According to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, the state’s top names two years ago were Sophia for girls and Liam for boys.
Here are Idaho’s top 25 girl names and top 25 boy names of 2012:
Girl Names
- Sophia (115 baby girls)
- Olivia (113)
- Emma (100)
- Ava (79)
- Abigail (76)
- Elizabeth (71)
- Chloe (69)
- Emily (62) – tie
- Zoey (62) – tie
- Brooklyn (61)
- Hannah* (60)
- Madison (57)
- Ella (56) – tie
- Isabella (56) – tie
- Lily (56) – tie
- Avery (54)
- Grace (51)
- Amelia (50) – tie
- Evelyn (50) – tie
- Hailey* (48)
- Ellie (46) – tie
- Natalie (46) – tie
- Charlotte* (45) – tie
- Paisley* (45) – tie
- Addison (44)
Boy Names
- Liam (133 baby boys)
- William (94)
- Mason (81)
- Jacob (79)
- Michael* (78) – tie
- Samuel (78) – tie
- Wyatt (77)
- Logan (76)
- Ethan (75)
- Carter (73)
- Hunter (72)
- Aiden (71)
- Benjamin (69) – tie
- Jackson (69) – tie
- Gabriel (68)
- Andrew (67)
- Henry* (66) – tie
- Noah (66) – tie
- Cooper* (65) – tie
- Elijah (65) – tie
- David* (64)
- Isaac (63)
- Alexander* (57) – tie
- Jayden (57) – tie
- Joseph* (57) – tie
- Owen (57) – tie
*New to the top 25 since 2011.
Idaho’s annual report also includes a section called “Selected Unique Baby Names, Yewneek Baybee Spellings,” which is rather awesome.
Here are the handpicked oddballs of 2012:
| Unique Girl Names | Unique Boy Names |
|---|---|
| Alixathymia, Aunastasha, Beloved, Blessing, Britannica, Burdyn, Challyss, Echkoe, Exodus, Harlequinn, Idalyz, Killary, Lulubell, Lyrica, Mercy, Miracle, Mystic, Noble, Oasis, Pearadice, Savvy, Secret, Sunshyne, Theory, Versailles | Adamant, Arsin, Awesome, Cactus, Captain, Chipper, Cross, Denym, Dually, Dynamic, Falchion, Glacier, Kasteel, Kazys, Krozlee, Lock, Mehdiullah, Mogley, Natavious, Nyte, Peregrin, Pilot, Torque, Truce, Wild |
Thoughts:
- Alixathymia – Part name, part medical condition.
- Adamant – Synonym for stubborn. Or an Adam Ant reference. Or both.
- Burdyn – “Burden”? Really?
- Cactus – A nature name I’ve never seen before.
- Dually – Rosamund Pike should pick this for kid #2. (Her firstborn is “Solo.”)
- Falchion – A type of sword. (Do they talk about falchions on Game of Thrones?)
- Glacier – There’s a Glacier in Quebec as well.
- Killary – This would make a great roller derby name! So would Hellga the American Gladiator name.
- Truce – Nice to see a name that promotes cooperation/peace instead of conflict/anger (like Rebel, Fury, Rage, Rowdy, Savage, and so on). Truce reminds me of Armistice. Speaking of armistice…
- Versailles – It’s a pretty word, but what percentage of Americans can spell it correctly? Or even pronounce it?
And, since I never wrote about the Idaho baby names of 2011, I’ll throw in the unique names from that year as well:
| Unique Girl Names (2011) | Unique Boy Names (2011) |
|---|---|
| Asma, Ajla, Bandana, Birdie, Candelaria, Cinderella, Courage, Disney-Gin, Elphaba, Jerzi, Kaymin, Khryztale, Kyraeveryn, November, Rainbow, Rockee, Rogue, Ropeer, Satchel, Soliscity, Temperenz, Thunder, Trypzee, Winter, Xxoie | Adakiss, Aegis Orion, Beauxdarin, Bluesky, Cinch, Coyote, Dagr, Deevo, Diggory, Doc, Eighthin, Flint, Gator, General, Iron, Jayger, John-Wayne, Khryztian, Maverik, Pistol, Pragedis, Rifle, Riot, Slate, Wilderness |
Thoughts:
- Adakiss – A unique take on Atticus
- Dagr, Pistol, Rifle, Riot – More weaponry & violence. Lovely.
- Deevo – Inspired by Devo? Perhaps. Two references to ’80s music in a single post? Yup. You must whip it…
Finally, here are earlier lists of Idaho’s unique baby names (2006 through 2010).
Source: Idaho Vital Statistics
Image: Adapted from Flag of Idaho (public domain)
