# Top Baby Names for 2011 released **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 16, 2012, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-baby-names-for-2011-released/622042 "2012-05-16T00:40:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-baby-names-for-2011-released/622042/41 "2012-05-17T16:21:48Z")
Mia likely was popularized by Mia Hamm. ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-baby-names-for-2011-released/622042/42 "2012-05-17T16:24:34Z")
> [@Hippy\_Hollow](#): > > Can I be honest? I fucking hate the -ayden names. Jayden I suppose is tolerable, but there’s Brayden, Caden, Hayden (ok), and Kayden.? Amen. Also, Colton is a popular name that I loathe loathe loathe. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-baby-names-for-2011-released/622042/43 "2012-05-17T16:50:21Z")
Count me in as another who doesn’t buy into the Aiden/Kayden/Brayden phenomenon. I’m just glad to see that the top names are, for the most part, spelled non-insanely. I get irritated with parents sticking Y’s in where they don’t belong, or spelling a name in a weird way. That kid will be correcting people forever. I saw a Mykle recently. Why? I don’t have kids yet, but I have always leaned towards Adele as a name, since it’s my grandmother’s name and I think it’s pretty. Unfortunately, with the singer putting that name into the public consciousness again, it’s creeping up the popularity list. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-baby-names-for-2011-released/622042/44 "2012-05-17T17:14:50Z")
Funny, I met two newborns in 2011. I thought “what a rare and unusual name” for both of them. They are Aiden and Ava. ---
**Author:** ![mkecane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@mkecane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkecane)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-baby-names-for-2011-released/622042/45 "2012-05-17T17:45:04Z")
My name (Daniel) is in the top 10. I was surprised by that. I thought it was a top 20-30 name for a while, but it’s been top-12 since before I was born according to the SSA. That’s very surprising to me. I guess we Dans try to avoid each other. (Obligatory Onion [link](http://www.theonion.com/articles/most-popular-us-baby-names,7296/).) ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-baby-names-for-2011-released/622042/46 "2012-05-17T17:52:31Z")
I liked the name Chloe before it was cool. _Sips PBR_ I read a theory that name trends go thusly: the aforementioned monied, educated, Volvo owners coin or resurrect a new or passe baby name. It becomes popular amongst that crowd, and then spreads generally. Once the hoi polloi are using the name, the richie-elites deem it trashy, abandon it, and coin or resurrect a new set of names. To a certain extent it rings true. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-baby-names-for-2011-released/622042/47 "2012-05-17T18:03:49Z")
Well, cross any of those names off the list of names for our new baby. Too bad- I rather like Emma, Ava, and Mia. My sister’s name is Jennifer. My real name is something a lot less common for women born when I was. I always felt sorry for Jen because there was almost always another Jennifer in her class. She went with more unusual names for her two daughters, so I guess she _didn’t_ like always being one of several Jennifers. > [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](#): > > I liked the name Chloe before it was cool. _Sips PBR_ > > I read a theory that name trends go thusly: the aforementioned monied, educated, Volvo owners coin or resurrect a new or passe baby name. It becomes popular amongst that crowd, and then spreads generally. Once the hoi polloi are using the name, the richie-elites deem it trashy, abandon it, and coin or resurrect a new set of names. To a certain extent it rings true. Name trends do start with the socioeconomic elite and then move down. And names do tend to get recycled. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-baby-names-for-2011-released/622042/48 "2012-05-17T19:10:54Z")
> [@delphica](#): > > My impression of this is that the public figures are PART of the trend, not starting the trend. (I think this is the take of the authors of _Freakonomics_.) Even though it seems like there are more Britneys (with spelling variations) since Britney Spears’s rise to popularity, she was part of the bubble of Britneys herself. Right, this was a very interesting chapter of _Freakonomics_. The idea presented was that although many people think that parents are influenced by celebrities when choosing baby names, in fact parents are far more influenced by the baby names chosen by what they see as “high-status” people. The wealthy, and upper class, in particular. Celebrities are influenced the same way, and they are well known, so it seems like they are the source of the name, but their choices are the result of the same influences. Meanwhile the upper class parents don’t like to see their names sullied by too much use by the lower class, so they change the names they use regularly, and the cycle continues. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-baby-names-for-2011-released/622042/49 "2012-05-17T20:35:34Z")
> [@mkecane](#): > > My name (Daniel) is in the top 10. I was surprised by that. I thought it was a top 20-30 name for a while, but it’s been top-12 since before I was born according to the SSA. That’s very surprising to me. I guess we Dans try to avoid each other. Because two Dans will always try kill each other to absorb the other one’s powers? ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-baby-names-for-2011-released/622042/50 "2012-05-17T20:52:33Z")
Wow. Neither my fiance’s first name, which he loathes, nor his middle name, which he goes by, are in the top 1000 anymore. There are more boys named Lyric or Maxx or Maksim than these perfectly good (but a little old fashioned, and I like the middle name) names. ---
**Author:** ![Zjestika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/8edcca/32.png) [@Zjestika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zjestika)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-baby-names-for-2011-released/622042/51 "2012-05-17T23:14:18Z")
We named our baby girl (born April 25th) Simone, which is 649 in popularity, actually up a little from 2010. Totally unrelated: she’s the cutest thing EVER! ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-baby-names-for-2011-released/622042/52 "2012-05-18T00:19:36Z")
I despise the current hipster obsession with “unusual” names. The very worst are the ones who misspell perfectly good names - congratulations, all you’ve accomplished is that your child will have to correct the spelling of their name to everyone in perpetuity. I’m sure they’ll thank you for that. At least you have reassured them that you, oops I mean they, are unique snowflakes. But at least they are aren’t like those poor unfortunate Michaels and Avas, right? I mean, they’ll feel really sorry for their bosses for having normal names, I’m sure. My sons have totally normal white boy names and I consider that a gift to them. ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-baby-names-for-2011-released/622042/53 "2012-05-18T01:19:39Z")
> [@Ghanima](#): > > I despise the current hipster obsession with “unusual” names. The very worst are the ones who misspell perfectly good names - congratulations, all you’ve accomplished is that your child will have to correct the spelling of their name to everyone in perpetuity. I’m sure they’ll thank you for that. At least you have reassured them that you, oops I mean they, are unique snowflakes. But at least they are aren’t like those poor unfortunate Michaels and Avas, right? **I mean, they’ll feel really sorry for their bosses for having normal names, I’m sure.** > > My sons have totally normal white boy names and I consider that a gift to them. That is so true. It’s not like people with unusual names ever get anywhere in life. Just working for someone with a correct white boy name, if they’re lucky. I once heard of someone named Barack, of all things. He’s obviously doomed. And my name is spelled the normal way, but it’s a very unusual name and I always have to tell people how to spell and pronounce it. I do thank my mom for it, I like having an usual name. I like some common names too. You are strangely bitter about this. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-baby-names-for-2011-released/622042/54 "2012-05-18T01:28:51Z")
> [@Doctor\_Who](#): > > On the whole -ayden thing… How come you never hear Zayden?! It’s the next big name. You heard it here first! It’s starting already, I have a fringe relative who named her baby boy Zaden, or maybe it’s Zaiden? Either way… :eek: There’s also a set of twins in my family named Jayden and Rayden. Is Kaden usually a girl’s name or a boy’s name? Co-worker’s niece is named Kaden. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-baby-names-for-2011-released/622042/55 "2012-05-18T12:35:58Z")
> [@Ghanima](#): > > I despise the current hipster obsession with “unusual” names. The very worst are the ones who misspell perfectly good names - congratulations, all you’ve accomplished is that your child will have to correct the spelling of their name to everyone in perpetuity. I’m sure they’ll thank you for that. At least you have reassured them that you, oops I mean they, are unique snowflakes. But at least they are aren’t like those poor unfortunate Michaels and Avas, right? I mean, they’ll feel really sorry for their bosses for having normal names, I’m sure. When I started looking for baby names, I wanted something that wasn’t totally out there, but that wasn’t in the top 20. I figured that might give her the best of both worlds- not so likely to have another kid with the same name in her class, but not having to spell her name for everybody. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-baby-names-for-2011-released/622042/56 "2012-05-18T14:07:46Z")
> [@Zjestika](#): > > We named our baby girl (born April 25th) Simone, which is 649 in popularity, actually up a little from 2010. Totally unrelated: she’s the cutest thing EVER! Congrats. Simone is a beautiful name. You have to post pics! ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-baby-names-for-2011-released/622042/57 "2012-05-18T15:14:46Z")
> [@Zjestika](#): > > We named our baby girl (born April 25th) Simone, which is 649 in popularity, actually up a little from 2010. Totally unrelated: she’s the cutest thing EVER! Always reminds me of that chick from Head of the Class. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-baby-names-for-2011-released/622042/58 "2012-05-18T15:30:08Z")
Man. Some harshing on my name in this thread. I admit that I’m not a huge fan of it–vaguely entertained the notion of changing it to “London” when I was younger, which on the plus side has a lovely sound to it, but on the minus side would lead to a nickname of “Lonnie”. It’s quite odd hearing my name around–when I was a kid, if someone said it, it was a guarantee that they were talking to me. Now I hear it, look around, and there’s some three-year-old… ---
**Author:** ![Sally\_Mander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@Sally\_Mander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sally_Mander)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-baby-names-for-2011-released/622042/59 "2012-05-18T15:31:58Z")
> [@Craz3d117](#): > > Those are some pretty strange boys names, Mason in particular. Never heard that as a first name. I went to high school with a Mason (graduated in '84), and currently work with a Mason who’s in his late 30s. I also dislike all the names that rhyme with Aiden. My son, who is 15, seems to have an abundance of friends named Cody. Then again, he also has friends named Angus, Elmer and Larry. ---
**Author:** ![FrancisCastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b4bc9f/32.png) [@FrancisCastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrancisCastle)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-baby-names-for-2011-released/622042/60 "2012-05-18T16:41:24Z")
I’ll jump on the “I hate -aiden names” bandwagon. In my son’s kindergarten class, there are at least 5 boys with some form of the name. His name is always in the top 10, but we’ve always called him DJ. My other kids are declining in popularity: Justice - born at rank 320, now at rank 512 Kali - born at rank 427, now at rank 493 However, bigE’s name (Easton) is gaining popularity. He ranked at 102 this year. In the baby room at daycare, he spends his days with Boston, Gavin and Oliver. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-baby-names-for-2011-released/622042.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-baby-names-for-2011-released/622042.md?page=4)