Baby Names 2006

The new SSA list of top baby names for 2006 was just released (yesterday?). It's always great fodder for me, particularly this year! I'm always surprised by names that show up, particularly ones that in my opinion are spelled "incorrectly." Makayla at #45? I also get a kick out of the twin names...33 pairs are named Christian and Christopher?

E just came home from his run...funny, he said he kept seeing all these little boys and thinking, "I'm going to kill you if you ever come near my daughter." :)

A comparison of the top 100 names from New York state and California shows some interesting differences. I really thought there would be more similarities. Differences in popularity for some overlapping names are quite significant, too. Some of the differences seem to reflect culture (Aaliyah versus Alonda/Daniela/Esmeralda), some spelling variations (-elle endings in NY), some just style (Molly vs Jade).

Only on the New York list:
Aaliyah
Amelia
Anna
Caroline
Catherine
Charlotte
Chaya
Chelsea
Christina
Danielle
Esther
Eva
Gabrielle
Isabelle
Jada
Jayla
Jenna
Julianna
Keira
Leah
Lillian
Mackenzie
Madeline
Makayla
Molly
Morgan
Paige
Rebecca
Riley

Only on the California list:
Alondra
Amy
Andrea
Audrey
Camila
Crystal
Daisy
Daniela
Esmeralda
Fatima
Genesis
Giselle
Guadalupe
Jacqueline
Jade
Jasmin
Jazmin
Jocelyn
Karen
Karla
Katelyn
Kylie
Leslie
Liliana
Mariah
Mariana
Melissa
Ruby
Valeria
Valerie