Top Girls’ Names of 2012

Our tally of the 100 most popular girls’ names of 2012 on Nameberry is in, and we have a new Number 1: Katniss.

The predominance of Katniss is more a testament to the power of the Hunger Games franchise than to baby name trends.

Our Number 2 girls’ name Charlotte, which has been Nameberry’s most popular girls’ name every year until now, is more reflective of a name that will actually be chosen by parents.  Imogen, which has moved up from Number 6 to claim the Number 3 spot, is another choice we see on the rise in the real world, though it has yet to break into the U.S. Top 1000.

Katniss is also the girls’ name that has risen the furthest on our list, followed by Penelope, propelled upward by its choice as a Kardashian baby name.

The girls’ names that have risen the most places since our 2011 count are:

Katniss — up 75 places

Penelope — up 35 places

Chloe — up 25 places

Evelyn — up 23 places

Wren — up 18 places

Cora, Rose — up 14 places

Aurora, Aurelia, Emily — up 13 places

The furthest-falling name still on our Top 100 is Ruby, down 26 places.  Other names sliding down significantly include Stella, Isabella, Lily, and Piper.

New entrants to the Nameberry Girls’ Top 100 for 2012 are:

Merida

Aria

Florence

Luna

Zara

Mabel

Pearl

Isadora

Amelie

Ellie

Lucia

Anais

Here is the full Top 100 Names for Girls in 2012, based on nearly 13 million views of our name pages.

1. Katniss2. Charlotte3. Imogen4. Seraphina5. Amelia6. Penelope7. Violet8. Isla9. Eleanor10. Alice11. Adelaide12. Cora13. Evelyn14. Aurora15. Maeve16. Scarlett17. Eliza18. Sophia19. Claire20. Grace21. Lila22. Nora23. Hazel24. Olivia25. Ava26. Ivy27. Elizabeth28. Clara29. Lucy30. Ruby31. Stella32. Matilda33. Beatrice34. Wren35. Ella36. Emma37. Merida38. Poppy39. Clementine40. Chloe41. Isabella42. Evangeline43. Aurelia44. Audrey45. Willa46. Josephine47. Rose48. Iris49. Mila50. Maisie51. Lily52. Arabella53. Genevieve54. Adeline55. Elodie56. Aria57. Eloise58. Mae59. Lydia60. Caroline61. Harlow62. Phoebe63. Juliet64. Margaret65. Jane66. Gemma67. Florence68. Emmeline69. Zoe70. Esme71. Olive72. Emily73. Cordelia74. Mia75. Delilah76. Georgia77. Madeline78. Sadie79. Hannah80. Willow81. Anna82. Piper83. Luna84. Hadley85. Cecelia (though Cecilia was on last year’s list)86. Zara87. Maya88. Mabel89. Pearl90. Isadora91. Kate92. Amelie93. Ellie94. Vivian95. Lola96. Eden97. Lucia98. Beatrix99. Millie100. Anais

Continuing our tradition, guess Number 101 and win a personalized signed copy of our newest book, Beyond Ava & Aiden! The first correct guess wins; please don’t duplicate previous guesses.

Tomorrow, the Boys’ Top 100 and on Thursday, Nameberry’s most popular unisex names.  Thanks to our new intern Camille Carlson for her help compiling and analyzing our statistics.

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