Names that are Special in Your State

plunderb · January 2013

I've been fascinated by regional naming patterns lately, so I thought it would be fun to make a game out of finding names that are particularly popular in a particular state. Here are the rules:

1. Go to the SSA baby names page and click on the link that gives names "by State."

2. Pull up the top-100 list for your state (2011).

3. Find one girl name and one boy name that is either not top-100 nationally or that is way more popular in your state than its national rank.

4. Post the names here, along with your guess as to why your state loves those names so much.

I'm in Massachusetts, where we have Maeve (#93 vs. #590 nationally) and Patrick (#57 vs. #143 nationally). Lots of Irish people and people who are very into their Irish-ness.

PepVeroni · January 2013

I've recently been struck by the popularity of Gianna in New Jersey: it's ranked #12 vs. 63 nationally. I guess that's not as impressive as Maeve in Massachusetts, but it still astounds me a bit.

I guess there are lots of Italians here in NJ!

alohamora · January 2013

Fun!

For Minnesota, we have:

Maxwell - 62 here, 134 national
Bennett - 74 here, 239 national
Mohamed - 98 here, 428 national

Nora - 30 here, 137 national
Cora - 82 here, 204 national
Hazel - 90 here, 211 national

So I guess they like old lady names and last names for boys? Mohamed may be due to our Somalian population.

Helenahhandbasket · January 2013

Cool idea!

I am in New York.

Moshe is 569 nationally for 2011, while it was 88 in NY

Chaya is 715 nationally for 2011, while it was 70 in NY

I am guessing this anomaly is due to the large Jewish population in NY.

Brownie928 · January 2013

Mary 15 in Alabama.112 nationally

Double names are popular. Mary Kate, Mary Ann, Mary Grace, Mary Frances, etc.

Brantley 97 in Alabama and 320 nationally

Country music is popular and there is a singer named Brantley Gilbert. Bentley is also popular, so this is a twist on that.

lifeonthehill · January 2013

Here in Maine...

Wyatt is ranked #5 while national it is ranked #48! While that is not a huge jump I am actually surprised to see it isn't as popular elsewhere as it is here!

I am also embarrassed to admit that Neveah is ranked # 32 in Maine and ranks in at #893 nationally. Gag me!!!

This was fun!

rider5344 · January 2013

At least that I could find there is not a name in PA that is not ranked in the top 100 nationally

cg2307 · January 2013

Only got the girls right now, there are a bunch! I'm in New Jersey:

Angelina 32/104

brielle 40/126

esther 46/126

rachel 53/117

julianna 54/179

sara 44/131

nicole 60/116

juliana 66/147

adriana 62/132

valentina 63/153

rebecca 78/148

jennifer 87/134

jessica 90/120

adrianna 92/177

gabrielle 93/119

vanessa 94/118

liliana 97/115

amy 100/143

miriam 100/342

the biggest ones are:

chaya 88/715

chana 100/855

buggal28 · January 2013

Looking at the list for girls gave me a headache and I an usually a name your kid whatever makes you happy person. But 49 people chose Alivia. And 50 picked Khloe. OTH to make the top 100 only 17 people had to choose a name. And both top names only had 160 instances. Small states are cool.

ayamw · January 2013

I am in OH:

For girls we have

Kendall (78/US-123)

Paige (79/US-107)

I have no guesses as to why these are more popular ??

Boys - only one I saw was Brady (86/US-135) and I am assuming its after former Browns/Now KC player Brady Quinn who left in 2009 or 2010?? I don't like sports and I made the connection so it must be true!

salt78 · January 2013

Maryland Girls:

London (MD: 35 / National: 94)

Skylar (MD: 84 / National: 145)

I can only assume it's because people here have more terrible taste in names than other places.

All the boys were pretty much the same as the national list.

plunderb · January 2013

Sitting at the midwives' office right now. There are about 20 Christmas cards on the bulletin board and two of the new babies are named Maeve. Top 10 in 2012!

There's also a Fiona 83 vs. 313

kristinc01 · January 2013

Looking at naming trends is always fun. I looked at the national ranking of my name the year I was born - Kristin in 1985 #49 and compared it to that ranking in 2011 so see what a comparable name is - Khloe - (not a fan).

countrywed · January 2013

Fun Game!! So in ND I guess we like boyish names to me on girls

Brynlee (16 babies) ND-40 US-379

MaKenna (15 babies) ND-46 US-219

Teagan ND-57 US-213

Tenley ND-424 US-66

Addyson, Paityn, Payton (9 Babies each) ND-100 US 209, 691, 95

I wouldn't pick any of these names.

For boys it is a blue collar-agriculture crowd

Tucker (26 babies) ND-41 US-96

Gage (20 babies) ND-56 US-134 (this was on my long list)

Easton and Weston are both on the list ND-9, 97, US-102, 203

You had to have 12 boys with the same name to make the list and my Abel didn't make it.

Mochadoodle · January 2013

fitzpemberley:
Fun!
For Minnesota, we have:
Maxwell - 62 here, 134 national
Bennett - 74 here, 239 national
Mohamed - 98 here, 428 national
Nora - 30 here, 137 national
Cora - 82 here, 204 national
Hazel - 90 here, 211 national
So I guess they like old lady names and last names for boys? Mohamed may be due to our Somalian population.

Asher is another name that's more popular in MN. It's ranked #60 in MN and #113 nationally.

mhickey426 · January 2013

New York/Nation

Girls:

Brooklyn i was surprised it was #21 on the National List but I didn't see it on the top 100 for NY

Genesis 85/82

Serenity 93/66

Nevaeh 57/35

Boys:

Josiah 84/80

Brayden 64/37

I think they are all bad names and I don't know why they are so popular in NY or the nation

Mochadoodle · January 2013

KristinBrichacek:
Looking at naming trends is always fun. I looked at the national ranking of my name the year I was born - Kristin in 1985 #49 and compared it to that ranking in 2011 so see what a comparable name is - Khloe - (not a fan).

I did this, too.

Robyn was #287 in 1989.

Karen was #287 in 2011.

blu-eyedwife · January 2013

CA

Boys: Ivan (54 here, not top 100)

Girls: Valerie (43 here, not top 100)

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