For expectant parents, coming up with a name can be exciting. But it also can be overwhelming. With so many choices out there, it’s hard to narrow it down to your favorites. While books and websites can be helpful, you also can look to past years’ popular names for ideas. They are popular for a reason, after all. Take a look at some of the most popular girls’ names in 2012.
The top 10 baby girl names for 2012
For the second year in a row, Sophia, Emma, Isabella, Olivia and Ava ranked in the top five (only with one switch between Emma and Isabella), according to the U.S. Social Security Administration’s list of the top girls’ names in 2012. In fact, most of the names that ranked in the top 10 in 2012 were also in the top 10 in 2011, with a only a couple switches. For instance, Madison and Mia swapped places, with Mia taking the No. 8 slot in 2012. In addition, Elizabeth took over the No. 10 spot from 2011’s owner, Chloe. Here’s the complete list of the top 10 girls’ names of 2012:
Names ending in ‘ah’
In 2012, there were quite a few girls’ names that end in ‘ah.’ Some of these included Hannah (No. 22), Leah (No. 33), Aaliyah (No. 36), Savannah (No. 42) and Sarah (No. 43). In addition, the name Nevaeh held the No. 39 spot, with a small twist on the ‘ah’ ending by adding an ‘e’ to the ‘a.’
In fact, this trend of adding an ending to a name to make it sound more feminine was also shown in the list. For example, the name Victoria (No. 28) could also work as a boy’s name with the subtraction of the ‘ia’ for simply Victor. The same goes for No. 38, Gabriella, which is similar to the boy’s name Gabriel. If you are gravitating toward a traditional boy name, try adding a vowel on the end to make it more feminine like changing Alex to Alexa.
Gender-neutral names
On the other hand, more and more families seem to be adopting names that could work for either sex. Harper (No. 24), Taylor (46) and Riley (47) all made it on the top 50 list for girls’ names in 2012. However, none of those names made it on the top 50 list for boys’ names. It appears as though parents are more likely to name their girl a gender-neutral name than vice versa.
When looking for baby names, don’t let gender limit you, though. If you like a name, odds are you’ll love it for your little one regardless of whether you’re having a boy or a girl!
Classic names
Nowadays, parents are getting more innovative with their baby names. For example, the names Nevaeh (No. 39) or Aaliyah (No. 36) were not present on the 1993 list. And yet there still are some names that continue to be popular years. For example, common names like Samantha (No. 26), Allison (No. 38), Claire (No. 45) and Ashley (No. 50) made it in the top 50 for 2012. These names are still used today — they’re classic and traditional. When looking for a name for your little girl, start inside the family. You may find a name you adore, and you can pay homage to a loved one.
Regardless of what your family is going for, looking at past years’ popular baby names can help you decide. Don’t stop at the year 2012 — archive back as many years as you like to find a name for your little girl that you love!
Get the most recent trends with the most popular girls names of this year.
