Jacob and Emma Head BabyCenter's List of Top Ten Baby Names for 2004

Jacob and Emma Head BabyCenter's List of Top Ten Baby Names for 2004

BabyCenter(R) Shares 'Eunike' Names of the Year

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- After three years at the top, Emma has unseated Emily as the most popular girl name in the United States, while Jacob remained the nation's most popular boy name for the fourth year in a row. BabyCenter(R) L.L.C., the leading online resource for new and expectant parents, compiled the 2004 BabyCenter(R) Baby Names List, which is the largest private list available, from more than 310,000 members who had babies in 2004. The BabyCenter(R) list combines names with the same pronunciation but different spellings to give a more accurate view of name popularity.

Although the most popular girl names shifted places, no new names entered the top ten in 2004. For boys, Connor is new to the list, while Zachary has fallen out of the top group.

BabyCenter's Top 10 Girl Names for 2004 (2003) are:

1) Emma (Emily)
2) Madison (Emma)
3) Emily (Madison)
4) Kaitlyn (Hannah)
5) Hailey (Hailey)
6) Olivia (Sarah)
7) Isabella (Kaitlyn)
8) Hannah (Isabella)
9) Sarah (Olivia)
10) Abigail (Abigail)

BabyCenter's Top 10 Boy Names for 2004 (2003) are:

1) Jacob (Jacob)
2) Aiden (Aiden)
3) Ethan (Ethan)
4) Ryan (Matthew)
5) Matthew (Nicholas)
6) Michael (Joshua)
7) Tyler (Ryan)
8) Joshua (Michael)
9) Nicholas (Zachary)
10) Connor (Tyler)



"Pop culture and celebrity baby names -- such as Apple (Gwyneth Paltrow's choice for her daughter), and Phinnaeus and Hazel, (Julia Roberts' picks for her twins) -- do influence some parent's name choices, but most parents are inspired by factors closer to home," said BabyCenter executive editor Linda Murray. "Top names are more a reflection of parents' efforts to honor family traditions, beloved relatives, or ethnic heritage. We also see that many parents choose names they know will be popular in an effort to help their children fit in."

In contrast to the consistency of the top ten names, there is much more movement among the names found just below the top spots. For example, Ella and Ava first moved into the top 50 in 2003, and now, along with Samantha, are the most likely names to push Hailey, Abigail, or Sarah from the top ten in 2005. Caden, a name that also first entered the top 50 in 2003, continues its rapid ascent and, along with Logan and Jayden, are the most likely to replace either Joshua or Nicholas among the most popular boy names.

The names at the bottom of the 2004 BabyCenter(R) Baby Names List reveal how far some parents will go to help their child stand out with a truly unique name. In fact, the 2004 list contained Eunike, Uniquee, and I'Unique -- all girls' names. The 2004 BabyCenter(R) Baby Names List also shows more variety in girl names, with 9% of girls' parents compared to 6% of boys' parents selecting a name spelled like no other.

Parents who take the inventive approach to naming their child often take inspiration from their own hobbies and interests, as well as wishes for their child's future. Children with these names found on the 2004 BabyCenter(R) Baby Names List are likely to be the only one in the classroom:

* Herbs and spices: Curry, Nutmeg, Sorel
* Ethnic food: Tahini, Farfalla, Sushi
* Drinks: Chianti, Chardonnay, Hennessey
* Military: Commander, Jeneral, Appomattox
* Repeat after me: YouYou, LooLoo, ChiChi
* Brands: Ikea, Disney, Infiniti
* Kreativ classics: Kathwren, Aeryk, Maksymilian
* Long: Breighanna, Kwynncey, Ayreeanna
* Star power: Charysma, Mysteek, Zenith
* Peaceful: Zurrenity, Phaith, Ohm
* Rambunctious: Reynger, Wrangler, Blazer
* Celebrities: Brandeau, Madawna, Bryttanni
* Royalty: Umajesty, Quena, Royale
* Musical: Tymphani, Symphaney, Lyrick



BabyCenter(R) offers a wealth of free baby naming information, including a baby name finder to search thousands of names by ethnic origin, syllables, or spelling; suggested baby naming guidelines; and insights from other parents on how they made their naming decisions. These resources, along with the 2004 BabyCenter(R) Top Ten Baby Names, can be found at www.babycenter.com/babyname.

For parents seeking help with this first of many important decisions for their child, BabyCenter(R) features a free "Baby Name Poll" that allows expectant parents to privately ask their friends and family for feedback about the baby names they're considering. To create a baby name poll, visit: http://www.babycenter.com/babypoll.

About BabyCenter(R)

Based in San Francisco, BabyCenter(R), L.L.C. (http://www.babycenter.com/) is the most visited online resource for new and expectant parents, with an average of 3 million visitors each month as measured by comScore Media Metrix 2.0. BabyCenter(R) offers extensive, medical advisory board-approved content that has been honored with numerous awards, including an Online Journalism Award. In addition, BabyCenter(R) offers its users an array of interactive tools, a supportive online community, a premium subscription service, and an online baby store featuring thousands of products. The BabyCenter family of Web sites includes BabyCenter.com, ParentCenter.com and BabyCentre.co.uk. BabyCenter(R), L.L.C. is a member of the Johnson & Johnson family of companies.


Source: BabyCenter L.L.C.

CONTACT: Kathryn Grant of KGPR, +1-415-826-0375, Kathryn@kg-pr.com, for
BabyCenter L.L.C.

Web site: http://www.babycenter.com/


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