Welcome!

If you're expecting a new baby -- or even if you're just starting to
think about getting pregnant -- and you're thinking about what to name
your little one, then you're in the right place.

Here's why:

Every parent wants their child to have a name that captures that child's
personality -- a name that's *unique, strong, and beautiful *(just like
your child).

But every parent's worst fear is the playground bully. So what if the
perfect and unique name you've chosen ends up saddling your little one
with *awful taunts* you've never even thought of?

Or what if you pick a beautiful name for your baby that seems totally
inappropriate by the time they hit age five?

Worse, what if you pick a name that sounds beautiful, only to learn
later that *you hate what that name means? *

Naming a baby is more complicated than it used to be. Names are cropping up out of
nowhere, then fading into obscurity almost the next day. And did you know that until the 1980s, Madison was only used as a boy's name?

Scroll down to read about the top baby names for boys and girls, including:

          o History and origin of the name
          o Meaning of the name
          o Popularity of the name since the 1880s
          o Common nicknames
          o Celebrities with the name

 

Top 7 Baby Names for Boys and Girls

Top 7 Baby Names for Girls:
#1 Baby Name for Girls: Emily
#2 Baby Name for Girls: Emma
#3 Baby Name for Girls: Madison
#4 Baby Name for Girls: Abigail
#5 Baby Name for Girls: Olivia
#6 Baby Name for Girls: Isabella
#7 Baby Name for Girls: Hannah

Top 7 Baby Names for Boys:

#1 Baby Name for Boys: Jacob
#2 Baby Name for Boys: Michael
#3 Baby Name for Boys: Joshua
#4 Baby Name for Boys: Matthew
#5 Baby Name for Boys: Ethan
#6 Baby Name for Boys: Andrew
#7 Baby Name for Boys: Daniel

#7 Baby Name for Girls: Hannah

Hannah is the #7 most popular baby name for girls.

Baby Name's History: Hannah is a biblical name. Hannah was mother of the prophet Samuel. Hannah conceived Samuel after praying to God to bless her with a child, since she had been barren. The name is Hebrew in origin.

Baby Name's Meaning: Hannah means "blessed by God," or literally "God has blessed me with a son."

Baby Name's Popularity over time:
Hannah was a popular baby name for girls in the late part of the 1800s and early 1900s, then dipped in popularity, only to start to gain popularity 1980, and jump significantly in 1990.

Nicknames: Ann, Anna, Hanny, Honna, Nan, Nanney, Nannie, Nanny

Famous people named Hannah include Hannah Storm (sportscaster). Mel Gibson named his daughter Hannah.

#7 Baby Name for Boys: Daniel

Daniel is the #7 most popular baby name for boys

Baby Name's History: Daniel is a biblical name. Daniel survived his death sentence in the lion's den. The name is Hebrew in origin.

Baby Name's Meaning: Daniel means "God is my judge"

Baby Name's Popularity over time:
Daniel has been one of the top 1,000 most popular baby names for boys in the U.S. every decade since 1880, and has never really dipped in popularity.

Nicknames: Dan, Danny, Danek

Famous people named Daniel include Daniel Johns (musician) and Danny DeVito (actor).

#6 Baby Name for Girls:

Isabella is the #6 most popular baby name for girls.

Baby Name's History: Isabella is a form of the name "Elizabeth." It is Italian in origin.

Baby Name's Meaning: Isabella, like Elizabeth, means "promised by God," or "beautiful one."

Baby Name's Popularity over time:
Isabella was a popular name in the late part of the 1800s and early 1900s, then dipped in popularity, only to skyrocket back starting in 1990,

Nicknames: Bella, Bel, Belle, Sabella, Sabelle, Issie, Izzie, Izzy

Famous people named Isabella include Isabella Rossellini (actor). Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman named their daughter Isabella.

#6 Baby Name for Boys: Andrew

Andrew is the #6 most popular baby name for boys

Baby Name's History: Andrew is a biblical name. Andrew was the first to be chosen of the 12 apostles. The name is Greek in origin. Saint Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland and Russia.

Baby Name's Meaning: Andrew means "man, warrior."

Baby Name's Popularity over time:
Andrew has been one of the top 1000 baby names for boys since 1880. It has never really dropped in popularity.

Nicknames: Andy, Drew

Famous people named Andrew include Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Andy Warhol (artist).

#5 Baby Name for Girls: Olivia

Olivia is the #5 most popular baby name for girls.

Baby Name's History:    
Olivia is a Latin name.  It was created by Shakespeare as the name of a character in his play "Twelfth Night." He also used the name Olivia for the doomed heroine in Hamlet .

Baby Name's Meaning:   
Olivia means "olive tree."  The olive tree is  a symbol of fruitfulness, dignity, and beauty.

Baby Name's Popularity over time:    
Olivia has been one of the top 1,000 most popular baby names for girls in the U.S. every decade since 1880, but has become most popular since 1990.

Nicknames:    Liv, Liva, Livia, Livvie, Olive, Ollie

Famous people named Olivia include Olivia Newton-John (singer) and Olive Oyl (Popeye's girlfriend).