How popular is the baby name Elliot 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 Elliot.

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Popularity of the baby name Elliot


Posts that mention the name Elliot

Rory: Boy name or girl name?

The name Rory came up a few days ago in the quintuplet post, so I thought now would be a good time to take a closer look at Rory–especially at how pop culture has been tugging the traditionally male name over to the girls’ camp for quite some time.

First, the history. Rory is the Anglicized form of a Gaelic name that has been spelled various ways (e.g. Ruaidhri, Ruaidri, Ruari). Probably the most notable bearer was the last High King of Ireland, Ruaidri Ua Conchobair.

Rory was being used as a boy name in the U.S. long before it first popped up on the SSA’s baby name list in 1933. But this started to change in the late 1940s:

  • 1945: 20 boys
  • 1946: 37 boys
  • 1947: 73 boys, 41 girls [debut]
  • 1948: 123 boys, 43 girls
  • 1949: 149 boys, 45 girls

Those 41 baby girls in 1947 made Rory the top debut name for baby girls that year.

So what happened in 1947? The movie Stallion Road, starring actress Alexis Smith as rancher Rory Teller. (It also starred future president Ronald Reagan.)

(Interestingly, in the book Stallion Road, on which the movie was based, the lady rancher was named Fleace Teller. The screenplay was written by William Faulkner — he might have been the one to change it.)

Usage for boys stayed strong during the ’50s and ’60s with the help of actor Rory Calhoun (real name: Francis McCown). But, after Stallion Road faded from memory, usage for baby girls decreased so much that Rory fell off the girls’ list entirely for a few years in the 1960s.

And then, in December of 1968, Rory Kennedy came along.

  • 1966: 254 boys
  • 1967: 202 boys
  • 1968: 171 boys, 18 girls
  • 1969: 352 boys, 105 girls
  • 1970: 281 boys, 51 girls

Rory is the daughter of Ethel Kennedy and the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy. She was born six months after her father, a presidential candidate, was assassinated. According to news articles announcing the birth, Ethel liked the name Rory because it was similar to Robert’s name without being “too obvious” (as the name Roberta would have been, she felt).

This time, the female version of Rory was able to hang on until the next pop culture boost: TV series Gilmore Girls (2000-2007).

  • 1998: 302 boys, 53 girls
  • 1999: 286 boys, 59 girls
  • 2000: 290 boys, 85 girls
  • 2001: 236 boys, 142 girls
  • 2002: 257 boys, 187 girls

Character Rory Gilmore was played by Alexis Bledel — yup, another actress name Alexis. (In both cases, though, Alexis was just a stage name. Alexis Bledel’s first name is actually Kimberly, and Alexis Smith was born Gladys Smith.)

And that leads us to today. How has Rory been used lately? It’s a close race:

  • 2007: 258 boys, 244 girls
  • 2008: 279 boys, 274 girls
  • 2009: 298 boys, 283 girls

It’ll be interesting to watch what happens in the next few years. Will usage for girls go back into decline? Will it overtake usage for boys? What do you think?

(Also, feel free to weigh in on Avery, Charlie, Elliot and Peyton.)

Source: “New Kennedy Girl May Be Named.” Schenectady Gazette 14 Dec. 1968: 2.

Popular baby names in Sweden, 2010

Flag of Sweden
Flag of Sweden

Sweden’s top baby names have been released!

The winners last year were Oscar and Maja (which is pronounced like Maya).

Here are Sweden’s top 50 girl names and top 50 boy names of 2010:

Girl names

  1. Maja, 895 baby girls (1.6% of all baby girls)
  2. Alice, 867
  3. Julia, 823
  4. Linnéa, 750
  5. Wilma, 742
  6. Ella, 737
  7. Elsa, 724
  8. Emma, 722
  9. Alva, 711
  10. Olivia, 703
  11. Molly, 677
  12. Ebba, 661
  13. Klara, 638
  14. Nellie, 592
  15. Agnes, 588
  16. Isabelle, 583
  17. Ida, 577
  18. Elin, 570
  19. Ellen, 545
  20. Moa, 542
  21. Emilia, 522
  22. Nova, 515
  23. Alma, 506
  24. Saga, 490
  25. Amanda, 475
  26. Isabella, 467
  27. Lilly, 460
  28. Alicia, 456
  29. Astrid, 441
  30. Matilda, 433
  31. Tilde, 431 (tie)
  32. Tuva, 431 (tie)
  33. Stella, 416
  34. Elvira, 412 (tie)
  35. Felicia, 412 (tie)
  36. Tyra, 409
  37. Hanna, 408
  38. Sara, 404
  39. Vera, 399
  40. Thea, 380
  41. Freja, 378
  42. Lova, 372
  43. Meja, 359 (tie)
  44. Selma, 359 (tie)
  45. Signe, 352
  46. Ester, 339
  47. Lovisa, 336
  48. Ellie, 328
  49. Lea, 308 (tie)
  50. Tilda, 308 (tie)

Boy names

  1. Oscar, 1,108 baby boys (nearly 1.9% of all baby boys)
  2. William, 1,032
  3. Lucas, 1,026
  4. Elias, 888
  5. Alexander, 887
  6. Hugo, 873
  7. Oliver, 810
  8. Theo, 804
  9. Liam, 782
  10. Leo, 764
  11. Erik, 741 (tie)
  12. Viktor, 741 (tie)
  13. Emil, 729
  14. Isak, 712
  15. Axel, 692
  16. Filip, 685
  17. Anton, 627
  18. Gustav, 617
  19. Edvin, 609
  20. Vincent, 598
  21. Arvid, 596
  22. Albin, 581
  23. Ludvig, 580
  24. Melvin, 562
  25. Noah, 554
  26. Charlie, 531
  27. Max, 529
  28. Elliot, 509
  29. Viggo, 499
  30. Alvin, 488
  31. Alfred, 480
  32. Adam, 474 (tie)
  33. Theodor, 474 (tie)
  34. Olle, 464
  35. Wilmer, 458
  36. Benjamin, 457
  37. Simon, 453
  38. Nils, 431
  39. Noel, 417
  40. Jacob, 414
  41. Leon, 411
  42. Rasmus, 405
  43. Kevin, 400
  44. Linus, 394
  45. Casper, 380 (tie)
  46. Gabriel, 380 (tie)
  47. Jonathan, 377
  48. Milo, 373
  49. Melker, 369
  50. Felix, 367

In the girls’ top 10, Olivia replaced Ebba.

In the boys’ top 10, Theo, Liam and Leo replaced Erik, Victor, and Axel.

Newbies to the girls’ top 100 were Tove, Minna, Majken, Annie, Juni, Hedvig and Novalie. Drop-outs were Malva, Victoria, Fanny, Alexandra, Rut, Miranda and Johanna.

Newbies to the boys’ top 100 were Frank, Ebbe, Elvin, Julian and Ivar. Drop-outs were Dante, Mattias, Jesper, Dennis and Ruben.

The girl names that made the biggest jumps from 2009 to 2010 were Tove, Minna and Novalie. Those that dropped the furthest were Kajsa, Emelie and Cornelia.

The boy names that made the biggest jumps from 2009 to 2010 were Frank, Elvin and Milo. Those that dropped the furthest were Carl, Marcus and Jonathan.

Sources:

Image: Adapted from Flag of Sweden (public domain)

[Latest update: Dec. 2024]

Elliot: Boy name or girl name?

Ok, first thing’s first. I’m going answer my own question. Elliot is a boy name.

No, let me rephrase. Elliot is currently a boy name. It could become a girl name, though.

“What!? It’s not in the top 1,000 for girls. Stop your crazy-talk.”

It’s not crazy-talk. Elliot isn’t in the top 1,000 for girls, but that’s only because baby girls are getting multiple versions of the name. Combine the raw numbers for these various spellings (Eliot, Elliet, Elliette, Elliot, Elliott and Elliotte) and the Elliot group would rank about 703rd for girls. That’s well within the top 1,000.

Of course, if we combine spellings for girls, we ought to do the same for boys. Last year there were baby boys named Eliot, Eliott, Elliot and Elliott. The last two versions were popular enough to rank on their own (297th and 350th, respectively) and all four combined would reach 175th.

If we lumped all of those girl and boy Elliots together, we’d have over 2,600 babies. About 16% of those babies would be female.

It’s too early to know if Elliot will go the way of Avery and Peyton, but I think the potential is there.

First, 16% is nothing to sneeze at.

Second, there’s a pop culture precedent. At least one female TV character (on the sitcom Scrubs) is named Elliot.

Third, Elliot does sound rather feminine. It sounds like the girl name Ellie (now ranked 145th and climbing) plus the common French feminine suffix –ette. Parents opting for the “Elliette” spelling have already caught on to this.

Where do you think Elliot is headed–will it remain a boy name? Will it turn into a girl name? Will it reach unisex territory and be mired there indefinitely?

Girl names beyond the top 1,000 of 2009

stars

The top 1,000 baby girl names of 2009 can be found at the Social Security Administration’s website. But what about all the other names that were doled out last year? Those names are also available via the SSA I recently discovered (thanks Kelly!).

Just a few hours ago I posted a list of boy names that didn’t make the top 1,000 last year, but were still given to 100+ babies. Here is the equivalent (and much longer) list of girl names, grouped by the number of babies that received each name:

  • 263: Nyasia*
  • 262: Alayah, Areli, Bree, Essence
  • 261: Abigayle, Nathalia, Pearl
  • 260: Emersyn
  • 259: Amaris, Ashanti, Winter
  • 258: none
  • 257: Donna
  • 256: Carleigh, Kristin, Roxanne
  • 255: Gina, Kyndall, Marin, Tegan
  • 254: Dalilah, Dania
  • 253: Keily, Rhianna
  • 252: Emory, Krista, Willa
  • 251: none
  • 250: Braelynn
  • 249: Ashtyn, Bryleigh, Gracelynn, Kaley, Leigha, Sawyer, Selina
  • 248: Braylee, Gillian, Kinsey, Lucero, Sky
  • 247: Desirae, Jackeline, Kaila, Kendyl, Shea
  • 246: Shyann
  • 245: Emmalyn, Kailynn, Naima
  • 244: Kianna, Zaniya
  • 243: Chasity, Kimber, Samiya, Zariyah
  • 242: none
  • 241: none
  • 240: Cierra, Shayna, Yamileth
  • 239: none
  • 238: Amalia, Jalynn, Jamiyah, Jolene, Karis, Leticia
  • 237: Ariah
  • 236: Charli, Laurel, Mae, Silvia, Treasure, Zuri
  • 235: Arya, Celine, Jana, Kaylah
  • 234: Adele, Adison, Gisele, Keeley, Samira
  • 233: Abbygail, Brittney, Chelsey, Farrah, Tyler
  • 232: Carrie, Galilea, Kai, Micaela
  • 231: Addie, Anabel, Esme, Johana, Kairi, Shirley
  • 230: Aleigha, Annette, Nova
  • 229: Maren
  • 228: Berenice, Lyra, Makaila, Sariyah
  • 227: Abrielle, Anais, Blair, Brookelynn, Delia, Izabelle, Rivka
  • 226: Anjali, Blake, Christiana, Monique
  • 225: Brandy, Giavanna, Joelle
  • 224: Aurelia, Joselin, Keila, Rocio, Sally
  • 223: Emme, Kalia, Raylee, Roxana
  • 222: Aubrianna, Deasia, Dorothy, Lesley, Makaylah, Suri
  • 221: Aditi, Estella, Iyanna, Noor
  • 220: Ashton, Destini, Kori, Susana
  • 219: Abrianna, Analise, Graciela, Kayli, Lianna, Rileigh
  • 218: Jersey, Noa
  • 217: Harlee, Jailyn, Kamiyah, Nariah, Sonya
  • 216: Karmen, Lilith
  • 215: Iyana, Kamora, Maddie, Sarina, Zahra
  • 214: Gracyn, Hailie, Laniya, Leilah, Shreya
  • 213: Elina, Nyah, Saanvi
  • 212: Aya, Colleen, Jamiya, Jemma, Kalyn, Violeta
  • 211: Dallas, Dani, Denisse, Malaysia, Yarely, Zainab
  • 210: Darlene, Rhea, Tayla, Tina
  • 209: Ananya, Arleth, Aubri, Blanca, Jazmyne, Kaidence, Margarita, Renata, Tatianna
  • 208: Addilyn, Adelina, Aniah, Evalyn, Luisa, Shaniyah, Tayler
  • 207: Julieta, Maiya, Melinda
  • 206: Ailyn, Aliah, Justine, Sofie, Toni
  • 205: Dalila, Maite, Tatyana
  • 204: none
  • 203: Ariyana, Bridgette, Brookelyn, Colette, Jaleah, Laniyah
  • 202: Annalee, Elissa, Elyssa, Lidia
  • 201: Geraldine, Jaclyn, Jazzlyn, Landry
  • 200: Gwyneth, Janie, Kathy, Litzy, Noelia, Rhiannon, Stevie
  • 199: Amyah, Brandi, Cloe, Hillary
  • 198: Bayleigh, Kya, Kyndal, Maylee, Promise
  • 197: Dayanna, Selene
  • 196: Analeigh, Anita, Candace, Kamille
  • 195: Annabell, Antonia, Astrid, Audriana, Kelis
  • 194: Katlyn, Kaycee, Lilyann, Maura
  • 193: Jessa, Lacy, Lillyan, Milana
  • 192: Arlene, Katy, Nelly
  • 191: Annaliese, Kamilah, Saylor
  • 190: Carsyn, Lacie, Maliya, Vivianna
  • 189: Annelise, Calista, Citlali, Estefania, Izabel, Journee, Sandy, Yvette
  • 188: Brissa, Kenia, Malak
  • 187: Bryana, Carli, Carson, Honesty, Kirra, Soleil, Stacey
  • 186: Greidys, Lizette
  • 185: Alize, Breana, Carol, Christian, Karleigh, Lillyanna, Makiyah, Meagan, Mercy, Milena
  • 184: Alaysia, Gwen, Jazlene, Laci, Lillyana, Natali, Nicolette, Samya
  • 183: Amayah, Amia, Fallon, Hunter, Yara
  • 182: Asha, Kensley
  • 181: Chiara, Estefany, Lilyan, Priscila
  • 180: Aanya, Amariah, Candice, Charleigh, Devin, Gizelle, Makiya, Nya
  • 179: Abygail, Anneliese, Audrianna, Celina, Ericka
  • 178: Alycia, Briella, Jaeda, Nikki, Noel, Romina
  • 177: Aida
  • 176: Adilene, Blakely, Caitlynn, Camden, Ivana, Jaedyn, Kacey, Trista
  • 175: Camdyn, Jordynn, Kaleah, Robyn, Samaya
  • 174: Ayden, Beatriz, Drew, Emani, Mayte, Robin, Yuridia
  • 173: Alanah, Caelyn, Cordelia, Isha, Makenzi, Vanesa, Wynter, Yaneli
  • 172: Alex, Dina, Fabiola, Jacklyn, Liv, Mariella
  • 171: Constance, Ebony, Kacie, Pyper, Xochitl
  • 170: Alessia, Bonnie, Harmoni, Nadine, Nichole, Peighton, Soraya
  • 169: Audra, Brea, Ellery, Elliot, Josselyn, Kalli, Marian, Sheila, Zaira
  • 168: Aubriana, Elliott, Geneva, Karolina, Marlen, Sahara, Sheyla
  • 167: Arden, Joana, Juniper, Malina
  • 166: Alli, Maylin
  • 165: Amerie, Emmaline, Marcella, Temperance, Yahaira
  • 164: Ariyah, Ayva, Ginger, Kailani, Kalani, Kalea, Lucinda, Melia, Tahlia
  • 163: Adela, Evangelina, Harlie, Kamiya, Preslee, Rita
  • 162: Reilly, Ryley, Shaelyn
  • 161: Cayleigh, Kelsi, Malayah, Nahla, Savana, Yolanda
  • 160: Adamaris, Berkley, Emerald, Ivette, Izzabella, Jackelyn, Joslynn, Katharine, Susanna
  • 159: Anaiah, Haidyn, Juana, Lela, Remi, Samaria, Sunny, Thea
  • 158: Adrian, Brylie, Dasia, Jaela, Leena, Lourdes, Malka, Neha, Tracy
  • 157: Alyse, Aviana, Flor, Jaya, Jazelle, Margot, Nalani, Rilee
  • 156: Alora, Cayden, Estelle, Heavenly, Janaya, Jasmyn
  • 155: Avianna, Elia, Kaci, Raya, Rosalyn
  • 154: Bryn, Lluvia, Miyah
  • 153: Aubry, Lanie, Shira
  • 152: Allyssa, Avani, Betsy, Jaycie, Kami, Shakira
  • 151: Alexys, Amberly, Ariyanna, Brianne, Cloey, Dianna, Estefani, Kenadie, Kloey, Lillyann, Sahana
  • 150: Antonella, Calli, Candy, Chastelyn, Kora, Kynlee
  • 149: Aundrea, Emmie, Katerina, Madysen, Sydnie
  • 148: Analy, Ema, Emalee, Katarina, Madisen, Mandy, Vivien
  • 147: Alexandrea, Anissa, Annaleigh, Betty, Carmella, Coral, Danae, Grecia, Jailynn, Jamiah, Lilli, Roxanna, Trisha
  • 146: Chelsie, Iman, Kaylani, Mika, Priya, Sloan, Tyra
  • 145: Avalon, Eleni, Mabel, Rosario, Taliah, Zahara
  • 144: Alianna, Bentley, Breonna, Ellison, Jaci, Katia, Nariyah, Shaila
  • 143: Alysa, Annmarie, Brynna, Desire, Elayna, Eryn, Jaquelin, Lupita, Roxy, Yaretzy
  • 142: Anisa, Charlene, Elisha, Gabriel, Gracey, Jalyn, Jenifer, Katalina, Tristan
  • 141: Annamarie, Clementine, Jenesis, Jorja, Mackenna, Maryn, Melani, Skylee, Starr, Xitlali
  • 140: Alysia, Ellianna, Jasleen, Leela, Lucie, Tanvi, Vianney
  • 139: Anayah, Caylin, Dariana, Gwenyth, Haily, Loren, Magnolia, Mylie, Rhyan, Star
  • 138: Ania, Beverly, Cailey, Capri, Harleigh, Jurnee, Kasandra, Kristine
  • 137: Anali, Janya, Jaslynn, Kameryn, Mariya, Mayah, Nailah, Yazmine
  • 136: Andi, Brionna, Carys, Elly, Emmerson, Faye, Felicia, Lamya, Linnea, Louisa, Mari, Maxine
  • 135: Andie, Arionna, Audrie, Azalea, Eunice, Holland, Katelin
  • 134: Brook, Darby, Emmalynn, Haiden, Jaime, Kalynn, Keren, Kyrie, Maryann, Rianna, Rosie, Triniti, Yessenia, Zaylee
  • 133: Alyssia, Daria, Emerie, Joseline, Kierstyn, Leann, Marcela, Mareli, Marli, Melisa, Vianey, Vienna, Wren
  • 132: Belle, Citlaly, Dior, Elana, Kaniyah, Kayle, Lexus, Lori, Maycee, Montserrat, Petra, Sabina
  • 131: Alea, Beatrix, Diane, Irelyn, Jacie, Jalissa, Janell, Khadija, Ria, Semaj, Stormy, Veda
  • 130: Aja, Aniston, Clover, Colbie, Dasha, Halie, Jackie, Kaniya, Markayla, Remy, Sylvie
  • 129: Alliyah, Evolet, Jael, Jayna, Layna, Leanne, Maricela, Taleah
  • 128: Ari, Cielo, Montana, Paislee, Randi, Simran, Yoselyn
  • 127: Ameera, Darcy, Delanie, Farah, Karime, Keegan
  • 126: Anushka, Ayah, Harmonie, Kalina, Kari, Keziah, Liza, Sade, Saniah, Yarel
  • 125: Anaiya, Austyn, Darla, Elora, Frankie, Jamia, Jayme, Jeanette, Norma, Vicky
  • 124: Brooklynne, Ellis, Julisa, Kamaria, Leilany, Lisbeth, Makaela, Makiah, Nellie, Rosalinda, Yvonne
  • 123: Adelle, Emmeline, Freya, Hattie, Ila, Jiselle, Kiya, Lynette, Milla, Sanjana, Saphira, Zoya
  • 122: Aysia, Baylie, Brynley, Cienna, Kaydance, Malena, Mariajose, Nayla, Tamya
  • 121: Adina, Adrianne, Akeelah, Cameryn, Christa, Jolee, Josslyn, Juanita, Olyvia, Shriya, Taylee
  • 120: Jacquelin, Kaiden, Lexy, Martina, Shianne, Sonja
  • 119: Alexi, Avril, Baileigh, Carrington, Coraline, Devon, Isadora, Issabella, Jalia, Jessenia, Kaylan, Taelyn, Xitlaly, Yulissa
  • 118: Ariela, Carter, Chloee, Halo, Kaelin, Mariel, Marjorie, Milani, Olga, Rachelle, Sahasra, Siri
  • 117: Aleksandra, Alyna, Aminah, Araya, Emmaleigh, Gladys, Ivory, Keara, Kenadee, Lyndsey, Makyla, Raniya, Shaylynn
  • 116: Amora, Antoinette, Chanelle, Christy, Gissel, Kristy, Mindy, Mylah
  • 115: Cailin, Carmela, Cate, Everly, Jaila, Jamaya, Jania, Kyara
  • 114: Ariadna, Della, Evalynn, Karyme, Kenadi, Kennadi, Maisie, Mazie, Raniyah, Shae, Yasmeen
  • 113: Brihanna, Jianna, Josalyn, Lexis, Madelin, Remington, Sapphire, Stefany, Viola
  • 112: Aiden, Ailani, Angely, Chyna, Davina, Jahzara, Jovie, Kadyn, Katheryn, Kaydee, Layne, Mayrin, Scarlette
  • 111: Aleyah, Blessing, Chloie, Hollie, Kaily, Kamdyn, Keyonna, Kiarra, Laela, Leeann, Yajaira
  • 110: Amarie, Ciera, Dawn, Egypt, Jazleen, Judy, Kameron, Misha, Rain
  • 109: Adria, August, Emi, Joanne, Magaly, Marion, Moira, Nala, Rania, Sana, Tristyn, Ysabella, Zaniah
  • 108: Addelyn, Addisen, Alonna, Analisa, Anessa, Angeles, Anyah, Arlette, Braylin, Cecily, Daniya, Emelyn, Kyah, Tallulah, Zaina
  • 107: Ani, Aubrielle, Dafne, Grayson, Kaidyn, Kaylei, Kimani, Maleigha, Octavia, Ramona, Reanna, Sania, Shay, Stefanie, Sydni, Yael
  • 106: Abbigale, Adisyn, Alessa, Avalyn, Calla, Casandra, Caylie, Georgina, Jaina, Jocelin, Keilani, Keylee, Kloie, Preslie, Sabine, Valencia
  • 105: Acacia, Adilyn, Ayesha, Daniyah, Irelynn, Italia, Jadelyn, Janeth, Khalia, Maryah, Nadya, Trinitee
  • 104: Adaline, Amaiya, Anayeli, Angelia, Chevelle, Cianna, Gianni, Joscelyn, Kahlan, Karely, Magdalene, Penny, Scout, Shoshana, Skylah, Whitley
  • 103: Anisha, Delila, Evan, Jesse, Lariah, Naya, Nyomi, Samarah, Samia, Sariya, Shamya, Taylin
  • 102: Audree, Aven, Flora, Jalyssa, Jena, Josey, Kaylene, Kenlee, Kennady, Misty
  • 101: Ahtziri, Ariadne, Baila, Cambree, Claira, Danya, Edna, Eternity, Honor, Jaydah, Kaileigh, Kellie, Laina, Sinai, Violette
  • 100: Allegra, Amaia, Annemarie, Arihanna, Arissa, Chase, Deisy, Dora, Dream, Ela, Elli, Elysia, Greydis, Janna, Louise, Maliha, Mallorie, Marlena, Shaina, Zaida

*Nyasia could have made the top 1,000. In fact, it should have made the top 1,000. It was given to 263 babies, just like the names that ranked 996th-1,000th (Gretchen, Karli, Kloe, Lilyanna and Mireya). But it came in last alphabetically, so in the eyes of the SSA it’s name #1,001. Sad, sad…

Image: Adapted from Scattered stars in Sagittarius by ESA/Hubble under CC BY 4.0.