Following the national trend, Georgia’s top baby names are Olivia and Liam, but the state list deviates slightly from the top 10 in the US. The US Social Security Administration released the list of most popular names in America for 2023, and Olivia and Liam are number one, again, for the fifth year in a row .
Why Olivia and Liam?
Aside from the familiarity of the two, the reason they remain so popular is overdetermined. According to baby naming consultant Colleen Slagan , it’s not so surprising that Olivia and Liam continue to top the charts.
She told Fox News Digital , “For one, familiarity breeds likeness. So, the more we hear something like a name, whether consciously or subconsciously, the more we like it.” There are other reasons as well:
Versatility: There is a lot of room for nicknames such as Livi, Liv and Libby for Olivia. Olivia may be a choice for parents who want options.
A sense of tradition: Liam was originally a nickname for William, so it’s a good way to honor a more traditional name without fully committing to it.
Phonetic appeal: Short, light, vowel-heavy names for boys are trendy right now (think Ian or Noah). On the other hand feminine names tend to trend a little longer with the option to shorten it.
Longevity: Since the names have been at the top of the list for so long, parents trust its staying power.
What do these names mean?
According to the baby naming website, BabyNames.com Olivia is derived from the oliva which means “olive.” Olives were often associated with peace and friendship. It has also been understood to represent fertility and kindness.
William Shakespeare used this name in the play Twelfth Night .
Liam has Irish origins and is often the shorter version of the name Uilliam , which is an Irish analog to William. It has several cultural associations:
There are a few notable examples of famous Liams in popular culture, such as Liam Hemsworth and Liam Neeson.
What are the other top baby names?
The Social Security Administration releases a yearly report for the most popular baby names and while Liam and Olivia dominated, there are a few that might surprise you.
Top Girl names in U.S.
2. Emma
3. Charlotte
4. Amelia
5. Sophia
6. Mia
7. Isabella
8. Ava
9. Evelyn
10. Luna
Georgia’s top 10 is very similar to the U.S. list. with the exception of two names: Nova and Harper. The increase in the use of Harper could be its association with Southern author, Harper Lee and her famous novel, To Kill a Mockingbird .
Although the name Nova doesn’t appear on the national top 10, it has become increasingly popular in the South. In 2023, 267 girls were named Nova in Georgia while one in every 240 girls in Mississippi were given the name Nova.
Boy names:
2. Noah
3. Oliver
4. James
5. Elijah
6. Mateo
7. Theodore
8. Henry
9. Lucas
10. William
The lists for boys names in Georgia varies a little more widely. While Mateo, Theodore and Lucas were not on the list of top 10 Georgia names, Asher, John and Levi were.
The origins of the name Levi are Hebrew and primarily means “joined” or “attached.” Levi was a fairly auspicious figure in the Bible, in which he avenged his sister’s assault with murder, sold his brother into slavery, and had some fairly notable decedents like Moses, Aaron and John the Baptist.
Asher is also from Hebrew origins, and sometimes can mean “happy” or “blessed.” Remarkable Ashers range from a Georgian-turned-Minnesota Viking, (Asher Allen) to an American architect (Asher Benjamin) to TikTok star Asher Lara .
Does popularity vary by generation?
Names go in and out of popularity in a cyclical fashion. and it is interesting to examine the patterns by generation.
The Boomers: James and Mary
Gen X: Michael and Jennifer
Millennial: Michael and Jessica
Gen Z: Jacob and Emily
Alpha generation: Oliver and Charlotte
If you are interested in finding out more about what were the most popular names of the year you were born, you can visit the SSA website and put in your birth year.
What was the most popular name in the year you were born? You can tell I’m firmly in Generation X since the most popular names were Michael and Jennifer the year I was born.
Sound off in the comments, or you can email me or find me on Instagram .
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