Baby Talk - 9/17/15

Picking a name for your baby is a big responsibility. Talking to my studio moms, I know how grueling the process is, not to mention all the time it takes to find the perfect name. My Mom and Dad took a six hour trip when they were pregnant with me and went through a pile of baby name books during the drive. My name has Celtic origins, which was important to my Mom because she is Irish. It also contains “Ann,” which was my great grandmother’s and aunt’s name. Rhiannon means “great queen,” which is fine with me!!

MooseRoots used the 2014 data from the Social Security Administration to identify the most popular baby names in the United States. Below are the top ten baby girl names.

• #10 – Charlotte – A feminine derivative of Charles, this name has been popular in England since the 17th century. It means “petite” and “feminine.” 
• #9 – Madison – A medieval name short for Madeleine, it means “strong fighter.”
• #8 – Abigail – This name was most popular in the U.S. in the 2000s. It means “the father’s joy” in Hebrew.
• #7 – Emily – Originating from a medieval form of the Latin name Aemilia, it means “striving” or “eager.” This name has been trending down in popularity, holding its highest rating in the 2000s.
• #6 – Mia – Of Danish and Swedish origin, this name was once a nickname for Maria. It means “mine” or "wished-for child." 
• #5 – Ava – A variation of Eve, this name means "life" or "living one." It has been popular in the U.S. since the 1950s. 
• #4 – Isabella – A variation of Isabel, itself a variation of Elizabeth, this name has been popular in England since the 1700s. It means "devoted to God." 
• #3 – Sophia – Of Greek origin, this name means “wisdom.” The name is, also, extremely popular in Belgium, Ireland, Scotland, and Germany.
• #2 – Olivia – Of Latin origin, the name was first used in 1599 by William Shakespeare for a character in Twelfth Night. It is a feminine form of Oliver, meaning "olive tree."
• #1 – Emma – Derived from Old German, the name was adopted by the Normans and introduced into Britain. It was popular in the 1800s and has risen sharply in popularity since the 1970s. It means “whole” or “universal.” 

We will share the top ten baby boy names in our next blog posting. 

Please, share your baby naming story!