Watch List Second Annual Baby Nameupswingbabynames.com/wp-content/reports/Upswing... · Wild Name: Abcde (Ab-si-dee) Watch List Overview The Second Year (2011-2012) Watch List Names

Watch ListSecond Annual Baby Name

Watch List OverviewLast year began an Upswing Baby Names tradition: a watch list, comprised of names often mentioned on UBN or names with potential that will probably appear on the site at some point.

This is the second annual Watch List Report. Included are new names from this year and names from last year's watch list. Birth numbers are compared from the first year a name appears in the report to the present.

I plan to update this report every year when the U.S. Social Security Administration releases the top baby names. The list will grow as new names are added each year. As a bonus, you will get the new report each year. If you no longer wish to receive updates, you can easily unsubscribe at any time.

Enjoy,Angela @ Upswing Baby Names

baby name watch list - upswingbabynames.com [email protected]

http://upswingbabynames.com

Watch List OverviewThe First Year (2010-2011) Watch List Names are:


Aloysius Greta

Amos Lara

Atticus Millie

Cecily Milo

Effie Philippa

Ferdinand Thaddeus

Fern Wallis

Wild Name: Abcde (Ab-si-dee)


Watch List OverviewThe Second Year (2011-2012) Watch List Names are:


Arlo Juniper

Azalea Lachlan

Clover Lavinia

Crosby Louisa

Enoch Magnolia

Ewan Otto

Fritz Persephone

Geraldine Temperance

Hattie Viola


Watch ListFirst Year (2010-2011)

Name to Watch:


AloysiusNumber of babies named in

2010: 14 2011: 12 2012: 12

Trend: Down / Plateau

Why this name: Perhaps the low birth numbers aren't surprising to most people. After all, Aloysius is a little flamboyant. But in the current adventurous name landscape, this flamboyance gives Aloysius off-the-grid appeal. There are three things going for this name:1. The easy-wear nickname Alo tones down the flamboyant-factor and revs up the hip-

factor. 2. The name covers two up-and-coming trends in one: the us-ending (like Atticus and

Julius) and Alo has the o-ending (like Leo, Milo and Theo). 3. Aloysius is a Saint's name giving it some substance.

Eventually, I believe Aloysius' birth numbers will turn around.


Name to Watch:


AmosNumber of babies named in

2010: 170 2011: 243 2012: 272

Trend: Up

Why this name: Amos continues to climb at a good pace--not a dramatic pace, but not a stagnate pace. Parents continue to seek Biblical names with an offbeat appeal. The namesake Amos Lee may have also helped.

Amos must be finally shedding its commercial images: Amos & Andy and Famous Amos cookies. After swinging in and out of the top 1000 for five years, Amos hit the top 1000 in 2011 at #860. In 2012 it rose to #807.


Name to Watch:


AtticusNumber of babies named in

2010: 442 2011: 574 2012: 703

Trend: Up

Why this name: This geeky favorite is heading into mainstream territory. Atticus continues to climb and is heading into the top 400 (it ranked at #410). The name has been trending up a bit since first entering the top 1000 in 2004.

A significant development in 2011 were the first records of girls named Atticus in the U.S. Social Security data. There were only 7 female Atticus' born in 2011 and 9 in 2012. Parents concerned about Atticus going girl have no need to fret. The girl births only suggest the name's up-and-coming status. Once a boy name is on the rise, inevitably a few girls also get the name. For example, there were a few female Jason's born in the 1970s and 1980s when Jason was huge for boys.


Name to Watch:


CecilyNumber of babies named in

2010: 96 2011: 103 2012: 114

Trend: Up

Why this name: This delicate version of Cecilia continues to climb, but very slowly. For someone who loves the name, this is good. This gives hope that Cecily is becoming more accepted while retaining its character. If Cecily appealed to only a few, the name would have difficulty gaining acceptance; if Cecily appealed to everyone it would lose its individuality. For now, Cecily meets the right balance.

Cecily is a bit more unexpected that its cousin Cecilia, and makes an alternative to powerhouse Lily. Names with prominent L's, even in the middle, are trendy. The only surprise is that Cecily hasn't gone up more dramatically and is still outside the top 1000. I predicted Cecily would enter those ranks in 2012 and was blissfully wrong. However, I'm still confident the name will chart in 2013 or 2014.


Name to Watch:


EffieNumber of babies named in

2010: 28 2011: 41 2012: 37

Trend: Up / Plateau

Why this name: This smart, sassy name has a long way to go before hitting the top 1000. Effie is wonderfully underused. A nickname-name that manages to be both sweet and intriguing.

Effie has qualities that could make it hot:1. Effie is obviously similar to powerhouse Ellie.2. Effie peaked in the 1880's just outside the top 50, making it ready for revival since

many names from that time are coming back in style.3. Names with F (or the F sound) are catching on: Fiona, Josephine, Phoebe, Sophia.


Name to Watch:


FerdinandNumber of babies named in

2010: 23 2011: 20 2012: 20

Trend: Down / Plateau

Why this name: What I said last year remains true:

Ferdinand is bold. Ferdinand is old-fashioned. Ferdinand is an explorer. Ferdinand has a terrific meaning: brave. And don't forget the cute nickname Ferdie.

Ferdinand is a great find. Here is an exceptional boy name with a history and few takers.


Name to Watch:


FernNumber of babies named in

2010: 32 2011: 34 2012: 45

Trend: Up

Why this name: Botanical names and storybook names exude style and this name represents both. While this name is slowly going up, it is still way outside the top 1000.

Fern happens to be a character in a classic children's book, Charlotte's Web. The title character's name, Charlotte, took off big time, why not Fern? It might be awhile before the pig's name, Wilbur, takes off.

With its one syllable, Fern's best potential may be as a middle name, an alternative to go-to middle name Rose.


Name to Watch:


GretaNumber of babies named in

2010: 431 2011: 407 2012: 439

Trend: Up / Plateau

Why this name: Greta rebounded a little in 2012 after a slight decline in 2011. Greta is stylish but remains outside the top 500 at #643 in 2012.

Greta is a Hollywood-inspired alternative to Ava, less obvious than go-to substitutes Eva and Ada. This name is terrific for those looking for something glamorous but not girly.

Last peaking in the 1930's but never reaching the top 300, Greta could easily come back stronger than ever.


Name to Watch:


LaraNumber of babies named in

2010: 299 2011: 278 2012: 312

Trend: Up / Plateau

Why this name: Some futurists felt this decade would be Lara's decade, namely Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, who authored Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything.

Back in 2005 Levitt and Dubner released a list of predicted top names for 2015 and Lara was on the list. Two years away from 2015, Lara ranks in the 800s. The likelihood of this prediction coming true seems remote, but Lara did go up slightly in 2012.

While Lara sounds similar to Laura, the names don't share the same origins. Lara is the Russian short form of Larisa.


Name to Watch:


MillieNumber of babies named in

2010: 305 2011: 324 2012: 383

Trend: Up

Why this name: This is a U.K. darling where it ranked at #35 for 2011, down slightly from #32 the year before. Evidence of Millie's U.S. potential:

1. Nickname style girl names ending-in-ie are becoming stylish. Consider the popularity of Ellie and Sadie.

2. Besides the popular nickname style, Millie is also very similar to both Molly/Mollie and Emily/Emilie, two very current vintage names.

3. Millie last peaked in 1881 but just missed the top 100, making Millie a prime come-back-stronger-than-ever revival name. (Think of Sophia and Isabella.)

It is just a matter of time.


Name to Watch:


MiloNumber of babies named in

2010: 649 2011: 826 2012: 946

Trend: Up

Why this name: Milo's increase in 2012 wasn't as dramatic as its increase the year before, but the name exhibits two trends, suggesting its climb up the chart is far from over:

1. Moderate late 19th century hits that have come-back-stronger-than-ever and 2. Names-ending-in-O

The only downside is Milo might be too vintage-trendy. But many wonderful names that are practically obscure such as Linus and Roscoe could also be considered vintage-trendy and I would never discourage parents from using them.


Name to Watch:


PhilippaNumber of babies named in

2010: 25 2011: 53 2012: 51Trend: Down / Plateau

Why this name: Philippa became one of those names that embodied 2011. In 2011 Pippa (short for Philippa) Middleton, sister to Prince William's new bride, Catherine Duchess of York, made a stunning appearance at the royal wedding.

Even before the famous namesake, Philippa was slowly making some headway. Way back in 2005, long before Pippa Middleton was a household name, Freakonomics authors Levitt and Dubner predicted Philippa would be a top girl name for 2015.

This prediction seems reasonable, but unless there's a dramatic uptick in Philippa's within the next two years, the prediction will be wrong. The real winner may be the diminutive Pippa, which just broke 100 babies in 2012--nearly twice as many babies as Philippa.


Name to Watch:


ThaddeusNumber of babies named in

2010: 197 2011: 220 2012: 227Trend: Up

Why this name: Thaddeus is slowly climbing, but I have been watching him closely, waiting for a dramatic increase in births. Usually when I love a name like I love Thaddeus, a lot of people discover they love it too. I feel Thaddeus will hit the mainstream eventually.

The name appeals to a those who love offbeat Biblical names, and there is no shortage of those parents. And, as I said before, Thaddeus is handsome. And he has a few nicknames: Thad, Tad, and Ted.

One of the most popular UBN Spotlight Name posts is Spotlight on Thaddeus. I see great things for Thaddeus.


http://upswingbabynames.com/2012/01/spotlight-on-thaddeus/

Name to Watch:


WallisNumber of babies named in

2010: fewer than 5 - if any

2011: fewer than 5 - if any

2012: 7

Trend: NA

Why this name: Rooting for Wallis may be risky, but it's a managed risk. And in 2012 the name reappeared in the Social Security data after being completely absent in 2010 and 2011 (there were fewer than 5 births). Of course seven births is hardly enough to indicate a trend.

Beyond the numbers, some of the boldest choices eventually become mainstream, and I feel Wallis is similar to androgynous breakout hit Harper which hit #24 in 2012.

Consider that back in 1990 Harper was barely a blip on the radar, given to 7 baby girls. Since entering the top 1000 in 2004, Harper has made impressive leaps each year. By 2036 Wallis could catapult into the top 25.


Wild Name:


AbcdeNumber of babies named in

2010: 24 2011: 21 2012: 18Trend: Down / Plateau

Why this name: How is it pronounced, do you ask? Answer: Ab-si-dee

I was relieved to see Abcde continue to fall. I feared it could be the next Nevaeh, and that could still happen, but there's hope that Abcde will fizzle to become one of those long-gone novelty names. The world doesn't need another pretty sounding but contrived name.


Watch ListSecond Year (2011-2012)

Name to Watch:


ArloNumber of babies named in

2011: 217 2012: 267

Trend: Up

Why this name: Arlo was a newcomer to the top 1000 in 2011 and so far has been a success, increasing from #916 in 2011 to #818 in 2012.

Besides the trendy o-suffix, there's the folksy namesake, Arlo Guthrie, which gives the name familiarity and musical clout. With all of these combined qualities, Arlo could join the A-team of modern hit boy names: Aiden, Archer, Asher and Atticus. Arlo could be next.


Name to Watch:


AzaleaNumber of babies named in

2011: 197 2012: 286

Trend: Up

Why this name: Long-time favorite Lily is beginning to feel a bit wilted, but parents are still looking for botanicals as evident in Azalea hitting the top 1000 for the first time in 2012 at #906.

Azalea also boasts the letter Z, which has been fashionable for at least a decade and is found is favorites Eliza and Zoe.


Name to Watch:


CloverNumber of babies named in

2011: 109 2012: 140

Trend: Up

Why this name: Here's another botanical that may soon join Azalea in the top 1000. Clovers have a whimsical quality, surrounded in folklore. Clover is Lily's indie-music-loving sister. The name has a certain sass, like another botanical name with the fashionable letter V: Ivy.

Just as Ivy is fitting for baby girls born around the holidays, Clover is perfect for those spring and summer babies.


Name to Watch:


CrosbyNumber of babies named in

2011: 301 2012: 349

Trend: Up

Why this name: Like Arlo, this name has 60s-70s folk-rock appeal. Crosby is familiar from the band Crosby, Stills & Nash (also known as Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young). If that wasn't enough to catapult the name to the top, there's also legendary singer and actor Bing Crosby.

However, these associations have been around a long time, yet the name didn't chart until 2011. The established associations with their impressive musical talent, weren't enough to inspire enough baby Crosby's to put the name on the list.

What caused the name to finally chart (at an impressive #740) was a fictional character on the NBC family dramedy, Parenthood. After its debut in the top 1000, Crosby rose to #670 the following year.


Name to Watch:


EnochNumber of babies named in

2011: 211 2012: 192

Trend: Down

Why this name: Bold Biblical names appeal to many parents. Bold Biblical names can stand out by being long, such as Ezekiel, but the bold Biblical names that are slowly becoming noticed on boys are the short ones such as Amos and Enoch.

Rediscovered vintage names also appeal to many parents. Peaking at #202 in 1880, Enoch is yet another moderate late 19th century hit that never become commonplace, positioning it for rediscovery by hipster parents.


Name to Watch:


EwanNumber of babies named in

2011: 138 2012: 140

Trend: Plateau

Why this name: The low birth numbers for this name are astounding.

Consider the popularity of similar Owen, which ranked at #38 in 2012 and has been steadily climbing since the 1990s. Perhaps parents simply prefer Owen, which would explain why Ewan might rank in the 300s instead of the top 50, but Ewan doesn't even rank in the top 1000.

The only explanation I have found was the "ew" part of the name turns-off some parents. But that doesn't bother the British. In the U.K. the name most recently stood at #143.

I'm not complaining, just surprised. For parents who seek a name that is different yet fits in, Ewan is a terrific find.


Name to Watch:


FritzNumber of babies named in

2011: 47 2012: 30

Trend: Down

Why this name: The name is striking. Fritz covers not two, not three, but four baby name trends:

● Surname-name (with Germanic origins)● Vintage name (it was in the top 1000 from 1880 to 1968; peaking in 1888-89)● Stylish letter Z● One syllable

Fritz is more than the sum of its parts, however. Fritz is different for having German roots. German names aren't often found among top-ranking U.S. baby names. This may change as suggested by the steady climb of other German names such as Lorelei and Otto.


Name to Watch:


GeraldineNumber of babies named in

2011: 264 2012: 253

Trend: Down

Why this name: While Josephine is hot, hot, hot, Geraldine has just barely squeaked onto the top 1000 list. Despite the two names' blatant similarities, maybe it's obvious why Josephine dominates. First, there's the vast disparity between the names' masculine counterparts. While Joseph is considered timeless, Gerald is considered mid-century, and maybe a little dorky. But the biggest indicator may be the nicknames. While Josephine has sweet Josie (and a few others), Geraldine has hoaky Gerry (and few alternatives).

Nevertheless, for the fashion-forward family, Geraldine is one to consider. Geraldine doesn't need a nickname. The long form is simply rich and decadent. The children's book, The Very Fairy Princess, with a spunky protagonist named Geraldine, may help the name reach some notoriety like other storybook heroines Eloise and Matilda.


Name to Watch:


HattieNumber of babies named in

2011: 253 2012: 392

Trend: Up

Why this name: Tori Spelling brought this name to the public's attention when she and husband Dean McDermott chose it for their third child in 2011. The name re-entered the top 1000 that same year after being absent since 1968. In 2012 it rose an impressive 285 places from #994 to #709.

This isn't really surprising. Tori Spelling's daughter was born late in 2011--in October. If she had any impact on the name's popularity, it was dramatic considering those 2011 births would have been concentrated near the end of the year, in October, November and December.

Besides the having a vintage nickname style, Hattie is an old-fashioned alternative to modern hits Hadley, Hailey, and Haley.


Name to Watch:


JuniperNumber of babies named in

2011: 262 2012: 296

Trend: Up

Why this name: Juniper was mentioned a lot on name blogs for a couple of years before it hit the top 1000 in 2011. So far the name has been climbing.

This is one of those names that has no famous namesake, it simply shines because it combines the appeal of the past and the present. Juniper is similar to 70s hit names Jennifer and Heather, and current tree names like Willow. The name is also similar to June which has come back in a big way.

I predict this name will continue to go up in popularity, but the question is: will Juniper gently climb or suddenly soar? Either possibility is imaginable.


Name to Watch:


LachlanNumber of babies named in

2011: 178 2012: 183

Trend: Up

Why this name: Lachlan is mainstream in Australia, where it ranked at #7 in 2012 and is beginning to decline after its peak at #2 in 2002 and 2005.

In America, Lachlan doesn't even chart, but that could easily change. Lachlan has that "clanging" sound, like Declan, which has dramatically climbed the chart the past 5 years reaching the top 150 in 2012.


Name to Watch:


LaviniaNumber of babies named in

2011: 39 2012: 52

Trend: Up

Why this name: Here's a name with mainstream sound that isn't mainstream at all.

There were over 300 times as many Olivia's as there were Lavinia's born in 2012. While the number of newborn Lavinia's has gone up a little in 2012, the name is still far from reaching the top 1000.


Name to Watch:


LouisaNumber of babies named in

2011: 194 2012: 222

Trend: Up

Why this name: Europeans love this name. In France, the name ranked #195 in 2010. In the U.K. it ranked #259 in 2010. The more straightlaced Louise ranked even higher at #10 in France and #208 in the U.K.

While Louise may seem too matronly for U.S. tastes, Louisa sure has potential. Besides having literary clout as the author of the classic Little Women, Louisa would make a wonderful sister for U.S. top 100 names such as Amelia, Charlotte, Grace, Madeline, and Sophia.

For all of its top 100 style, Louisa hasn't even hit the top 1000 yet, but it almost made it in 2012 with 222 births.


Name to Watch:


MagnoliaNumber of babies named in

2011: 185 2012: 218

Trend: Up

Why this name: For those who like Maggie, but only as a nickname, Magnolia is a sweet, Southern inspired alternative to the traditional Margaret.

Magnolia may not be traditional, but it has a story. Magnolia became familiar as a character in the novel and musical Showboat, which originated in the late 1920s. The musical has since been reproduced over the years with a few revisions.

Magnolia had been in the top 1000 most years between 1880 and 1940, but barely ranked higher than the top 500. While the name hasn't re-entered the top 1000 yet, there's a good chance it could get there by 2013 as botanical names show no signs of slowing down.


Name to Watch:


OttoNumber of babies named in

2011: 213 2012: 286

Trend: Up

Why this name: This palindrome of a name was also the name of the late Anne Frank's father, the only member of his family to survive the Holocaust. Besides Otto Frank, there's also Otto I, also known as Otto the Great, founder of the Holy Roman Empire.

A name that combines eye-catching style with substance is sure to catch on eventually, especially among urban trendsetters. And the name appears to be catching on. In 2011 Otto appeared in the top 1000 for the first time since 1974 and in 2012 Otto soared 184 places to #785.


Name to Watch:


PersephoneNumber of babies named in

2011: 134 2012: 141

Trend: Up

Why this name: Another Greek Mythology name starting with a P has soared to the top 150 in the past few years. That name is Penelope, a Kardashian baby.

Persephone isn't in the top 1000 yet, but neither was Penelope back in 2000. In 2012 Penelope ranked at #125.

If this name seems unusual, consider its blatant similarity to 80s hit Stephanie.


Name to Watch:


TemperanceNumber of babies named in

2011: 273 2012: 313

Trend: Up

Why this name: The name of the female protagonist on long-running Fox hit Bones has caught on with parents, entering the top 1000 for the first time in 2011.

Word names such as Felicity and Verity are seeing renewed popularity. Temperance is a member of this genre and also happens to have a calming presence.


Name to Watch:


ViolaNumber of babies named in

2011: 134 2012: 162

Trend: Up

Why this name: While Violet hit the top 100 in 2012 and shows no sign of slowing down, Viola has still not hit the top 1000.

Over a century ago, Viola was the more popular name--with good reason: Viola is not only a flower, but also an instrument and a Shakespeare name.


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Watch List Second Annual Baby Nameupswingbabynames.com/wp-content/reports/Upswing... · Wild Name: Abcde (Ab-si-dee) Watch List Overview The Second Year (2011-2012) Watch List Names