Rachel's Influence

The Social Security administration publishes a yearly list of most popular baby names (coinciding with Mother's Day), based on actual new baby registrations during the previous year. Several websites such as Babycenter.com and Babynames.com have their own list based on online votes from 'members,' but something tells me that system is set up for failure in much the same way that Ruben was crowned American Idol champ over Clay. Give me an official count, people! (Click here to see the list.) If you're a Cliff's Notes, "just give me the highlights" type of person, the boy, girl, and twins winners are Jacob, Emily, and Jacob/Joshua.

It never ceases to amaze me how pop culture can influence lives so much, down to what to name a child. 10 years ago, for example, the name "Emma" was the 67th most popular baby name among baby girls (much further down the list for boys, if you wanna know the truth). By 2001, it had jumped to 13th. 2003 and 2004, it stood #2. The reason? I'm sure there are tons of theories, but the obvious one is the most likely: the character of Rachel Green in Friends had her baby, named Emma, in season 9. The year? 2003.

So, what do I make of this year's list? First of all, I love the name Eric. Here's why: It's common enough that I didn't feel like some goofball with a crazy name, who fought depression because I could never find a personalized license plate for my bicycle. Yet I don't ever remember being in any class in elementary school with someone else named Eric. I might be forgetting one, but it wasn't anything of "Michael" or "Jennifer" proportions. Not that there's anything wrong with those names--but I never had to be classified as Eric R. because there were 3 other Erics in my class.

Saying all that to say....when the time comes to pick names, I want a name that's somewhere in between trendy and unique. Without disclosing any family secrets, Leah and I have discussed, let's see, NONE of the top 10 male names and 3 or 4 of the female names. Leah says that she can think of all kinds of girl name combinations, but no boy ones. So we'll see. Hopefully little Tallullah Ernestine will arrive and boy names will be a moot point. : )

In the "more useless information" department, "Eric" stood at 61st last year (sliding consistently from 24th in 1990), and "Leah" was 64th after breaking the century mark at 107th in 1998.