Over the last 100 years we have seen a lot of baby names come and go but a few have remained classics. It would appear that girls names change more with fashion with 40 unique baby names being in the top 5 names for the years 1907 - 2006. For the boys there have only been 19 unique baby names over the last 100 years in the top 5.

So without further ado here are the most popular names from the last 100 years. The number next to each name indicates how many times it has appeared in the top 5 names for a year. The higher the number the more times it has appeared!

Popular Baby Boy Names

James 74
John 66
Robert 65
Michael 58
William 43
David 39
Christopher 30
Matthew 26
Joshua 24
Richard 18
Charles 12
Jacob 12
Jason 10
Joseph 6
George 5
Andrew 4
Ethan 4
Daniel 2
Tyler 2

Popular Baby Girl Names

Mary 62
Dorothy 26
Helen 24
Margaret 24
Linda 23
Patricia 22
Barbara 21
Jennifer 21
Jessica 21
Ashley 18
Betty 18
Ruth 16
Amanda 14
Emily 14
Lisa 13
Amy 10
Karen 10
Kimberly 9
Melissa 9
Michelle 9
Hannah 8
Samantha 8
Madison 7
Carol 6
Deborah 6
Emma 5
Heather 5
Brittany 4
Alexis 3
Angela 3
Debra 3
Joan 3
Olivia 3
Anna 2
Donna 2
Abigail 1
Ava 1
Isabella 1
Judith 1
Sandra 1

So what are the stars naming their little ones? Check out these baby names from some famous people…

Alaia - Stephen Baldwin

Amandine - John Malkovich

Apple - Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin

Assisi - Jade Jagger

Atticus - Isabella Hoffman and Daniel Baldwin

Ava - Aidan Quinn/Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Philippe/John McEnroe

Banjo - Patrick and Rachel Griffiths

Chester - Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks

Iris - Sadie Frost and Jude Law

Levi Roan Green - Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke

Maddox - Angelina Jolie and Billy Bob Thornton

Milo - Ricky Lake

Rocco - Madonna

Satchel - Spike Lee/Woody Allen

Taj - Steven Tyler

Tallulah - Demi Moore and Bruce Willis

Truman - Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks

Willow - Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith

Zola - Eddie Murphy

[tags]baby names, baby-names, family, pregnancy[/tags]

In 1996, a very unusual name was given to a Swedish boy by his parents to protest the naming law of Sweden. The registered name was Brfxxccxxmnpcccclllmmnprxvclmnckssqlbb11116 (pronounced as albin). For the parents, this name is an “expressionistic development of what they see as an artistic creation.” The court did not accept this. So the parents then changed the name to A instead but the court did not consent this too. This is one of the most unusual names in history.

As parents give a name to their child, they secretly show to the world who they are and what they want for their children. Although not all parents follow this example, it is every parent’s wish for their child to be distinctive in every way and it starts with their name. Parents, hoping to avoid having their child’s names confused with the common Mary’s and Josephs, become quite creative with names, using a variety of spellings and inventing words to name their children. Some create their own name for their child by adding a diminutive ending to a popular name like –ina, -ette, -ita. Examples are Angel + ina, Georg(e) + ette, Juan(a) + ita. The use of ethnic or foreign names is also a known practice. Names of objects, holidays, and places are popular too in extraordinarily naming a child. Examples are Feather, Mardigras and Brooklyn. Last names as first names like Morrison and Kennedy have become a trend but they are still less common compared to the traditional ones. Boys’ names are given to girls like Patrick (sometimes also short for Patricia) and George (Georgina). Some parents would go further and consult the dictionary for a fresh idea in naming their child.

Having an unusual name can be an advantage. For one, a person with this kind of name surely stands out. People get curious with an uncommon name. Aside from this is the individuality of your child. Your daughter will be glad she’s not one of the 4 Michelles in the classroom. Her unusual name can be good for her as she develops her confidence and sense of self. She will feel special, independent and free.

If you want unique names, try classical literature. The classics is a treasure trove of unique or unusual names. Search in folklores of different cultures and discover names like Anund (a Viking name), Naias (a river nymph, Greek mythology) Koshchei (from a Russian folk tale) and many more. Names of trees are also interesting as names of people. Amherstia, a beautiful, unique name, is actually a small tropical tree with gorgeous hanging hot pink flowers. It is also called “queen of flowering trees.” For the not-too-adventurous parent, one way to avoid the trend on names is to look for trends in the past. Search for baby names on the Internet for popular names during the 1900 to 1950. You can also try combining the names in your family as a name for your child. Firstborns are usually given a combination of their parent’s names especially if the child was first-born on both sides of the family. One example here is Jan Zen Paola Marie = Jan from John, the grandfather, Zen for Zenny, the grandmother, Paula for Paul, the father and Marie for Mary, the mother.

Hold on! Before you start experimenting on your child’s name, think about the consequences of having a very different name. As much as it can give your kid the limelight, it can also cause alienation. Extraordinary names can lead to teasing by other children, if not chosen carefully. First impressions as the child grows older can also be affected. But how do you know its possible effect on your child? Popular advice is to say the name aloud so you can decide if you’d want to keep the name or not. Let your friends and relatives hear it and ask them what they think. Try to imagine old people with that name so you can tell if it is only cute for a child. You can also just choose to be creative on the spelling of an ordinary name so it still sounds the same. Jennifer can be spelled as Dzeniferr or Dyennifur. Write it a couple of times to see if this is ok with you. Here, you have given her something unique yet saved from being laughed at.

Being a parent is one of the most exciting thing in this world. Enjoy the time in looking for the best name. Don’t forget though that whether you give an ordinary or unusual name, it is the one that means something to you that’s more important.

The word “popular” means regarded with great favor, approval, or affection especially by the general public. On the subject of names; “popular” means “common” because a name so popular also implies that a lot of babies are given that name.

According to the Social Security Administration, the names Jacob, Michael and Joshua were the top three names for boys in the US for 2004. Female equivalent were Emily, Emma and Madison. Name rankings change every year yet there are names that stay on the top list and even cross borders. Joshua and Emily were among the top three names in England and Wales for the year 2005.

Giving your child a popular name has advantages and disadvantages. On the good side, it is very easy to say, write and remember. Also, it is a safe choice. It has been used by generations. It is easily accepted by people around you. It is also usually associated with a lot of famous people. has Many celebrities, fictional characters and other icons in history possess the same popular names. James Bond is one example. John, also among the most common male name in the UK, is the name of kings, saints and popes.

The name Robert, of German origin, also has its own list of historical personalities like Robert de Niro, the actor and the Jamaican singer and activist, Robert Nesta Marley. On the bad side though, it can give your child a headache in getting his/her record due to thousands of people with the same name. Also, one cannot be sure if the association of the name can always be good.
Some parents choose a popular name hoping that the good things/ karma of a person with that name can be passed on to their child. One example is Theresa, after Mother Theresa. One may feel that giving this name to their daughter will bless them with the saint’s qualities. What’s good in a popular name is that most of them actually has a meaning like Peter, “stone”, compared to modern, invented names.

Popular culture can affect the trend on naming. An unusual name can suddenly become common because of this. Movie versions of marvel comics, Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter in the recent years have influenced some parents in naming their kids. Examples are Parker from Spider Man, Legolas from LOTR and Hermione from Harry Potter. Celebrities like Madonna, Denise Richards, and Chris Rock gave the name Lola such popularity as this is the name they gave their daughters.

Parents also choose from the names of well-perceived public figures and famous people. Citizens from a number of countries that Pope John Paul II visited named their children after him. Because of this, it is not unusual that many boys of the same age and in the same community are named John. Giving hip names to a child can have a special meaning for the parents but it has some risks. As celebrities’ fame crash, the popularity of the name also expires. As a result, your child will be left with a name that everyone else has.

Choose a name that you want for your baby and not only because you want to remember a famous person. Your child can be teased in school for having this name, much more if the celebrity gets involved in a scandal. What is more significant is what this name means to you. How do you feel with the name Erick or Valerie? Try venturing on unusual names too. Akira might fascinate you. If modern names do not appeal to you, then try a few old fashioned names to popular names.

Should you give your child a popular baby name?

When choosing the name for your baby, whether or not to choose a popular baby name is one of the top questions you will face. Although you may like to follow fashion trends in many aspects of your life, it’s possible that when it comes to naming your newborn, you prefer not to follow the current name list, and instead choose something that’s more traditional.

Although popular baby name lists often include some traditional names that seem to be evergreen, they also reflect the current trends in popular culture. By giving your baby one of these names you are placing your child within a certain period of history because of the time frame that this name was popular and the amount of people within their generation who have the same name - for example, Tiffany was not as popular in the 70s as it became in the 80s, and likewise, the popularity for the names Marilyn and Rita are more likely to be reflected in names of the baby’s grandparents’ generation.

When deciding to give your baby a popular baby name, consider whether or not the name will still sound good when the baby is grown up. Is it a name which will endure the years, or do you think that it could sound dated - as perhaps the name Doris, which would have been a popular baby name in its time, sounds to you now. Another thing to consider is how many other babies have been given the same name, especially in the area where you expect your baby to grow up in. Do you really want him to be in a class with 6 other boys who have the same name? The positive side of choosing a popular baby name is that you know your child will have a name that will be acceptable by his peers, although a traditional popular name such as Thomas will be probably transformed into something more modern such as Tom or Tommy.

Whether or not you choose to give your baby a popular baby name is very much a personal decision, but more often than not there are outside influences which will also factor into the final verdict as you consider not only the current trend, the future implications and even whether or not it’s a name that a child can grow into adulthood with, but also the other people who will be important in the baby’s life, and whether or not you want to recognise their part by ignoring the popular baby name list and naming your baby after them instead.

Finding the right name for your baby boy can be a tough decision. Here are some popular names that might help you choose a name for your baby.

Top 10 baby names for boys for 2004

1. Jacob
2. Michael
3. Joshua
4. Matthew
5. Ethan
6. Andrew
7. Daniel
8. William
9. Joseph
10. Christopher