Playground Analysis 2012 - Top 50

Note: You can also see this information on Nameberry!

Why do I call this the Playground Analysis? Well, when you are on the playground with your kids and you hear a name, you don't know how it is spelled, but you do know how often you hear it. Some names might actually be more popular than the SSA list shows because it ranks names by their spelling, not by their sound. To see how popular a name actually is, I have gathered the various spellings of each name in the 2012 Top 1000 and come up with a new Top 50 for each gender!

Note: The main name listed is the spelling given to the most babies in 2012 (SSA Rank is in parentheses). The others are in alphabetical order. Opinions vary on how different spellings are pronounced. I am very aware of the differences between Madeline and Madelyn, as well as many others, but the fact remains that parents will pronounce names differently no matter the spelling. Some may pronounce Madeline with the long "i", while others may pronounce it with "lynn" at the end. The Mia and Mya name groupings are another contested issue. A lot of people also say Katherine and Kathryn are different. There is no way we can know for sure how each parent intended on pronouncing the name. So, I gathered the names using my best judgment. In the grand scheme of things, it may or may not influence the list order. But, as with all data analyses, there is no guarantee for perfection. :) Enjoy!

Girls

1. Sophia (1) - Sofia
2. Isabella (3) - Isabela, Izabella
3. Emma (2)
4. Olivia (4) - Alivia, Alyvia
5. Ava (5) - Avah
6. Emily (6) - Emely, Emilee, Emilie, Emmalee
7. Zoey (20) - Zoe, Zoie
8. Chloe (11) - Khloe
9. Madison (9) - Maddison, Madisyn, Madyson
10. Aubrey (15) - Aubree, Aubri, Aubrie
11. Abigail (7) - Abbigail
12. Mia (8) - Miah
13. Madelyn (67) - Madalyn, Madalynn, Madeleine, Madeline, Madelynn, Madilyn, Madilynn
14. Lily (16) - Lillie, Lilly
15. Layla (31) - Laila, Lailah, Laylah, Leila, Leyla
16. Hailey (32) - Hailee, Haley, Haylee, Hayleigh, Hayley, Haylie
17. Addison (14) - Addisyn, Addyson
18. Riley (47) - Rylee, Ryleigh, Rylie
19. Elizabeth (10) - Elisabeth
20. Natalie (17) - Natalee, Nataly, Nathalie, Nathaly
21. Aaliyah (36) - Aleah, Aleigha, Alia, Aliya, Aliyah
22. Avery (13) - Averi, Averie
23. Kaylee (34) - Caylee, Kailee, Kailey, Kayleigh, Kaylie
24. Arianna (49) - Ariana, Aryana, Aryanna
25. Ella (12)
26. Brooklyn (29) - Brooklynn
27. Amelia (23) - Emelia, Emilia
28. Allison (38) - Alison, Alisson, Allyson, Alyson
29. Hannah (22) - Hana, Hanna
30. Kaitlyn (118) - Caitlin, Caitlyn, Kaitlin, Kaitlynn, Katelyn, Katelynn
31. Mackenzie (71) - Makenzie, Mckenzie
32. Kylie (59) - Kiley, Kylee, Kyleigh
33. Peyton (53) - Paityn, Payton
34. Lillian (25) - Lilian
35. Evelyn (27) - Evalyn, Evelynn
36. Leah (33) - Lea, Leia, Lia
37. Charlotte (19)
38. Sarah (43) - Sara
39. Grace (21)
40. Harper (24)
41. Katherine (64) - Catherine, Kathryn
42. Gabriella (37) - Gabriela
43. Anna (35) - Ana
44. Samantha (26)
45. Alyssa (44) - Alisa, Alissa, Elisa, Elissa
46. Brianna (51) - Breanna, Briana, Bryanna
47. Victoria (28)
48. Makayla (69) - Mckayla, Michaela, Mikaela, Mikayla
49. Adalyn (198) - Adalynn, Addilyn, Adeline, Adelyn, Adelynn
50. Elena (139) - Alaina, Alayna, Elaina

The top 5 do not drastically change, but Zoey jumps from #20 to #7. Adalyn, Elena, Kaitlyn and Madelyn make huge gains after adding all of their various spellings.

Boys

1. Aiden (10) - Aaden, Adan, Aden, Aidan, Aidyn, Aydan, Ayden, Aydin
2. Jackson (22) - Jaxen, Jaxson, Jaxon
3. Jayden (7) - Jaden, Jadon, Jaeden, Jaiden, Jaidyn, Jaydon
4. Jacob (1) - Jakob, Jaycob
5. Mason (2) - Maison, Masen, Mayson
6. Ethan (3)
7. Noah (4)
8. William (5)
9. Liam (6)
10. Michael (8) - Micheal
11. Kayden (99) - Caden, Caiden, Cayden, Kaden, Kaeden, Kaiden
12. Alexander (9) - Alexzander
13. Matthew (12) - Mathew)
14. Elijah (13) - Alijah
15. Daniel (11)
16. James (14)
17. Anthony (15)
18. Caleb (32) - Kaleb
19. Benjamin (16)
20. Christopher (23) - Cristopher, Kristopher
21. Joshua (17)
22. Andrew (18)
23. David (19)
24. Joseph (20)
25. Logan (21)
26. Lucas (27) - Lukas
27. Christian (33) - Cristian, Kristian
28. Landon (34) - Landen, Landyn
29. Gabriel (24)
30. Brayden (39) - Braden, Bradyn, Braeden, Braiden, Braydon
31. Samuel (25)
32. Jonathan (35) - Johnathan, Johnathon, Jonathon
33. John (28) - Jon
34. Ryan (26)
35. Dylan (31) - Dillon
36. Nicholas (49) - Nicolas, Nickolas, Nikolas
37. Isaac (30) - Issac
38. Nathan (29)
39. Carter (36) - Karter
40. Cameron (54) - Camren, Camron, Camryn, Kameron, Kamron, Kamryn
41. Connor (59) - Conner, Conor, Konner, Konnor
42. Isaiah (42) - Isiah, Izaiah, Izayah
43. Luke (37)
44. Owen (38)
45. Gavin (40) - Gavyn
46. Dominic (70) - Dominick, Dominik, Dominique
47. Jordan (48) - Jorden, Jordyn
48. Wyatt (41)
49. Colton (65) - Colten, Kolten, Kolton
50. Henry (43)

Aiden and it's various spellings (there are NINE) take the top spot away from Jacob, and Jackson jumps from #22 to #2! Jacob doesn't show up until #4 after all the spellings of Jayden. And Kayden and Dominic look like the names with the biggest gain.

What do you think? Does this sound about right? Or are there any surprises?