Cough It Up!
April 16, 2009
I think it’s safe for us to share now. What, pray tell, did you enter on your Baby Name Wizard ballot for the SSA’s fastest risers and fallers?
My Ballot:
Risers
1. Adelyn- I had to do it. I debated between Adelyn, Adeline and Adelaide– the latter two being better known names with history. Adelyn struck me because it’s appeared only once on the SSA list in 2007, yet I see it on name boards often. It’s resemblance to Madelyn and Camryn is what made me opt for this spelling on the ballot. Adelaide and Adeline already show fast rising tragectories, and either of those would have been a good, safe choice.
2. Finn- This one popped up out of nowhere for me this year. Suddenly, not only do I hear it everywhere, but it seems to be a real crowdpleaser with the online crew as well. I know a Fenton, a Finley, a Phineas, and one potential Finnegan on the way. Nameberry posed it as “the new Max.” I’m inclined to agree.
3. Harlow- It’s that catchy O. People of all different backgrounds went gaga for the name of Nicole Richie’s baby girl born in January last year. This is my attempt at prophecy, for it has not yet entered the top 1000. If it doesn’t this year it will next. I probably should have just stuck with my original choice of Willow, which has gained steady favor over the last few years. 2009 will see an even bigger jump in Willow after the Palin exposure. I’ve also run across some real life baby Shilohs born in ‘08– another good choice I *almost* wrote in.
Fallers
1. Brittney
2. Paris
3. Lindsay
Total cop-out. Except in the case of a massive calamity like Hurricane Katrina, I find it desperately hard to chart the fallers. These three are already on their way down. The namesakes just don’t have the same allure they once did.
As for the ranking for Bella? I’ll bet my guess was a lowballer at 132.
Laura Wattenberg, the poll’s creator, posted her own ballot here, along with the most popular guesses.
HA! I voted Adelyn, too!
Can you believe I already forgot my entries?? I remember my riser picks: Iris, Ada and Juliet. And I can’t remember any of my fallers. Perhaps Kimberly was on the list?
I didn’t vote, but I agree that Adelyn is sure to take off. I know an Adelynne born last year. If I even meet one, it means it has cracked public consciousness. I woudln’t be surprised if Olive took a pretty large leap. I heard of one born last year as well, and it’s a fresh alternative to Olivia. I think most of the names that soar are ones that are only different by a hair from an already hugely popular name, the Madison/ Addison thing. Harlow does remind me of Charlotte. I cannot wait for that list to come out!
I didn’t vote, either. I’m spectacularly awful at choosing the fallers. The risers are generally an easy enough guess if you spend any time with names (Adelyn would have been my pick as well, I’m horrified by how many times I see it online, I have no clue how I’m going to keep a straight face when I meet one!)at all. But Fallers? I’m awful with them, so I just peruse what others are saying at let it go. I’m far more confortable with what I like & dislike and don’t wrry overmuch what the general masses are doing.
Like RF, I can barely contain myself until the list does come out, though!
Gosh it was only yesterday and I cannot remember all of my guesses!
Rising: Hope & Barack… Leon?
Falling: Andrew & Madison
What a loser, I honestly cannot remember.
or did I go with Obama?
My risers were:
Olive – I think this has the potential to be a big riser because (a) it’s fresher than Olivia and (b) it’s one of those “old fashioned chic” names like Violet, Martha and Matilda that are all coming back into fashion.
Will – although I live the other side of the Atlantic (in rainy Britain!), I do take an interest in naming the US side of the ocean, and look at online birth announcements etc. I’ve seen a growing number of boys named Will – not William – just Will. Is the US catching up with the British love of nicknames as first names?!
Malia – judging by Laura’s blog, me and many others went for Malia, for obvious reasons.
My fallers were:
Nicole – dated beyond redemption now.
George – obvious reasons.
And now I admit, I can’t quite remember my third faller, but I know it was one of the -aden names. I think it may have been Jaden/Jayden. If not then Brayden. I think these are names that have already had their day and the ‘tryndee’ parents have probably moved on to a new batch of names now!
I was thinking of not voting, so when I ended up entering The Pool, I threw away my little scraps of paper. The only prediction I remember making is that Thomas will continue to fall.
Bella – I ranked it at #111.
Good call on Adelyn, that has been bandied about a lot lately.
My risers were Shawn for a girl, Cullen and Jacoby. My fallers were Lindsay, Casey and another that I can’t remember.
I forgot to mention that I think Bella will hit #50 this year.
I forget to say, I ranked Bella as #81.
It’s so weird. I have a grandfather named Finley and his twin brother is Finton. My dad is named Finley also, but before the last couple of years I had NEVER EVER heard of anyone else named Finley. Now it’s everywhere.