Playground Analysis: The REAL most popular names

By Kelli Brady, Name Freak!

You must be aware of the 2015 SSA top baby name list by now, but are you a bit confused by the #1 names? Maybe you hear a lot more “Jackson!” than “Noah!” yelled at the playground? Well, by combining the different spellings of each name, we can determine which name is truly more popular. Because when you hear a name, you don’t necessarily know how it is spelled, but you do 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. When the numbers from the entire list are added, positions could change. The main name listed below is the spelling given to the most babies in 2015 (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

On the 2015 SSA list, Emma remains #1 in 2015 after taking over the top spot from Sophia in 2014. The rest of the Top 5 changes a bit, with Ava and Isabella switching places. However, the top 5 of the Playground Analysis has not changed from last year at all. Sophia is still on top when you add the alternate spelling Sofia. Emma is down to #3 after the variant of Olivia is also included. And Isabella passes Ava with its various spellings added. The changes between the SSA list and the Playground Analysis are plentiful however. The largest jumps that take place after adding the alternative spellings are by Adalynn (#123 to #9), Elena (#106 to #39), and Madelyn (#59 to #12). Adalynn also makes a huge jump in the Playground Analysis from 2014 to 2015 (#23 to #9).

1. Sophia (3) – Sofia

2. Olivia (2) – Alivia

3. Emma (1)

4. Isabella (5) – Isabela, Izabella

5. Ava (4) – Avah

6. Mia (6) – Miah

7. Emily (8) – Emely, Emilee, Emilie, Emmalee

8. Zoey (23) – Zoe, Zoie

9. Adalynn (123) – Adaline, Adalyn, Addilyn, Addilynn, Adeline, Adelyn, Adelynn, Adilynn

10. Amelia (12) – Emelia, Emilia

11. Abigail (7)

12. Madelyn (59) – Madalyn, Madalynn, Madeleine, Madeline, Madelynn, Madilyn, Madilynn

13. Madison (11) – Maddison, Madisyn, Madyson

14. Aubrey (21) – Aubree, Aubrie

15. Charlotte (9)

16. Chloe (17) – Khloe

17. Riley (35) – Rylee, Ryleigh, Rylie

18. Layla (30) – Laila, Lailah, Laylah, Leila, Leyla

19. Avery (16) – Averi, Averie

20. Evelyn (15) – Evalyn, Evelynn

21. Harper (10)

22. Ariana (46) – Arianna, Aryana, Aryanna

23. Elizabeth (13) – Elisabeth

24. Aria (29) – Ariah, Ariya, Ariyah, Arya

25. Lily (25) – Lillie, Lilly

26. Scarlett (22) – Scarlet, Scarlette

27. Brooklyn (31) – Brooklynn

28. Allison (39) – Alison, Alisson, Allyson, Alyson

29. Addison (24) – Addisyn, Addyson

30. Ella (18)

31. Natalie (27) – Natalee, Nataly, Nathalie, Nathaly

32. Leah (36) – Lea, Leia, Lia

33. Grace (19)

34. Victoria (20)

35. Maya (69) – Maia, Miya, Mya, Myah

36. Mackenzie (73) – Makenzie, Mckenzie

37. Nora (41) – Norah

38. Hannah (28) – Hana, Hanna

39. Elena (106) – Elaina, Alaina, Alayna

40. Lillian (26) – Lilian

41. Kaylee (61) – Caylee, Kailee, Kailey, Kayleigh, Kaylie

42. Camila (43) – Camilla, Kamila

43. Hailey (64) – Hailee, Haley, Haylee, Hayley

44. Kylie (66) – Kiley, Kylee, Kyleigh

45. Anna (44) – Ana

46. Sarah (58) – Sara

47. Skylar (42) – Skyler

48. Peyton (72) – Paityn, Payton

49. Katherine (84) – Catherine, Kathryn

50. Paisley (45) – Paislee

Skylar and Paisley enter the Top 50 of the 2015 Playground Analysis, while Gabriella and Annabelle fall.

BOYS

Both the 2014 SSA list and the Playground Analysis had no major changes to the Top 6, however Jayden and all of its spelling alternatives continue to fall as it moves from #7 to #8 in the Playground Analysis (after falling from #3 to #7 last year). William moves up to #7, but the rest of the top names stay in position. The biggest movers were Kayden (#95 to #9) and Jace (#75 to #29).

1. Jackson (17) – Jaxen, Jaxon, Jaxson

2. Aiden (13) – Aaden, Adan, Aden, Aidan, Aydan, Ayden, Aydin

3. Noah (1) – Noe

4. Liam (2)

5. Mason (3) – Maison, Mayson

6. Jacob (4) – Jakob

7. William (5)

8. Jayden (20) – Jaden, Jadon, Jaiden, Jaydon

9. Kayden (95) – Caden, Caiden, Cayden, Kaden, Kaeden, Kaiden

10. Ethan (6)

11. Alexander (8) – Alexzander

12. James (7)

13. Michael (9) – Micheal

14. Elijah (11) – Alijah

15. Benjamin (10)

16. Daniel (12)

17. Matthew (15) – Mathew

18. Carter (24) – Karter

19. Logan (14)

20. Lucas (16)

21. Grayson (47) – Graysen, Greyson

22. David (18)

23. Oliver (19)

24. Joseph (21)

25. Caleb (37) – Kaleb

26. Dylan (27) – Dilan, Dillon

27. Gabriel (22)

28. Samuel (23)

29. Jace (75) – Jase, Jayce

30. John (26) – Jon

31. Anthony (25)

32. Christopher (32) – Cristopher, Kristopher

33. Isaac (31) – Issac

34. Luke (28)

35. Henry (29)

36. Andrew (30)

37. Christian (43) – Cristian, Kristian

38. Joshua (33)

39. Wyatt (34)

40. Landon (46) – Landen, Landyn

41. Sebastian (35)

42. Owen (36)

43. Cameron (56) – Camren, Camron, Kameron, Kamren, Kamron, Kamryn

44. Connor (54) – Conner, Conor, Konnor

45. Nicholas (62) – Nickolas, Nicolas, Nikolas

46. Jonathan (48) – Johnathan, Jonathon

47. Nathan (38)

48. Ryan (39)

49. Jack (40)

50. Julian (45) – Julien

Julian rises into the Top 50 of the 2015 Playground Analysis, while Hunter falls.

Does this echo what you are hearing on the playground?