100 Years Later and Still Rocking the Top 100 {1918/2018}

A few years ago I did a blog post where I looked at the top 100 names from 100 years ago. I decided to do that post again. What names stuck around or came back to thew top 100 after 100 years? It's an interesting list. Most of the names I expected but there are some names that I was a little surprised about. Read below to find out what names are popular again 100 years later. 

Andrew

2018: #43

1918: #46

Anthony

2018: #38

1918: #39

Benjamin

2018: #6

1918: #79

Charles

2018: #52

1918: #5

Daniel

2018: #15

1918: #52

David

2018: #22

1918: #28

Everett

2018: #95

1918: #93

Henry

2018: #16

1918: #16

Jack

2018: #28

1918: #21

James

2018: #4

1918: #3

John

2018: #27

1918: #1

Joseph

2018: #23

1918:  #7

Leo

2018: #50

1918: #48

Michael

2018: #14

1918: #45

Robert

2018: #71

1918: #4

Samuel

2018: #21

1918: #43

Theodore

2018: #44

1918: #64

William

2018: #3

1918: #2

Alice

2018: #71

1918: #13

Anna

2018: #54

1918: #10

Charlotte

2018: #6

1918: #78

Eleanor

2018: #32

1918: #26

Elizabeth

2018: #13

1918: #9

Ella

2018: #15

1918: #84

Emma

2018: #1

1918: #46

Eva

2018: #75

1918: #55

Evelyn

2018: #10

1918: #11

Grace

2018: #24

1918: #31

Hazel 

2018: #42

1918: #33

Josephine 

2018: #91

1918: #24

Julia

2018: #93

1918: #48

Lillian

2018: #34

1918: #15

Lucy

2018: #51

1918: #90

Ruby

2018: #74

1918: #27

Sarah

2018: #67

1918: #52

Stella

2018: #38

1918: #67

Violet

2018: #43

1918: #83

Vivian

2018: #96

1918: #72

Sweet Spot Boy Names {2018}

Sweet spot names are names that rank in the middle of the top 1000 names. They are names that are not too popular and not too uncommon. Often times they are names that you have heard before but rarely, if ever, hear the name in person. I did the girls posts a few weeks ago so here is the boys version!

Dexter (#476)- One Who Dyes; English
Dexter has that "X" factor element. It is a name used in pop culture most notorious for the Showtime show by the same name. Some people may say that bad association turns them away from Dexter but there are a number of other better associations such as Dexter from the DC comic or Dexter from the tv show Dexter's Laboratory.

Rocco (#481)- Rest; German
Boy names ending in O are something I think more and more people are loving. Theres a special feel to them. It has the cool nicknames like Rocky and Rock. Give the nickname Rock and you have a nature name on your hand!

Davis (#507)- Beloved; English
This name has 2 factors I see in the name world a lot; ends in -S and is a surname turned first name. It is a nice, modern alternative to David. It was used in the popular tv show One Tree Hill as a first ahem after the character's maiden name.

Apollo (#517)- Strength; Greek
Apollo has a similar feel to Rocco; a 2 syllable name ending in -O. Most famous for the space mission that put the first man on the moon. The name is also the name of Zeus and god of medicine, music, and poetry. The name has a lot of history and depth to it.

Wilder (523)- Untamed; English
The name didn't enter the top 1000 until 2015 and has already made it into the 500s. The name is on the list for fast rising boy names. The name is more familiar as a surname for some famous people such as Laura Ingalls Wilder and Douglas Wilder. I guess you could say this is also a surname name.

Conrad (#543)- Brave Counsel; German
Conrad has been around for many years even appearing on the top 1000 charts for the 1920s and 1930s. The famous Hilton hotel was founded by Conrad Hilton. The name is also geared by saints. German royalty.

Callum (#557)- Dove; Scottish
Scottish names are not overly popular but there are some great ones to like and Callum is one of them. The name is symbolic of peace and comfort. It can double as a christian name for its meaning. What I love about the name is that it doesn't sound like a lot of the other boy names out there.



Forrest (#571)- Forest; English
The increase in popular to the name can be thanks to the movie Forrest Gump in the 1990s. It started out as a surname and has moved to first name status. The name has been on a roller coaster of popularity since 1910s. It seems to be coming back to style because of its nature, word feel.

Sweet Spot Girl Names {2018}

A sweet spot name is a name ranking right in the middle of the top 1000 names somewhere from the mid-400s to the mid-500s. Names that are not too popular and not too unique. They re perfect for parents wanting a happy medium. I took a look at the sweet spot names for the 2018 SSA name list and picked out my favorites.

Matilda (#489)- Strength in Battle; German
A sweet and vintage name, Matilda has a ton to love about her. To start you have a nice list of nicknames; Tilly, Mattie, Tilda, and Millie. She is the name of a classic children's literary character. The name is popular over in England at #31 and if you know anything about the baby naming world you know that Americans are always "stealing" the names from the British.

Hattie (#495)- Estate Ruler; English
Many years ago, in the 1880s, Hattie was in the top 50 making this a vintage beauty. Now the name sits down low on the charts after reentering the charts in 2011. The name originated as a nickname for Harriet but is perfect on its own. Hattie McDermont is a famous Hattie for her role in Gone With the Wind. 

Maisie (#498)- Pearl; Scottish
A vintage favorite that has been around for at least a 100 years, Maisie is too sweet not to love. She started out as a nickname for Margaret and has evolved into a name on her own. In recent times the name has been greatly associated with Game of Thrones for fellow actress Maisie Williams.

Leona (#511)- Lion; English and German
Leona is like the less popular but still beautiful sister of Leah and Fiona. British singer Leona Lewis is a namesake for her beautiful music. The name is perfect if you want something with a strong meaning or if you are an animal lover.

Collins (#514)- Son of Colin; Irish
In 2009 Collins was made popular from the movie Blind Side based on a true story. It is a surname name and fits with the ongoing trends. Although it is a unisex name the name is more popular for girls than it is for boys. The name can be an alternative or honoring name to Nicolas and Nicole.

Lilith (#521)- Of the Night;  Assyrian
Lilith makes a nice alternative to Lily and Lilian while being less popular. At the same time you can still use the nickname Lily. Adam's first wife was named Lilith and sent from the Garden of Eve because she would not submit to him. Their children are the evil spirits of the world. That may be a turn off for some people but I think the name is still beautiful.

Colette (#533)- Victory of the People; French
Beautiful and French, Colette is being rediscovered by parents everywhere. She fits in with other -ette ending names such as Juliet and Margaret. Since reentering the top 1000 in 2012 the name has been on the climb up. Although I imagine it still being a while before it because super popular.

Sutton (#538)- South Town; English
Sutton is a southern belle as well as a unisex surname and a place name. You can find multiple neighborhoods called Sutton in England. Most of the time the names I associate with England are vintage nicknames but I think Sutton also screams England (whether you take in part the neighborhood names). The most recent name sake of Sutton is from the ABC family show, The Lying Game. 

2018 Comeback Kids

We took a look at the names that are brand new to the top 1000 so now let's look at names that are making a comeback to the list. Some of these names have only been off the list for a year while others have been off the charts for up to 70+ years! The list is very interesting to say the least. Read on to see the comeback kids. 

Gus #994

Last Ranked in 1978 (#994)

Archie #992 

Last Ranked in 1988 (#889)

Immanuel #989 

Last Ranked in 2016 (#973)

Deangelo #983

Last Ranked in 2015 (#977)

Benedict #981

Last Ranked in 1968 (#971)

Forest #973

Last Ranked in 1995 (#749)

Justus #972

Last Ranked in 2016 (#918)

Ahmir #965

Last Ranked in 2016 (#946)

Creed #962

Last Ranked in 2016 (#985)

Marcellus #961

Last Ranked in 1987 (#986)

Jericho #959

Last Ranked in 2016 (#925)

Ralph #951

Last Ranked in 2016 (#998)

Boden #949

Last Ranked in 2015 (#980)

Yael #932

Last Ranked in 2014 (#913)

Bode #920

Last Ranked in 2016 (#1000)

Deshawn #919

Last Ranked in 2015 (#999)

Turner #896

Last Ranked in 2016 (#917)

Benicio #880

Last Ranked in 2016 (#977)

Wallace #879

Last Ranked in 1993 (#992)

Kylo #865

Last Ranked in 2016 (#905)

Kamdyn #799

Last Ranked in 2016 (#812)

Mordechai #792

Last Ranked in 2012 (#998)

Watson #711

Last Ranked in 1941 (#959)

Whitley #997

Last Ranked in 1993 (#926)

Azaria #990

Last Ranked in 2016 (#983)

Valery #989

Last Ranked in 2009 (#997)

Giavanna #987

Last Ranked in 2015 (#987)

Ann #983

Last Ranked in 2016 (#993)

Zora #982

Last Ranked in 1939 (#959)

Robin #974

Last Ranked in 2004 (#954)

Margo #972

Last Ranked in 1989 (#992)

Wendy #969

Last Ranked in 2016 (#857)

Arden #967

Last Ranked in 2016 (#973)

Violeta #965

Last Ranked in 1985 (#968)

Queen #959

Last Ranked in 1959 (#877)

Zola #956

Last Ranked in 1941 (#918)

Dani #945

Last Ranked in 1958 (#864)

Marisol #939

Last Ranked in 2016 (#940)

Saniyah #933

Last Ranked in 2015 (#931)

Alisson #909

Last Ranked in 2015 (#914)

Aislinn #886

Last Ranked in 2016 (#967)

Alianna #878

Last Ranked in 2016 (#996)

Della #861

Last Ranked in 1977 (#832)

Anais #848

Last Ranked in 2017 (#905)

Rosalee #842

Last Ranked in 1951 (#815)

Kamilah #810

Last Ranked in 1977 (#856)

Meghan #703

Last Ranked in 2012 (#883)

Names that spent the most time off the list:

• Zora was off the charts for 79 years!
• Watson was off the charts for 71 years!

A few of the names were only ranked this year and the last time they were on the list. Those were Ahmir, Benicio, and Kylo for boys. As for girls it was Violeta and Kamilah. 

It's always interesting to see what names have been off the chart and for how long. It makes me think about the reasons the names are back. Do you have any guesses? 

2018 Newbies

One of my favorite things to do when the new Social Security Administration name list comes out is look to see what names are new to the top 1000 for the first time ever. That means that they have never ranked in the top 1000 since the list stated in 1880. It sounds hard to believe but there are tons and tons of names out there and so many they are undiscovered. 

Below you will find each name along with the spot they ranked in 2018 and then in parenthesis how many spots they moved in one year. 

1. Korbyn #996 (+135 spots)
2. Kabir #995 (+147)
3. Lian #990 (+44)
4. Harlem #985 (+119)
5. Genesis #984 (+608, Name with greatest increase) 
6. Bowie #982 (+207)
7. Torin #980 (+106)
8. Jesiah #979 (+31)
9. Zev #975 (+67)
10. Idris #956 (+91)
11. Aries #947 (+154)
12. Krew #941 (+177)
13. Karsyn #940 (+259)
14. Elon #939 (+118)
15. Imran #931 (+124)
16. Dakari #910 (+263)
17. Zakai #903 (+171)
18. Kenzo #873 (+303)
19. Onyx #867  (+191)
20. Saint #859 (+438)
21. Jaxtyn #771 (+296)
22. Baker #712 (+431)

1. Elina #998 (+175 spots)
2. Austyn #996 (+171)
3. Keilani #995 (+257)
4. Emmarie #991 (#26)
5. Novah #981 (+316)
6. Waverly #977 (+39)
7. Scout #979 (+44)
8. Jenesis #966 (+121)
9. Bellamy #962 (+71)
10. Ezra #958 (+225)
11. Kataleya #943 (+166)
12. Berkley #942 (+226)
13. Alora #923 (+80)
14. Promise #908 (+159)
15. Brynleigh #906 (+180)
16. August #905 (+103)
17. Arlette #892 (+189)
18. Kamiyah #889 (+152)
19. Journi #881 (+243)
20. Zhavia #871 Not given to more than 5 babies ever 
21. Adalee #855 (+370)
22. Keily #826 (+320)
23. Dior #792 (#566)
24. Amaia #768 (+258)
25. Haisley #765 (+343)
26. Palmer #679 (+364)

2018 Top 100

Many people say the top 100 are too popular for them. When you think about it, how many of the top 100 names do you know on babies or someone older? I can say that I have not personally met many people with the top 100 names and if I have they are few and far between. So I say give the top 100 a chance!

Each year I take a look at the top 100 to see what names have entered and what names have left. This year I am also going to be looking at some of the biggest risers in the top 100. 

To my surprise only 3 boy names entered the top 100 this year. Normally there are at least 5 names. Looking at the other all top 1000 not a whole ton of names entered or moved. Everett is was in my 5 name predictions for new names to the top 100 and Axel with in the honorable mentions. Miles should have been in the top 100 a few years ago so its nice to see it there now. Many parents out there like the -ett ending names and Everett fits the bill. 

The girls had more names enter the top 100 than the boys. Sophie fits just right in the top 100 along side her sister names Sophia and Sofia. Last year E girl names were heavy so I am not surprised Emery made the top 100. The name is also similar to other Em- names in the top 100 like Emma, Emily, and Emilia. Last year and this year I predictions that Josephine, Ivy, and Isla would make the top 100 names and this year they did in fact make it. Josephine is a classic name and is Ivy but Ivy has a little bit more of a modern feel to it. Isla is exotic without being exotic. 

Because names entered the top 100 some names had to fall off down the list. Here are the names that dropped. 

Chase  #94 --> #112

Gavin #96 --> #111

Ayden #99 --> #109

Mackenzie #100 --> #106

Reagan #98 --> #107

Clara #96 --> #103

Isabelle #92 --> #113

Melanie #09 --> #105

Peyton #89 --> #101

Aubree #86 --> #110 

The boy names that left the top 100 do not surprise me. It seems we are having the fall of the Aidens. The numbers are showing a slow decline overall. As fort he girls I am surprised some of the names have fallen off the list. Isabelle had just made it onto the top 100 last year and is now off the list. Clara seems like a classic and a fit fort he top 100. As for the others I can see the decline in the names. We are currently in a  shift of style as the parents naming their babies are slowly coming from a younger generation. 

This year I also want to take a look at the biggest raisers in the top 100. Some of the names are on the list are names that have been in the top 100 while a few have just entered but made a big leap. 

1. Isaac (#34) +34 spots 

2. Theodore (#44) +18 spots 

3. Carson (#70) +13 spots 

4. Asher (#47), Maverick (#73), Santiago (#81), Miles (#98) +12 spots each 

5. Leo (#50), Elias (#67)  +11 spots each 

1. Nova (#56) +39 spots

2. Everly (#53) +29 spots

3. Emery (#92) +23 spots

4. Ivy (#86) +22 spots

5. Isla (#82) +21 spots

2018 SSA List!

It's the best day in the naming world. The new SSA most popular name list is out! Sadly I worked a 12 hours shift so I am just now getting the chance to sit down and really look over the name list at near 1030 at night. Granted I did some sister-cousin bounding time right after work but still! I will still be posting my normal yearly posts they will just be a little late this year. But keep your eyes peeled for them this weekend!

Let's spend this time looking at the top 10 names for 2018! 

1. Liam

2. Noah

3. William

4. James 

5. Oliver +4

6. Benjamin 

7. Elijah +1

8. Lucas +3

9. Mason -2

10. Logan -5

1. Emma

2. Olivia

3. Ava

4. Isabella

5. Sophia

6. Charlotte +1

7. Mia -1

8. Amelia

9. Harper +2

10. Evelyn -1 

Compared to last years list there were very few changes to the top 10. Only one name was added for each gender. Lucas replaced Jacob in the top 10 and Harper replaced Abigail. Jacob had been in the top 10 since 1993 and was even #1 for 13 years in the 2000s. Lucas is sitting in the top 10 group for the first time but has been making his steady climb up since 1960s. In 1993 the name popped back into the top 100. 

Abigail entered the top 10 in 2001 and only ever made it as high as #4 for a single year before it floated around close to the bottom of the top 10 list. Harper on the other hand has been making a huge leap towards the top. The name didn't enter the top 1000 until 2004 and made it into the top 100 by 2011. Harper is a repeat offender in the top 10 landing in the #10 spot in 2015 and staying there for 2016 before dropping out again. 

Overall I'm happy with the last but a little shocked we didn't have more movement. I mean the top 5 girl names have not changed! Speaking of the unchanged #1 names here are some fun facts about them. 

Liam 

• Has only been #1 for 2 years
• The name entered the top 10 in 2012 
• The name didn't enter the top 1000 until 1967and has made a semi steady climb up the charts

Emma: 

• Has been #1 for 5 straight years now and was also #1 in 2008
• It first entered the top 10 in 2002 jumping from #13 to #4. Thats 9 whole spots! 
• The name as been around since the start of the top 1000 lists and was in the top 20 for 20 years in the 1900s

So what are your thoughts? Anything you'd like to see?