Popularity of a name by area?

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2005
Popularity of a name by area?
16
Tue, 01-03-2006 - 7:21pm

I don't really know where to post this, but I was wondering if anyone knew of a way to find out how popular a name is in a particular area (the smallest sampling I've been able to find is by state so far ... we live in PA btw).

I'd like to try and find out just how popular Abigail really is in my area, especially after seeing that it's at #5 or 6 nationwide and #5 in PA overall (and according to the SSA's site, Kaitlyn never got past about 30 ... and I thought her name was super-popular!). My husband thinks it's one of those that seem popular because you see it mentioned, say, online a lot, but that we wouldn't really run into that many of in real life, whereas I'm under the impression she'd end up with 5 others in her class (not what I want, really).

If anyone knows of a site where I can find data like this I'd really appreciate it. (At least if my oldest was in school yet I'd have an idea of how popular it is - at least with that age group - but she doesn't start until September lol).

Anyway, thanks in advance! :)


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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-22-2005
Tue, 01-03-2006 - 7:42pm
I think the situation with Kaitlyn is that there are SO many spellings that it spreads out the popularity on the list. If you added up all the spellings it would probably be a lot higher. Not sure where to find the state-by-state. You may find something by googling. Another way to think about name popularity is socio-economic. There was a study done a while back that said (if my memory is right) that the names Alison and Andrew were the top name choices for college-educated mothers. I think Abigail falls into that "college educated" category. I live in a suburb of Boston with good schools and high taxes and Abigail is getting more popular around here. We have lots of Emilys, Emmas, Sophies and Lilys, too. A list of the whole state may not give you an accurate picture of what will happen in your town and hence your schools.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2005
Tue, 01-03-2006 - 7:45pm
Ugh! That doesn't sound like good news for Abigail (lol). We live in quite possibly THE best school district in the area. If that's true, I'd say Abigail would probably be MORE popular in our area than in other parts of the state. Wish I could find some cold hard facts LOL. Argh!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-2005
Tue, 01-03-2006 - 10:07pm

I don't know of any sites that condense the popularity of birth names by city. Have you tried to log on to your cities local websites, like probate, etc.?

As for me, I have friends that have children with the same names as my other friends or relatives, but I only know of ONE Abigail and she is 11. Now Kaitlyn on the other hand, I know 4 of them, 2 of my close friends and 2 nieces! I figured that would have been in the top 10 say 8-10 years ago b/c three I know are in that age range.

Best wishes!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2005
Tue, 01-03-2006 - 10:25pm

Thanks! I couldn't find any info on state or local sites (at least not the ones I could think to look on lol). I also tried the local newspapers and hospitals for birth announcements, but only certain ones list them -- and even then only if the parents request it. Of those, I only found one Abigail from the past six months, which really surprised me. Too bad most of our friend's have young (not yet school-aged) children, or I'd have a better idea. Our family is the opposite, and has all older kids/teens (none of which are named Abigail, and most of whom think the name's very old-fashioned or unique, so no help there hehe).

Anyway, thanks for the help ... and keep it coming! :)


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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2004
Tue, 01-03-2006 - 11:42pm
Sorry, I don't know how to get that information. If you know any area teachers or pediatric nurses, they could be good resources. I am an elementary school teacher in a small town in Wisconsin and we average about one Abigail per grade. My friend named her daughter Abrianna and they call her Abby, if you're interested in alternatives.
Erica
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2005
Wed, 01-04-2006 - 12:47am

Thanks! Good to hear the stats from a teacher (you do, after all, have the inside scoop on names lol). :) I have a friend who actually is an art teacher (middle school though) ... I just don't know if she'd be biased because she really liked the name when we considered it for dd#2 last year, so I may not get an honest response there lol.

I don't think we could do an alternative, especially with our oldest's middle name being Abrielle (I already think Abigail may be too close to that, but since it's not her fn I'm letting it slide for now). I think the meaning of "father's joy" is kind of keeping my husband hooked as well, so a spelling variation maybe, but not an entirely different name (although he defintely didn't like Avigail/Avagail).

Thanks for the suggestion and the info! It's appreciated!

~Kelli


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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-30-2005
Wed, 01-04-2006 - 6:03pm

I am asking friends whose kids are in daycare names of the kids in their classes. I personally know of friends whose kids are named Abigail and through talking to others it's becoming quite popular. It's the same with Kaitlynn, so many spellings, but it's the same name. I know of lots of them. Most of my friends have kids with names in the top 10...Emily, Kaitlynn, Isabel, Kayla, Lily, Catelyn, Caylee. I'm liking the old fashioned idea more and more - Teresa!

Good luck!
Kim

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
Wed, 01-04-2006 - 6:21pm
My daughter's name is Abigail. We live in NYC and used to live in Greenwich,CT (2 very well educated places to live). I haven't ran into many Abigail's (maybe 2 since she was born). So in our case it's difenately very misleading. By far the most popular girl names are Sofia and Ella. They are just everywhere.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-06-2005
Thu, 01-05-2006 - 9:51am
When looking for local popularity in my own area, I ask my pediatrician's office. The nurse I see most often is a name freak like I am and will happily discuss what names she sees often or not! That might work for you, if you're on friendly terms with your doctor's office.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2005
Thu, 01-05-2006 - 11:01am

Asking at the ped's office would be a good idea, but the nurse/receptionist there is the worst butcher of names I've ever met LOL. She's the one that calls us DuhVAINee, Kaylie and Shelly (we're Devanie, Kaitlyn and Kelli) at every single visit (and that's when she's reading them right off the chart ... imgine when she's just trying to remember them with no help! rofl), so I don't think she'd remember what names are popular to tell me them correctly anyway. ;)

It was a good idea though, thanks! :)


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