50 Boy Names Given to Just 5 Babies {2016}

On Wednesday I featured 50 girl names that were given to just 5 babies in 2016. Today I took a look at 50 boy names that were given to just 5 babies. There were only two rules to names making this list: they were given to just 5 babies and they had to be real. They had to have meaning and history. This list was a lot easier to create I feel like its in turn because a good handful of the names on this list are surnames. Surnames seem to be a trend that has been going on for years and years. So go ahead and take a look at the following list. 

1. Akito- Bright Person; Japanese 
2. Algernon- Having a Moustache; English
3. Aldwin- Old Friend; German 
4. Baird- Son of the Bard; Scottish 
5. Barclay- Birch Wood; Scottish 
6. Bernardino- Diminutive of Bernardo (Strong, Brave as a Bear); Italian, Spanish 
7. Buchanan- House of the Canon; Scottish 
8. Caldwell- Cold Spring, Stream, Well; English 
9. Chrisander- Golden; Greek 
10. Darragh- Variant of Dara (Oak Tree) or Anglicized Form of Daire (Fruitful, Fertile); Irish
11. Delmer- Of the Sea; English 
12. Egbert- Bright Edge; English 
13. Endrit- Light; Albanian 
14. Erling- Descendant of the Jarl; Swedish
15. Finbar- Variant of Fionnbharr (Fair Hair); Irish 
16. Fraser- Unknown; Scottish 
17. Frost- Cold Personality, White Beard; English 
18. Gilead- Monument of Testimony; Hebrew
19. Giorgos- Variant of George (Framer, Earthworker); Greek 
20. Harden- Hare Valley; English 
21. Haig- Variant of Hayk (Armenian); Armenian
22. Ikram- Honour; Arabic 
23. Ives- Form of Yves (Yew); English 
24. Joris- Form of George (Framer, Earth worker); Dutch and Frisian
25. Justo- Just, Upright, Righteous; Latin
26. Kyo- Unite, Cooperate, Capital City, Village, Apricot; Japanese 
27. Leor- I have Light; Hebrew 
28. Marios- Form of Marius (Male); Greek
29. Montague- Pointed Mountain; F
30. Neriah- Lamp of Yahweh; Hebrew 
31. Norbert- North Bright; German
32. Osric- Divine Ruler; English
33. Pavlos- Form of Paul (Small, Humble); Greek
34. Pippin- Form of Pepin (Awe-Inspiring); German 
35. Pius- Pious, Dutiful; Latin
36. Potter- One Who Makes Earthen Vessels; English 
37. Quang- Bright, Clear; Vietnamese 
38. Romain- Form of Romanus (Roman); French 
39. Randel- Rim of a Shield; English
40. Selvin- Prosperous Friend; English 
41. Stelios- Variant of Stylianos (Pillar); Greek
42. Torstein- Form of Torsten (Thor's Stone); Norwegian 
43. Taro- Thick, Big Son; Japanese
44. Uros- Man, Lord; Serbian
45. Valerio- Form of Valerius (To Be Strong); Italian and Spanish 
46. Valon- The Monkey King; Sanskrit 
47. Wilco- Desire; German
48. Winthrop- Wine's Village or Sigmund's Village; English 
49. Yadon- Form of Jadon (Thankful, He Will Judge); Hebrew
50. Yale- Fertile Upland; Welsh 

Which names are your favorite? I have a lot of favorites from this list thats for sure! 

50 Girl Names Given to Just 5 Babies {2016}

The United States only includes names that are given to 5 babies or more each year on their SSA popularity charts. In my quest to find super unique and unpopular names I took to looking at the very bottom of the list, those names with only 5 babies. Because many of these names are virtually unheard of they can look made up or invented. I have decided to supply you guys with a list of 50 girl names that are real. Names with meaning and origins. Names that have history. Take a look and tell me if there are any names that appeal to you!

1. Adannaya- His Father's Daughter; Igbo
2. Adebola- The Crown Has Met Wealth; Yoruba 
3. Aelia- Feminine Form of Aelius (Sun); Late Roman 
4. Akosua- Born on Sunday; Akan
5. Alfonsina- Feminine Form of Alfonso (Noble and Ready); Italian 
6. Bathsheba- Daughter if the Oath; Hebrew 
7. Brinda- Sword; Norse and The Basil Plant; Sanskrit 
8. Caitriona- Form of Katherine (Each of the Two); Irish 
9. Caragh- Beloved friend; Irish 
10. Ceridwen- Bent Poetry, Woman, White, Fair, Blessed; Welsh 
11. Cherith- Stream Bed, Torrent-Bed, Gorge, Valley; Hebrew 
12. Desta- Joy; Amharic 
13. Doria- Feminine Form of Dorian (From the Sea) or Elaboration of Dora
14. Eleri- Greatly Bitter; Welsh
15. Elmira- Shorten Form of Edelmira (Noble, Famous); 
16. Euphemia- To use words of good omen; Greek 
17. Fedora- Form of Theodora (Gift of God); Russian 
18. Francia- Form of France (Land of the Franks); Latin
19. Galadriel- Maiden Crowned with a Radiant Garland; Sindarin
20. Honoka- Harmony Flower; Japanese
21. Honoria- Feminine Form of Honorius; Late Roman 
22. Jan- Short Form of Janet or Janice; English 
23. Kazia- Short Form of Kazimiera (To Destroy); Polish
24. Liezel- God is My Oath; German, Hebrew 
25. Lilias- Short Form of Lillian (My God is an Oath); Scottish
26. Lucija- Fomr of Lucia (Light); Slovene and Croatian 
27. Luziana- Light; Spanish 
28. Mathea- Gift of God; Hebrew 
29. Meiko- A Bud; Japanese
30. Mercia- Form of Mercy; English
31. Meriwether- Happy Weather; English 
32. Miette- Crumb; French 
33. Mishel- Who is Like God; Hebrew 
34. Navneet- New, Fresh Eternal;  Sanskrit 
35. Neola- Young One; Greek 
36. Nesta- Diminutive of Agnes (Chaste); Welsh 
37. Olia- Russian Variant of Olga (Holy Blessed) or Helga 
38. Paolina- Form of Paulinus (Small, Humble); Italian 
39. Prisma- One Who is Cherished; Sanskrit 
40. Quiana- Variant of Qiana; African American 
41. Rada- Happy, Willing; Russian, Slavic
42. Shona- Form of Seonag (Form of Joan) or Seonaid; Scottish 
43. Sidonie- Feminine Form of Sidonius (Of Sidon); French
44. Saki- Blossom, Hope; Japanese 
45. Temitope- Enough to Give Thanks; Yoruba 
46. Tesia- Polish Diminutive of Teresa (Summer, To Harvest)
47. Veruca- Wart; English, and Variant of Verochka (Faith, True)
48. Viveka- Form of Wiebke (War); Swedish
49. Winta- One Who is Desired; African 
50. Zohara- Light, Splendor; Hebrew 

Many of the origins in the above list are origins not heard of often. I had never heard of Igbo or Amharic. My theory is that the parents using the names are using them in honor of their heritage and culture. Maybe after a grandmother or great grandmother. Names from the family tree. Now I pose the question: with these names being so unique how do parents find them? I fear that is a question we may never have an answer. 

2016 Prediction Results {Top 100}

Last week I took a look at how my name predictions for the new 2016 top 1000 names turned out. If you missed that post go check it out! Fifty percent of my predictions were right, which I thought was really good for a girl who isn't so good at making predictions.

Today I want to look at the my predictions for the new names to the top 100. The top 100 does not get many new names each year, especially when you look at the amount of names that are new to the top 1000 each year. I hate to say it but I am more terrible at making predictions to the top 100 than I actually expected! Out of the 8 names (4 boys, 4 girls) only one of my names actually made it into the top 100. One name did not move at all, one name dropped a few spots, and the rest moved up anywhere from 45 to 3 spots. If you would like to see the recents and a refresher on the names I had on the list keep reading.

Declan, Jameson, Kai, and Maverick were the boy names I predicted would move up into the top 100. None of the boys names moved up. In fact, one name didn't move a single spot! Kai was at #145 in 2015 and in 2016 is was at the exact same spot. Declan, Jameson, and Maverick all moved up int he charts but not enough to make it into the top 100. Declan went from #112 to #109. Jameson went from #144 to #128. Maverick went from #184 to #139 and was the name with the biggest leap on my list.

The only name the moved up into the top 100 from my predictions was Luna, an all time favorite of mine. I am happy to see it up and getting attention. There are many Lu- names out there that people are enjoying so it is no surprise that it jumped up the chart.

One name on my list back in April moved farther down the list. Hadley was #99 in 2014 and dropped down to #103 in 2015. In 2016 the name went down a few more spots to #108. Its not surprising to see it drop even more. In my eyes it seems to be going out of style. Personality I like the name and think it is a nice name. Ivy and Everly were the other two names on my list and both moved up the SSA list but not enough to make it into the top 100. Ivy went from #130 to #112 and Everly went from #138 and #107.

Since only one name on my list moved into the top 100 I thought it would be nice to look at the names that did move up. For girls, Adeline, Luna, Kinsley, Elena, Eliana, and Willow all moved up. As for the gentlemen, Bryson, Leonardo, Greyson, and Roman moved up the chart. Not many names get the privilege to be a part of the top 100.

It does not surprise me that Adeline and Willow have moved up. Ad- names are all the rage in recent times and Willow is being heard more and more. I am honestly surprised Roman had not been in the top 100. It sounds familiar and popular, a nice to the point name.

Next year we will see how much better I am at making predictions. Maybe I will be able to get at least 2 names!

2016 Prediction Results {Top 1000}

Its been so long but I am finally looking at how my predictions for the 2016 list did! This is the first year I did a predictions list so I am interested to see how I made out. Because I am not the best at making predictions I am not expecting to be very good. To start I am going to see how my top 1000 predictions did. As a recap, my boy names were Fox, Harris, Simeon, and Kaiser and my girls were Mavis, India, Ramona, and Etta. 

Fox made its way onto the top 1000 at #746. This is the first year that Fox has been in the top 1000 and I am so excited. With animal names catching on more and more I am not surprised to see it jumping on the list. Liam Payne just named his son Bear. Will we be seeing Bear in the top 1000 in years to come? 

Harris was the second boys name on my list to make it onto the top 1000. In 2016, it was ranked at #967. The last time Harris was ranked was in 1988. Its definitely nice to see the name back in style. Harrison (#107) might have something to do with the increase in popularity. Some other ideas might be a surname trend or the increase in vintage name usage. 

Simeon and Kaiser did not make it onto the list. In 2016, 199 babies were named Simeon, that is just a few more babies then the year before. It is just 4 more to be exact. If you take a look at the ranks then Simeon dropped a few ranks since the year before. Even then it was just 12 spots out of the top 1000. I'm not sure if I would add this name to my prediction list next year. I guess time will tell. 

When I was making my predictions I said that Kaiser was my long shot on the list so I am not surprised that it didn't make the top 1000 list. What I am surprised about is it was in spot #1001! That is one spot away from the top 1000. And it gets even more shocking. Jonathan, the #1000 name in 2016, was given to 202 babies. In 2016, 202 babies were given the name Kaiser. 

The last time Mavis was in the top 1000 was in 1963. Now Mavis is back on the top 1000 at #789. Its nice to see it back on the list. More and more I am noticing vintage names are coming back into style and I am loving it. I do think that even though it is now in the 700s its still a rare name that you might not hear very often. 

Ramona has ranked in the top 1000 at #951 for the first time since 1988. I have to say I would be pretty upset if I did not see Ramona in the top names. Its such a great name with a  vintage charm just like Mavis. I think more and more vintage animus are catching on. It has to be that 100 year rule thing that I have heard other names talk about. 

India and Etta did not make the list. Talk about a coincidence but 262 babies were named India in 2016 and the same amount in 2015! The worst part about this year is that India was #1001 and missed the top 100 by 1 spot! It was given to just one less baby than the #1000 name Meilani. 

In 2016 Etta was given to 256 babies. That is up since the year before. There were only 242 babies named Etta in 2015. It ranked at #1026, an increase of 53 spots. I can imagine it making its way up into the top 1000 next year for sure. I'm pretty upset that Etta hasn't caught on yet. Its such  great name. 

I feel like I did really well getting 50% of my predictions right. Kaiser and India were so close to making the top 1000 list! One spot you guys! I am actually excited to make this a yearly thing and can't wait to make predictions next year. 

Name Game: Alliteration Names

My goal is to post some kind of name game every month. In that goal, I would like to have something that is different and fun. At times they may be long games or they may be short. This month I pulled a little inspiration from the national crazy holidays. A few days ago it was National Repeat Day so I was inspired to do an alliteration name game. For those of you who don't know that means that the first name and the middle name begin with he same letter. I will have my list below but I want to hear about your list! What would you name 26 girls and boys with alliteration names?

Atlas Abraham and Adelaide Ashby 

Basil Benedict and Blair Brigitta 

Corbett Charleston and Chapel Colette 

Dilinger Dash and  Daphne Dove 

Esmond Elk and Eira Eleanora 

Fox Fitzgerald and Faye Florentine 

Gatsby George and Georgia Grey 

Henry Hawkins and Havanna Hail 

Ichabod Iago and Imogen Iridessa 

Jameson Job and Jetta Jubilee 

Kavanaugh Kit and Keturah Knightley 

Leander Lars and Lavender Louella 

Montgomery Merrick and  Maisie Monroe 

Noam Nicolai and Nella Nicolette  

Oilver Orson and Octavia Opal 

Peregrine Parks and Prairie Penelope   

Quest Quincy and Quarry Quinn 

Rafferty Rhodes and Rosemary Rafaela 

Shepherd Steele and Sally Snow 

Thatcher Tennyson and Temple Theodora 

Urban Ulysses and Uma Unity

Vincenzo Voss and Valley Valora 

Wilder Willoughby and Winslet Waverly

Xylon Xavier and Xenia Xanthe 

Yohan Yates and Yarden Yesenia 

Zebediah Zane and Zeppelin Zelda 

Not all of the names on this list are my favorite. My goal was to try and make combos that sounds nice together. It was so fun to not focus on my favorite names. Do you have any favorite combos from the above? What would your answers be? 

2016 Comeback Kids

I thought long and hard about what posts I wanted to put up about the changes in popularity and such for the 2016 SSA list. I decided I wanted to focus on the comeback kids because I don't see them floating around a lot. Every year when the new SSA name list comes out I like to take a look and see what names have made their way back onto the list. These are names that were in the top 1000 any year before but were not in the top 1000 in 2015. That means that they can be of the charts for one year or 10 years.

Eliezer #997

Last Ranked in 2014 (#865)

Maddux #984

Last Ranked in 2014 (#992)

Konner #972

Last Ranked in 2014 (#920)

Foster #965

Last Ranked in 2014 (#991)

Brayson #957

Last Ranked in 2014 (#978)

Jair #938

Last Ranked in 2014 (#993)

Ramiro #933

Last Ranked in 2014 (#888)

Jericho #932

Last Ranked in 2014 (#950)

Tristian #930

Last Ranked in 2014 (#874)

Khalid #909

Last Ranked in 2014 (#959)

Howard #900

Last Ranked in 2014 (#988)

Bridger #859

Last Ranked in 2014 (#985)

Jamar #990

Last Ranked in 2013 (#904)

Krish #983

Last Ranked in 2013 (#885)

Brysen #872

Last Ranked in 2013 (#951)

Ralph #992

Last Ranked in 2011 (#954)

Keanu #971

Last Ranked in 2005 (#974)

Koda #927

Last Ranked in 2004 (#935)

Hakeem #905

Last Ranked in 1998 (#788)

Lyle #981

Last Ranked in 1995 (#927)

Westley #912

Last Ranked in 1994 (#971)

Ira #950

Last Ranked in 1992 (#946)

Leif #969

Last Ranked in 1987 (#957)

Harris #967

Last Ranked in 1988 (#972)

Gus #999

Last Ranked in 1978 (#994)

Karim #906 

Last Ranked in 1978 (#879)

Creed #982

Last Ranked in 1910 (#942)

Antonia #993

Last Ranked in 2014 (#975)

Riya #977

Last Ranked in 2014 (#966)

Anniston #976

Last Ranked in 2014 (#905)

Aubri #972

Last Ranked in 2014 (#832)

Rosalyn #960

Last Ranked in 2014 (#985)

Alyvia #923

Last Ranked in 2014 (#920)

Mercy #791

Last Ranked in 2014 (#935)

Ayana #973

Last Ranked in 2013 (#962)

Rayne #941

Last Ranked in 2013 (#934)

Alianna #998

Last Ranked in 2011 (#973)

Maren #936

Last Ranked in 2008 (#964)

Jana #917

Last Ranked in 2005 (#970)

Chandler #995

Last Ranked in 2002 (#986)

Maxine #904

Last Ranked in 1996 (#984)

Ramona #951

Last Ranked in 1988 (#876)

Davina #975

Last Ranked in 1987 (#970)

Mavis #789

Last Ranked in 1963 (#946)

Vada #902

Last Ranked in 1946 (#985)

Emmie #908

Last Ranked in 1935 (#986)

Belle #933

Last Ranked in 1934 (#975)

All of the names are ordered from least amount of time spent off the SSA top 1000 list to most about of time spent off the SSA top 1000 list. You will find that the names who spent only a year off the list first.

Some interesting things about the lists above include The boys name Creed. It has not been in the top 1000 since 1910! Can you believe its been 106 years the name ranked?! And the best part is it has only ranked in those 2 years. Now I am wondering what could have made the name rank in both these years and so far apart.

Creed isn't the only name to rank in just two separate years. Names on the above list that fit into that category include Koda, Brayson, Anniston, and Alianna.

I noticed what seems to be a little trend going on at the bottom of the SSA chart. Vintage girl names are popping up after years of being off the list. Names like Emmie, Belle Vada, and Mavis all haven't ranked since the 1930s and 1940s.

2016 SSA List!

I am finally getting a chance to take a look at the new SSA name list! It been crazy few weeks around here and I'm sad that it's taken me this long to look at it. Its been almost a month since it came out! Right now I am debuting if I want to make any posts around the list. In the post I have but they have all been done within days of the release date. Any posts that I publish would just be dated that you have already seen or have access to. Anyway I wanted to take a loot at the top 10 list right now and then I will decide if I am going to publish anything else.

Boys

1. Noah
2. Liam
3. William +2 
4. Mason -1
5. James +2
6. Benjamin +4
7. Jacob -3
8. Michael +1 
9. Elijah +2
10. Ethan  -4

Girls 

1. Emma
2. Olivia
3. Ava +1
4. Sophia -1
5. Isabella
6. Mia
7. Charlotte +2
8. Abigail -1
9. Emily -1
10. Harper 

Elijah is the only new name to the top 10 list. Because Elijah moved up that means that a name had to move down. Alexander is no longer in the top 10 and moved down to #11. 

Noah has been #1 for since 2013 (4 years) and has been on the top 10 since 2009 (8 years). Emma has been #1 since 2014 (3 years) and in the top 10 since 2002 (15 years!). 

The top 10 list doesn't surprise my very much. I never expect any huge changes with the list. The only year I feel as if I was surprised was when Charlotte made her way onto the top 10 in 2014.

If you have any input into whether I should do my usual new SSA blog posts let me know below!