% Changes, 2016

Ranking jumps are interesting, but what they really show is how names change relative to each other. If you want to see how much a name's popularity is changing on its own, you'll have to use a different metric.

Here are the names that gained the most actual usage (as measured in % of boys/girls born):

Boys:

1. Mateo, +0.08% (0.25% ---> 0.32%)
2. Oliver, +0.07% (0.57% ---> 0.65%)
3. Bryson, +0.06% (0.15% ---> 0.22%)
4. Lincoln, +0.06% (0.29% ---> 0.35%)
5. Benjamin, +0.05% (0.67% ---> 0.73%)
6. Grayson, +0.04% (0.39% ---> 0.43%)
7. Owen, +0.04% (0.47% ---> 0.51%)
8. Theodore, +0.04% (0.2% ---> 0.24%)
9. Sebastian, +0.04% (0.47% ---> 0.51%)
10. Greyson, +0.04% (0.18% ---> 0.21%)
11. Leo, +0.04% (0.23% ---> 0.26%)
12. Maverick, +0.04% (0.11% ---> 0.15%)
13. Lucas, +0.03% (0.6% ---> 0.64%)
14. Ezekiel, +0.03% (0.14% ---> 0.17%)
15. Ezra, +0.03% (0.21% ---> 0.24%)
16. Leonardo, +0.03% (0.19% ---> 0.21%)
17. Santiago, +0.03% (0.16% ---> 0.18%)
18. Everett, +0.02% (0.15% ---> 0.17%)
19. Gael, +0.02% (0.09% ---> 0.11%)
20. Conor, +0.02% (0.03% ---> 0.05%)

So Theodore, for instance, went from being 1 in every 500 boys born to about 1 in every 400. So while the number of baby Theodores went up from 2015 to 2016, you're not actually all that more likely to meet one. :)

Girls:

1. Charlotte, +0.09% (0.59% ---> 0.68%)
2. Adeline, +0.09% (0.12% ---> 0.21%)
3. Riley, +0.08% (0.29% ---> 0.37%)
4. Amelia, +0.05% (0.51% ---> 0.56%)
5. Adaline, +0.05% (0.05% ---> 0.1%)
6. Luna, +0.05% (0.14% ---> 0.19%)
7. Emilia, +0.04% (0.11% ---> 0.16%)
8. Camila, +0.04% (0.27% ---> 0.31%)
9. Evelyn, +0.04% (0.48% ---> 0.52%)
10. Nova, +0.04% (0.08% ---> 0.12%)
11. Eleanor, +0.04% (0.23% ---> 0.27%)
12. Scarlett, +0.03% (0.37% ---> 0.4%)
13. Teagan, +0.03% (0.07% ---> 0.11%)
14. Kinsley, +0.03% (0.14% ---> 0.17%)
15. Quinn, +0.03% (0.16% ---> 0.19%)
16. Aria, +0.03% (0.33% ---> 0.36%)
17. Everly, +0.03% (0.12% ---> 0.15%)
18. Harper, +0.03% (0.53% ---> 0.56%)
19. Penelope, +0.03% (0.31% ---> 0.33%)
20. Remi, +0.02% (0.03% ---> 0.06%)

There are the multiple Adaline/Adelines! Yep, they're getting pretty popular! Amelia & Emilia, Charlotte & Scarlett, Evelyn & Everly--there are definitely some sounds we're all drawn to right now. 

Pure change in % is going to favor names that were more popular to begin with, but what about names that were fairly uncommon in 2015? For that, we can check the popularity ratios. That will tell us how much more likely you are to meet a baby with that name in 2016 than in 2015. 

Boys:

1. Kylo (6.86x)
2. Kion (5.55x)
3. Yoandri (4.26x)
4. Zabdiel (3.39x)
5. Kyon (3.22x)
6. Saint (3.14x)
7. Aadvik (2.99x)
8. Murad (2.82x)
9. Finnick (2.68x)
10. Egypt (2.68x)
11. Aceson (2.57x)
12. Bowie (2.47x)
13. Yuvaan (2.47x)
14. Bellamy (2.46x)
15. Keylor (2.45x)
16. Ayaansh (2.33x)
17. Khaza (2.28x)
18. Adonis (2.27x)
19. Dietrich (2.09x)
20. Mars (2.09x)

Girls:

1. Yurani (97.11x) [estimated; didn't appear in 2015]
2. Kehlani (6.72x)
3. Yamila (5.47x)
4. Lyanna (3.51x)
5. Aavya (3.36x)
6. Arlet (3.28x)
7. Ivanka (3.02x)
8. Oaklyn (2.95x)
9. Royalty (2.69x)
10. Harlyn (2.68x)
11. Teigen (2.54x)
12. Elowen (2.38x)
13. Annora (2.25x)
14. Arleth (2.22x)
15. Maisyn (2.14x)
16. Adaline (2.09x)
17. Blayke (2.05x)
18. Zaya (2.05x)
19. Khari (2.04x)
20. Rae (2.04x)

Despite large gains, most of these are still pretty uncommon--Annora was given to 85 girls. Here are the names you're more likely to start hearing everyday, from the Top 500:

Boys:

1. Adonis (2.27x)
2. Zayn (1.85x)
3. Conor (1.76x)
4. Arlo (1.71x)
5. Bodhi (1.59x)
6. Wade (1.44x)
7. Killian (1.43x)
8. Ace (1.42x)
9. Bryson (1.42x)
10. Legend (1.41x)

Girls:

1. Adaline (2.09x)
2. Aviana (1.97x)
3. Avianna (1.9x)
4. Remi (1.75x)
5. Ariah (1.73x)
6. Adeline (1.73x)
7. Thea (1.64x)
8. Amara (1.59x)
9. Saylor (1.53x)
10. Remington (1.52x)

Adeline, I thought I told you to slow down! :p Interesting how 6 of the 10 girls' names (not to mention 3 of the boys') are A-names. Happy to see Arlo, Killian, Thea, & Amara still going strong. 

Rare but Real (2016)

Let's take a quick break from statistical analysis. ;)  I'm always fascinated to see what rarities we can encounter down at the very bottom of the SSA lists, the names given to only 5 babies.
My only restrictions are that they can't have other spellings further up on the list, and I can't have mentioned it on a previous 'Rare but Real' (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015).
Let's see what we can find....

Boys:

• Adoniah (ad-oh-NYE-ah, [Biblical] Hebrew)--form of Adonijah, "my Lord is Yahweh"
• Aldwin (AHLD-win, Germanic)--older form of Edwin, "old friend"
• Aniceto (ah-nee-SEH-toh, Portuguese, Spanish; ah-nee-CHEH-toh, Italian)--from Greek, "unconquerable"
• Arvo (AHR-voh, Finnish)--"value"
• Astraeus (as-TREE-us, [Latinized] Greek)--"star"
• Baird (BEHRD, English)--from Scottish surname, prob. "bard"
• Enver (en-VEHR, Turkish, EN-vehr, Albanian)--from Arabic, "brighter"
• Erling (AHR-ling, Norwegian, EHR-ling, Danish, Swedish)--"descendant of the chief"
• Hezron (HEZ-ron, [Biblical] Hebrew)--"enclosure"
• Janvier (zhawn-vee-AY, French)--"January"
• Joris (YOHR-is, Dutch, German; zhoh-REES, French)--form of George
• Liav (lee-AV, Hebrew)--"my father"
• Lonán (LOH-nawn, Irish)--"blackbird"
• Remiel (REM-ee-el, [Biblical] Hebrew)--"mercy of God"
• Stelios (STEL-ee-ohs, Greek)--"pillar"
• Wystan (WIS-tan, [archaic] English)--"war stone"

Girls:

• Abiela (ah-bee-EL-lah, Spanish)--from Biblical Hebrew, "God is my father"
• Aelia (EYE-lee-ah, AY-lee-ah, EE-lee-ah, Latin)--original form of Elia, "sun"
• Aureliana (ow-reh-lee-AH-nah, Spanish, Italian)--from Latin, "golden"
• Ceridwen (keh-RID-wen, Welsh)--origin uncertain, poss. "blessed poetry", "poetry woman", or "crooked woman". 
• Cipriana (chee-pree-AH-nah, Italian; sip-ree-AH-nah, Portuguese, Spanish)--from Latin, "of Cyprus"
• Eleri (eh-LEHR-ee, Welsh)--origin unknown, poss. "very bitter" or a form of Hilarius/Hilaria
• Elisama (el-ee-SAH-mah, Portuguese)--from Biblical Hebrew, "God has heard" [the original name, Elishama, is masculine in the Bible]
• Faustine (foh-STEEN, French)--from Latin, "lucky"
• Gilia (JILL-ee-ah, [medieval] English, JEEL-yah, [medieval] Italian)--feminine of Egidio/Giles or poss. from Germanic, "merry"
• Isidra (ee-SEE-drah, Spanish)--form of Isadora
• Kirsi (KEER-see, Finnish)--short form of Kirstin or Kirsikka
• Lalitha (lah-LEET-hah, Indian [Tamil])--from Sanskit, "charming"
• Lilias (LIL-ee-as, Scottish)--form of Lillian
• Nino (NEE-noh, [ancient] Greek, Georgian)--unknown origin, poss. related to Nineveh, and/or the Babylonian goddess Nina. [also a boys' name in many languages]
• Sarit (sah-REET, Hebrew)--diminutive of Sarah
• Stana (STAH-nah, Croatian, Serbian, Romanian, Italian)--short form of Slavic -stan- names, "become, happen"
• Tabea (tah-BEH-ah, German)--short form of Tabitha
• Velia (VEH-lee-ah, Italian)--origin unknown, poss. from Latin, "veiled", or from the ancient Greek town of Velia. 

Unisex (I know, I don't usually have a unisex category, but I just happened to notice one name given to exactly 5 boys & 5 girls, and it intrigued me):

• Yunuen (yoo-noo-EN, Spanish)--from an island in central Mexico, poss. from Tarascan, "crescent"

Ranking Jumps, 2016 (girls)

Yay, girls turn!

First off, the top risers from the Top 2500:

1. Yurani, +??? (not ranked --> #2040)
2. Yamila, +5540 (#7955-->#2415)
3. Aavya, +3096 (#5423-->#2327)
4. Kehlani, +2455 (#3324-->#869)
5. Teigen, +2224 (#4695-->#2471)
6. Arlet, +2135 (#3807-->#1672)
7. Ivanka, +2119 (#3958-->#1839)
8. Elowen, +1815 (#4044-->#2229)
9. Annora, +1652 (#3881-->#2229)
10. Lyanna, +1629 (#2784-->#1155)
11. Oaklyn, +1620 (#3045-->#1425)
12. Maisyn, +1536 (#3807-->#2271)
13. Khari, +1429 (#3737-->#2308)
14. Jamaya, +1336 (#3680-->#2344)
15. Jupiter, +1314 (#3680-->#2366)
16. Zailey, +1307 (#3461-->#2154)
17. Grettel, +1278 (#3507-->#2229)
18. Khalani, +1274 (#3461-->#2187)
19. Advika, +1266 (#3737-->#2471)
20. Bowie, +1244 (#3680-->#2436)

Whoa, what is Yurani? Did Larry Hernandez have another daughter? :p (apparently not, Google is bringing up a telenovela character and a Venezuelan waterfall; I would blame the telenovela)
Also, Jupiter? For girls? Huh. Elowen & Annora are no surprise; I feel like they've been on everyone's list recently.

Rather sad that Rey didn't quite jump nearly as much as Kylo and Ren did for the boys (it went from unranked to #2712).

Next, the names making the move from 'obscure' to 'uncommon', from the Top 1500:

1. Kehlani, +2455 (#3324-->#869)
2. Lyanna, +1629 (#2784-->#1155)
3. Oaklyn, +1620 (#3045-->#1425)
4. Harlyn, +1177 (#2388-->#1211)
5. Merritt, +829 (#2303-->#1474)
6. Zaya, +819 (#2126-->#1307)
7. Rae, +797 (#2064-->#1267)
8. Arleth, +759 (#1780-->#1021)
9. Aveline, +683 (#2002-->#1319)
10. Arlette, +626 (#1661-->#1035)
11. Royalty, +617 (#1149-->#532)
12. Waverly, +612 (#1731-->#1119)
13. Joey, +557 (#2043-->#1486)
14. Reya, +548 (#1884-->#1336)
15. Emberly, +538 (#1780-->#1242)
16. Coralie, +531 (#1920-->#1389)
17. Saoirse, +464 (#1442-->#978)
18. Ophelia, +395 (#975-->#580)
19. Hensley, +395 (#1798-->#1403)
20. Darla, +379 (#1679-->#1300)

Oh, I love Arlette! And Arleth is a Spanish variant. Saoirse, Coralie, Ophelia, & Darla are lovely as well. 

Still too "out there"? Here are the names to really keep an eye on--the fastest risers in the Top 500:

1. Avianna, +295 (#748-->#453)
2. Aviana, +269 (#661-->#392)
3. Remi, +205 (#500-->#295)
4. Ariah, +202 (#512-->#310)
5. Adaline, +193 (#364-->#171)
6. Thea, +176 (#463-->#287)
7. Saylor, +167 (#607-->#440)
8. Remington, +163 (#621-->#458)
9. Amara, +161 (#461-->#300)
10. Margot, +159 (#592-->#433)
11. Samara, +159 (#634-->#475)
12. Ariyah, +156 (#607-->#451)
13. Blake, +126 (#423-->#297)
14. Leia, +100 (#421-->#321)
15. Fernanda, +98 (#559-->#461)
16. Evie, +94 (#512-->#418)
17. Rowan, +92 (#331-->#239)
18. Emersyn, +90 (#393-->#303)
19. Freya, +87 (#417-->#330)
20. Blakely, +84 (#354-->#270)

Only Adaline this year? Is Adeline/Adelyn/Adalyn finally slowing down, or did other spellings just get too popular to move up quickly? (I'm guessing the latter)
At least we have Leia, if not Rey. :)

And last but not least, the name brand-new to the Top 1000:

• Aadhya
• Ailani
• Alessia
• Amayah
• Antonella
• Ari
• Bexley
• Blaire
• Calliope
• Ellianna
• Harleigh
• Itzayana
• Kaylani
• Kehlani
• Maylee
• Nalani
• Novalee
• Poppy
• Reign
• Royalty
• Saoirse
• Sylvie
• Tinsley