George

Iconoclasts though we may be, we like Fred, we like Frank, and we like George, which was among the Top 10 from 1830 to 1950, when the number of little Georges started to decline. Solid, strong, royal and saintly, yet friendly and unpretentious, we think that George is in prime position for a comeback, like its sister Georgia.

George was the name of the king of Britain for 116 straight years, as well as the patron saint of England, Saint George, who, by slaying the dragon became the symbol of good conquering evil. America's most famous George is, of course, Washington, the Father of Our Country.

Just a few of the many many possible namesakes are George Handel, Shaw, Bush, Gershwin, Burns, Clooney, Shearing, Steinbrenner, Stephanopoulos, Harrison, Orwell, McGovern, Lucas and Clooney.

Celebrities who have chosen George for their sons include Kristin Scott Thomas, Jane Kaczmarek and Eva Herzigova. George Forman named all five of his sons George.

Not surprisingly, there are Georges scattered through English and American literature, including in two Jane Austen novels, and in Vanity Fair, Uncle Tom's Cabin and An American Tragedy, not to mention Curious George, "George of the Jungle," George Jetson, George Jefferson, George Bailey and George Costanza.