2013 Playground Analysis: How combined spellings change the rankings

By Kelli Brady, The Name Freak!

For a second year, I present the “real” Top 50 by combining the different spellings of each name. Because when you hear “Jacob!” on the playground, you have no idea how his name is spelled, but you know you hear the name a lot. Where does it really rank compared to other names?

Note: These are the combined spellings of the names in the Top 1000 only. The main name listed is the spelling given to the most babies in 2013 (SSA Rank is in parentheses). The others are in alphabetical order. Opinions vary on how different spellings are pronounced. I went with my best judgment.

GIRLS

Unlike in 2012, the Top 5 girl names in 2013 do not change at all after combining the spellings.  The rest of the list varies, sometimes greatly. Zoey again jumps from #24 to #8, but the largest jumps are by Adalynn (#173 to #34), Kaitlyn (#134 to #43) and Elena (#132 to #46).

1. Sophia (1) – Sofia2. Emma (2)3. Olivia (3) – Alivia, Alyvia4. Isabella (4) – Isabela, Izabella5. Ava (5) – Avah6. Emily (7) – Emely, Emilee, Emilie, Emmalee7. Mia (6) – Miah8. Zoey (24) – Zoe, Zoie9. Aubrey (18) – Aubree, Aubri, Aubrie10. Abigail (8) – Abbigail11. Madison (9) – Maddison, Madisyn, Madyson12. Chloe (14) – Khloe13. Madelyn (68) – Madalyn, Madalynn, Madeleine, Madeline, Madelynn, Madilyn, Madilynn14. Layla (30) – Laila, Lailah, Laylah, Leila, Leyla15. Riley (45) – Rylee, Ryleigh, Rylie16. Avery (12) – Averi, Averie17. Arianna (44) – Ariana, Aryana, Aryanna18. Lily (27) – Lillie, Lilly19. Amelia (17) – Emelia, Emilia20. Elizabeth (10) – Elisabeth21. Addison (19) – Addisyn, Addyson22. Charlotte (11)23. Natalie (21) – Natalee, Nataly, Nathalie, Nathaly24. Aaliyah (36) – Aleah, Aleigha, Alia, Aliya, Aliyah25. Brooklyn (28) – Brooklynn26. Evelyn (20) – Evalyn, Evelynn27. Kaylee (41) – Caylee, Kailee, Kailey, Kayleigh, Kaylie28. Hannah (23) – Hana, Hanna29. Ella (15)30. Hailey (43) – Hailee, Haley, Haylee, Hayley31. Allison (34) – Alison, Alisson, Allyson, Alyson32. Harper (16)33. Mackenzie (62) – Makenzie, Mckenzie34. Adalynn (173) – Adalyn, Addilyn, Adeline, Adelyn, Adelynn35. Lillian (26) – Lilian36. Maya (72) – Maia, Miya, Mya, Myah37. Peyton (51) – Paityn, Payton38. Kylie (61) – Kiley, Kylee, Kyleigh39. Leah (33) – Lea, Leia, Lia40. Grace (22)41. Aria (40) – Ariah, Ariya, Ariyah, Arya42. Victoria (25)43. Kaitlyn (134) – Caitlin, Caitlyn, Kaitlynn, Katelyn, Katelynn44. Camila (39) – Camilla, Kamila45. Katherine (77) – Catherine, Kathryn46. Elena (132) – Alaina, Alayna, Elaina47. Sarah (48) – Sara48. Anna (35) – Ana49. Gabriella (38) – Gabriela50. Samantha (29)

If we were to compare this year’s Playground Analysis with last year’s, the following names fell out of the Top 50: Alyssa, Brianna and Mikayla; the following names entered the Top 50: Aria, Camila and Maya.

BOYS

While the 2013 SSA list gave us a brand new #1 and #2, the Playground Analysis shows the same top 4 as last year. The biggest mover was Kayden (#93 to #9), followed by Jace (#66 to #16).

1. Aiden (12) – Aaden, Adan, Aden, Aidan, Aidyn, Aydan, Ayden, Aydin2. Jackson (16) – Jaxen, Jaxon, Jaxson3. Jayden (9) – Jayden, Jadon, Jaiden, Jaydon4. Jacob (3) – Jakob, Jaycob5. Noah (1)6. Mason (4) – Maison, Mayson7. Liam (2)8. William (5)9. Kayden (93) – Caden, Caiden, Cayden, Kaden, Kaeden, Kaiden10. Ethan (6)11. Michael (7) – Micheal12. Alexander (8) – Alexzander13. Elijah (11) – Alijah14. Daniel (10)15. Matthew (15) – Mathew16. Jace (66) – Jase, Jayce, Jayse17. James (13)18. Benjamin (14)19. Lucas (23) – Lukas20. Caleb (33) – Kaleb21. Logan (17)22. David (18)23. Anthony (19)24. Joseph (20)25. Joshua (21)26. Andrew (22)27. Christopher (26) – Cristopher, Kristopher28. Christian (35) – Cristian, Kristian29. Gabriel (24)30. Dylan (28) – Dilan, Dillon31. John (27) – Jon32. Samuel (25)33. Carter (32) – Karter34. Landon (39) – Landen, Landyn35. Isaac (29) – Issac36. Jonathan (42) – Johnathan, Johnathon, Jonathon37. Ryan (30) – Rayan38. Nicholas (54) – Nickolas, Nicolas, Nikolas39. Connor (56)- Conner, Conor, Konner, Konnor40. Nathan (31)41. Brayden (48) – Braden, Braeden, Braiden, Braydon42. Luke (34)43. Cameron (59) – Camren, Camron, Camryn, Kameron, Kamron, Kamryn44. Hunter (36)45. Isaiah (44) – Isiah, Izaiah, Izayah46. Henry (37)47. Owen (38)48. Jack (40)49. Wyatt (41)50. Dominic (68) – Dominick, Dominik, Dominique

If we were to compare this year’s Playground Analysis with last year’s, the following names fell out of the Top 50: Colton, Gavin and Jordan; the following names entered the Top 50: Hunter, Jace and Jack.

So, does all of this sound right to you?