Noah and Sophia top the list of 2013 baby names as parents look for something to set kids apart
5/10/2014WASHINGTON — When naming a baby boy, many American parents are keeping it biblical — but for the first time in more than 50 years, the name isn’t Jacob or Michael.
For the first time, the name Noah won first place as the most popular boy’s name in 2013, knocking Jacob to third place, according to the Social Security Administration, which began compiling the popularity lists in 1997 with names dating back to 1880.
Liam took second place this year. In the four and five spots were Mason and William. Six, seven, eight, and nine were Ethan, Michael, Alexander, and Jayden. Daniel made the top 10 for the first time and was the only new name on the top 10 list for last year, according to data the administration released Friday.
Among the girls, Sophia was the most popular name, followed by Emma and Olivia, according to the Social Security list. Rounding out the top five were Isabella and Ava. The bottom five were Mia, Emily, Abigail, Madison, and Elizabeth.
Since 1914, the five most popular boys’ names have been James, John, Michael, Robert, and William, according to Social Security records, while the five most popular girls’ names have been Mary, Patricia, Jennifer, Elizabeth, and Linda.