any of those larger numbers are significant to anyone.

7 via 16

The letters in the following baby names add up to 16, which reduces to seven (1+6=7).

Girl names (7 via 16)Boy names (7 via 16)
Ana, Jada, Alba, Adaia, FiaCal, Chad, Jae, Dak, Efe

7 via 25

The letters in the following baby names add up to 25, which reduces to seven (2+5=7).

Girl names (7 via 25)Boy names (7 via 25)
Cali, Amaia, Adara, Naia, Baila, Danae, Jaida, Ahana, AniaJack, Gael, Mecca, Asad, Ahaan, Jan, Abbas, Aedan, Ike, Kam, Saad, Aahan

7 via 34

The letters in the following baby names add up to 34, which reduces to seven (3+4=7).

Girl names (7 via 34)Boy names (7 via 34)
Grace, Amara, Lila, Thea, Danna, Elle, Amanda, Anne, Della, Bailee, Kalia, Micah, Rebeca, Mika, Farah, Anaiah, Tala, Sama, Kaila, Lua, Asma, Huda, Emaan, Rana, Joi, Hilda, Fabiana, JamiaMicah, Jaden, Chance, Hank, Chaim, Noe, Neo, Canaan, Carl, Amado, Adnan, Kacen, Ayce, Esai, Reef, Joah, Mika

7 via 43

The letters in the following baby names add up to 43, which reduces to seven (4+3=7).

Girl names (7 via 43)Boy names (7 via 43)
Chloe, Ellie, Andrea, Ember, Annie, Gracie, Talia, Alexa, Alanna, Karla, Liv, Raina, Chanel, Barbara, Lilia, Lailah, Debanhi, Kadence, Ameera, Esmae, Milah, Yael, Laken, Grecia, Fern, Inara, Kailee, Klara, Adore, Amaria, Nell, Amaira, Alita, Charm, Theia, Mona, Aditi, Dayla, Arwa, Dianna, Evana, Adaly, Rania, Abbigail, Leya, Samia, Aleigha, Arina, Bayan, Kamiah, Atlee, Anari, Carli, Janiah, Keegan, Emy, KloeFinn, Beckham, Rafael, Mark, Derek, Callan, Iker, Erik, Jaiden, Ford, Ares, Ridge, Keegan, Aarav, Amias, Eliel, Arian, Yael, Kole, Blaine, Hakeem, Hasan, Laken, Jaire, Kreed, Huck, Ewan, Todd, Coy, Riaan, Jamar, Kadence, Rip, Noam, Calder, Azaan, Basil, Kalen, Tre, Dru, Kekoa, Shaan, Masai, Taim, Ahsan, Eoin, Aarin, Makhai, Hawk, Kavi, Amon, Zaccai

7 via 52

The letters in the following baby names add up to 52, which reduces to seven (5+2=7).

Girl names (7 via 52)Boy names (7 via 52)
Hazel, Nova, Naomi, Reese, Arabella, Aubree, Nyla, Dakota, Charlee, Jimena, Michaela, Angelica, Mikaela, Flora, Pearl, Goldie, Alexia, Alianna, Indy, Ariadne, Perla, Karlee, Farrah, Annalee, Kelani, Zya, Khadijah, Aleyah, Indiana, Eimy, Aries, Sinai, Annalia, Ryah, Shania, Kamaya, Alethea, Mayla, Italia, Callahan, Anabelle, Izel, Shaina, Laiken, Kenlee, Mallie, Athalia, Janaya, Cassia, Sabella, Alayla, Kezia, AerisCayden, Dakota, Seth, Jamari, Callahan, Raul, Keanu, Reese, Marcel, Karim, Cason, Ishaan, Aries, Nova, Tiago, Jesiah, Oren, Glenn, Kaladin, Josh, Samar, Richie, Daemon, Beauden, Takoda, Indy, Filip, Indiana, Jahlil, Lyan, Roen, Darell, Efraim, Dillan, Abhiram, Jamere, Nino, Masen, Dakhari, Javen

7 via 61

The letters in the following baby names add up to 61, which reduces to seven (6+1=7).

Girl names (7 via 61)Boy names (7 via 61)
Isabella, Lucy, Catalina, Adelyn, Mckenna, Luciana, Meadow, Miracle, Aylin, Jolene, Ivanna, Remy, Hadassah, Keilani, Sloan, Martha, Jovie, Samira, Rivka, Malayah, Amaris, Maylee, Ingrid, Yuna, Arely, Dalary, Aranza, Ivey, Ailyn, Arwen, Tabitha, Safiya, Ziya, Kasey, Addalyn, Alissa, Kelsie, Emry, Elsy, Rochel, Rumi, Maddox, Analise, Eloisa, Anylah, Azula, Norma, Maliya, Maddyn, Jakayla, Samarah, Delany, Aerith, Hollie, Naiomi, Desirae, Avigail, Azora, Riyah, Sanaya, Vianna, Haidyn, Eulalia, Tanya, Mulan, Daelyn, ItzaeRoman, Luis, Calvin, Maddox, Kevin, Andres, Richard, Remy, Nasir, Corbin, Raphael, Dorian, Cannon, Alfredo, Ramon, Brayan, Abdullah, Yahir, Anders, Cory, Daylen, Kaius, Edmund, Khamari, Eliot, Kasey, Clarence, Avion, Haziel, Armon, Amaris, Tamir, Oslo, Donnie, Jibreel, Sloan, Riker, Caison, Thor, Psalm, Evans, Itzae, Arley, Naveen, Flint, Javari, Elyjah, Mendy, Sameer, Ibraheem, Rumi, Fitz, Wolfe, Steel, Zayde, Aramis, Layden, Nivaan, Emry, Galileo, Darion, Ibrahima

7 via 70

The letters in the following baby names add up to 70, which reduces to seven (7+0=7).

Girl names (7 via 70)Boy names (7 via 70)
Eleanor, Ashley, Lilly, Lilith, Alexis, Lilliana, Francesca, Alison, Kenzie, Sierra, Melany, Romina, Khaleesi, Yareli, Bellamy, Rylan, Madalyn, Essence, Nathalie, Devyn, Ryder, Adrienne, Maelyn, Carson, Walker, Alyvia, Cherish, Noelani, Marion, Honor, Armoni, Sheyla, Santana, Remedy, Channing, Yailin, Aziyah, Ellyana, Laniyah, Francine, Havyn, Landyn, Zyra, Malayiah, Francis, Isley, Avonlea, Finleigh, Rhys, Emalyn, Naliyah, Jermani, AniylahHenry, Walker, Carson, Ryder, Simon, Josue, Otto, Rylan, Ronin, Rhys, Finnegan, Alexis, Francis, Philip, Bruno, Bellamy, Yosef, Santana, Harry, Jimmy, Landyn, Mathew, Atharv, Maurice, Reginald, Granger, Ephraim, Ozias, Willie, Lenox, Benton, Darrell, Lenny, Kaizer, Honor, Channing, Massiah, Rylo, Armoni, Quadir, Dashiell, Izayah, Kasyn, Kasper, Tevin, Kurt, Manolo, Rishaan, Dashawn, Keyon, Kallum, Yariel, Abdullahi, Devyn, Marion, Copeland, Terence, Pinchas, Josiel, Kaydon, Marwan

7 via 79

The letters in the following baby names add up to 79, which reduces to seven (7+9=16; 1+6=7).

Girl names (7 via 79)Boy names (7 via 79)
Rosalie, Haisley, Maddison, Cheyenne, Ashlyn, Marigold, Soraya, Harriet, Evalyn, Beatrix, Kyndall, Renley, Annette, Katerina, Adilynn, Annelise, Larissa, Lincoln, Nirvana, Rynlee, Raizy, Josefina, Azeneth, Chesney, Kayley, Mayzie, Evolet, Janelly, Roberta, Harmonee, Leonor, Auriella, EmmeryWilliam, Lincoln, Colton, Xavier, Connor, Walter, Warren, Gunner, Harvey, Leonidas, Tripp, Frederick, Zyair, Nelson, Orlando, Douglas, Zechariah, Dayton, Kashmir, Rolando, Marcello, Braydon, Warner, Irving, Maverik, Yeshua, Leopold, Zaidyn, Kenton, Kaisyn, Lester, Jarvis, Ronaldo, Clifton, Buckley, Champion, Nirvaan, Larson, Laurence, Carmello, Fritz, Demarion, Renley, Graeson, Nymir

7 via 88

The letters in the following baby names add up to 88, which reduces to seven (8+8=16; 1+6=7).

Girl names (7 via 88)Boy names (7 via 88)
Elizabeth, Penelope, Journee, Poppy, Sylvia, Madelynn, Jazlyn, Zariyah, Karsyn, Kassidy, Katelyn, Guadalupe, Winifred, Carolyn, Kassandra, Lindsey, Lilyanna, Hensley, Gisselle, Yazmin, Margarita, Maritza, Elliette, Dolores, Kaylyn, Ryver, Clarity, MarlenyAntonio, Francisco, Kashton, Jaxxon, Santos, Karsyn, Immanuel, Terrence, Gilberto, Vernon, Zephaniah, Osvaldo, Ryver, Vladimir, Brenton, Everardo, Tenzin, Crawford, Fulton, Knoxx, Daxtyn, Kayvon, Exodus, Pearson

7 via 97

The letters in the following baby names add up to 97, which reduces to seven (9+7=16; 1+6=7).

Girl names (7 via 97)Boy names (7 via 97)
Victoria, Evelynn, Stephanie, Jacqueline, Kathryn, Itzayana, Emmalynn, Wrenly, Yvette, Story, Millicent, Josephina, Jenevieve, Arianelly, Irelynn, Emmanuella, KenzleighAnthony, Brantley, Valentin, Bronson, Kentrell, Tyrone, Jonathon, Johnpaul, Stephon, Yuvraj, Marshawn, Zamarion

7 via 106

The letters in the following baby names add up to 106, which reduces to seven (1+0+6=7).

Girl names (7 via 106)Boy names (7 via 106)
Waverly, Guinevere, Honesty, Anniston, Wilhelmina, Krystal, Ellowyn, Precious, Skarlett, Kaitlynn, YulissaRussell, Trenton, Westyn, Aurelius, Hendrixx, Miguelangel, Tayvion, Keyshawn

7 via 115

The letters in the following baby names add up to 115, which reduces to seven (1+1+5=7).

Girl names (7 via 115)Boy names (7 via 115)
Serenity, Trinity, Remington, Winslow, Everlynn, CharlestonRemington, Trayvon, Triston, Winslow, Charleston

7 via 124

The letters in the following baby names add up to 124, which reduces to seven (1+2+4=7).

Girl names (7 via 124)Boy names (7 via 124)
Gwynevere, Yatziry, Rozlynn, Symphonie, BrynlynnPrincetyn, Winchester, Harrington, Maxximus, Johnkerry

7 via 133

The letters in the following baby names add up to 133, which reduces to seven (1+3+3=7).

Girl names (7 via 133)Boy names (7 via 133)
Gwendolynn, Sunflower, Juwayriya, Sigourney, TonantzinTheophilus, Princeston, Stevenson, Rutherford, Treyshawn

Number 7: Significance and associations

What does the number seven mean in numerology?

There’s no definitive answer, unfortunately, because various numerological systems exist, and each one has its own interpretation of the number seven. That said, if we look at a couple of modern numerology/astrology websites, we see 7 being described as “truth-seeking,” “introspective,” “intellectual,” “reserved,” and “unusual.”

We can also look at associations, which are a bit more concrete. Here are some things that are associated with the number 7:

  • Rainbow (7 colors)
  • Continents
  • Week (7 days)
  • Major scale in music (7 notes)
  • Seven Wonders of the World
  • Pleiades (7 sister-nymphs of Greek mythology)
  • Classical planets (sun, moon, Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Saturn)
  • Metals of antiquity (gold, silver, copper, tin, lead, iron, mercury)

What does the number 7 mean to you? What are your strongest associations with the number?

P.S. To see names with other numerological values, check out the posts for the numbers one, two, three, four, five, six, eight, and nine.

Sources: SSA, Numerology – Cafe Astrology, The meaning of the numbers 1 – 9 – World Numerology, 7 – Wikipedia

[Latest update: Jan. 2024]

Baby names that rose the fastest in the U.S data, 1881 to today (relative increase)

hot air balloons

Many years ago, I published a list of the top debut baby names. A few years after that, I posted a list of the top one-hit wonder baby names.

So today let’s check out another fun set of “top” names: the top rises. The names below are those that increased the most in usage, percentage-wise, from one year to the next according to the SSA data.

Here’s the format: Girl names are on the left, boy names are on the right, and the percentages represent single-year jumps in usage. (For example, from 1880 to 1881, usage of the girl name Isa grew 240% and usage of the boy name Noble grew 333%.)

  • 1881: Isa, 240%; Noble, 333%
  • 1882: Clementine, 300%; Clarance, 300%
  • 1883: Malissa, 243%; Alf, 150%
  • 1884: Belva, 1,220%; Grover, 532%
  • 1885: Phebe, 220%; Bryant, 200%
  • 1886: Felicia, 180%; Thornton, 240%
  • 1887: Ossie, 240%; Aubrey, 240%
  • 1888: Bennie, 250%; Thurman, 414%
  • 1889: Diana, 233%; Grady, 267%
  • 1890: Easter, 238%; Isaiah, 215%
  • 1891: Lutie, 200%; Colonel, 217%
  • 1892: Lollie, 271%; Pierce, 340%
  • 1893: Annabell, 240%; Lindsay, 320%
  • 1894: Versie, 320%; Alvie, 233%
  • 1895: Glenn, 283%; Alma, 220%
  • 1896: Vernice, 217%; Hobart, 744%
  • 1897: Sigrid, 200%; Roswell, 183%
  • 1898: Manila, 1,386%; Dewey, 606%
  • 1899: Tula, 280%; Rogers, 220%
  • 1900: Rosia, 480%; Wilber, 417%
  • 1901: Dellie, 180%; Kermit, 183%
  • 1902: Lolita, 420%; Judge, 260%
  • 1903: Rafaela, 280%; Jordan, 250%
  • 1904: Amber, 314%; Adelbert, 260%
  • 1905: Orma, 300%; Armand, 222%
  • 1906: Ena, 456%; Sheldon, 240%
  • 1907: Lota & Tula, 240%; Quincy, 183%
  • 1908: Bernetta & Nila, 260%; Taft, 288%
  • 1909: Laverna & Nevada, 267%; Toney, 300%
  • 1910: Cleopatra, 240%; Arturo & Sammy, 283%
  • 1911: Maryellen, 280%; Vincenzo & Wyman, 320%
  • 1912: Marina, 420%; Woodrow, 1,423%
  • 1913: Carroll, 263%; Rosendo, 320%
  • 1914: Lucyle, 280%; Irvine, 333%
  • 1915: Zudora, 460%; Charlton, 320%
  • 1916: Aldena, 291%; Tatsuo, 850%
  • 1917: Liberty, 617%; Masami, 338%
  • 1918: Kazuko, 320%; Quentin, 567%
  • 1919: Verbie, 300%; Belvin, 360%
  • 1920: Marcene, 386%; Harding, 718%
  • 1921: Elwanda, 1,860%; Gareth, 560%
  • 1922: Carley, 320%; Colie, 340%
  • 1923: Eris, 1,313%; Coolidge, 820%
  • 1924: Janeth, 517%; Phyllis, 260%
  • 1925: Murlene & Normalee, 260%; Estell & Unknown, 214%
  • 1926: Ileana, 633%; Jarrell & Lenoard, 240%
  • 1927: Charmaine, 825%; Lindbergh, 867%
  • 1928: Jeannine, 1,147%; Hoover, 522%
  • 1929: Dorla, 800%; Davey, 889%
  • 1930: Arlayne, 317%; Derl, 1,060%
  • 1931: Marlene, 745%; Colbert, 280%
  • 1932: Harlene, 270%; Delano, 1,057%
  • 1933: Sharleen, 425%; Delano, 289%
  • 1934: Adriana, 283%; Kelvin, 360%
  • 1935: Norita, 1,171%; Darwyn, 458%
  • 1936: Shelba, 2,667%; Lonzie, 320%
  • 1937: Deanna, 2,009%; Tyrone, 788%
  • 1938: Danielle, 878%; Dion, 355%
  • 1939: Brenda, 308%; Hall, 280%

The SSA data isn’t perfect, but it does get a lot more accurate starting in the late 1930s, because “many people born before 1937 never applied for a Social Security card, so their names are not included in our data” (SSA). Now, back to the list…

  • 1940: Scarlett, 743%; Clemmie, 257%
  • 1941: Jerilyn, 1,250%; Rulon, 250%
  • 1942: Michal, 1,520%; Macarthur, 2,740%
  • 1943: Shaaron, 456%; Suzanne, 240%
  • 1944: Dorinda, 568%; Kennedy, 280%
  • 1945: Lauren, 709%; Dorian, 220%
  • 1946: Jacalyn, 740%; Cornel, 533%
  • 1947: Jolinda, 388%; Brock, 364%
  • 1948: Sharman, 275%; Kevan, 260%
  • 1949: Lorry, 360%; Hanson, 240%
  • 1950: Vallorie, 717%; Brion, 400%
  • 1951: Krystal, 588%; Denise, 350%
  • 1952: Pandora, 1,100%; Corby & Wilhelm, 240%
  • 1953: Angelique, 1,157%; Shane, 392%
  • 1954: Sheree, 756%; Dain, 360%
  • 1955: Sabrina, 711%; Davy, 509%
  • 1956: Venetia, 543%; Cheyenne, 680%
  • 1957: Tammy, 1,591%; Tammy, 467%
  • 1958: Keely, 1,100%; Bret, 680%
  • 1959: Torri, 411%; Efrem, 963%
  • 1960: Lisha, 1,096%; Stephon, 1,200%
  • 1961: Marisol, 481%; Parrish, 1,460%
  • 1962: Penne, 447%; Chance, 350%
  • 1963: Tamiko, 1,440%; Tal, 617%
  • 1964: Deneen, 7,191%; Temple, 420%
  • 1965: Fontella, 880%; Branden, 340%
  • 1966: Tabatha, 9,900%; Heath, 1,070%
  • 1967: Anisa, 1,600%; Garrison, 320%
  • 1968: Coretta, 2,485%; Dustin, 778%
  • 1969: Lalena, 640%; Jeromy, 514%
  • 1970: Shiloh, 540%; Jermaine, 3,320%
  • 1971: Ashli, 1,900%; Jermaine, 494%
  • 1972: Catina, 9,033%; Demond, 3,920%
  • 1973: Cicely, 1,827%; Caine, 780%
  • 1974: Nakia, 16,100%; Rashad, 1,100%
  • 1975: Rasheda, 988%; Jamaal, 688%
  • 1976: Rhiannon, 1,713%; Seneca, 1,429%
  • 1977: Shawntae, 686%; Lavar, 5,480%
  • 1978: Aja, 3,407%; Dequan, 988%
  • 1979: Renada, 780%; Yoel, 525%
  • 1980: Genese, 1,920%; Rayshaun, 440%
  • 1981: Krystle, 1,623%; Cavin, 833%
  • 1982: Jere, 1,000%; Colt, 1,620%
  • 1983: Ciji, 2,950%; Remington, 657%
  • 1984: Santana, 3,467%; Ryne, 424%
  • 1985: Kayleigh, 2,914%; Jaymes, 769%
  • 1986: Kyrie, 3,180%; Orry, 789%
  • 1987: Janay, 1,168%; Jareth, 400%
  • 1988: Whitley, 916%; Nico, 860%
  • 1989: Audriana, 3,467%; Alexande, 4,917%
  • 1990: Alannah, 1,583%; Tevin, 4,569%
  • 1991: Tanairi, 820%; Devante, 1,356%
  • 1992: Darian, 703%; Jalen, 3,980%
  • 1993: Coraima, 4,320%; Savon, 2,457%
  • 1994: Aaliyah, 6,495%; Romario, 1,940%
  • 1995: Iridian, 1,845%; Tristin, 747%
  • 1996: Alanis, 1,047%; Json, 880%
  • 1997: Yulisa, 2,729%, Ennis, 620%
  • 1998: Jazsmin, 960%; Denilson, 900%
  • 1999: Tionne, 1,100%; Sincere, 647%
  • 2000: Litzy, 1,189%; Elian, 2,413%
  • 2001: Nevaeh, 1,111%; Jaheim, 5,440%
  • 2002: Lashanti, 2,060%; Omarion, 8,260%
  • 2003: Azeneth, 1,913%; Andon, 2,200%
  • 2004: Betzaida, 1,233%; Jakwon, 1,260%
  • 2005: Mikalah, 1,906%; Talan, 2,130%
  • 2006: Bethzy; 2,636%; Dereon, 1,217%
  • 2007: Jaslene, 9,920%; Leonidas & Renner, 700%
  • 2008: Dayami, 3,464%; Barack, 940%
  • 2009: Baya, 1,020%; Dhani, 520%
  • 2010: Collins, 1,557%; Bentlee, 733%
  • 2011: Thaily, 1,400%; Neymar, 900%
  • 2012: Cataleya, 2,182%; Long, 740%
  • 2013: Daleyza, 1,055%; Jaiceon, 1,057%
  • 2014: Aranza, 1,297%; Jameis, 720%
  • 2015: Vail, 700%; Rhydian, 667%
  • 2016: Kehlani, 571%; Kylo, 580%
  • 2017: Westlynn, 600%; Oseias, 1,080%
  • 2018: Maleni, 950%; Atreus, 1,888%
  • 2019: Yalitza, 1,490%; Ermias, 3,360%

(Did you catch all the doubles? Tula, Delano, Tammy, Jermaine, and Davey/Davy.)

I’ve already written about some of the names above (click the links to see the posts) and I plan to write about many of the others. In the meanwhile, though, feel free to beat me to it! Leave a comment and let us know what popularized Dorla in 1929, or Dustin in 1968, or Talan in 2005…

Source: SSA

Image: Adapted from Turkey-2036 by Dennis Jarvis under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Pop culture baby name game results, 2017

Here are the results of Pop Culture Baby Name Game 2017!

To streamline the results post this year, I didn’t include detailed descriptions of the pop culture influences. For the specifics, just click the above link.

On to the names!

Rises

Baby names that saw increased usage from 2016 to 2017.

  • Logan (movie), +2,748 baby boys (also +248 baby girls)
  • Dream (celebrity baby), +198 baby girls (also +22 baby boys)
  • Maren (music), +172 baby girls
  • Amaya (tv), +133 baby girls
  • Alessia (music), +129 baby girls
  • Winston (movie), +129 baby boys
  • Renata (tv), +107 baby girls
  • Callum (movie), +79 baby boys
  • Harvey (event/news), +76 baby boys
  • Asahd (celebrity baby), +58 baby boys (the top debut name for boys in ’17)
  • Brennley (tv), re-entered the data with 56 baby girls
  • Kenzo (celebrity baby), +55 baby boys
  • Ivanka (politics), +52 baby girls
  • Sunny (event), +52 baby girls (but -12 baby boys)
  • Hayes (celebrity baby), +46 baby boys (also +42 baby girls)
  • Barron (politics), +40 baby boys (and Baron rose as well)
  • Kensli (celebrity baby), +39 baby girls
  • Poppy (music/movie), +39 baby girls
  • Kamaiyah (music), +34 baby girls
  • Tala (tv), +33 baby girls
  • Sally (news), +32 baby girls
  • Chosen (celebrity baby), +30 baby boys (also +15 baby girls)
  • Jones (celebrity baby), +28 baby boys (also +5 baby girls)
  • Tommy (movie), +23 baby boys
  • Solana (music), +20 baby girls
  • Mika (tv), +17 baby girls
  • Eissa (celebrity baby), +16 baby boys
  • Moon (event), +15 baby girls
  • Valkyrie (movie), +15 baby girls
  • Zaya (movie), +15 baby girls
  • Kelsea (music), +12 baby girls
  • Shadow (tv), +11 baby boys (also +4 baby girls)
  • Grover (tv), +10 baby boys
  • Halley (tv), +10 baby girls
  • Bear (celebrity baby), +9 baby boys
  • Gal (movie), +9 baby girls
  • Jyn (movie), debuted in the data with 9 baby girls
  • Eleven (tv), debuted in the data with 7 baby girls
  • Thor (movie), +7 baby boys
  • Hela (movie), +6 baby girls
  • Lyric (celebrity baby), +6 baby boys (but -77 baby girls)
  • Sturgill (music), debuted in the data with 6 baby boys
  • Zari (tv), +6 baby girls
  • Eclipse (event), debuted in the data with 5 baby girls
  • Eniko (celebrity spouse), debuted in the data with 5 baby girls
  • Poe (movie), +4 baby boys
  • Sir (celebrity baby), +4 baby boys
  • Dory (movie), +2 baby boys
  • Sire (celebrity baby), +2 baby boys

Same

Baby names that saw no movement from 2016 to 2017.

  • Revel (celebrity baby), no movement as a boy name
  • Rumi (celebrity baby), no movement as a girl name
  • Sovereign (celebrity baby), no movement as a girl name
  • Merlyn (tv), no movement as a boy name

Falls

Baby names that saw decreased usage from 2016 to 2017.

  • Chance (music), -1 baby boy
  • Irma (event), -1 baby girl
  • Via (tv), -1 baby girl
  • Gypsy (tv), -2 baby girls
  • Julien as a girl name (music), -3 baby girls
  • Loki (movie), -3 baby boys
  • Lux (tv), -3 baby boys
  • Soleil (event), -4 baby girls
  • J’onn (tv), dropped out of the data
  • Ned (movie), -5 baby boys
  • Saoirse (movie), -5 baby girls
  • Topaz (movie), dropped out of the data
  • Jacinda (news), -8 baby girls
  • Bea (rumored celebrity baby), -10 baby girls
  • Moxie (book), -13 baby girls
  • Gareth (movie), -16 baby boys
  • Shayla (internet), -30 baby girls
  • Fatima (news), -33 baby girls
  • Kendrick (music), -54 baby boys
  • Shawn (rumored celebrity baby), -121 baby boys
  • Carter (celebrity baby), -415 baby boys (also -103 baby girls)

Absent

Baby names that were not in the SSA data in either 2016 or 2017.

Amilyn, Antiope, Asperitas, Bilquis, Bixby, Cardi, Creeley, Darci Lynne, Fenty, Gravity, Issa Rae, Jumanji, Kygo, Ladybird, Laureline, Libratus, Mahershala, Maisel, Midge, Ovince, Pence, Ragnarok, Saffie, Sonequa, Strummer, Sza, Tenney, Themyscira, Tommen, Totality, Trump, Valerian, Wiseau, Yulin, Zelle

Reactions

Some initial reactions…

I was so surprised that Rumi saw no upward movement as a girl name. Remi is rising fast, Rooney is inching upward, and then Rumi — a name that sounds like a mix between the two — gets the stamp of approval from Queen Bey herself. And still it doesn’t budge. I’m scratching my head over this one.

I’m always fascinated to see how name usage is influenced by events/people that are perceived as negative. Sometimes the associations drag them down, but sometimes the mere exposure lifts them up. In the case of Harvey, we had not one but two negative things: a destructive storm and a sexual predator. And yet, the name continued to rise.

It was neat to see Eclipse debut in the data. We already knew that a few babies got the name thanks to the news, but apparently there were a few more–just enough to nudge the name up to that 5-baby threshold. I wonder how much the August solar eclipse contributed to the rise of the names Luna, Moon, and Shadow in 2017.

How about you? Did the movement (or non-movement) of any of these names surprise you?

[Disclaimer: Some of the names above were already moving in the direction indicated, and some were no doubt influenced by more than a single pop culture person/event. I leave it up to you to judge the degree/nature of pop culture influence in each case.]

Pop culture baby name game, 2017

pop culture baby name game 2017

It’s time for the annual Pop Culture Baby Name Game!

This year we’re kicking things off January 8th, the birthday of Elvis Presley! (He was born in 1935 and would have been 83 today.)

So how do you play the game? Just brainstorm for baby names that could have gotten a boost in usage in 2017 thanks to the influence popular culture: movies, music, television, social media, video games, sports, politics, products, trends, and so forth.

Here are the names we’ve come up with so far:

  • Amilyn – movie Star Wars: The Last Jedi (stolen from Abby)
  • Antiope – movie Wonder Woman
  • Asahd – son of DJ Khaled (suggested by alex)
  • Asperitas – a new type of cloud (suggested by elbowin)
  • Bea – rumored Beyoncé baby name
  • Bear – son of Liam Payne
  • Bilquis – TV show American Gods
  • Callum – move Assassin’s Creed
  • Cardi – rapper Cardi B
  • Carter – son of Beyoncé and Jay-Z (suggested by elbowin)
  • Chance – Chance The Rapper
  • Creeley – TV show Damnation
  • Darci Lynne – winner of America’s Got Talent
  • Eclipse – August solar eclipse
  • Eissa – son of Janet Jackson
  • Eleven – TV show Stranger Things
  • Fatima – 100th anniversary of Marian apparitions
  • Fenty – Rihanna’s company Fenty Beauty
  • Gal – actress Gal Godot
  • Gravity – daughter of fashion models Lucky Blue Smith (male) and Stormi Bree (female)
  • Grover – fictional baby born on TV show Girls
  • Halley – fictional baby born on TV show Big Bang Theory
  • Harvey – hurricane
  • Hela – movie Thor: Ragnarok
  • Irma – hurricane
  • Issa Rae – actress Issa Rae
  • Jacinda – New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern
  • Jumanji – movie Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
  • Jyn – movie Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
  • Kelsea – singer Kelsea Ballerini
  • Kendrick – rapper Kendrick Lamar
  • Kensli – daughter of Chance the Rapper (suggested by alex)
  • Kenzo – son of Kevin Hart
  • Laureline – movie Valerian
  • Libratus – artificial intelligence (suggested by elbowin)
  • Mahershala – actor Mahershala Ali
  • Maren – singer Maren Morris
  • Mika – news presenter Mika Brzezinski (suggested by alex)
  • Ovince – MMA competitor Ovince Saint Preux
  • Poppy – singer Poppy; movie Trolls
  • Ragnarok – movie Thor: Ragnarok
  • Revel – son of actors Matthew and Renee Morrison
  • Rumi – daughter of Beyoncé and Jay-Z
  • Saffie – victim of Manchester bombing (suggested by elbowin)
  • Sally – former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates
  • Saoirse – actress Saoirse Ronan
  • Shadow – TV show American Gods
  • Shawn – rumored Beyoncé baby name
  • Shayla – beauty influencer Shayla Mitchell
  • Sir – son of Beyoncé and Jay-Z
  • Sonequa – actress Sonequa Martin-Green
  • Sovereign – daughter of Cam Newton
  • Strummer – son of Julia Stiles
  • Sturgill – musician Sturgill Simpson
  • Sza – singer SZA
  • Tenney – doll/character Tenney Grant (full name: “Tennyson Evangeline”)
  • Totality – August solar eclipse
  • Valerian – movie Valerian
  • Valkyrie – movie Thor: Ragnarok
  • Yulin – San Juan mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz (suggested by elbowin)
  • Zaya – movie Gods of Egypt (stolen from Maybe it is Daijir?)
  • Zelle – payment app

Have any additions to make? Comment below! Just don’t forget to mention the pop culture influence.

The SSA will release the next batch of baby name data in May, so I will post the results to the game a few days after that 2017 data becomes available.

If you don’t want to miss the results post, please subscribe to NBN by entering your email address into the “Get New Posts via Email” form in the sidebar.

P.S. Have some ideas for 2018? Comment with those too — I’ll add them to next year’s game. One addition I just made: Grayson, for the winter storm. (Here’s a Massachusetts baby named Grayson, and a Maine baby possibly named Grayson.)