Search eMedTV Site

Home    Build-A-Name    My Names

Sitemap

Top Ten Baby Names

With a little one on the way, there's a lot in store for you! As your due date approaches, part of the excitement includes picking out a name for the newest member of your family. Many expecting parents begin their search by looking at the top ten baby names over the past few years. These free lists are available on eMedTV's BabyBuilder Web site, along with each name's meaning, origin, and variations. With a resource like this, it's never too early to start looking at names for your new baby!


 

An Overview of Top Ten Baby Names

As you prepare for your new baby's arrival, choosing the perfect name is just one of the things to look forward to. During the name-picking process, people commonly research the top ten baby names for a given year. Some soon-to-be parents want to name their baby something popular and trendy, and this list gives them some ideas. Others prefer more unique and uncommon baby names -- they review the list to know what names to avoid.
 
The top ten baby names generally include many of the same names for a number of years. For example, the name Jacob has been in the top ten since 1993 and has been the #1 baby boys' name since 1999. Such trends are common, with some names remaining popular for more than a decade.
 

Where Do the Top Ten Baby Names Come From?

As you prepare to research the ten baby names, let's begin with a little history about where this list comes from. When an infant is born in the United States, either the parents or the hospital notifies the Social Security Administration (SSA) and sends the appropriate paperwork. The SSA is a U.S. government agency charged with keeping track of every American citizen and issuing social security numbers. In addition to issuing social security numbers, the SSA also maintains a database of every person born in the United States. Each year, the top ten baby names are compiled from these records.
 
Top Ten Baby Names Continued: Page 2