What's In A Name

Isabella has taken the crown from Emma, but no one can top Jacob's 11-year stronghold on being the top baby name for boys in the U.S.  The Social Security Administration releases its annual list of top baby names every year around this time - Mother's Day - and only three names are new to the top ten lists. Mia is in the top ten for the first time for girls' names, while Noah and Jayden are new to the top ten for boys.

The SSA compiles the top 1000 names for girls and boys each year, but it's the top ten list that gets the most attention. But of note in the larger list are the fastest-rising names in popularity. Among them are Maliyah, Isla, Cullen and King. Among the names dropping most in popularity in 2009 were Lindsay, Brett, Alvin and Jonas.

Now on to the top ten:

10 Most popular names for girls:

1. Isabella
2. Emma
3. Olivia
4. Sophia
5. Ava
6. Emily
7. Madison
8. Abigail
9. Chloe
10. Mia


10 Most popular names for boys:

1. Jacob
2. Ethan
3. Michael
4. Alexander
5. William
6. Joshua
7. Daniel
8. Jayden
9. Noah
10. Anthony

At the www.ssa.gov web site, you can also see how the popularity of certain names has changed over time, and the most popular names for a particular year of birth.

List Source: U.S. Social Security Administration

Share This Story
Our Daily Things to Do email is the easiest way to plan your day.
Follow Us
 
Things to Do

St. Louis Earth Day Festival in Forest Park
Sunday, April 26, 2026

Enjoy live music, performance art, local food. a climbing wall, and hands-on activities for the whole family, as well as artists, aerial performers, educational exhibitors, diverse cuisine featuring local, organic, vegetarian and vegan options and more. Please bring your own bag to collect vendor information.

View this event »
Fancy Tea at The Butterfly House
Sunday, April 26, 2026

Don't be late for this very important date! The Fancy Tea Party at the St. Louis Carousel and The Butterfly House will have you feeling fancy and acting silly while enjoying tasty treats, delightful drinks, and fun crafts with Wonderland's most curious guest. Visitors can go in search of the while rabbit as adventure takes you through the gardens of The Butterfly House.

View this event »
Animals Aglow at the Saint Louis Zoo

Explore the Saint Louis Zoo in the evenings at the Chinese lantern festival Animals Aglow! Animals Aglow returns to illuminate the Saint Louis Zoo for the second year with dozens of new, towering lanterns and light displays. 

View this event »
Want daily ideas of things to do? How about special offers & giveaways? Sign up and we’ll handle the rest.
Popular Stories

Kids Unleash Their Creativity at Hands-On Summer Art Camps

Your creative child may have numerous opportunities throughout the school year to express themselves through art projects and other hands-on art experiences, but what about summer? When the classroom is closed, what do you do? Send your child to an artistically engaging summer camp, of course! 

Continue reading »
Summer STEM Camps Create Hands-On Fun + Immersive Learning for Kids & Teens

Want your child to learn about subjects in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), and have fun doing it? Help them further understand the inner workings of what's all around them by enrolling them in a STEM-fueled summer camp. You may be surprised at the wide variety of highly-acclaimed summer camps in the St. Louis area that put new and exciting twists on STEM concepts, creating hands-on fun for kids with the benefit of introducing them to some of the latest technologies in AI, engineering, coding and more.

Continue reading »
Missouri History Museum’s Route 66 Centennial Festival is Four Days of Free Family Fun

In celebration of the Mother Road’s 100th anniversary, the Missouri History Museum will host its Route 66 Centennial Festival from April 30 to May 3, featuring four days of discovery, entertainment, and learning for every member of the family.

Continue reading »
Get Ready to Climb and Explore at These Free Big Truck Days

If your kids love to explore big trucks and vehicles, these upcoming Big Truck Days are a perfect weekend outing. They'll get to climb on and explore fire trucks, police vehicles, bulldozers, bucket trucks, ambulances and lots more.

Continue reading »
Miriam Celebrates Neurodiversity, Supports Unique Learners

At Miriam School, students with complex learning differences are supported and celebrated as they grow academically, socially and emotionally. Miriam provides a tailored educational experience for learners in grades K-12 who have not found success in traditional classroom settings. Students’ challenges may stem from specific learning disabilities (i.e. dyslexia or dysgraphia), ADHD, level 1 autism, sensory processing disorder, anxiety, or speech and language disorders.

Continue reading »
You Might Also Like...

From Our Sponsors
Follow Us