Jacob, do you recognize Michaels list?

What list is this?

Jacob Michael Joshua Matthew Andrew Joseph Ethan Daniel Christopher Anthony

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SPOILER

Most popular names for boys in 2003/2004

Please reply to drgmayer at hotmail dot com

I was about to post and say this wasn't the case.

Then I checked. The list is correct for the US only. Not the UK, where I am, or the rest of the world.

So answer should be 'Most popular names for boys in 2003 for the USA'

Mark Stubbs

[the correct answer]

You got it!

Cheers

Mark Stubbs schrieb:

True. Well spotted.

Cheers

OT I suppose.

I find this list surprising in a number of ways, if it truly is what it is claimed to be. I should point out that I am from the UK so my underlying assumptions about the USA might well be completely wrong in places But here are the things that seem not quite right:

Jacob, Joshua - If I met someone named thusly (certainly with Jacob, but with Joshua only if they did not abbreviate to Josh) I would automatically assume they were Jewish. These are for me prime examples of Old Testament names which (unlike, say, Rebecca, Daniel or Jonathan) have gained little or no foothold in the non-Jewish world. Now, I know the USA has a much higher proportion of people with a strong Christian feeling than we have here in the UK, but still, who are all these people naming their sons 'Jacob' ?

Joseph - OK a lot of these will always be 'Joe' and never use the full form, but again an OT favorite!

Ethan - in the top 10? Who's the famous Ethan?

Matthew, Andrew, Christopher, Michael, Daniel are ever-popular I suppose... but again all biblical!

And on review... in fact all ten of these names are biblical in origin. And I think that is what makes me wonder where this list is from. Where are the names of the { black / hispanic / non-religious white } people ?

All these are probably named after Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible, playing Ethan Hunt.

Have you seen what Ethan has done in the UK recently?

Gone from nowhere 5 years ago to nudging the top ten last year, and probably well into the top 10 for 2004, I'd guess.

I recall seeing seperate lists for different ethnic groups somewhere.

Mark Stubbs

LarryLard schrieb:
http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/index.html looks trustworthy.

Well, I for one...

Having a name of 'Michael'; I could appreciate choosing a less popular name than that back in 1995; old testament mainly because my last name is Jewish in origin - it's a matter of style.

However, for reasons as yet unknown to me, that name has been on the rise even then - a 1990 rank 20, it was already at rank 7 in 1994.

I am not certain about Joshua - could it be a popular middle name? Or is fundamentalist Christianity on the Upswing?

They may have more names to choose from. If you can choose between Al and Ralph, you're not going to rank as high as when your only choice is George, for example.

Cheers

ObPuzzle: Who is the biblical Christopher?

For that matter, where's 'George'? I realize that half the country hates W, but the red states ought to be cranking Georges out by the millions.

Probably for the best, it'll save me some confusion down the line.

Why? Most biblical names are Jewish, aren't they? (Not counting the antagonists. You wouldn't name your kid Nimrod, would you?)

Are there any _Christian_ names other than Peter and Paul?

mensanator schrieb:

I think the Greek names in the bible would qualify: Thomas, for one.

On second thought, I'm not seeing how African Americans or (catholic!) Hispanics don't name their children biblically. In fact, I'd assume they do this more than WASPs.

Cheers