Baby names poll answers.

[rivka]

1. Which name is more popular for girls, Ellen or Nevaeh?

72.3%, thinking way too kindly of American parents, picked "Ellen." In fact, Ellen is #447, and Nevaeh is #150. Guess why Nevaeh is so popular. Come on, guess.

It's heaven spelled backwards, that's why.

It's also the name of a Christian rock group. And a porn star.

2. Which name is more popular for boys, Peter or Isaiah?

Voting was extremely close on this one, but 50.6% chose the wrong answer, Peter. Peter is at #148. Isaiah is at #50. Probably because of the extra basketball advantage, is my guess, because I think "peter" as a nickname for "penis" is old-fashioned enough not to play a major role.

3. Which name is more popular for girls, Mary or Kendall?

65.1% decided that Kendall was awfully trendy-sounding, and I won't say that they're wrong. But Mary is higher up on the popularity list at #61, compared to Kendall at #157.

4. Which name is more popular for girls, Mary or Makayla?

Inexplicably, but predicted by 60.2%, Makayla is #51 in popularity.

5. Which name is more popular for boys, John or Hunter?

43.4% got it right. John is #17, Hunter all the way down at #41.

6. Which name is more popular for boys, Toby or Maximus?

Y'all thought that American parents would only go so far, didn't you? 81.9% thought that Toby was more popular, making this the wrongest wrong answer of all. In fact, Maximus is #375, and Toby is all the way down at #439. Explain that one to me.

7. Battle of the TV heartthrobs: Which name is more popular for boys?

The TV thing was a bit of misdirection, actually. Angel is #43, probably because it's a Latino name. Dawson is way down the list at #204. 21.7% got it right.

8. Which egregiously misspelled girl's name is the most popular?

It pains me - severely - to admit that any of these names is on the top 500. 59% thought that the winner must be Madisyn, probably because of the gratuitous "y." But in fact, Alivia (#352) narrowly edges out Emely (#359), and Madisyn (#418) is far behind.

I must now go weep tears of blood.

9. Which name is more popular for girls, Brooklynn or Ryleigh?

I wanted a choice that would make people just throw up their hands in bewilderment. And in fact, voting was fairly even. 46.9% chose the right answer, Brooklynn. (Brooklynn is #406, Ryleigh #479. Queenns wasn't in the top 500, and neither was Manhattanne.)

10. Which name is more popular for boys, Axel or Uriel?

I think this one was a little too easy. 79% correctly guessed that Axel (#333) is more popular than Uriel (#435). But why is Uriel in the top 500 to begin with?

11. Boy's name or girl's name: Harley

It astounds me that 75.6% of you think Harley sounds like a girl's name. It's the name of a freaking motorcycle, is what it is. But indeed, it's #313 for girls and only #426 for boys.

12. Boy's name or girl's name: Jaiden

All the varieties of Jaden/Jaiden/Jayden/Jaydon are more popular for boys than for girls. Jaiden with an "i" is #312 for boys, #416 for girls. Jayden with a "y" is all the way up at #75 in popularity for boys. 60.2% got it right.

13. Boy's name or girl's name: Mackenzie

This was way too easy. Over 90% knew that Mackenzie is a girly, girly girl name, at #46 is popularity. It doesn't even break the top 500 for boys.

14. Boy's name or girl's name: Kendall

This is another one that sounds boyish to me, but as 72% of you knew, Kendall is far more popular for girls (#157) than for boys (#500).

15. Boy's name or girl's name: Skyler

The right answer was winning on this one until the very end of the poll, but in the end the wrong answer pulled ahead with 51.8% Skyler is obviously a boy's name, at #234, compared to #279 for girls. Huh. I guess, actually, that's fairly androgynous.

In conclusion: I propose that we replace naming with a serial number system, as soon as possible.

Comments

[shelly-rae.livejournal.com]

All the Harleys I know are the four-legged ones down at the dogpark. It's a very popular name for the large breed dog.

The horrid children across the street are named Stone and Hunter. I sometimes wonder if they came from a neolithic tribe but I suspect that children in a neolithic tribe would behave better. Recently a family moved in a couple of houses down, their dog's name is Hunter (perfect for a chocolate lab).

Perhaps checking the pet names book would be a good idea so that you don't choose a name that is on the top five dog or cat name list. I'm just saying.
Anon.