British vs. American, Part 2 (2017)

Last time, we looked at the "most British" names; this time we're looking at the "most American".

Up first, here are the most popular American names that did not appear on the full UK lists at all.
(FTR, the list of names that were used in America but not the UK was approximately 2.5x as long as the names used in both. I'm sure population size contributes to that quite a bit, but still, wow)

Boys:

1. Waylon
2. Brantley
3. Barrett
4. Legend
5. Beckham
6. Jayceon
7. Garrett
8. Abram
9. Jamison
10. Trenton
11. Gerardo
12. Brycen
13. Landyn
14. Emmitt
15. Ryland
16. Cannon
17. Sincere
18. Alfredo
19. Case
20. Briggs

Girls:

1. Ximena
2. Raelynn
3. Jordyn
4. Londyn
5. Brynlee
6. Emersyn
7. Daleyza
8. Journee
9. Journey
10. Brynn
11. Makenzie
12. Raelyn
13. Brinley
14. Kylee
15. Gracelynn
16. Braelynn
17. Kamryn
18. Yaretzi
19. Jimena
20. Ryan

Yes, these are all very American. :p That's not necessarily bad, of course, but I would certainly be surprised to come across a Brit with any name on this list.
To tone down a bit, here are the most American names that were used in the UK last year.

Boys:

1. Jesus
2. Paxton
3. Emiliano
4. Weston
5. Lane
6. Everett
7. Walker
8. Josue
9. Landon
10. Tucker
11. Kingston
12. Brooks
13. Easton
14. Nash
15. Landen
16. Collin
17. Gunner
18. Rhett
19. Angel
20. Sawyer

Girls:

1. Kinsley
2. Emery
3. Allison
4. London
5. Kinley
6. Makenna
7. Finley
8. Genesis
9. Alondra
10. Emerson
11. Magnolia
12. Camryn
13. Fernanda
14. Camila
15. Tatum
16. Madilyn
17. Sawyer
18. Selah
19. Ainsley
20. Leighton

Bwahahaha, the surname/unisex trend is creeping its way across the pond. And America's getting the UK's vintage-y nicknames. I definitely think we're getting the better end of that deal, sorry. :p

On to the most "American" names from the British Top 1000!

Boys:

1. Bryson
2. Jose
3. Colton
4. Jameson
5. Silas
6. Ryker
7. Carlos
8. Ian
9. Nolan
10. Braxton
11. Alejandro
12. Wesley
13. Maverick
14. Zayden
15. Brayden
16. August
17. Mateo
18. Jayce
19. Emmett
20. Griffin

Girls:

1. Avery
2. Claire
3. Zoey
4. Madelyn
5. Serenity
6. Rylee
7. Addison
8. Brooklyn
9. Ashley
10. Trinity
11. Kimberly
12. Melanie
13. Bailey
14. Alaina
15. Samantha
16. Mariah
17. Jocelyn
18. Natalie
19. Stella
20. Fiona

Really, the boys' list doesn't surprise me all that much because the UK seems to have mostly side-stepped the surname-craze we Americans so enthusiastically embraced. The girls' list, however--Claire, Madelyn, Samantha, Jocelyn, Stella, Fiona....perhaps the US is a bit late to the party on those?

Up to now, we've been looking at differences. But what about names we all like? Here are the names given to roughly same % of kids in both the US and the UK (from about the Top 1500 for each).

Boys:

1. Cory
2. Enzo
3. Hakeem
4. Curtis
5. Rafael
6. Denzel
7. Myles
8. Oren
9. Tate
10. Kenny
11. Harper
12. Tyler
13. Eliot
14. Anton
15. Phoenix
16. Carlo
17. Peter
18. Hector
19. Jarvis
20. Dylan

Girls:

1. Dalia
2. Tegan
3. Mylah
4. Siena
5. Aanya
6. Noa
7. Alexandra
8. Ariella
9. Isabella
10. Adela
11. Elora
12. Katerina
13. Sasha
14. Persephone
15. Larissa
16. Saanvi
17. Everley
18. Nylah
19. Scarlet
20. Lisa

Noa! Harper! Katerina! Myles! Peter! Persephone! I think these are pretty great lists. :) Interesting how Isabella is the only popular name to be used about equally in both the US and the UK. 

Warning: pedantic stats talk! The most popular names in the UK are more common than the most popular names in the US--the #1 girls' name in the UK, Olivia, was given to ≈1.6% of British girls least year; while the #1 name in the US, Emma, was given to ≈1% of American girls. The percentages decrease at roughly the same rate from there, not meeting until #186 on both charts--Lucia in the US, Maggie in the UK--at which point the American name is then more common than its UK counterpart of the same rank. While the same phenomenon also happens on the boys' charts, the switch happens much closer to the top, at #58--Landon, US; Albie, UK.
This is why if you were to look up the rankings of the "equally-liked" names above, they would not likely be very similar. 

British vs. American, Part 1 (2017)

Yay, it's that time again! Time to see how the British and American naming trends are the same, and where they differ. :)

First up, here are the most popular names in the UK (specifically England & Wales) that do not appear on the full US lists at all.

Boys:

1. Teddie
2. Ralphie
3. Bertie
4. Harri
5. Dougie
6. Oliwier
7. Albi
8. Ioan
9. Barney
10. Wiktor
11. Ralphy
12. Tomos
13. Hughie
14. Georgie
15. Frazer
16. Gethin
17. Rares
18. Tymoteusz
19. Matas
20. Kajus

(off to Google Rares. That's a completely new one for me!)

Girls:

1. Amelia-Rose
2. Isla-Rose
3. Ella-Rose
4. Lily-Rose
5. Ava-Rose
6. Ffion
7. Jorgie
8. Olivia-Rose
9. Ivy-Rose
10. Lily-Mae
11. Ava-Grace
12. Evie-Rose
13. Mia-Rose
14. Gracie-Mae
15. Lilly-Rose
16. Ellie-Mae
17. Bella-Rose
18. Dolcie
19. Fearne
20. Wiktoria

Oh, hyphens. Sometimes I wish we could use them in the US; other times I think our current naming culture is complex enough. :p

Removing the hyphenated names (which would either show up as smash-names or first-and-middle in the US):

1. Ffion
2. Jorgie
3. Dolcie
4. Fearne
5. Wiktoria
6. Orlaith
7. Eadie
8. Hettie
9. Bethan
10. Esmai
11. Iga
12. Dotty
13. Lowri
14. Harriette
15. Cadi
16. Efa
17. Nancie
18. Bluebell
19. Hawwa
20. Anwen

All of these would definitely stand out here in the US! Just a bit "too British", though? Here are the most British names that did get used in the US last year.

Boys:

1. Alfie
2. Albie
3. Freddie
4. Vinnie
5. Reggie
6. Nikodem
7. Barnaby
8. Woody
9. Olly
10. Matei
11. Fraser
12. Szymon
13. Rafferty
14. Archie
15. Teddy
16. Rupert
17. Osian
18. Wilfred
19. Ned
20. Piotr

Girls:

1. Darcie
2. Orla
3. Darcey
4. Oliwia
5. Cerys
6. Poppie
7. Alicja
8. Niamh
9. Zuzanna
10. Fleur
11. Marnie
12. Isobelle
13. Harriett
14. Lottie
15. Blanka
16. Nikola
17. Ferne
18. Kitty
19. Martyna
20. Miruna

Such fantastic names! Obviously there's a much bigger Eastern European influence in the UK; in the US we'll see a lot more Spanish. 

If these lists are still just a bit too "out there" for you, here are the names proportionately much more common in the UK, from the US Top 1000.

Boys:

1. Harry
2. Louie
3. Reuben
4. Toby
5. Frankie
6. Mohammed
7. Muhammad
8. Ronnie
9. Bobby
10. Harley
11. Tommy
12. Stanley
13. Alfred
14. Theo
15. Charlie
16. Arthur
17. Sonny
18. Oscar
19. Jamie
20. Billy

Girls:

1. Florence
2. Poppy
3. Rosie
4. Matilda
5. Nancy
6. Esme
7. Evie
8. Phoebe
9. Martha
10. Maisie
11. Freya
12. Amelie
13. Jessica
14. Holly
15. Elsie
16. Millie
17. Erin
18. Sienna
19. Bonnie
20. Frankie

I'd say that the UK is waaaay more into the -y/ie names than the US, but we've got all those -ley/lee/leigh names right now.  It's interesting how similar phonetic trends can still have such a stylistic difference. 

BTW, as to Rares, the closest I could find is Rareș, a Romanian name said roughly "RAH-resh". I like it!

Next time: the most American names! I'm always a bit scared for those lists. :p

The 90s Called.....(Part 2)

Time for another round of childhood nostalgia, this time looking at names that have changed gender.

First up, the names (from 2017's Top 1500) that have changed most strongly from masculine to feminine:

1. Emerson
2. Monroe
3. Collins
4. Reese
5. Finley
6. Landry
7. Leighton
8. Hensley
9. Kairi
10. Henley
11. Charlie
12. Quinn
13. Arya
14. Dakota
15. Justice
16. Lennon
17. Palmer
18. Skyler
19. Briar
20. Riley

This isn't in order of popularity, but in order of biggest gender-swap. Emerson, for instance, went from a ratio of 114 boys for every girl to about 3 girls to every 2 boys; Reese from 18 boys per girl to 5 girls per boy; Briar from 3 boys per girl to 2 girls per boy.

[all of my calculations are based on changes in percentages, which weights the results toward more popular names. So above, Hensley goes from 6 boys/girl to 26 girls/boy, which seems to be a much larger shift than Leighton, which goes from 7 boys/girl to 3 girls/boy. However, Leighton, given to 115 boys in 1992, was much more popular than Hensley, which was only given to 8]

Next, the names that have made the largest shifts from boy --> unisex (but are still more common on boys):

1. Reece
2. Dylan
3. Ryan
4. Elliot
5. Elliott
6. Kingsley
7. Spencer
8. Blake
9. Parker
10. Cameron
11. Baylor
12. Rylan
13. Quincy
14. Drew
15. Lennox
16. Sawyer
17. Hayden
18. Remington
19. Karter
20. Denver

Reece had the largest change of any name, going from 206 boys per girl to only 3 boys per girl. Ryan, easily the most common of these names in 1992, dropped from 68 boys per girl to 9 boys per girl. 

While there are a lot fewer of them (and they were all a lot less common to start with), there are quite a few names that went from feminine --> masculine. Here are the ones that shifted most:

1. Yael
2. Kallen
3. Ayan
4. Santana
5. Brecken
6. Joan
7. Kyrie
8. Kyrin
9. Karsen
10. Tristin
11. Carsen
12. Lian
13. Elisha
14. Amari
15. Callan
16. Onyx
17. Mikah
18. Kamari
19. Jensen
20. Ashton

The biggest girl-to-boy shift, Yael, given to 61 girls in 1992 and not on the boys' list at all, was given to 197 boys and 116 girls last year. Elisha (presumably seen more as an Alicia knockoff in 1992, not a Biblical prophet) went neatly from 2 girls per boy to 2 boys per girl. Joan I again assume has gained usage more as a Catalan boys' name than as an "outdated" English girls' name. 

There were also a few girls' names that have made strides toward being unisex (well, again, in most cases):

1. Lyric
2. Karsyn
3. Tatum
4. Kelly
5. Alexis
6. Aspen
7. Ariel
8. Wren
9. Eden
10. Jael
11. Morgan
12. Jamie
13. Robin
14. Shea

Alexis, the most common of these in 1992, has dropped from about 11 girls per boy to about 3 girls per boy (mostly, I assume, to it falling out of fashion as an English girls' name, but remaining popular as a Spanish boys' name). 

Interestingly, Jamie and Robin, both names "stolen" in previous generations, were both about 4x most common for girls in 1992, but are now both more popular by a ratio of only 3 girls for every 2 boys. 

There is hope for reclamation yet. ;)

If you want to see the whole list of gender-shifts, it is here, on Google Sheets. 

The 90s Called....(Part 1)

Time for a bit more time-travel! I thought it'd be fun to see how much naming has changed since the 90s.
First off, here are the names from 1992's Top 1500 that aren't on the full 2017 list at all, with their 1992 rankings (why 1992? because it's exactly 25 years, that's why):

Boys:

• Keifer, #1210
• Tou, #1396
• Naquan, #1417
• Kramer, #1472

Girls:

• Shaniqua, #419
• Brittni, #550
• Kirstie, #558
• Brittanie, #610
• Deidre, #631
• Shanae, #662
• Lakeisha, #700
• Katlin, #715
• Krystle, #782
• Shanika, #804
• Dominque, #806
• Tyesha, #816
• Felisha, #826
• Shanequa, #856
• Brittaney, #864
• Marquita, #874
• Britni, #878
• Cassondra, #878
• Brittny, #885
• Shameka, #1011
• Shanique, #1016
• Martika, #1037
• Shannen, #1037
• Shantell, #1042
• Tanesha, #1042
• Brittnee, #1053
• Lashonda, #1064
• Brittnie, #1072
• Keshia, #1072
• Britny, #1090
• Laquisha, #1109
• Magen, #1138
• Shamika, #1146
• Meranda, #1149
• Shanay, #1149
• Shakiyla, #1169
• Ashlea, #1172
• Tkeyah, #1172
• Chiquita, #1184
• Felecia, #1194
• Laquita, #1207
• Shaquana, #1207
• Shari, #1207
• Tosha, #1207
• Kanisha, #1215
• Myesha, #1215
• Chante, #1223
• Tawny, #1223
• Markita, #1231
• Shakia, #1242
• Ceara, #1247
• Shanise, #1247
• Tameka, #1247
• Magan, #1255
• Shaquita, #1255
• Tiesha, #1260
• Tonisha, #1273
• Phylicia, #1284
• Kenyatta, #1302
• Nicollette, #1311
• Britnee, #1322
• Keosha, #1329
• Lakisha, #1344
• Shaneka, #1344
• Tamra, #1344
• Cassaundra, #1351
• Uniqua, #1357
• Sharonda, #1368
• Tenisha, #1376
• Latesha, #1381
• Ronisha, #1381
• Brittnay, #1391
• Chantell, #1410
• Latia, #1416
• Dannielle, #1433
• Shanee, #1433
• Chelcie, #1442
• Ieshia, #1442
• Kanesha, #1463
• Crysta, #1474
• Lakendra, #1486
• Tanika, #1486
• Meghann, #1500

So, I saw the boys' list was only 4 names, and I had high hopes that the girls' list would be similar in length. Obviously, I was mistaken! Wow. Let's play a fun game called "Count the Brittany Variations". :p
(still not as unmanageable as the 1970s list I did a while back, though)

As to the inverse--here are the highest ranking names in 2017 that don't appear on the full 1992 lists at all, and their 2017 rankings:

Boys:

• Ayden, #99
• Maddox, #136
• Zayden, #189
• Maximus, #200
• Jax, #222
• Legend, #255
• Iker, #280
• Beckham, #284
• Jayceon, #313
• Caiden, #327
• Atlas, #329
• Zayn, #341
• Hendrix, #349
• Jaxton, #370
• Raiden, #400
• Finnegan, #410
• Zaiden, #421
• Ronin, #519
• Kobe, #531
• Aarav, #536

Girls:

• Nevaeh, #77
• Everly, #82
• Adalynn, #116
• Adalyn, #134
• Emerson, #150
• Finley, #159
• Brynlee, #218
• Emersyn, #241
• Daleyza, #245
• Journee, #262
• Amiyah, #266
• Briella, #286
• Adelynn, #306
• Paislee, #311
• Gracelynn, #369
• Addilyn, #376
• Everleigh, #387
• Harlow, #390
• Maliyah, #394
• Yaretzi, #404

I almost didn't put these next lists in because the names are comparatively "boring", but here are the names that have dropped the most in usage since 1992 (by % of babies given that name):

Boys:

1. Michael, -1.95%
2. Christopher, -1.6%
3. Joshua, -1.31%
4. Brandon, -1.23%
5. Matthew, -1.21%
6. Tyler, -1.18%
7. Nicholas, -1.05%
8. Andrew, -1.04%
9. Zachary, -0.99%
10. Justin, -0.97%
11. Ryan, -0.9%
12. Kyle, -0.89%
13. Cody, -0.88%
14. Robert, -0.87%
15. David, -0.84%
16. Joseph, -0.8%
17. Daniel, -0.8%
18. John, -0.77%
19. Kevin, -0.74%
20. Jonathan, -0.69%

Girls:

1. Jessica, -1.85%
2. Ashley, -1.78%
3. Brittany, -1.22%
4. Amanda, -1.2%
5. Sarah, -1.02%
6. Samantha, -0.99%
7. Stephanie, -0.92%
8. Megan, -0.86%
9. Jennifer, -0.83%
10. Chelsea, -0.76%
11. Lauren, -0.75%
12. Nicole, -0.73%
13. Kayla, -0.71%
14. Rachel, -0.71%
15. Danielle, -0.65%
16. Amber, -0.65%
17. Courtney, -0.61%
18. Taylor, -0.6%
19. Rebecca, -0.58%
20. Emily, -0.57%

Yes, the names that have dropped the most by straight usage as opposed to ranking are mostly still pretty common. There are a few reasons for that:

a) There are a lot more names in use today than in 1992,

b) There were fewer babies born last year than in 1992,

and (way more difficult to explain)

c) A name can't lose popularity it never had. The most popular names can decrease by hundreds or even thousands of babies and not drop a single place on the charts, but if the #500 name decreases by 50 births it might drop 50 places or more. 

Next time: gender-shifts. Dun dun duuuunnnn.....

Midwestern Names

Perhaps someday I should redo this entire series, but using the same year's data for all. :p
So far, we have "Southern" names (2014), "Surfer" names (2015), and "Cowboy" names (2016). Today we have Midwestern names (IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI), and I promise I will try to get around to New England names sometime this year. ;)

Up first, here are the "most Midwestern" names (by % of babies given that name) in the Midwestern states' combined Top 1000:

Boys:

• Abdirahman
• Abdullahi
• Brecken
• Jakub
• Henrik
• Huxley
• Kolten
• Crosby
• Otto
• Ayub
• Briggs
• Bo
• Sullivan
• Emmitt
• Zakariya
• Dane
• Leighton
• Amarion
• Hussein
• Gus

So, for clarification, Abdirahman, the "most Midwestern" boys' name, is about 3.5x more common in the Midwest than in the US in general.

Girls:

• Letty
• Greta
• Luella
• Jersey
• Maren
• Vada
• Elsie
• Mara
• Bexley
• Vayda
• Berkley
• Monroe
• Emersyn
• Oaklyn
• Tenley
• Brynlee
• Macy
• Lucille
• Brynn
• Nora

I am pretty surprised to see so many Arabic names on the boys' list. Also interesting that there aren't any on the girls' (Safa comes in at #22). The girls' list is also quite a hodgepodge of styles!

Plenty of these names are still pretty uncommon, so here are the "most Midwestern" names from the midwestern Top 500:

Boys:

• Brecken
• Henrik
• Huxley
• Crosby
• Otto
• Briggs
• Bo
• Sullivan
• Emmitt
• Emmett
• Keaton
• Hank
• Mohamed
• Ahmed
• Reid
• Beckett
• Graham
• Griffin
• Ryker
• Nash

Ah, that's more like what I was expecting.

Girls:

• Greta
• Luella
• Maren
• Elsie
• Mara
• Monroe
• Emersyn
• Oaklyn
• Tenley
• Brynlee
• Macy
• Lucille
• Brynn
• Nora
• Evelynn
• Oakley
• Lainey
• Cecelia
• Gracelynn
• Thea

"Old lady names", unisex surnames, lyns, and lees. That's like the current US naming culture, in microcosm. :p

Finally, down to the most popular names. Here are the names most disproportionately common in the Midwestern states, from their combined Top 100:

Boys:

• Emmett
• Ryker
• Bennett
• Lincoln
• Theodore
• Everett
• Bentley
• Maverick
• Owen
• Henry
• Braxton
• Weston
• Sawyer
• Nolan
• Harrison
• Leo
• Easton
• Parker
• Hudson
• Oliver

Girls:

• Nora
• Quinn
• Lydia
• Vivian
• Norah
• Josephine
• Cora
• Hadley
• Eleanor
• Clara
• Willow
• Piper
• Lillian
• Claire
• Everly
• Harper
• Paisley
• Addison
• Lucy
• Violet

Anyone else think these lists read like those "Hottest Baby Names of 2017!!" articles?  :p

For comparison, here are the Midwestern Top 10 and the National Top 10. 

	Midwestern	National
1.	Liam	Liam
2.	Oliver	Noah
3.	Noah	William
4.	William	James
5.	Henry	Logan
6.	Logan	Benjamin
7.	Benjamin	Mason
8.	Mason	Elijah
9.	James	Oliver
10.	Owen	Jacob

	Midwestern	National
1.	Emma	Emma
2.	Olivia	Olivia
3.	Ava	Ava
4.	Charlotte	Isabella
5.	Amelia	Sophia
6.	Harper	Mia
7.	Evelyn	Charlotte
8.	Sophia	Amelia
9.	Isabella	Evelyn
10.	Nora	Abigail

If you wish to see the entire Midwestern Top 1000, it is up here, on Google Sheets.

And now for the really fun part: the most representative names of each state. These are the names most disproportionately common in that state compared to the US in general (data limited to the top 40% or so of names, since rare names confuse things). 

IL: Jakub, Maddon, Addison, Syed, Dakari (boys); Aleksandra, Nell, Jaylani, Klara, Zaina (girls)

IN: Lyndon, Briar, Crew, Bentlee, Branson (boys); Addelyn, Hadleigh, Haisley, Gracelynn, Jovie (girls)

IA: Kinnick, Huxley, Hank, Bo, Kohen (boys); Bexley, Estella, Tenley, Everlee, Oaklyn (girls)

KS: Bo, Hayes, Wade, Pierce, Brock (boys); Bristol, Kimber, Macy, Lainey, Emberly (girls)

MI: Hussein, Saleh, Hadi, Henrik, Cartier (boys); Zahraa, Layan, Malak, Ellery, Ayah (girls)

MN: Muad, Abdullahi, Abdirahman, Salman, Ayub (boys); Maryama, Sundus, Maida, Siham, Sumaya (girls)

MO: Truman, Gatlin, Kolten, Augustus, Boone (boys); Emberlynn, Kimber, Rosalee, Karlie, Vada (girls)

NE: Brecken, Huxley, Briggs, Hayes, Barrett (boys); Lennon, Sloan, Adley, Emersyn, Willa (girls)

ND: Mohamed, Rhett, Ryker, Lane, Nash (boys); Adley, Elsie, Kinley, Thea, Brynlee (girls)

OH: Marty, Abdirahman, Cartier, Colson, Bentlee (boys); Jersey, Bexley, Denver, Aubrianna, Carmella (girls)

SD: Briggs, Oakley, Hayes, Porter, Kane (boys); Hattie, Oakley, Aspen, Mya, Brynlee (girls)

WI: Cashton, Jordy, Bronson, Brecken, Henrik (boys); Greta, Luella, Marcella, Veda, Sylvia (girls)

Yes, that is Oakley on both the boys' and girls' lists in South Dakota. And it's all about one-syllable names for Kansas boys! Actually single-syllable names are all over the boys' lists; I guess there's more than a little 'cowboy' in the Midwest as well.
Kinnick (IA) and Marty (OH) seem so random! There just has to be a local influence.

But really, the most interesting thing about this data, IMO, is how you can tell where immigration is strongest. Pretty cool!

If you want to see beyond the top 5 for each state, it's also up on Google Sheets (same link as above, different sheet).


So, what names are the "least Midwestern"? Easily, Latinate names for both genders, especially Spanish ones (Pablo, Rodrigo, Roberto, Alessia, Fernanda, Renata, etc), but also softer/unisex boys' names (Morgan, Noel, Alexis, Eden, etc) and, in an oddly specific anti-trend, Jaz-names for girls (Jazmin, Jazlyn, Jazmine, etc).

Unisex Names---SSA (2017)

Oh, I know it won't have changed much from last year, but I can't resist.
While they're definitely not my personal style, it is fascinating to see what names are now considered gender-benders.

Here are the most popular names given to both genders last year (all spellings were considered, however, only the most common spelling for each gender is listed):

1. Jackson, ≈219 boys per girl
2. Aiden / Ayden, ≈120 boys per girl
3. Liam, ≈503 boys per girl
4. Noah / Noa, ≈31 boys per girl
5. Logan, ≈11 boys per girl
6. Grayson / Gracyn, ≈24 boys per girl
7. Mason / Maisyn, ≈29 boys per girl
8. Kayden, ≈28 boys per girl
9. Riley, ≈7 girls per boy
10. James, ≈157 boys per girl
11. Elijah / Alijah, ≈126 boys per girl
12. Jayden, ≈19 boys per girl
13. Michael, ≈284 boys per girl
14. Carter, ≈12 boys per girl
15. Evelyn, ≈1182 girls per boy
16. Avery, ≈4 girls per boy
17. Dylan, ≈9 boys per girl
18. Cameron / Kamryn, ≈3 boys per girl
19. Harper, ≈39 girls per boy
20. Aubrey, ≈71 girls per boy

Yay, people are still naming their boys Aubrey and Avery!
It's interesting how a name apparently can't be both popular and equally unisex. The most common names with a fairly even split are Finley, Jaylen/Jaelyn, and Rhys/Reese, and none of those rank in the SSA's Top 150 for either gender. 

On that note, here are the names given to about an equal % of boys and girls (from the Top 2000 only):

1. Armani
2. Britton
3. Brighton
4. Jaylen / Jaelyn
5. Jackie
6. Jelani / Jalani
7. Yuri
8. Briar
9. Murphy
10. Justice
11. Ocean
12. Ridley
13. Brylan / Brilynn
14. Conley
15. Denver
16. Sonny / Sunny
17. Harlan / Harlyn
18. Huntley
19. Wrigley
20. Layton / Leighton

Most of the these names are still pretty uncommon, though (Brighton, for instance, was given to 171 boys and 165 girls last year), so here're the most unisex names from both genders' Top 1000:

1. Armani
2. Jaylen / Jaelyn
3. Briar
4. Justice
5. Denver
6. Sonny / Sunny
7. Harlan / Harlyn
8. Layton / Leighton
9. Rory
10. Seven / Sevyn
11. Rylan
12. Francis / Frances
13. Royal
14. Campbell
15. Finley
16. Frankie
17. Khari
18. Salem
19. Dakota
20. Rhys / Reese

Because I know you want more lists and numbers, here are all the "unisex" names from both Top 1000s, from most boyish to most girlish:

• Noah / Noa, ≈31 boys per girl
• Lincoln, ≈30 boys per girl
• Mason / Maisyn, ≈29 boys per girl
• Kayden, ≈28 boys per girl
• Grayson / Gracyn, ≈24 boys per girl
• Ezra, ≈19 boys per girl
• Jayden, ≈19 boys per girl
• Hunter, ≈17 boys per girl
• Bentley, ≈15 boys per girl
• Adrian / Adrienne, ≈12 boys per girl
• Carter, ≈12 boys per girl
• Austin / Austyn, ≈11 boys per girl
• Logan, ≈11 boys per girl
• Alex, ≈10 boys per girl
• Camden, ≈9 boys per girl
• Dylan, ≈9 boys per girl
• Dawson / Dawsyn, ≈9 boys per girl
• Kai, ≈9 boys per girl
• August, ≈8 boys per girl
• Ashton, ≈8 boys per girl
• Zion, ≈7 boys per girl
• Cody / Kodi, ≈7 boys per girl
• Ryan, ≈6 boys per girl
• Aaron / Erin, ≈6 boys per girl
• Lane / Layne, ≈6 boys per girl
• Carson / Karsyn, ≈6 boys per girl
• Angel, ≈5 boys per girl
• Micah, ≈5 boys per girl
• Joel / Joelle, ≈5 boys per girl
• Spencer, ≈4 boys per girl
• Kyrie / Kairi, ≈4 boys per girl
• Devin / Devyn, ≈4 boys per girl
• Elliott, ≈4 boys per girl
• Cameron / Kamryn, ≈3 boys per girl
• Jesse / Jessie, ≈3 boys per girl
• Drew, ≈3 boys per girl
• Sawyer, ≈3 boys per girl
• Parker, ≈3 boys per girl
• Ellis, ≈3 boys per girl
• Azaiah / Aziah, ≈3 boys per girl
• Dallas, ≈2 boys per girl
• Chandler, ≈2 boys per girl
• Quincy, ≈2 boys per girl
• Colby / Colbie, ≈2 boys per girl
• Rowan, ≈2 boys per girl
• Remington, ≈2 boys per girl
• Blake, ≈2 boys per girl
• Danny / Dani, ≈2 boys per girl
• Daylen / Dailyn, ≈2 boys per girl
• Jordan / Jordyn, ≈2 boys per girl
• Kamari, ≈2 boys per girl
• Milan, ≈2 boys per girl
• River, ≈2 boys per girl
• Andy / Andi, ≈2 boys per girl
• Hayden, ≈2 boys per girl
• Phoenix, ≈1 boy per girl
• Lennox, ≈1 boy per girl
• Amari, ≈1 boy per girl
• Kymani / Kimani, ≈1 boy per girl
• Corey / Kori, ≈1 boy per girl
• Royal, ≈1 boy per girl
• Rylan, ≈1 boy per girl
• Rory, ≈1 boy per girl
• Denver, ≈1 boy per girl
• Armani, ≈1 girl per boy
• Jaylen / Jaelyn, ≈1 girl per boy
• Briar, ≈1 girl per boy
• Justice, ≈1 girl per boy
• Sonny / Sunny, ≈1 girl per boy
• Harlan / Harlyn, ≈1 girl per boy
• Layton / Leighton, ≈1 girl per boy
• Seven / Sevyn, ≈1 girl per boy
• Francis / Frances, ≈1 girl per boy
• Campbell, ≈1 girl per boy
• Finley, ≈1 girl per boy
• Frankie, ≈1 girl per boy
• Khari, ≈1 girl per boy
• Salem, ≈1 girl per boy
• Dakota, ≈1 girl per boy
• Rhys / Reese, ≈1 girl per boy
• Palmer, ≈1 girl per boy
• Jael, ≈1 girl per boy
• Taron / Taryn, ≈2 girls per boy
• Lennon, ≈2 girls per boy
• Shea, ≈2 girls per boy
• Oakley, ≈2 girls per boy
• Tatum, ≈2 girls per boy
• Arden, ≈2 girls per boy
• Noel / Noelle, ≈2 girls per boy
• Casey, ≈2 girls per boy
• Sutton, ≈2 girls per boy
• Azariah, ≈2 girls per boy
• Landry, ≈2 girls per boy
• Shiloh, ≈2 girls per boy
• Remy / Remi, ≈2 girls per boy
• Jamie, ≈2 girls per boy
• Bellamy, ≈2 girls per boy
• Taylen / Taelyn, ≈2 girls per boy
• Sage, ≈2 girls per boy
• Robin, ≈2 girls per boy
• Renly / Wrenley, ≈3 girls per boy
• Emerson, ≈3 girls per boy
• Charlie, ≈3 girls per boy
• Alexis, ≈3 girls per boy
• Kerry / Carrie, ≈3 girls per boy
• Legacy, ≈3 girls per boy
• Reign, ≈3 girls per boy
• Eden, ≈3 girls per boy
• Monroe, ≈3 girls per boy
• Aris / Eris, ≈3 girls per boy
• Scout, ≈4 girls per boy
• Laken / Laikyn, ≈4 girls per boy
• Ellison, ≈4 girls per boy
• Quinn, ≈4 girls per boy
• Lyric, ≈4 girls per boy
• Marion / Marian, ≈4 girls per boy
• Peyton, ≈4 girls per boy
• Avery, ≈4 girls per boy
• Egypt, ≈5 girls per boy
• Tory / Tori, ≈5 girls per boy
• Amani, ≈5 girls per boy
• Taylor, ≈5 girls per boy
• Courtney, ≈5 girls per boy
• Kelly, ≈5 girls per boy
• Indy / Indie, ≈5 girls per boy
• Karas / Karis, ≈6 girls per boy
• Eliyah / Elia, ≈6 girls per boy
• Marlo / Marlowe, ≈6 girls per boy
• Holland, ≈6 girls per boy
• Morgan, ≈6 girls per boy
• Kendall, ≈6 girls per boy
• Juel / Jewel, ≈6 girls per boy
• Ariel, ≈6 girls per boy
• Skyler / Skylar, ≈6 girls per boy
• Teagan, ≈6 girls per boy
• Noor, ≈6 girls per boy
• Oaklen / Oaklyn, ≈6 girls per boy
• Wren, ≈7 girls per boy
• Emery, ≈7 girls per boy
• Riley, ≈7 girls per boy
• Berkley, ≈7 girls per boy
• Sky / Skye, ≈8 girls per boy
• Kadence / Cadence, ≈9 girls per boy
• Henley, ≈10 girls per boy
• Aspen, ≈10 girls per boy
• Haven, ≈10 girls per boy
• Ivory, ≈10 girls per boy
• Jaycee, ≈11 girls per boy
• Sidney / Sydney, ≈12 girls per boy
• Collins, ≈12 girls per boy
• Marley, ≈12 girls per boy
• Blair, ≈12 girls per boy
• Nova, ≈12 girls per boy
• London, ≈13 girls per boy
• Presley, ≈14 girls per boy
• Paris, ≈15 girls per boy
• Kali, ≈15 girls per boy
• Mckinley, ≈15 girls per boy
• Kalani, ≈16 girls per boy
• Reagan, ≈16 girls per boy
• Sailor / Saylor, ≈16 girls per boy
• Sloan / Sloane, ≈20 girls per boy
• Cassidy, ≈21 girls per boy
• Winter, ≈22 girls per boy
• Bailey, ≈28 girls per boy
• Kamil / Camille, ≈28 girls per boy
• Journey / Journee, ≈30 girls per boy
• Harper, ≈39 girls per boy
• Loren / Lauren, ≈40 girls per boy
• Kennedy, ≈41 girls per boy
• Genesis, ≈43 girls per boy
• Addison, ≈45 girls per boy
• Aubrey, ≈71 girls per boy
• Mackenzie, ≈100 girls per boy
• Brooklyn, ≈100 girls per boy
• Madison, ≈205 girls per boy

All the names given to both genders is up here, on Google Sheets (I would wager that at least some are errors, however, like the 6 boys named Penelope or the 5 girls named Abraham).

As for the stats: last year about 59% of boys and 27% of girls got "unisex" names--that is, names that were also given to the opposite gender.
However, if you remove the names most heavily skewed toward one gender, and consider only the middle 80% of names, that drops to 28% of boys and 12% of girls.
This is still a bit counter-intuitive, since when we think "unisex", we tend to think of girls with boys' names, but parents are much more likely to consider popular boys' names for their daughters than the reverse. The result is that statistically, more boys have "unisex" names than girls do--however small the chance is, you're still more likely to run into a girl Jackson than a boy Sophia. 

This does not mean that we are being overrun with girls with super-masculine names, though--only 3.5% of girls were given names that were more common on boys. Conversely, about 2.5% of boys were given names more common for girls (and those stats barely change if you consider all the data instead of the middle 80%).


Some number-free tidbits to finish:
Jordyn is the most popular girls' name that is more common on boys, followed by Kamryn, Rowan, Hayden, and Parker. The most popular boys' names that are more common on girls are Avery, Jaylen, Charlie, Finley, and Riley.
While "creative" spellings abound for both genders, a handful of unisex names were only recorded with one spelling: Royce, Sullivan, Miller, Parker, Channing, Everest, Yael, Ever, Ridley, Campbell, Palmer, Sol, Charleston, Shannon, Indigo, Monroe, Scout, Holland, and Harper. 

Jumping Word-Names

So I finished all my usual stats, and decided to look at a specific subset of baby names: word-names.
As usual, I've removed most archaic words and jargon, as well as imported names. Exceptions are imported names that are word-names in their language of origin, like Luna; or foreign words intentionally used in English as names, like Bodhi.

Here are the 10 fastest rising word-names (from the Top 1500):

Boys:

1. Wells, +499 (#913)
2. Legacy, +452 (#1442)
3. Roan, +406 (#1386)
4. Warner, +315 (#1489)
5. Nova, +313 (#916)
6. Wren, +263 (#1489)
7. Aspen, +257 (#1407)
8. Canon, +252 (#1489)
9. Bailey, +247 (#1277)
10. Palmer, +246 (#1084)

Girls:

1. Dream, +834 (#828)
2. Indigo, +375 (#1370)
3. Majesty, +327 (#1274)
4. Althea, +216 (#1456)
5. Sunny, +202 (#979)
6. Bonnie, +198 (#697)
7. Opal, +166 (#855)
8. Emerald, +161 (#979)
9. Samara, +151 (#324)
10. Queen, +151 (#1079)

If you don't like lots of numbers, you probably should just stop now. :p

Here are the word-names that gained the most usage by % of babies born:

Boys:

1. Maverick, +0.093%
2. Rowan, +0.036%
3. Kyrie, +0.028%
4. Beau, +0.022%
5. Axel, +0.02%
6. Legend, +0.018%
7. Colt, +0.017%
8. Henry, +0.016%
9. Brooks, +0.015%
10. Bodhi, +0.014%

Girls:

1. Luna, +0.094%
2. Nova, +0.043%
3. Aurora, +0.038%
4. Willow, +0.028%
5. Hazel, +0.026%
6. Aria, +0.021%
7. Samara, +0.019%
8. Emery, +0.018%
9. Iris, +0.015%
10. Stella, +0.013%

But, as I said on my full % analysis post, this still isn't a huge increase in popularity--Luna, the word-name that gained the most, went from being given to about 1 in every 500 girls in 2016 to about 1 in every 350 girls in 2017. So, you're still not that much more likely to meet one. ;)

Percentage ratios, on the other hand, favor less common names. This shows how much comparative usage each name gained from 2016 to 2017. So for clarification, you're about 2x more likely to meet a Chosen born in 2017 than you were in 2016. 

Boys:

1. Chosen (2.01x)
2. Wells (1.92x)
3. Hawk (1.71x)
4. Maverick (1.64x)
5. Tuff (1.58x)
6. Nova (1.57x)
7. Legacy (1.57x)
8. Roan (1.53x)
9. Rowen (1.5x)
10. Buck (1.47x)

Girls:

1. Dream (2.61x)
2. Samara (1.55x)
3. Luna (1.5x)
4. Indigo (1.45x)
5. Marigold (1.44x)
6. Venus (1.42x)
7. Sparrow (1.39x)
8. Majesty (1.38x)
9. Bonnie (1.37x)
10. Nova (1.36x)

Rare but Real (2017)

Taking a brief break from number-crunching. :)
It's always fascinating to peruse the very bottom of the SSA list--the names given to only 5 babies last year.
Caveats: they can't have any more popular spellings further up, and it can't have appeared on any previous 'Rare but Real's (2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010).

Boys:

• Acamas (ah-KAH-mas, Greek [mythology])--prob. "untiring"
• Caetano (kah-eh-TAH-noo, kye-TAH-noo [short 'oo's, like "foot"], Portuguese)--from Latin, "from Gaeta"
• Carroll (KEHR-ohl, English)--from Irish surname Ó Cearbhaill, prob. "warrior"
• Cygnus (SIG-nus, Greek [mythology])--"swan"
• Froilán (froy-LAHN, Spanish, Galician)--poss. from Germanic, "lord"
• Harel (har-EL, Hebrew)--"mountain of God"
• Landric (LAN-drik, [medieval] English)--from Old English, "land-ruler" [probable source of the surname Landry]
• Nuriel (noo-ree-EL, Spanish, Hebrew)--from Hebrew, poss. "light of God" or "fire of God"
• Rasmus (RAHS-moos, Estonian, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Finnish)--from ancient Greek, "beloved"
• Vasco (VAHS-koh, Spanish, Italian; VAHS-koo [short 'oo', like in "foot"], Portuguese)--from Spanish surname Velasco, prob. from Basque "little crow"; or poss. from Spanish vasco, "Basque".
• Winfred (WIN-fred, English)--from Old English "friend-peace"
• Yuval (yoo-VAHL, Hebrew)--original form of Biblical name Jubal, "stream" [unisex]
• Zorion (soh-ree-ohn, Basque)--"happiness"

Girls:

• Benedetta (beh-neh-DET-tah, Italian)--feminine of Benedict
• Bithiah (bith-EYE-ah, [Biblical] Hebrew)--"daughter of God"
• Edina (EH-dee-naw, Hungarian; eh-DEEN-ah, Bosnian) [separate derivations]
• Eréndira (eh-REN-deer-ah, Spanish)--from Tarascan, meaning unknown
• Fruma (FROO-mah, Yiddish)--"pious"
• Maryse (mah-REESE, French)--form of Marie
• Nashira (nah-SHEER-ah, NAH-sheer-ah, English)--from the star name; itself from Arabic, prob. "bringer of good news"
• Nimue (NIM-oo-ay, Arthurian Mythology)--origin unknown, poss. a mangling of a Welsh name/word
• Ninfa (NEEN-fah, Italian, Spanish)--from ancient Greek, "nymph"
• Parthenia (par-THEE-nee-ah, English; par-t'hen-EE-ah, [ancient] Greek)--from ancient Greek, "maiden"
• Tekla (TEK-lah, Hungarian, Polish, Scandinavian)--from Greek Theokleia "glory of God"
• Véronique (vay-ron-EEK, French)--form of Veronica
• Vika (VEE-kah, Russian, Ukrainian)--form of Victoria

% Changes, 2017

Ranking changes are fascinating, of course, but they show how popular names are relative to each other. To get an idea of how much more common a name is getting, figuring percentage change is better.
Here are the names that gained the most usage in 2017:

Boys:

1. Logan, +0.15% (0.56% ---> 0.71%)
2. Maverick, +0.09% (0.15% ---> 0.24%)
3. Ezekiel, +0.07% (0.17% ---> 0.24%)
4. Mateo, +0.07% (0.32% ---> 0.39%)
5. Lincoln, +0.06% (0.35% ---> 0.41%)
6. Theodore, +0.06% (0.24% ---> 0.3%)
7. Liam, +0.05% (0.9% ---> 0.95%)
8. Leo, +0.04% (0.26% ---> 0.3%)
9. Jameson, +0.04% (0.16% ---> 0.2%)
10. Rowan, +0.04% (0.11% ---> 0.14%)
11. Matias, +0.03% (0.05% ---> 0.08%)
12. Asher, +0.03% (0.27% ---> 0.31%)
13. Greyson, +0.03% (0.21% ---> 0.25%)
14. Santiago, +0.03% (0.18% ---> 0.21%)
15. Ezra, +0.03% (0.24% ---> 0.27%)
16. Kyrie, +0.03% (0.06% ---> 0.09%)
17. Elias, +0.03% (0.22% ---> 0.25%)
18. Levi, +0.03% (0.4% ---> 0.43%)
19. Rhett, +0.02% (0.09% ---> 0.11%)
20. Oliver, +0.02% (0.65% ---> 0.67%)

To make sense of these numbers, Theodore went from being given to about 1 in every 400 boys to about 1 in every 333 boys. Not actually all that more common!

Girls:

1. Luna, +0.09% (0.19% ---> 0.28%)
2. Amelia, +0.07% (0.56% ---> 0.63%)
3. Mila, +0.07% (0.25% ---> 0.32%)
4. Bella, +0.06% (0.19% ---> 0.25%)
5. Camila, +0.05% (0.31% ---> 0.36%)
6. Evelyn, +0.05% (0.52% ---> 0.57%)
7. Nova, +0.04% (0.12% ---> 0.16%)
8. Emma, +0.04% (1.01% ---> 1.05%)
9. Elena, +0.04% (0.16% ---> 0.21%)
10. Kinsley, +0.04% (0.17% ---> 0.22%)
11. Isabella, +0.04% (0.77% ---> 0.81%)
12. Aurora, +0.04% (0.21% ---> 0.24%)
13. Everly, +0.04% (0.15% ---> 0.19%)
14. Emilia, +0.03% (0.16% ---> 0.19%)
15. Nora, +0.03% (0.29% ---> 0.32%)
16. Eleanor, +0.03% (0.27% ---> 0.29%)
17. Willow, +0.03% (0.16% ---> 0.19%)
18. Raelynn, +0.03% (0.1% ---> 0.13%)
19. Hazel, +0.03% (0.24% ---> 0.27%)
20. Amara, +0.02% (0.06% ---> 0.08%)

Is anyone surprised by any of these names? About half appeared on last year's analysis too. 

Comparing change in % is going to favor the most popular names, so if you want to see how less common names are gaining use, comparing % ratios makes that a lot easier. 

Boys:

1. Asahd (59.61x)
2. Oseias (12.07x)
3. Cassian (6.89x)
4. Jaxtyn (4.4x)
5. Shivaay (4.09x)
6. Aasim (3.85x)
7. Ulices (2.73x)
8. Jru (2.48x)
9. Bellamy (2.45x)
10. Renly (2.36x)
11. Zacari (2.36x)
12. Kartier (2.26x)
13. Nirvaan (2.24x)
14. Klaus (2.09x)
15. Kylian (2.08x)
16. Kodah (2.08x)
17. Cayde (2.07x)
18. Chosen (2.01x)
19. Easten (1.98x)
20. Ayven (1.97x)

So, for clarification, Asahd was about 60x more popular in 2017 than it was in 2016.

Girls:

1. Camreigh (93.6x)
2. Westlyn (4.61x)
3. Atarah (3.88x)
4. Ensley (3.65x)
5. Laikynn (3.27x)
6. Eliyanah (3.1x)
7. Oaklynn (3.05x)
8. Loxley (3.04x)
9. Lyrica (2.86x)
10. Oaklyn (2.75x)
11. Adriel (2.63x)
12. Dream (2.61x)
13. Moana (2.58x)
14. Dawsyn (2.58x)
15. Zamira (2.56x)
16. Danelly (2.52x)
17. Emberly (2.47x)
18. Nyra (2.45x)
19. Azeneth (2.33x)
20. Elara (2.33x)

Chances are you still don't know any babies with any of these names, though (Ensley is the most common, given to 271 girls last year).

Here are the names that gained the most usage from the Top 500:

Boys:

1. Matias (1.75x)
2. Maverick (1.64x)
3. Rowen (1.5x)
4. Ezekiel (1.45x)
5. Kyrie (1.45x)
6. Zayn (1.36x)
7. Atlas (1.34x)
8. Colt (1.33x)
9. Rowan (1.33x)
10. Theo (1.33x)

Girls:

1. Samara (1.55x)
2. Everleigh (1.53x)
3. Luna (1.5x)
4. Ophelia (1.47x)
5. Amara (1.4x)
6. Nova (1.36x)
7. Magnolia (1.36x)
8. Logan (1.33x)
9. Royalty (1.32x)
10. Jolene (1.3x)

Zayn and Amara were among last year's rising names as well. Guess we should really be keeping our eyes on Rowan/Rowen, too. :)

Ranking Jumps, 2017 (girls)

Girls' turn!
Here are the fastest-rising names from the Top 2500:

1. Camreigh, +≈14000 (#not ranked-->#2098)
2. Westlyn, +3543 (#5408-->#1865)
3. Laikynn, +2853 (#5095-->#2242)
4. Atarah, +2622 (#4315-->#1693)
5. Loxley, +2523 (#4706-->#2183)
6. Lyrica, +2181 (#4215-->#2034)
7. Eliyanah, +2060 (#3822-->#1762)
8. Zamira, +2007 (#4215-->#2208)
9. Adriel, +1935 (#3969-->#2034)
10. Danelly, +1871 (#3969-->#2098)
11. Nyra, +1700 (#3691-->#1991)
12. Klynn, +1683 (#4128-->#2445)
13. Ensley, +1451 (#2415-->#964)
14. Moana, +1406 (#2949-->#1543)
15. Elara, +1305 (#2998-->#1693)
16. Ariany, +1280 (#3691-->#2411)
17. Dawsyn, +1270 (#2679-->#1409)
18. Zemira, +1241 (#3552-->#2311)
19. Azeneth, +1151 (#2626-->#1475)
20. Lexa, +1102 (#2890-->#1788)

Atarah, Moana, Elara, and Azeneth are nice to see. :)

On to the names that are a bit more familiar, from the Top 1500:

1. Ensley, +1451 (#2415-->#964)
2. Dawsyn, +1270 (#2679-->#1409)
3. Azeneth, +1151 (#2626-->#1475)
4. Oaklynn, +1057 (#1942-->#885)
5. Maisyn, +1020 (#2271-->#1251)
6. Khari, +938 (#2308-->#1370)
7. Sevyn, +890 (#2208-->#1318)
8. Haisley, +873 (#1973-->#1100)
9. Dream, +834 (#1662-->#828)
10. Khalani, +757 (#2187-->#1430)
11. Elowyn, +755 (#2251-->#1496)
12. Oaklyn, +751 (#1425-->#674)
13. Melania, +714 (#1643-->#929)
14. Emberly, +614 (#1242-->#628)
15. Blayke, +588 (#1797-->#1209)
16. Emmarie, +518 (#1529-->#1011)
17. Zaira, +509 (#1942-->#1433)
18. Zyla, +495 (#1973-->#1478)
19. Ivanka, +450 (#1839-->#1389)
20. Octavia, +437 (#1030-->#593)

Oo, Octavia and Zaira! <3 

Am I happy or annoyed to see Melania and Ivanka? I DON'T KNOW.

Now, the names that're probably on everyone's lists, the fastest risers from the Top 500:

1. Everleigh, +186 (#573-->#387)
2. Ophelia, +165 (#580-->#415)
3. Samara, +151 (#475-->#324)
4. Magnolia, +124 (#508-->#384)
5. Jolene, +115 (#570-->#455)
6. Royalty, +111 (#532-->#421)
7. Oakley, +105 (#579-->#474)
8. Amara, +92 (#300-->#208)
9. Logan, +92 (#384-->#292)
10. Maia, +83 (#569-->#486)
11. Millie, +81 (#435-->#354)
12. Demi, +81 (#566-->#485)
13. Phoenix, +79 (#442-->#363)
14. Renata, +77 (#538-->#461)
15. Mira, +75 (#546-->#471)
16. Briella, +74 (#360-->#286)
17. Maryam, +73 (#551-->#478)
18. Margot, +72 (#433-->#361)
19. Journee, +69 (#331-->#262)
20. Evie, +69 (#418-->#349)

Ah, so many good names! I'll take them all, thanks. :)

Finally, the names completely new to the Top 1000:

• Alora
• Amora
• Dream
• Egypt
• Emberly
• Ensley
• Everlee
• Legacy
• Lyanna
• Malani
• Marlowe
• Melania
• Mylah
• Oaklee
• Oaklyn
• Oaklynn
• Paisleigh
• Spencer
• Yara

Ranking Jumps, 2017 (boys)

Yay, on to the fun stuff!

Here are the highest jumping names from the Top 2500 and up:

1. Asahd, +≈9800 (#not ranked-->#2251)
2. Oseias, +6102 (#7544-->#1442)
3. Shivaay, +3871 (#6305-->#2434)
4. Cassian, +3531 (#4901-->#1370)
5. Aasim, +2735 (#4587-->#1852)
6. Ulices, +2284 (#4587-->#2303)
7. Zacari, +1885 (#4295-->#2410)
8. Nirvaan, +1687 (#3965-->#2278)
9. Klaus, +1555 (#3965-->#2410)
10. Kylian, +1520 (#3852-->#2332)
11. Renly, +1601 (#3658-->#2057)
12. Kartier, +1546 (#3658-->#2112)
13. Kodah, +1430 (#3658-->#2228)
14. Everhett, +1186 (#3658-->#2472)
15. Wrigley, +1299 (#3577-->#2278)
16. Jru, +1591 (#3498-->#1907)
17. Chosen, +1321 (#3498-->#2177)
18. Easten, +1296 (#3498-->#2202)
19. Daxtyn, +1088 (#3498-->#2410)
20. Aiven, +1064 (#3498-->#2434)

Cassian! <3

Most of these are pretty uncommon still, so let's move on to names that're a bit more familiar, the Top 1500 and up:

1. Oseias, +6102 (#7544-->#1442)
2. Cassian, +3531 (#4901-->#1370)
3. Jaxtyn, +1700 (#2763-->#1063)
4. Bellamy, +989 (#2315-->#1326)
5. Riggs, +691 (#2116-->#1425)
6. Devansh, +601 (#2037-->#1436)
7. Wells, +499 (#1412-->#913)
8. Emir, +455 (#1459-->#1004)
9. Legacy, +452 (#1894-->#1442)
10. Watson, +423 (#1439-->#1016)
11. Kairo, +418 (#1221-->#803)
12. Kyrin, +413 (#1617-->#1204)
13. Casper, +413 (#1820-->#1407)
14. Krew, +408 (#1519-->#1111)
15. Roan, +406 (#1792-->#1386)
16. Kenzo, +400 (#1573-->#1173)
17. Khyree, +388 (#1864-->#1476)
18. Calum, +385 (#1685-->#1300)
19. Cartier, +366 (#1729-->#1363)
20. Faris, +365 (#1697-->#1332)

Casper is a surprise! Bellamy was on here last year; nice to see it still on the rise. Calum, Faris, and Wells are great as well. 

And finally, the names we should really be watching, the fastest risers from the Top 500:

1. Rowen, +163 (#657-->#494)
2. Matias, +125 (#361-->#236)
3. Oakley, +97 (#576-->#479)
4. Kyson, +88 (#526-->#438)
5. Nico, +83 (#496-->#413)
6. Zayn, +79 (#420-->#341)
7. Ezequiel, +79 (#520-->#441)
8. Atlas, +74 (#403-->#329)
9. Sage, +74 (#546-->#472)
10. Kyrie, +70 (#285-->#215)
11. Colt, +68 (#337-->#269)
12. Winston, +67 (#472-->#405)
13. Moises, +67 (#483-->#416)
14. Theo, +65 (#354-->#289)
15. Zayne, +65 (#448-->#383)
16. Dax, +61 (#517-->#456)
17. Bodhi, +60 (#363-->#303)
18. Legend, +56 (#311-->#255)
19. Maverick, +54 (#139-->#85)
20. Hendrix, +53 (#402-->#349)

Nico and Theo are no surprise; I feel like I've been seeing them on a lot of people's lists ;) Zayn, Matias, Legend, and Atlas continue their leaps from last year. 

And finally, the names completely new to the Top 1000:

• Alaric
• Caspian
• Colson
• Decker
• Gatlin
• Gianluca
• Jaxx
• Jaxxon
• Kace
• Kairo
• Koa
• Kyng
• Ledger
• Shepard
• Shmuel
• Wells
• Zahir
• Zayd

Aidens Gonna Aid (2017)

Happy Name Nerdy Day! :D
I'm actually in town this weekend, but by now it's tradition: here are all the names rhyming with Aiden that were given last year.

Usual disclaimer: there are imported names that look like -aidens, but aren't properly pronounced as -aidens (Adán, Raiden, Nayden, and probably others). However, I have no way of knowing which pronunciation was intended, and chances are some parents are using them as -aidens anyway.

A

• Aadan
• Aaden
• Aadin
• Aadyn
• Aaiden
• Aaidyn
• Aayden
• Adan
• Aden
• Adin
• Adon
• Adyn
• Aedan
• Aeden
• Aedyn
• Aidan
• Aiden
• Aidenn
• Aidin
• Aidon
• Aidyn
• Aidynn
• Aydan
• Aydden
• Ayden
• Aydenn
• Aydin
• Aydn
• Aydon
• Aydyn
• Ayeden
• Ayiden

B

• Baden
• Bayden
• Bladen
• Blaiden
• Blayden
• Blaydon
• Bradan
• Braden
• Bradin
• Bradon
• Bradyn
• Braedan
• Braeden
• Braedon
• Braedyn
• Braidan
• Braiden
• Braidon
• Braidyn
• Braydan
• Brayden
• Braydenn
• Braydin
• Braydon
• Braydyn
• Breyden
• Breydon

C

• Cadan
• Caden
• Cadyn
• Caeden
• Caedon
• Caedyn
• Caidan
• Caiden
• Caidyn
• Caydan
• Cayden
• Caydin
• Caydon
• Chayden
• Clayden

D

• Daden
• Dayden
• Draden
• Draeden
• Draedyn
• Draiden
• Drayden
• Draydon
• Dreydan
• Dreyden
• Dreydon

E

• Eidan
• Eiden
• Eydan
• Eyden

F: none

G

• Graden
• Gradyn
• Grayden
• Graydon
• Greyden
• Greydon

H

• Haden
• Haeden
• Haedyn
• Haiden
• Haidyn
• Haydan
• Hayden
• Haydin
• Haydon
• Haydyn
• Haydn
• Heyden

I: none

J

• Jadan
• Jaden
• Jadin
• Jadon
• Jadyn
• Jaedan
• Jaeden
• Jaedon
• Jaedyn
• Jaidan
• Jaiden
• Jaidin
• Jaidon
• Jaidyn
• Jaydan
• Jayden
• Jaydenn
• Jaydin
• Jaydn
• Jaydon
• Jaydyn
• Jden
• Jeiden
• Jeydan
• Jeyden
• Jeydon
• Jhayden

K

• Kadan
• Kaden
• Kadin
• Kadon
• Kadyn
• Kaedan
• Kaeden
• Kaedin
• Kaedon
• Kaedyn
• Kaidan
• Kaiden
• Kaidenn
• Kaidin
• Kaidon
• Kaidyn
• Kaydan
• Kayden
• Kaydenn
• Kaydin
• Kaydn
• Kaydon
• Kaydyn
• Kayeden
• Kden
• Kdyn
• Keiden
• Keyden
• Khaden
• Khadyn
• Khaiden
• Khayden

L

• Laden
• Ladon
• Laiden
• Layden
• Leyden

M: none

N

• Naiden
• Nayden

O: none

P

• Paden
• Paiden
• Payden

Q: none

R

• Raden
• Radin
• Raeden
• Raedyn
• Raidan
• Raiden
• Raidyn
• Raydan
• Rayden
• Raydin
• Raydon
• Reiden
• Reyden

S

• Shaden
• Shayden
• Slayden

T

• Taden
• Tadyn
• Taeden
• Taedyn
• Taiden
• Taidyn
• Tayden
• Taydon
• Thayden
• Trayden
• Treyden
• Treydon

U: none

V

• Vaden
• Vaiden
• Vayden

W

• Waden
• Wayden

X

• Xaden
• Xaiden
• Xaidyn
• Xayden
• Xhaiden

Y

• Yaiden
• Yeiden

Z

• Zaden
• Zadyn
• Zaeden
• Zaedyn
• Zaidan
• Zaiden
• Zaidenn
• Zaidyn
• Zaydan
• Zayden
• Zaydenn
• Zaydin
• Zaydn
• Zaydon
• Zaydyn
• Zeyden
• Zhayden

3-syllable

• Dakaden
• Jacayden
• Jakaden
• Jakaiden
• Jakayden

Grand total: 257 names, comprising 3.17% of boys. That's down again, from last year's 273 names, 3.37% of boys. :)

[previous years: 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012]

2017 Predictions!

It's getting pretty close to Mother's Day! I should probably get my predictions in while I can. ;)

Using my own statistical analysis, here's what I think the 2017's Top 20 will look like:

	Boys	Girls
1.	Noah (no change)	Olivia (+1)
2.	Liam (no change)	Emma (-1)
3.	William (no change)	Ava (no change)
4.	Benjamin (+2)	Sophia (no change)
5.	James (no change)	Charlotte (+2)
6.	Oliver (+6)	Mia (no change)
7.	Mason (-3)	Isabella (-2)
8.	Elijah (+1)	Amelia (+3)
9.	Michael (-1)	Harper (+1)
10.	Lucas (+4)	Abigail (-2)
11.	Jacob (-4)	Evelyn (+1)
12.	Ethan (-2)	Emily (-3)
13.	Alexander (-2)	Elizabeth (no change)
14.	Matthew (+1)	Sofia (no change)
15.	Daniel (-2)	Avery (+1)
16.	Aiden (no change)	Scarlett (+2)
17.	Sebastian (+7)	Madison (-2)
18.	Owen (+5)	Riley (+4)
19.	Henry (+3)	Ella (-2)
20.	Jackson (-3)	Aria (+3)

Here're the names I think will move into and out of the Top 100:

Boys	Girls
IN
Santiago	Emilia
Harrison	Everly
Everett	Ivy
	Rylee
OUT
Tyler	Katherine
Brandon	Kylie
	Taylor
	Brianna

And (quite a bit more uncertain), the names that'll join (in some cases, rejoin) the Top 1000:

Boys	Girls
Abner	Addalyn
Aksel	Agnes
Baker	Amora
Bastian	Arleth
Bear	Arlette
Briar	Avalyn
Chevy	Bellamy
Cillian	Della
Danilo	Egypt
Decker	Eleanora
Eamon	Elodie
Edmund	Etta
Finnian	Everlee
Finnick	Florence
Forest	Harlyn
Gianluca	India
Kain	Jurnee
Kaiser	Kamiyah
Khari	Kensington
Kiaan	Legacy
Kyng	Litzy
Lian	Loretta
Malakhi	Lyanna
Menachem	Magdalena
Norman	Margo
Onyx	Marlowe
Remi	Octavia
Roderick	Opal
Ross	Palmer
Shepard	Rosalee
Wallace	Shanaya
Youssef	Shea
Zack	Spencer
	Treasure
	Waverly
	Whitley
	Xiomara