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As the holiday season bears down upon us and the world prepares to say goodbye to 2013, families are reflecting on the trends and events of the past year. Common customs at the end of each calendar year are for organizations to release lists of popular names, products, or personalities that were the most trending headlines.
One list that is relevant for new or expecting parents is the BabyCenter Magazine’s list of the Top 100 Baby Names of 2013. The rankings were based on 555,000 babies born throughout the year to families who are registered members of the BabyCenter network.
The most significant change from 2012 to 2013 is under the boys’ list of names. After eight years as the favoured boy’s name, Aiden was at last dethroned by the name Jackson, which took the top spot on the list for the very first time.
There were less significant changes on the girls’ list of names. The name Sophia, for the fourth year in a row, ranked as the favoured baby girl name for new families. The one notable difference on the list of girl names was the name Emily, which slid into the top ten by displacing the name Madison.
Linda Murray, BabyCenter Global Editor in Chief, spoke about the list following its release. According to Murray, families are increasingly choosing to name their children after friends or elders rather than following the trend of celebrity names.
“One of the biggest trends we see this year is a growing desire among new parents to choose a baby name with personal meaning. Family names are all the rage, and grandparents are the number one source of inspiration for new parents.”
BabyCenter conducts its Baby Names Survey every year by relying on feedback from new and existing parents. The questions probe into the psychology of the parents to understand what names resonate with the families and more importantly what factors are important in selecting those names.