Each year, the top names in the country and by state are released. But we can also look regionally at the most popular names! The top baby names for Jacksonville in 2023 have been released. The top 10 names for girls are Ella, Emma, Madelyn, Sophia, Kennedy, Grace, Everly, Charlotte, Aurora, and Amelia. For boys, the top 10 names are Oliver, Jackson, Hudson, Henry, Elliot, Asher, Carson, Atticus, and Atlas. Today, we will cover these names' meanings, origins, and popularity.
Top 10 Baby Girl Names
Amelia
The name Amelia has Hebrew and Latin origins. It is a derivative of the Hebrew word Amal. This word means “work,” “striving,” and “industrious.” It is also derived from a Roman patrician family, Aemilia gens. Amelia has been a popular name for many years, often used in royal families. The royals that gave this name its initial increase in popularity were Kings George the Second and Third, who both named their daughters Amelia in the 1800s.
Since 1880, the name Amelia was on a slow decline until 1968, when it began to rise again and is still continuing to rise. Amelia is currently seeing the most attention it's ever seen and is in the top 10 names in the country. It has been in the top 100 names since 2011. It broke into the top 50 in 2014 and then into the top 10 in 2020. Approximately 231,000 people have been named Amelia in the United States since 1880.
Aurora
The name Aurora has Roman and Latin origins. It means “dawn” in Latin. This name is also known in Roman mythology, where the goddess of sunrise was named Aurora. Aurora had a brother and a sister. Her brother, Helios, was the god of the sun, and her sister was the moon goddess. Before Helios would ride across the sky in the mornings, Aurora would ride and bring dew to the land. Aurora was also used to name the northern and southern lights, Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis.
Aurora has been steadily on the rise in popularity. It made its way into the top 1,000 names in 1998 and has been rising ever since. In 2010, it broke into the top 500 names. Then, it made its way into the top 100 names in the country in 2020. This name has been believed to have gained popularity in recent years as it is a cottage-core and celestial name. Since 1880, approximately 73,000 people have been named Aurora in the United States.
Charlotte
The name Charlotte has Roman and French origins. It was originated from the French name Charles and is its feminine variation. Charles means “free man.” Charlotte is another name that has been popular for many years as it was used by royals. The most popular was Queen Charlotte of England. Queen Charlotte was married to King George the Third. Charlotte is also connected to Charles the Great, founder of the Holy Roman Empire during the Medieval Renaissance.
Charlotte has been in the top 500 names for as long as the Social Security Administration has been tracking names. The name's popularity started declining in 1944 and stayed in that steady decline until 2000 when it suddenly surged in popularity. In 2009, it broke into the top 200 names, and just two years later, it was in the top 100 names. 2020 was the year it broke through into the top 10 names in the country. Since 1880, approximately 402,000 people in the United States have been named Charlotte.
Everly
The name Everly has British origin. It is a variation of the English name Everleigh, which translates to “woodland clearing.” Everleigh is the name of an English village that lives between cities and the British countryside. This village is known for its history, charm, and sense of wonder.
Everly had a surge in popularity from 2012 to 2016 when it went from the 907th most popular name to the 107th most popular name. It broke into the top 100 names in the country in 2017 at 87th most popular. Since then, it has been slowly and steadily rising and has gone in and out of the top 50 names ever since. In the United States, approximately 31,000 people have been named Everly since 1880.
Grace
The name Grace has Latin origin. It is derived from the word “gratia,” which means “blessing” and “favor.” Grace is a virtuous name that was often used by the Puritans in the 16th century. This name was used to signify the love of god and his divine grace. Grace is also used in Greek Mythology, where there were Three Graces. The Three Graces were the goddesses of nature.
Grace was very popular in the late 1800s but started declining in popularity in the early 1900s. It started rising again and has been on a steady incline since 1977. In 1983, it broke into the top 500 names and then into the top 100 names in 1999. Since 2002, it has steadily been in the top 50 names. Approximately 516,000 people have been named Grace in the United States since 1880.
Kennedy
The name Kennedy has Irish origins. It can be dated back to the 10th century with the Irish spelling Cinneidigh. This name means “helmet-headed.” After many years, Cinneidigh was given its English spelling, which we now know as Kennedy. Kennedy is a gender-neutral name. For a long time, Kennedy was mostly used as a surname, but recently, it has shifted into a popular girl's first name.
in 1994, Kennedy made it into the top 1,000 names for girls. Then, just a year later, it was in the top 500 names. Since then, it has been steadily rising, although it has yet to make it into the top 100 names in the country just yet. Approximately 89,000 people have been named Kennedy in the United States since 1880.
Sophia
The name Sophia has Greek origin. It is a Greek name that means wisdom and has been connected to the Greek Orthodox Church through Saint Sophia. This made the name popular during the Middle Ages. It also was often used by European royals. This name is known for its elegance and sophistication.
Sophia was popular in the late 1800s and started declining in the early 1900s. In 1945, it went back and forth, increasing and declining in popularity until it started steadily rising again in 1956. Although it has seen a few drop-offs in the 1970s and 1980s, it has been steadily rising since 1990, when it made it into the top 500 names. Since 1880, approximately 390,000 people in the United States have been named Sophia.
Madelyn
The name Madelyn has French, Greek, and Hebrew origins. It is a variation of the spelling Madeline, which was created as a modern version of the Greek name Magdelene. It is also a variation of the French spelling Madeleine. Madelyn is derived from the word Migdal, a Hebrew word meaning “high tower.”
Madelyn has been in and out of the charts for years. But it started seeing a steady increase in popularity in 1984. It broke into the top 1,000 names in the United States in 1996 and then into the top 500 names just two years later in 1998. It hasn't made its way into the top 100 names just yet but has been working its way up. In the U.S., approximately 102,000 people have been named Madelyn since 1880.
Emma
The name Emma has English and German origins. It is derived from the old German word “ermen,” which means “universal” and “whole.” Emma first gained popularity because of Emma of Normandy. She was married to two English kings, Aethelred the Second and Cnut the Great. Emma was also used as the name for the main character in Jane Austen's novel “Emma,” which was released in 1816.
This name has been on the top charts for over a century. It did have a decline in popularity in the mid-1900s but then soared back up in the 1980s. It made its way back into the top 100 in 1997 and has been in the top 10 names since 2008. Since 1880, approximately 723,000 people in the United States have been named Emma.
Ella
The name Ella has German, Hebrew, and English origins. This name means “fairy maiden” and “goddess.” It is a derivative of the word alias, which is German and means “all.” The goddess meaning comes from the Hebrew translation of the name. Ella was created as a variation of the names Elizabeth, Gabriella, Eleanor, and Isabella.
Ella has been steadily rising in popularity since 1987. In 1997, it made its way into the top 1,000 names and then into the top 500 names in 2001. Just three years later, it was in the top 100 names and has been on that list ever since. Approximately 328,000 people have been named Ella in the United States since 1880.
©Prostock-studio/Shutterstock.com
Top 10 Baby Boy Names
Atlas
The name Atlas has a Greek origin. Although it is a gender-neutral name, Atlas is often used more as a boy's name. This name means “to endure” and is tied to Greek mythology from the Titan Atlas. Atlas held the weight of the world on his shoulders, which is where the meaning of this name comes from.
Although it's more commonly used for boys, the name has trended similarly for girls as well. Since the late 1800s, the name Atlas has been on a slow decline. In 2005, Atlas started consistently growing as a popular name for boys. This increase didn't happen for girls until 2013. In 2019, Atlas made its way into the top 500 names for boys in the country. Since 1880, approximately 13,000 people have been named Atlas in the United States.
Atticus
The name Atticus has Latin origin. It was common in ancient Rome, and it translates to “rugged coast” or “from Attica.” This name comes from the golden age of Athens. It is often recognized by Titus Pomponius Atticus, who was a friend of Cicero, the famous philosopher. These two were close friends, and Cicero dedicated one of his pieces of work to Atticus.
Although this name has been around for a long time, it has only seen popularity in recent years. It had a growth spike in 1971 and has been rising in popularity since 1998 when it wasn't even close to hitting the charts. It broke into the top 1,000 names in 2011 and has continued to grow since. Since 1880, approximately 13,000 have been named Atticus in the United States.
Carson
The name Carson has Irish and Scottish origins. Originally a surname, this name means “son of Carr” or “son of marsh-dwellers.” Since then, this surname has turned into a first name, giving it a chance to become popular. This name has been attributed to Kit Carson, the American frontiersman. Although Carson is commonly used as a boy's name, it has also been used for girls.
Carson's popularity has stayed extremely consistent over the last 140 years and has only since risen in popularity in the last 30 years. Since 1880, Carson has been among the top 2,000 names. It broke into the top 1,000 names in 1990 and has been steadily increasing ever since. In 1998, it was in the top 500, but it has yet to break into the top 100, although it's very close. Approximately 128,000 people have been named Carson in the United States since 1880.
Asher
The name Asher has Hebrew origin. It is derived from the word osher, a Hebrew word that means happy and blessed. This name also has some biblical ties to the Old Testament. Although more commonly used as a boy's name, Asher is now seen as a gender-neutral name and is used for girls as well.
Although Asher has been around for a while, it didn't start seeing a spike in popularity until 1983, when it made its way into the top 1,000 names. It slowly and steadily gained traction, and in 2014, it made it into the top 100 names. Then, five years later, it was in the top 50 and has continued growing since. It is believed that the shows “Gossip Girl” and “How to Get Away with Murder” played a part in growing the name's popularity as both had characters named Asher. Since 1880, approximately 80,000 people have been named Asher in the United States.
Elliott
The name Elliott has Hebrew origin. The Hebrew translation is “The Lord is my God.” Elliott is a Bible name that is a derivative of Elijah. Although Elliott is a religious name, it's popular for secular and religious families alike. Elliott has a handful of spelling variations. These include Eliot, Elliot, and Elyot. Eli is a common nickname for those named Elliott.
Although it is most commonly used as a boy's name, it has also been used for girls in recent years. For boys, Elliott has stayed popular throughout the years, ranking in and out of the top 1,000 names in the U.S. since 1880. In 2004, it was in the top 1,000 at 971st most popular name and has continued to rise since. In 2013, it made its way into the top 500 names and is close to breaking into the top 200. Approximately 55,000 people have been named Elliott in the United States since 1880.
Henry
The name Henry has French and German origins. It is a variation of Henri, a common French name. Henri is believed to be derived from the name Heimeric, which is a German name. This name means “house ruler.” Henry is not only a popular first name but also a common surname in France and Ireland. This name has female variations, including Henrietta and Harriet.
Henry has been very popular for many years and has been in the top 500 names since the Social Security Administration started tracking names in 1880. Although it saw a decrease in use during the early 1900s, it rose in the 1990s. In 1994, it was the 265th most popular name and has risen to the top 20 since. Approximately 727,000 people have been naming Henry in the United States since 1880.
Hudson
The name Hudson has British origin. It translates to “son of Hudd.” Hudson was used as a surname in Medieval England to identify people and who they were related to. Hudson was also used as a nickname for people named Richard and Hugh. It wasn't until recently that Hudson has been used as a first name.
Hudson started rising in popularity in 1974. Although it took a while, it made it into the top 1,000 names in 2003 at 804th most popular. Then, in 2015, it was in the top 100 names, and then it was in the top 50 names in 2021. Since 1880, approximately 83,000 people have been named Hudson in the United States.
Jack
The name Jack has British, Hebrew, French, Celtic, and Latin origins. It is a variation of the French name Jacques. It was a common name in Medieval England and was a variation of the name John. This name means “supplanter,” “God is gracious,” and “holder of the heel.” The Celtic origin is a derivative of “Yakkios” and “iach,” which mean healthy and strong.
Jack is another popular name that has consistently stayed in the top 500 names. It has been on the rise since the 1990s and has secured a spot in the top 100 names since 1999. It has been in the top 50 names since 2017. Approximately 725,000 people have been named Jack in the United States since 1880.
Jackson
The name Jackson has British and Hebrew origin. It is an old English name and translates to “son of Jack.” It was most commonly used as a surname but has shifted into being used as a first name. Jackson is also a derivative of the Hebrew name Yochanon, which means “God is gracious.”
Jackson decreased in popularity in the mid-1900s but began to rise again in the late 1980s when it hit the top 1,000 names. Since then, it has continued to rise and hit the top 500 names in 1991. In 2001, it made its way into the top 100 names and then the top 50 in 2008. Since 1880, approximately 269,000 people in the United States have been named Jackson.
Oliver
The name Oliver has German and French origins. It is a derivative of the name Aleifr, which was an old Norse name that means “ancestor's descendant. It is also a derivative of the French word Olivier, which translates to olive tree. Oliver was a popular name in Medieval England.
Oliver has stayed consistently popular throughout the years, but it has been on the rise since 1995. It was in the top 500 names in 2004 and then made it into the top 100 names in 2013. Just three years later, it was in the top 20, where it has stayed since. Approximately 210,000 people have been named Oliver in the United States since 1880.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock.com.