What's in a name?

Top Baby Names of the Century

1900s
Say what? Mildred was in the top 10 girls’ names in the aughts? Does anyone even know a Mildred anymore (who’s not a grandma)?
Top 10 Girls’ Names:

1. Mary

2. Helen

3. Margaret

4. Anna

5. Ruth

6. Elizabeth

7. Dorothy

8. Marie

9. Florence

10. Mildred

1920s
We’re just bummed Gatsby (or even Jay!) and Daisy didn’t make the top 10 lists in the Roaring ’20s.


Top 10 Girls’ Names:


1. Mary

2. Dorothy

3. Helen

4. Betty

5. Margaret

6. Ruth

7. Virginia

8. Doris

9. Mildred

10. Frances



1930s
The girls’ list changed dramatically in the ’30s -- Barbara, Shirley, Patricia, Joan and Nancy made their debuts in the top 10. Boys names not so much

Top 10 Girls’ Names:


1. Mary

2. Betty

3. Barbara

4. Shirley

5. Patricia

6. Dorothy

7. Joan

8. Margaret

9. Nancy

10. Helen

1940s
A lot of important events happened in the ’40s: the invention of Velcro, Tupperware and the Frisbee, World War II and the rise of the name Michael in the top 10 boys’ list (it’s been in the top 10 every decade since!).




Top 10 Girls’ Names:

1. Mary

2. Linda

3. Barbara

4. Patricia

5. Carol

6. Sandra

7. Nancy

8. Sharon

9. Judith

10. Susan

1950s
The ’50s -- when bobby-soxers and greasers were most likely named James or Mary. What about Sandy and Danny?

Top 10 Girls’ Names:


1. Mary

2. Linda

3. Patricia

4. Susan

5. Deborah

6. Barbara

7. Debra

8. Karen

9. Nancy

10. Donna

1960s
The swinging ’60s were a mix of mod and psychedelic -- we guess that didn’t really apply to baby names.




Top 10 Girls’ Names:

1. Lisa

2. Mary

3. Susan

4. Karen

5. Kimberly

6. Patricia

7. Linda

8. Donna

9. Michelle

10. Cynthia

1970s
The ’70s -- a big time for bell-bottoms, platform shoes and polyester, plus some radical changes in baby names. Hello, Jennifer and Christopher!




Top 10 Girls’ Names:

1. Jennifer

2. Amy

3. Melissa

4. Michelle

5. Kimberly

6. Lisa

7. Angela

8. Heather

9. Stephanie

10. Nicole

1980s
The 1980s: big hair, leg warmers, Members Only jackets and the rise of the name Jessica.




Top 10 Girls’ Names:

1. Jessica

2. Jennifer

3. Amanda

4. Ashley

5. Sarah

6. Stephanie

7. Melissa

8. Nicole

9. Elizabeth

10. Heather

1990s
A decade of grunge, Beverly Hills, 90210 and the Spice Girls. Why didn’t the names Kelly, Dylan or Victoria (as in Beckham) top the list?




Top 10 Girls’ Names:

1. Jessica

2. Ashley

3. Emily

4. Sarah

5. Samantha

6. Amanda

7. Brittany

8. Elizabeth

9. Taylor

10. Megan

2000s
The new millennium and the age of Jacobs, Emilys and Isabellas.




Top 10 Girls’ Names:

1. Emily

2. Madison

3. Emma

4. Olivia

5. Hannah

6. Abigail

7. Isabella

8. Samantha

9. Elizabeth

10. Ashley

I thought this article I found off of thebump.com was very interesting.  I just pasted the popular girls names as that's all I am interested in at this point...  So what baby girl names would you suggest?  or are your favorites?  This is a very important decision and one that affects my sweet baby girl for her lifetime.