Emma and Liam are America’s most popular baby names for 2017.  This marks the first time Liam has bested the boys, beating Noah for the top spot, and the fourth straight year for Emma.  Liam first crawled into the top 10 in 2012 and has been reaching for the highest honor ever since.   In other huge baby name news, Michael has been bumped from the top 10 for the first time since World War II, landing at number 12 this year.  Emily also fell out of the top 10 for the first time since 1990.  There are several new names in the top 10–Amelia and Evelyn make the list–Amelia for the first time and Evelyn for the first time since 1915.  These traditional names show parents are keeping up the trend of naming daughters after grandmothers.  Logan and Oliver are new for the boys, both making their first appearance on the list.

Here are the top 10 boys and girls names for 2017:

            Boys:   1) Liam                                   Girls:   1) Emma

                       2) Noah                                               2) Olivia

                        3) William                                          3) Ava

                        4) James                                              4) Isabella

                        5) Logan                                             5) Sophia

                        6) Benjamin                                        6) Mia

                        7) Mason                                             7) Charlotte

                        8) Elijah                                              8) Amelia

                        9) Oliver                                             9) Evelyn

                        10) Jacob                                            10) Abigail

For all the top baby names of 2017, and to find where your own name ranks, go to Social Security’s website, www.socialsecurity.gov.

Acting Commissioner Nancy A. Berryhill encourages everyone to visit the agency’s website to enjoy the baby names list and create a my Social Security account at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.  my Social Security is a personalized online account that people can use beginning in their working years and continuing through to the time they receive Social Security benefits.

Social Security beneficiaries can have instant access to their benefit verification letter, payment history, and complete earnings record by establishing a my Social Security account. Beneficiaries also can change their address, start or change direct deposit information, and print a replacement SSA-1099 online.  People receiving benefits can request a replacement Medicare card online.

Individuals age 18 and older who are not receiving benefits can also sign up for a my Social Security account to get their personalized onlineSocial Security Statement.  The online Statement provides workers with secure and convenient access to their Social Security earnings and benefit information, and estimates of future benefits they can use to plan for their retirement.

The agency began compiling the baby name list in 1997, with names dating back to 1880.  At the time of a child’s birth, parents supply the name to the agency when applying for a child’s Social Security card, thus making Social Security America’s source for the most popular baby names.

Each year, the list reveals the effect of pop-culture on naming trends.  This year reality television seems to have influenced Mom and Dad.

Ensley was the fastest riser on the girls’ list, moving 1,461 spots to number 965, from number 2,426 in 2016.  Spring has sprung, and Wells (meaning “spring”) had the biggest bloom in popularity for the boys, moving over 500 spots in 2017 from number 1,419 to 915.  Perhaps his parents are fans of the hit TV show “The Bachelorette” where one of the popular contestants was named Wells.  Does this mean more bachelors named Wells at future rose ceremonies?

In a clear nod to the popularity of the First Lady of the United States, new parents chose the name Melania at an increasing rate in 2017.

It looks like new parents are “Keeping up with the Kardashians” as the name Dream rose 840 spots in 2017.  Fan or not, many people know Rob Kardashian and Angela White, aka Blac Chyna, named their daughter Dream in late 2016.  For the boys, another fast riser was Nova, who may have gotten his popularity from all those Villanova Wildcats basketball fans naming their sons in celebration of the 2016 NCAA Men’s Basketball Champions.

Please visit www.socialsecurity.gov to view the entire list.

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