A few weeks ago, I asked my readers to vote on which three of the top ten names for each gender they prefer. After one week of voting, I gave the three most requested boy names and the three most requested girl names a popularity profile, which includes not only my predictions for the name selected, but also my opinions on how the name in question reached such a high position, the origins and meaning of the name, and the extent of time the name has claimed a spot in the elite top ten. This is sadly the final article of this particular series, but I do have more articles coming out soon!
And the final attachment to this 7-part series inspired by the postponement of the SSA popular baby names announcement is… Emma! Remarkably holding the #1 position in not only the Social Security data, but also my reader decided top three, Norway, France, and Germany, Emma is one queen bee. This simple and classically feminine moniker has worldwide appeal, and it’s very clear as to why this name has had so much success.
For one, Emily, Emma’s predecessor, held the #1 spot from 1996-2007, an astounding feat for a name to achieve. However, such enduring and intense popularity can ruin the appeal of a name for many. Not only do some parents try to avoid popular names, the name also feels less special and alluring because it’s being used so much on such a wide variety of ages. In 2007, there were a bunch of middle school girls called Emily, as they had been born in some of the early years of Emily’s #1 status, and the name felt more dated when the majority of the bearers were past infancy. When a name loses its youth and begins to mark a certain generation, people start to look for alternatives. In this case, Emma had all of the sounds of Emily, yet followed the same pattern as other classically beautiful names like Anna and Ella that were gaining in popularity at the time. But besides providing parents with a fresh alternative to Emily, Emma had appealing qualities all her own that won her universal regard (besides the fact that this name actually means “universal”!). It’s easy to say and spell in numerous languages, it’s short, doesn’t rhyme with any disagreeable words, and ages well. And to boost all of these factors are many pop culture references to this name that put Emma on the minds of expecting couples, such as Emma Pillsbury from Glee or Ross and Rachel’s daughter Emma on Friends, or the film adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel, “Emma”, which was released in 1996.
After examining Emma’s fascinating rise to popularity, I’ve concluded that Emma’s reign will not end in 2019. Observing Emily’s long-lasting popularity, and how she actually was given to more babies this year than last, I’ve determined that parents will continue to use this short and sweet appellation for their daughters.
~Delphina Moon
How do you feel about the name Emma, and what do you think the upcoming 2019 data concerning Emma’s popularity will reveal about this persistent name and the U.S. top ten?
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