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Emily, Jacob Stay Top Baby Names
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Published: May 11, 2008
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WASHINGTON - Emily again topped the list of most popular baby girl names last year, registering as No. 1 for the 12th straight time. Jacob led among names for boys for the ninth year in a row.
New parents didn't stray far from past habits in 2007 when naming their babies.
Only one name - Elizabeth - is new to the top-10 list, returning after a two-year absence. Samantha, which previously ranked 10th, dropped to No. 12, according to the latest list released Saturday by the Social Security Administration.
Biblical names continued to dominate the boys' list. Besides Jacob, other top picks for boys were Michael, Joshua and Matthew.
For girls, Isabella, Emma and Ava came after Emily, which has been the most popular female name since 1996.
Rounding out the top 10 for girls, in order, were Madison, Sophia, Olivia, Abigail, Hannah and Elizabeth.
The list for boys also has Ethan, Daniel, Christopher, Anthony, William and Andrew.
Name experts have said the staying power of the top names may have something to do with appealing to multiple ethnic or religious groups and having no widespread negative connotations.
Emily also has literary associations, including Emily Dickinson, evoking images of a woman who is both beautiful and smart, professors say.
Social Security began compiling the name lists in 1997. The agency offers lists of baby names for each year since 1880 on the agency's Web site at www.socialsecurity.gov.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( BrassBowldotOrg ) on May 12, 2008 at 12:17 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
While a traditional name may seem boring, it does remove some of the "name pain" that non-traditional named kids go through. Parents need to remember that other kids can be very mean. There is enough that kids have to deal with without giving them a name that causing them pain.
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Posted by ( SMB ) on May 12, 2008 at 12:53 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Have you ever seen Emily Dickinson?
WOOF!!!
and her poety...
I heard a fly buzz when I died...
Come on, if you want beauty, name them Bambi like all good strippers.
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Posted by ( RichB ) on May 12, 2008 at 6:25 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
SMB Hehehe....Your right, she is just a step away from Olive Oyl. I'll go with Bambi any day over Emily.
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Posted by ( auntashley97 ) on May 12, 2008 at 9:35 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
wheres ashley?! or alexis?! or erica?! or melanie?! these names have been on here for the last 20 yrs what happened?!
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