Top Ten Baby Girl Names 2013

When having a baby, choosing the right name can be a long and difficult process. A name is something that your child will have for the rest of their life. It is important to pick the right one. Based on statistics gathered by the Social Security Administration, the top ten most popular baby girl names so far in 2013 are:

10

Sophia

Origin: Greek

The meaning of the name Sophia is simple; it means “wisdom.” It has been the number one girl’s name in the United States for nearly the last decade. Not only is it popular in the United States it is also immensely popular around the world. It has also been a top ten name in Canada over the last decade; a top 50 name is Australia during this same time frame, and top 100 name in England. The source of its recurrence in popularity isn’t quite known. It has been used regularly in English-speaking countries since roughly the 17th century.

9

Harper

Origin: English

The beautiful name Harper literally means “harp player.” The popularity of the name Harper has skyrocketed in recent years. In fact, the popularity  jumped more than 30 places between 2011 and 2012. The modern resurrection of the name Harper started in the mid-2000’s. Prior, it was the name was rarely heard of for either boys or girls. The author of the class To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee, was responsible for first bringing the name into public consciousness. The name Harper has also been used recently as female character names on popular TV shows Gossip Girls and The Wizards of Waverly Place.

8

Avery

Origin English

The name Avery has been around for several decades now, but is finally gaining traction in terms of popularity. The meaning behind the name avery is “ruler of the elves.” The name Avery has thought to be a popular alternative to the incredibly popular name Ava. In the year 1990, the name Avery was only the 802nd most popular girl name. By 2012 it was ranked 13th. Now for the first time in history, the name Avery has found itself in the top 10. One possible reason for its increased popularity in recent years could be a result of  Jason Sehorn and Angie Harmon naming their daughter Avery back in 2005.

7

Lily

Origin: English

Many female names over the centuries have been inspired by flowers and the name Lily is one of them. Lilies are known for their many irresistible attributes including a cool elegance, symbol of purity, innocence, and their appearance in Christian imagery. The name Lily has been a favorite among celebrity parents in recent years. Some celebrity parents who have named their child Lily include Johnny Depp, Vanessa Paradis, Chris O’Donnell, Kate Beckinsale, Fred Savage, and Greg Kinnear. The name Lily has also been a popular name for female characters in a number of novels. Some notable examples include Lily Bart who was the main character of Edith Wharton’s House of Mirth, Lily Owens in The Secret Lives of Bees, and the mother of Harry Potter. The more proper name, Lillian has also been rising in popularity.

6

Amelia

Origin: German

Traditionally considered a Victorian name, Amelia is one of the fastest-rising girl’s names as one of the primary alternatives to the overused Amanda and Emily. In just over 10 years, the name has increased 169 spots and now finds itself in the top ten most popular names. In England, the name is even more popular, where Amelia was the number one girl’s name in 2011. The name Amelia is also tied to the heroic aviator Amelia Earhart and the children’s book character Amelia Bedelia. The name Amelia is also a British royal name. The daughters of both King George II and King George III were both named Amelia.

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5

Abigail

Origin: Hebrew

The name Abigail means “father’s joy.” In the bible, Abigail was the wife of King David as described in the Hebrew Bible in the book of Samuel. She was said to be incredibly intelligent and beautifully and possibly one of the most influential female prophets in the Bible.  The name Abigail is commonly shortened to Abby, Aby, Abbie, or even Gail, although that is less common in recent years.

4

Charlotte

Origin: French

Charlotte is considered to be the feminine form of the name Charles. It was originally introduced to Britain in the 17th century. Since then it has been revered as a elegant name with a number of modern connections.

3

Emily

Origin: Latin

The name Emily is a derivation of the name Amelia. Amelia is a classical Roman family name that is believed to have resulted from the name Aemulus, which means “emulating.” Over the last 10 years the name Emily has continued to be one of the top names in the United States. Some famous people with the name Emily include: Emily Dickinson – Author, Emily Watson – Actress, and Emily Davison – British women’s suffrage supporter.

2

Olivia

Origin: Latin

The name Olivia is Latin for “Peace of the olive tree.” Society often attributes intelligence to the name Olivia. Although not typically the case, the name Olivia itself is a nickname for people named Elizabeth. It is considered simple, elegant, and easy to say. A common nickname for individuals named Olivia is “Liv.”

1

Emma

Origin: German

The meaning of the name Emma is “all containing” or “universal” depending on whom you ask. Some people believe the name Emma evolved as a diminutive of Emmanuelle. The name has been popular since the 1816 novel by Jane Austen named “Emma.” The foundations of the story were the inspiration for the modern movie “Clueless.”

 

Source: BabyCenter.com

Featured image: Flickr by Helene Samson

 

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