Most Popular Names: Quebec 2009
The official lists of most popular names of 2009 are starting to come in, and one of the most intriguing is from Quebec, the Canadian province where French is an official language and baby names have a distinct style.
The most popular names in Quebec are very different from those in the U.S. and other primarily English-speaking places, but different too from France.
While some choices on the Top 50 most popular names for each gender are familiar, others are wildly divergent. Emma, number 1 in the US, is number 3 in Quebec, for instance, with Chloe, Sarah, and Emilie (as opposed to Emily) also in the Top 25. The international William is Number 1 for boys, with U.S. most popular Jacob in 11th place and Zachary, Benjamin, Noah, Anthony, and Justin in the Top 25.
But then you have other names near the top of the list that are unusual or virtually unknown in the U.S. and the U.K. Lea, usually with an accent as Léa, is the Number 1 girls’ name, with such exotic choices as Maika, Noemie, Coralie, Laurence, Maelie, and Oceane in the girls’ Top 25. For boys, the Top 25 includes Olivier, Alexis, Felix, Antoine, Emile, Loic, and Mathis, pronounced Mat-TEES.
Here are the Top 100 most popular names, 50 each for boys and girls, in Quebec in 2009. For even more choices, go here.
22. MAELIE, EDOUARD
24. EMILIE, LOIC
32. CHARLIE, ETIENNE