Popular Baby Names - Changing Times, Changing Cultures
31764
Home & Family > Pregnancy
May 19, 2007
mwbarrows
Popular Baby Names - Changing Times, Changing Cultures
Nothing reflects changing times and changing cultures more accurately than popular baby names. For example, in 2004, the name "Mohammed" entered the top 20 list of popular baby boy names in England and Wales for the first time. This shows the rapid growth of the Muslim community in the UK over the past generation. The changes in popular baby names This is quite a radical change and if we look at the most popular baby names in the UK over the last century there are other major changes. Compare the 2 following lists: Popular baby boy names - 1904: 1. William, 2. John, 3. George, 4. Thomas, 5. Arthur. Popular baby boy names - 2004: 1. Jack, 2. Joshua, 3. Thomas, 4. James, 5. Daniel. As we can see, the only name that has stayed in the in the top 5 over the last 100 years is "Thomas". At the same time, the name "Arthur" has completely disappeared from the top 100 list. If we look at the lists of popular baby girl names, the changes are even more spectacular: Popular baby girl names - 1904: 1. Mary, 2. Florence, 3. Doris, 4. Edith, 5. Dorothy. Popular baby girl names - 2004: 2. Emily, 2. Ellie, 3. Jessica, 4. Sophie, 5. Chloe. Anyone know any girl under the age of 10 with the names Doris or Dorothy? Parents tend to be a lot more adventurous when naming their baby girls, which is why the girls' lists tend to show much more variety and individual baby girl names move up and down the list more frequently. Popular baby girl names are perhaps the best indicator of popular culture, for instance, the UK's 2005 list has seen the name "Keira" rise 13 places to 38, and the name "Scarlett" jump 25 places to 47 - based on the popularity of Hollywood actresses, respectively Keira Knightley and Scarlett Johansson. The difference in boys and girls is even more obvious when you look at the very top of the list of popular baby names; "Jack" has been the most popular baby boy name in the UK for the last 11 years, whereas the most popular baby girl name has changed from "Chloe" to "Emily" to "Jessica" between 2001 and 2005. Popular baby names - the US experience Interestingly, in 2004, the most popular baby girl name in the US was exactly the same as in the UK - "Emily". However, only one other name (Olivia) appeared on both lists. The more consistent approach to naming baby boys is again confirmed - 4 boys names appear on both lists (Joshua, Daniel, William and Joseph). Of these, "Joshua" is the highest placed on both lists - number 2 on the UK list and number 3 on the US list. Amazingly, if we go back 100 years, we see the same patterns. Once again, the most popular baby girl name in 1904 is exactly the same in both countries (Mary), with few other similarities. However, 3 of the top 4 baby boy names are the same (William, John, George) with "William and "George" being the top 2 on both lists, just in a different order. The differences between baby boy naming and baby girl naming is even more obvious in the US - 7 of the top 10 most popular baby boy names in 2004 were biblical names, including the top 4 - "Jacob", "Michael", "Joshua" and "Matthew". Only one girl's name (Hannah) in the top 10 has a biblical connection. In fact "Michael" - my own name - provides a great insight into both the changing times and the more conservative baby boy naming attitudes in the US: ? During the 1910s it appeared in the decade's list of most popular baby names at position 436. ? Over the 1920s, it rose to position 52. ? Over the 1940s it entered the top 10 at position number 9. ? Over the 1960s, it became the most popular baby boy name ? It remained in the number 1 position during the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s - 40 years at the top! ? Since the beginning of the new decade (2000s) it has fallen slightly to position 2. Mighty "Mo" But what's the latest on "Mohammed"? Well, having reached position 20 in the UK 2004, it actually dropped to position 23 in 2005. Hmmm...was 2004 just an unusual year? Well, no not really - if you look further down the 2005 list you will also see "Muhammad" at position 56 and "Mohammad" at position 70. "Mighty Mo" is on the move...
Michael Barrows' website has great info on baby names and lots of baby resources. Get your lists of baby names and free ebook packed with baby tips for new parents, visit the popular baby names website.
send email to mwbarrows
Write a Review
Add to My Favorite
Refer it to Friend
Report Article
Other links owned by this user
Its interesting to follow baby naming trends over the years. So what were the most popular baby names of 2005? This article investigates the 2005 top baby names in the USA and UK.
Category:
The popularity of baby names is really good measure of changing times and cultural changes. This article anaylses the trends in popular baby names in the US and UK over the last 100 years.
Category:
Tom Cruise's new baby Suri provides another entry into the wonderful world of celebrity baby names - and the name confirms why you should do your research before naming your baby! Michael Barrows explains.
Category:
Need some good baby shower games ideas - check out the Web! This articles describes a few of the great baby shower games that you can buy on teh Internet.
Category:
Southern Living magazine, one of teh giggest selling magazine in the US, celebrates its 40th birthday in 2006. This article looks at its history and current impact on southern living.
Category:
Indian baby names and deeply rooted in tradition and religion. This article explores the history of indian baby names and how things are changing in the modern world.
Category:
African American parents face several dilemmas when naming their children. This article examines the issues of cultural awareness, vs the potential disadvantages of choosing African American baby names.
Category:
Baby monitors are great parenting tools. But how do you choose a good one? This article gives some top tips on what to consider when buying a baby monitor.
Category:
There are lots of different types of baby carriers on the market. This article gives some tips on how to choose the best baby carrier for you.
Category:
What are the trends in baby boy names in the UK and the US? This article examines the continuing popularity of more traditional baby boy names in a rapidly changing society.
Category:
Biblical baby names names have always been popular in America. This article explains why and identifies the most popular biblical baby names.
Category:
Irish baby names have survived a very turbulent history. The articles explores how Irish baby names disappeared for a long period, but a now experiencing increased popularity.
Category:
Punk hairstyles are unique and colorful. This article looks at the development of punk hairstyles since the 1970s and examines the modern trends in punk hairstyles.
Category:
Used car seats - great bargains, but potential death traps! This article guides you through the process of buying a used car seat to ensure that you so so safely.
Category:
Italian baby names sound beautiful and usually have nice meanings. This article explores Italian baby naming traditions and highlights which names are currently the most popular.
Category:
Baby blankets and baby baedding is lovely and cosy - but it can alsobe dangerous. This article explores the dangers and explains the simple precautions you can take to avoid the dangers.
Category:
Baby girl names can be unique, exotic and downright strange. This article examines some of the recent trends in naming baby girls and their possible consequences.
Category:
Many celebrity baby names are very strange indeed. This article examines why celebrities choose strange names for their babies and investigates the weirdest ones of all
Category:
The birth of a new baby is a special occasion. This article gives tips on how you can make the baby announcement a unique and memorable event.
Category:
Disposable diapers are wonderfully convenient. However, many questions are being asked about their envionmental effects. This article explores this issue and highlights several other possible dangers of using disposable diapers.
Category:
Other links at Home & Family > Pregnancy
A pregnancy sign may be as clear as having medically or technologically proven affirmation of a pending birth or it may be as unclear as a feeling of being with child. A pregnancy sign may be one of 25 indications. Here is the list of the various pregnanc
Category:
A purely statistical article, it is an eye-opener where present-day adolescent lifestyle is concerned! Read it through to see what the numbers reveal about teenage pregnancies and abortions.
Category:
I have done a lot of reading both online and in books about preparing for pregnancy and motherhood and how important it is to have a healthy diet and lifestyle before you conceive your baby.
Category:
So the 40 weeks of week by week pregnancy have begun. Early pregnancy symptoms have already started to bother and the most irritating of all, pregnancy morning sickness is in full swing. Dealing with it is certainly not easy especially when so many import
Category:
During pregnancy, as the baby negotiates its way through three different stages of pregnancy called trimesters, what foods to take becomes important.
Category:
Site Sponsor
Directory Statistics
Articles: 68285
Categories: 501
Yahoo Entertainment
