Popular baby name trends evolve at lightning speed in modern, media saturated times. A Web site called Baby Name Wizard tracks and predicts naming trends just by tracking what people are searching for in their “Namipedia.” Some of the names are already solidly in the top ten and some reflect trends soon to come.
The most popular searches on the site so far in 2010 are for “Charlotte” and “Oliver.” ” Charlotte” was one of those classic names that was always around but never trendy until “Sex and the City” made it iconic. Even with the show off the air, “Charlotte” has been climbing the baby name chart for years (maybe because of “Lost?”) and “Namipedia” seems to indicate it is only going to get more popular. “Oliver” has always been popular in England and Australia but it’s becoming more and more popular in the U.S.
Names like “Sookie,” a variant of “Susan” that appears on the television series “True Blood” are rocketing into popularity as well. “Castiel,” the name of an angel on the series “Supernatural” is also having a striking popularity streak.
Baby Name Wizard will also break down name popularity by location and time period. For instance, a search for “Bridget” tells us that the name was at its most popular in 1973 in Los Angeles. ”Anne” peaked in 1960 in Massachusetts. ”Sam” in Vermont in 1990. Perennial ”Susan” was popular all over the U.S. in the 1960’s, but has been in steady decline every since.
Wonder what Namipedia’s top ten are?
GIRLS
1. Charlotte
2. Olivia
3. Elizabeth
4. Amelia
5. Emily
6. Ava
7. Ella
8. Claire
9. Emma
10. Violet
BOYS
1. Oliver
2. Owen
3. Henry
4. Liam
5. James
6. Jack
7. Alexander
8. Benjamin
9. William
10. Noah
