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Alternatives to the Top Ten

© Kristen Hanley Cardozo

For many parents, the idea of having a common name for their baby is dreadful. However, in recent times, many names have seen a rise in popularity unprecedented in years past. Old standards like John and Mary have fallen off the top ten list of names, and once unusual names like Madison and Jacob are now common. For parents wishing to choose outside the top ten, the choices can feel overwhelming. What if Emily has always been your favorite name? There’s no real reason to discard the name Emily if you love it, but if you simply can’t stand the thought of your daughter being Emily S. in homeroom, then here are some alternatives to the top ten. The top ten names are taken from the Social Security Administration’s website,and are the 2002 list for the United States, and the alternatives were selected by similarity of sound or origin.

Instead of…

Boys
1. Jacob, try: Jack, James, Jamie, Jaden, Jarek, Coby, Japheth
2. Michael, try: Miles, Mitchell, Micah, Micaiah, Miguel, Miso, Milo
3. Joshua, try: Jonah, Josiah, Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Josua, Joaquim
4. Matthew, try: Matthias, Matteo, Madden, Matek, Martin, Malcom, Maximilian
5. Ethan, try: Evan, Ian, Eli, Emmett, Heath, Enoch, Ezra
6. Joseph, try: Joel, Jody, Jose, Jeffery, Jonathan, Jones, Jotham
7. Andrew, try: Anders, Anton, Andreas, Drew, Ansel, Anthony
8. Christopher, try: Christian, Christof, Crispian, Allistair, Christobal, Tobal, Keifer
9. Nicholas, try: Nico, Tobias, Cole, Klaus, Colin, Nikolai, Silas
10. Daniel, try: Dane, Taniel, David, Danson, Dariel, Danya, Nathaniel

Girls
1. Emily, try: Emmie, Amalie, Emery, Ellery, Amelia, Cecily, Emlyn
2. Madison, try: Madigan, Addison, Mattie, Maggie, Madeline, Magalie, Allison
3. Hannah, try: Anna, Shanna, Annelise, Annika, Adah, Honour, Hester
4. Emma, try: Esme, Emmeline, Ella, Gemma, Ida, Em, Eva
5. Alexis, try: Alexa, Lexie, Zandra, Alessandra, Aleka, Alice, Cassandra
6. Ashley, try: Ashlyn, Ashby, Audrey, Ainsley, Arlie, Amber, Aisling
7. Abigail, try: Avigail, Abia, Abril, Annabel, Abina, Arielle, Annmarie
8. Sarah, try: Sadie, Saraya, Sarai, Zara, Sarita, Sally, Samone
9. Samantha, try: Samara, Samandra, Calantha, Sabrina, Susanna, Savannah, Serena
10. Olivia, try: Lydia, Ophelia, Vivian, Livia, Olive, Octavia, Antonia

(And, for comparison, here are some popular names that have fallen off the top ten in the last few years or so.)

Boys
William (10 in 2001) try: Will, Wilson, Liam, Willem, Wendell, Walden, Winston
Tyler (10 in 2000) try: Ty, Tyson, Tynan, Tyce, Tanner, Tristan, Rylan
Brandon (7 in 1998) try: Brendon, Brennan, Brannon, Braden, Brandt, Camden, Bram
Austin (10 in 1998) try: Aubrey, Dallas, Houston, Auden, August, Weston, Alden

Girls
Elizabeth (9 in 2001) try: Isabel, Elise, Lisabeth, Bethany, Lisette, Eliana, Elsabel