Nope, we don't get brand new name data just yet, but we do have individual state data! And yes, it’s a bit late to be analyzing this stuff now, given that these numbers were put out last summer. But I’m getting the data itch, and I’m sure plenty of you are eager to pounce on some new numbers, whether you’re expecting a little one and crossing your fingers that your favorite won’t rise or a name nerd waiting anxiously for a new top ten to pour ridiculous amounts of time into memorizing (guilty). I sure am, at least. Every year, we get some individual state data for the top 5 of each US state, so naturally, I need to analyze it. So if you are feeling impatient about the statistics arriving somewhere in May as well, I hope you enjoy this article. Okay, let the analysis commence!
Some Stand-Outs
Which names have soaring popularity in one state but fail to match that standard in collective country-wide data? Let’s take a look.
Camila- At #15 in the US, Camila appeals primarily to Hispanic families, but is a truly gorgeous name for any family. Camila is a beautiful elaboration of Amelia and Mila, but doesn’t quite chart top ten yet. However, in California and Texas, both states with sizable Hispanic populations, the name ranks #5 state-wide.
Aria- Typically, Aria just barely scores top 20 fame at #20 in the United States. But in this case, the people of Hawaii adore this musically feminine girl name so much, they’ve managed to sneak her into their top 5 at (yup, she just makes it in again) #5. Although I’m not quite sure why this three-syllable, four-letter baby girl name appeased Hawaii in particular, I do know that she’s quite the lovely choice for families worldwide.
Willow- Willow is quite the wildcard of the fairly popular names we’ve seen above. As a country, the United states puts Willow at #46. Despite this name just scraping by into the top 50, Willow sporadically ranks at #5 only in Wyoming. Isn’t that a bit strange? Perhaps Wyoming felt a sense of pride in choosing a girl name starting with the states same initial! Then again, probably not. Regardless, Willow is a peaceful girl name with a truly eye-catching ending.
Lucy- This one’s the most surprising by far, at least for the girls. Lucy has gotten progressively more popular over the years, and in 2019, she jumped up 3 spots to claim #48 in the country. A zippy, cutesy name that feels adorable for a newborn and professional enough for a grown woman to proudly wear, Lucy does have versatility and style. The citizens of Utah certainly see this, because in that state, Lucy ranks at a whopping #4!
Ezekiel- Ezekiel isn’t really the name that pops into most of our heads when we think of a top five name. However, Hawaii and New Mexico would beg to disagree. While Ezekiel only ranks at #71, and although he’s been getting increasingly popular, the 70s are a far cry from top 5. The states mentioned above individually do boast their little Ezekiels, since the name ranks at #5. This biblical name leads to slick and cool nickname Zeke.
Colton- A name bubbling over with Southern swag, Colton ranks at #59 when it comes to his national popularity, despite claiming #5 status in the state of Delaware. Strange, given that Delaware is nowhere near the south that I so associate Colton to. This swaggy, effortlessly self-assured name pairs well with Grayson, Wells, and other stylish surname names.
Theodore- Theodore is one of the trendiest names on the market at the moment. He’s vintage, classic but current, and approved by loads of our favorite celebrities via their name choices for children. So although his feat of #36 up from last years #44 is quite impressive, his #4 Minnesota ranking is spectacular. Teddy, Theo, or buttoned-up Theodore, this boy name flaunts all sorts of different styles with his nicknames.
Some #1s (And What They Mean)
The top names in specific states can tell us a lot about the state itself and which names will prevail next year in the general US data, and the time is right for prediction!
Olivia- Frilly, sweet, Olivia claims the top spot for 25 states. Woah. That’s major. Compare that to last year’s #1 name overall, Emma, with 9 #1 wins throughout all fifty states and District of Columbia, and it definitely appears that Olivia is a family favorite… by a landslide. I doubt anyone will unthrone Olivia in the new stats, just looking at this state data.
Sophia- Sophia only claims one #1, and that is in the lovely state of Nevada. But this is quite shocking. Sophia ranks at #4 country-wide, and compared to #6 Charlotte, her stats are quite worrying in terms of future popularity. Charlotte ranks at #6, two spots lower, yet she grabs 6 #1 titles from Wyoming, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine, Iowa, and Colorado. Charlotte has been climbing exponentially while Sophia has been at a standstill, but this comparison suggests that perhaps Sophia will fall as a result of alternative spelling Sofia becoming more popular.
Liam- Twenty-six states are proud to call Liam their #1, just one more than Olivia. It’s been true for a long while that boy names are much less varied and shift in and out of fashion much slower, leaving long periods--or, at least, longer periods--of one name towering above the others. The name he once barely eclipsed last year, Noah, only got 7 states to call him their own #1, showing a kind of modern day version of that phenomenon. Again, Liam seems like a boy name that will reign for at least a couple more years.
Henry- This one’s quite interesting. Henry is the only name in all the data to boast even a single statewide win, yet not even rank in the national top ten. The folks of Minnesota made modern classic Henry their favorite baby boy name by gifting this dapper choice to their sons in large numbers, even though Henry only ranks at #12 in the nation. To me, this suggests that Henry’s steep climb so far will not be cut off anytime soon. If he’s been able to hold his own in Minnesota as #1, he’ll definitely be able to crack the top ten.
That’s all for this little mini data analysis! If you would like to check out the data yourself, or even see the top 100 for your state in particular, feel free to click here: https://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/state/. If you do not reside in the US, I apologize for the potential boredom and confusion. Next up, the Name Warehouse’s birthday article! I’m so excited, and I hope you are as well. Farewell, readers, and have a wonderful rest of your day!
Sincerely,
-Delphina Moon