What Does 'Change' Mean? Part 1

So, as you probably already know, the SSA has posted the list of all baby names given last year! This year, they've added something new--a list of the biggest losers & risers from the top 500. Pretty cool, but what does it mean? Well, for starters, names that have jumped quite a bit are likely to be the next cool trend. It's no surprise that the top "jumpers" include Brantley, Zaiden, & Camden for boys, and Briella, Mila, & Raelynn for girls (Iker, Atticus, Angelique, & June were pleasant surprises, though). But, as previously stated, this list only includes names that were in the top 500 either in 2011 or 2010. Trendy names for the next few years are already starting their stellar climbs, if we only look a bit lower on the list.

So, determined to find the biggest jumpers overall, I played with spreadsheets....and came up with some less-than-helpful data. Thaily, for instance, jumped over 14000 spots. While moving from rank 16732 to 2120 is indeed impressive, does that really matter? Are we likely to see an onslaught of Thailys? I doubt it. So, for my data purists--the 10 girls' names that made the largest jumps in ranking:

1. Thaily, +14611 (#16732 --> 2120)
2. Jaeliana, +13225 (#18007 --> 4781)
3. Yizel, +12612 (#19673 --> 7061)
4. Lylia, +12338 (#18663 --> 6325)
5. Lior, +12273 (#18624 --> 6351)
6. Shanik, +12261 (#19325 --> 7063)
7. Yorley, +11992 (#14854 --> 2862)
8. Talon, +11957 (#19472 --> 7571)
9. Kristell, +11691 (#18480 --> 6789)
10. Xiana +11511 (#19618 --> 8107)

Like I said, not the most helpful list, especially since nearly all of these were given to only 5 girls in 2010, the smallest number the SSA reports. If I limit it to only names ranking 2500 or above in 2010, the names actually start to get recognizable:

1. Milania, +820 (#1634 --> 814)
2. Aliyana, +780 (#2215 --> 1435)
3. Anyla, +749 (#2462 --> 1713)
4. Kynleigh, +730 (#2343 --> 1613)
5. Ariadne, +720 (#2052 --> 1332)
6. Bryce, +640 (#2415 --> 1775)
7. Kendyll, +634 (#2447 --> 1813)
8. Vada, +627 (#2104 --> 1477)
9. Elodie, +616 (#2468 --> 1852)
10. Kinzley, +599 (#2427 --> 1828)
11. Taylin, +586 (#1765 --> 1179)
12. Symphony, +585 (#2229 --> 1644)
13. Monroe, +584 (#2124 --> 1540)
14. Lennon, +578 (#2369 --> 1791)
15. Brynleigh, +571 (#2440 --> 1869)
16. Samaya, +565 (#1731 --> 1166)
17. Calliope, +562 (#2218 --> 1656)
18. Alianna, +553 (#1533 --> 980)
19. Izel, + 528 (#2401 --> 1873)
20. Maryah, +526 (#2346 --> 1820)

Still, most of these names are a far cry from the top 1000, let alone the top 100. Now I'll limit it to names with a good chance of jumping into common use--from rank 1500 & above:

1. Hattie, +450 (#1444 --> 994)
2. Avianna, +420 (#1252 --> 832)
3. Aviana, +417 (#1181 --> 764)
4. Briella, +394 (#891 --> 497)
5. Aubriana, +394 (#1471 --> 1077)
6. Tinley, +384 (#1319--> 935)
7. Milani, +384 (#1410 --> 1026)
8. Ellianna, +355 (#1472 --> 1117)
9. Aubrianna, +354 (#1221 --> 867)
10. Aubri, +345 (#1255 --> 910)
11. Bryn, +336 (#1081 --> 745) 
12. Everly, +327 (#1432 --> 1105)
13. Aubrielle, +305 (#1477 --> 1172)
14. Gwyneth, +299 (#1277 --> 978)
15. Renata, +283 (#1040 --> 757)
16. Adele, +282 (#909 --> 627)
17. Liv, +282 (#1235 --> 953)
18. Maite, +282 (#1299 --> 1017)
19. Elliot, +271 (#1146 --> 875)
20. Keily, +271 (#1278 --> 1007)

The most noticeable trend in this list--Aubri-names! Oh, my goodness. Could they be the next "big thing"?

(Boys' list here! And a percentage-jump analysis coming soon. )