| So, it's a healthy, bouncing baby boy....now what are | | | | This trend towards less conservative names in the UK |
| you going to name him? | | | | is increasing; at the beginning of the century, 7 out of |
| Well, if you want him to grow up to become a rough, | | | | the top 10 baby boy names were biblical names. This |
| tough icon of manliness, I suppose you could call him | | | | has now reduced to 5, while at the same time, the |
| "Marion" - at least that's what John Wayne's parents | | | | names William ("Valiant, protector") and Harry |
| did! | | | | (derivative of the traditional name Harold) have both |
| But seriously, if you are an American, there is a big | | | | entered the top 10 - anything to do with a certain pair |
| chance that the baby boy name you choose will be | | | | of Princes perhaps?? |
| something biblical. My own name, "Michael" was the | | | | Part of the trend away from traditional boy names is |
| most popular baby boy name in America every | | | | the tendency to use names that are more modern - or |
| decade from the 1960s through to the end of the | | | | "modern-sounding" - derivatives of traditional names. |
| century. I supposed I'm biased, but I love the name. The | | | | As shown, Jack is the ultimate example of this and |
| literal meaning is "Who is like God"; Michael was one of | | | | Harry is the other derivative name in the UK top 10. |
| the original archangels and the leader of God's armies. | | | | And there are a host of other derivative names in the |
| Pretty powerful stuff for all the rest of us Michaels to | | | | top 100, including Jake (from Jacob), Charlie (Charles), |
| live up to, eh? | | | | Alfie (Alfred), Joe (Joseph), Billy (William) and Freddie |
| Since the start of the new century, Michael has been | | | | (Frederick). |
| at number 2 in the list of American baby boy names, | | | | But is there any evidence of a move towards much |
| beaten into first place by Jacob - another biblical name | | | | more unique or unusual baby boy names? Well, sadly, |
| meaning "Held by the heel". 3rd in the list is Joshua | | | | the answer is No. In the UK the most unusual names in |
| ("God is salvation") - the biblical figure who led the | | | | the top 100 list last year were Kian at number 65, Kai |
| Israelites into the promised land, and 4th is Matthew | | | | ("Sea, willow tree") at 67 and the Italian name Luca |
| ("A gift of God") - one of the 12 Apostles. With | | | | ("bringer of light") at 83. Meanwhile, over in the US, |
| Andrew ("Manly, courageous") and Daniel ("God is my | | | | Angel ("Angelic) at number 44, Hunter at 49 and |
| judge") also in the top 10 baby boy names, it is clear | | | | Jayden/Jaden ("God has heard") at 62 and 83 |
| that Christianity is alive and well in America - at least in | | | | respectively, were the only slightly unusual names. |
| the baby boy names! | | | | The overall evidence is that, when it comes to baby |
| The evidence is that Americans are quite | | | | boy names, we tend to keep it traditional. Probably this |
| conservative in choosing baby boy names - much | | | | has something to do with our expectations of the roles |
| more so than with girls. The UK is a little less | | | | of males in society and the need for them to be |
| conservative - over the last 5 years, the most popular | | | | respected. This is understandable, but perhaps we |
| baby boy name has been Jack. Interestingly, this name | | | | should be thinking a little creatively about how we |
| has no special meaning and is just a derivative of the | | | | name our baby boys. Mr and Mrs Morrison did when |
| biblical name John ("God is merciful"), which now | | | | they called their son "Marion" - and look what |
| seems to have fallen out of favor. | | | | happened to him..! |