Michael and Isabella are so popular
The most popular names for babies born in New York State last year were Michael (for boys) and Isabella (for girls), according to data from the Social Security Administration. Those names also topped last year's list.
The 10 ten names in 2008 for each gender are after the jump.
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Comments
I know I might get the online equivalent of tomatoes thrown at me for saying this, but I really dislike the name "Isabella" (and no, I've never personally known an Isabella, so it's not that). Ditto for "Madison."
... said Kevin Marshall on May 12, 2009 at 3:11 PM | link
I am finally off the list. Score!
... said jess on May 12, 2009 at 3:15 PM | link
This data shows two possible things- that New Yorkers are much better at coming up with a greater variety of girl names or New Yorkers are giving their baby girls away before naming them. There are just so many more baby boys in this data!
... said Katherine on May 12, 2009 at 4:05 PM | link
@Katherine--It's the former; the birth rate is still approximately 50/50 (give or take) for girls & boys, but parents in the US traditionally have always been considerably more creative w/naming their daughters than their sons. (My folks had a ton of "creative" names that would have been horrible picked out for a little girl. Luckily, they went w/the most sensible moniker on the list. The little boy name they'd picked out? John.)
... said Kim on May 12, 2009 at 4:17 PM | link
Glad to be a trend setter!!! I was barely in the top 100 in the 1970s.
... said abby on May 12, 2009 at 4:26 PM | link
After watching John Adams last year I totally wanted to a future daughter Abigail. She totally rocked!
... said Melissa on May 12, 2009 at 5:07 PM | link
We were considering Isabella... glad we didn't go with it. She would have been too 'ordinary'. Went with Francesca instead!
... said kmg on May 12, 2009 at 8:45 PM | link
I bet Isabella is number 1 because of the Twilight books!
... said Al on May 12, 2009 at 9:23 PM | link
http://www.gardnermuseum.org/isabellas.asp
Isabellas gain free admission forever at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston; I hope a few of the new Isabellas take up on the offer.
... said Rohan on May 13, 2009 at 3:31 PM | link
My name is now second?! I used to be unique in the '80s and '90s. Sad...
... said Olivia on May 13, 2009 at 6:29 PM | link