The Top 100 Baby Names Tell an Interesting Story

It’s interesting what story the top 100 baby names have to tell. Every few years you hear that new name popping up and you immediately know what everyone was watching on TV or who the nation’s hero was in sport a few years back.

Then you look at those names that remain constant, those that never get knocked off the winning post no matter what’s going on below. Take for instance, Jack has remained in top position (boys, UK) for 11 years, Jacob (boys, US) for seven years and Emily (girls, US) for 10 years.

I do wonder why people just follow a trend and go for the #1 in the top 100 it’s just like a best seller where the more people read something the more other people want to read the same book. Yet, for baby names, following the common line takes away an element of individuality, sometimes making one child feel the same as the next and taking away that little element that makes a child feel special.

Then there’s the really weird names which make you wonder how on earth so many people decided it was a good name for their baby. I was looking through the top 100 baby names (US) the other day and noticed Angel as #32, now Angel to me is a really weird name for a boy that I would detest being called as a lad but them obviously I’m well off the mark given it’s popularity.

At the end of the day people tend to have very differing opinions as to the best baby names and whether they should be common, unusual or down right weird. For me, a child should love their name it should make a statement and make them feel special. For me baby names should be chosen with care, not to popular, with an element of originality but never weird. Your baby has to live through life from childhood to grave and should love and be proud of the name they have been given and not made to feel one of a crowd or mocked and abused.

Terry Ross is the author for and the creator of: 1st-4-baby, a site dedicated to pregnancy, baby names and baby care.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terry_Ross

Name Your Baby for the Stars

What do I name my baby? Along with minor things like, how will I support my child and oh my goodness the baby is how many pounds and coming through how big an opening, this is a question that plagues new parents today. More and more people are shooting for originality in the naming process, wanting to be certain that their child is unique, one who stands out from the crowd.

Of course, if you wanted to fit in, you could pick up one of the most popular baby names. For girls, the top ten includes (in order from #1 to #10): Emily, Emma, Madison, Abigail, Olivia, Isabella, Hannah, Samantha ,Ava, or Ashley. Boys can pick from: Jacob, Michael, Joshua, Matthew, Ethan, Andrew, Daniel, Anthony, Christopher, or Joseph. But these seem to blasé.

Why not go for a celebrity name? Jennifer ranks pretty high in 2005, although it has dropped significantly over the past fifteen years, falling from #8 in 1991 to #42 last year. Perhaps Ms. Anniston and J-Lo aren't considered worthy. Madonna didn't even make the grade of the top 1000 baby names; of course, most new parents today probably scarcely remember her. Then again, I wouldn't want my daughter's friends singing "Like a Virgin" every time she came to class. Paris has moved up on the charts significantly in the last three years. Perhaps new parents are hoping to find a claim to the Hilton fortune. But 'Brittany' seems to be in a downward trend. Maybe it will pick up as those teen girls get a little older.

Looking for a manly boys name to convey that rugged independence? How about 'Marley', which ranks as #467 in 2005? A big fan of 'The Princess Bride'? Go with 'Westley', and perhaps your son will turn out to be an adventuring pirate who bravely slays ROUSes. (Sadly, 'Buttercup' didn't make the list. Maybe 'Daisy'?) Since the tide of popular opinion has turned against Brad Pitt, the name 'Brad' will most likely continue to decline in popularity. Oddly, despite the former success of both Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks, the name 'Tom' hasn't even been among the top 1000 picks for nearly ten years. And thankfully, Eminem has escaped the top rankings, as well.

Celebrities come and go, but their names tend to stick around for a long time. You never know when Hollywood may be calling to your child, and giving them a head start may help. Then again, it may keep them safe at home.
Statistical information came from the Social Security Administration's baby name website.

by Nola Redd

About the Author
Nola Redd, mother of three, is working on naming her next baby as we speak. A freelance writer, she posts several short stories and articles at Writing.com. This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.BabyNameVote.Com/ which is a site for Baby Names.

6 Vital Points To Choose Baby Names Wisely

Choosing the right name from birth has an important impact on a person's life. It's about choosing an identity for your baby. Ever heard about the association of a person's name with his personality? A name molds a person's character like a cookie-cutter, and this holds true to varying degree in different cultures. So, better get that best baby name for your son or daughter.

Here are some tips on how to confer that best baby name for your little love.

1. Meanings, meanings, meanings
You certainly don't want your baby to be stuck with a name that will forever ridicule him or will allow his playmates to make a big laughing stock out of him. Learn the meaning of the baby name you are eyeing to give to your baby. Don't think Beelzebub is a prospective baby name just because you heard it from a TV show and you find it cute. Just plainly saying yes to your gut feel, trying to follow a fad by naming your baby a certain celebrity's (sometimes notorious) or NOT THINKING AT ALL in giving your precious one his or her baby name are definite no-nos!

2. Don't Get Too Creative
Don't go for the overkill. Being too creative on thinking of a baby name can backfire. Examples are too unique spellings. It will be hard for the kid to keep on spelling his or her name to people who only know the familiar spelling of such name.

3. Two Heads Are Better Than One
Discuss with your partner when choosing the best baby name for your adorable baby. It wouldn't be nice to always get blamed when people ask who chose that terrible baby name. Sharing on this kind of decision-making is a good way of furthering your bond as a pair, not to mention the possibility of coming up with a better baby name.

4. Think On Your Own
Choosing the right baby name does not have to always rely on what your elderly relatives think to be the best baby name. It is your baby's name, not theirs. Once your baby is born he will be stuck with that baby name for life. That means it's not sensible to just settle for any baby name that will match your grandma's or auntie's taste.

5. Be Careful With Initials
Consider reading the initials of the baby name you are planning to give your baby. Be certain they don't stand for something hilarious, disturbing or something totally silly. Christine Sue Irving? What will happen on the next episode of CSI? Alvin Stephen Stuart? He'll surely remember not to get near any hole. Fran Ursula Catherine Klein? Uh-oh! Can you picture the sickening situation you may put your baby into when he or she grows up?

6. How About Your Family Tree
Go verify your family tree once and for all. Some can't still get away from some traditions about baby name decisions, especially when they have a special link with a certain family member that they want that person's name to be a part of their baby's name. If you're planning to follow the tradition of putting a part of your elder relatives' names on your baby's name, you have to know whether anybody else in your family use that name too. Ask around.

The above are some of the vital points that should be considered in your quest for the perfect baby name. You might find them a bit demanding. But in the long run, you'll see that doing your research will make your baby thank you when the right time comes.

by Thomas Choo

ChampBaby features online baby names and meanings. Provides a collection of baby expert articles on baby gifts, baby shower and breast feeding. Visit http://babynames.champbaby.com/ to use our huge database of top baby names and their meanings.

Strategies for Choosing a Name for Your Baby

What's in a Name? "What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other word would smell as sweet."
--From Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2)

Of course, new mothers and fathers know that there is a world of difference in naming your baby "Rose" as opposed to "Skunkcabbage." When it comes to naming your baby, names do matter - and you want to choose the one that means the most to you. Parents may choose a name for its meaning, for its cadence, or for its history. No matter what you decide to name your baby, always consider the child.

Before you put the name on the birth certificate, ask yourself if the name is easy to spell, if the child will get teased, if the child will even like his or her own name. Your baby's name is not only important to you, but also to your baby.
Strategies for Choosing a Name for Your Baby Before you go name-hunting, you want to think about the kind of names you want for your baby. Are you going to choose a name that has been in your family for generations? Are you going to name your child after a favored television or movie star? Some parents name their children after favorite characters from books.

If there are names that you like, jot them down. When you hear a name that strikes a chord with you, write it down and keep all your potential names together in a notebook. You can cross off names that you decide not to use, and narrow down your list little by little. If you hear a name that you like, don't be afraid to ask how it's spelled. Write down any name that sounds good to you. Later, you and your spouse can discuss the names on the list.

Baby books and Internet sites abound that are filled with baby names. On some sites, you can look up names to find out what they mean, or what their origins are. Some people like to know what their names mean, so you want to choose wisely if meaning holds any weight with you.

Your Baby's Name While strategies for choosing a name for your baby may fill your head for many months, the name you choose for your baby will follow him or her for the rest of their life. You want to choose a name that sounds pleasant and that you think your child will like as much as you do. Remember, you're going to say that name many times in the next forty years or so - so choose wisely! Select a name that you, your baby and your family can live with. Consider its sound, because that is an important aspect of any name. Keep in mind that your baby's name is the very first thing that will define them as a person. Pick a name that means the most to you, and sounds the best to your ears. Take your time in choosing a name, and make sure that you and your spouse are both involved in strategies for choosing a name for your baby. Both parents should participate in the naming process, because babies cannot choose names for themselves.

by Jacqueline Courtiol

Jacqueline Courtiol, M.A. Ed. is a teacher, business owner and mother. She is the developer of a colic remedy used by pediatricians, doulas and mid-wifes. Colic Calm Gripe Water is also highly effective in the treatment of acid reflux discomfort in babies.

The Mother of all Baby Names Lists

The Tops of the 20th Century.

We often see "top lists" of baby names -- top ten names of 2005, the trendiest, the coolest, the most popular names of the decade -- and so on. Readers find these lists endlessly fascinating, often using such lists to help them choose the name for their own offspring. But now, in what is most likely the first appearance of this set of data, comes the mother of all names lists: The Top 100 Baby Names Of The 20th Century (USA). For parents who want to know what the really enduring names are, at least in the United States, this is the list to beat all lists.

This definitive compilation of data, spanning the years from 1900 to 1999, is based on an analysis performed by the publishers of the baby names website Baby Names Garden. This "best of the century" list, based on Social Security Card applications for births in the United States, determines and ranks the top 50 boys' names and the top 50 girls' names spanning the entire 20th century. It was compiled using the same methodology as used by the Social Security Administration in compiling their most popular names of the decade lists, i.e. by totaling the raw numbers. But in the analysis by Baby Names Garden, the time period studied is the entire 20th Century. There are plenty of surprises: Donald in the # 13 all time spot; Dorothy in the # 9 spot for girls, followed by Betty at # 10, to name a few. It may surprise people to see Patricia at the # 2 all-time girl's spot. Plus, there are some fascinating trends revealed by the data, such as the top 10 boys' names accounting for nearly 35 million names over the century, while the top 10 girls' account for only about 15 million names, clearly demonstrating the huge variety of girls' names versus boys' names, going back to 1900.

Just as they do today, Biblical names make a strong showing on the list. On the boy's side, no fewer than six biblical names appear in the all-time top ten; on the girl's side, two names have biblical roots. This discrepancy between boys' and girls' biblical names, with boys' always being more popular, holds true today.

Given the greater volatility over time of girls' names, it is not surprising to see that some superstars of the 20th Century, such as Linda, which ranks # 3 in the century, has fallen precipitously -- all the way to # 416 by 2005. Poor Betty, # 10 in the 20th Century, has fared even worse -- the name has not ranked in the top 1000 since squeaking onto the list at # 918 in 1996.

What names are still hot? Amazingly, five boys' names from the top dozen of the 20th Century - Michael, Daniel, Christopher, Joseph and William - are still in the top twelve today. For girls, only Elizabeth (#12 in 2005) shows that kind of endurance. For more than 100 years, parents have been very traditional in picking boys' names and ready to take a chance on something new when it comes to girls' names.

So what were the Top Baby Names of 20th Century? Here are the top ten for each gender:

Boys:

1 James 2 John 3 Robert 4 Michael 5 William 6 David 7 Richard 8 Joseph 9 Charles 10 Thomas

Girls:

1 Mary 2 Patricia 3 Linda 4 Barbara 5 Jennifer 6 Elizabeth 7 Margaret 8 Susan 9 Dorothy 10 Betty

How are the superstars of the 20th Century, James and Mary, performing today? True to form, the boy's name, James, is still not far from the top. It ranked # 17 in 2005. Mary, while not slumping like some of her sister names, is not doing so well. In 2005, she was # 73. More ominous for Mary, she has been trending downward since she last held the # 1 spot back in 1961. But even if Mary falls out of the top 100, it may only be temporary. Consider the name Emily, the hottest girl's name for the last ten years. 45 years ago, when Mary was # 1, Emily was # 265. Names, like most fashions, ebb and flow with the tastes of the day.

You can see the numbers behind these rankings, plus the full list of top 50 boys' and top 50 girls' names of the 20th Century, at Top Baby Names of 20th Century.

Neil Street is co-publisher of Baby Names Garden, a website dedicated to helping prospective parents pick the right name for their baby. He is also the editor of the Celebrity Baby Names Blog. He can be reached at Neil Street

Naming Twins the Creative Way

So, you're having twins. Congratulations! It can be difficult to determine just one name, and now you have to come up with two names! One way that could reduce the difficulty of choosing names is to opt for some creativity. There are several creative ideas when it comes to naming twins. Below are a few creative options and a few examples of each in all twin possibilities (two boys, two girls or one of each) to get you started. The important thing in naming any child is to choose a name that you like and one that you feel will suit your child!

Rhyming - Choosing names that rhyme is a popular choice. Some examples:

Two boys: Will and Bill, John and Shawn, Blake and Jake, Ben and Ken, Luke and Duke, James and Thames, Jason and Grayson, Ted and Fred, Mike and Ike

Two girls: Trudy and Judy, Tara and Sara, Molly and Holly, Hailey and Kaylee, Marissa and Carissa, Darla and Starla

Boy and girl: Dale and Gail, Ben and Jen, Chase and Grace, Flynn and Corrine, Dan and Ann, Bailey and Hailey, Jerry and Cherry

Alliteration - You can choose names that begin or end with the same letters or sound, such as:

Two boys: Brett and Brandon, Ethan and Ryan, Matthew and Andrew, Sam and Adam

Two girls: Shelly and Holly, Ava and Eva, Hannah and Sarah, Kayla and Kaylee, Alicia and Felicia, Anna and Hannah, Alissa and Melissa

Boy and girl: (with one of each sex, you can also choose the male and female form of the same name) Gabriel and Gabriella, Jack and Jacklyn, John and Jan, John and Joan, Joseph and Josephine, Louis and Louise, Kyle and Kyla, Kelly and Shelly

Alternate spellings - This can be quite fun in confusing others, though nicknames would most likely be used to distinguish the two. A few examples:

Two boys: Shawn and Sean, Dru and Drew, Charlie and Charley, Thomas and Tomas, Lou and Lew (or Louis and Lewis), Christopher and Kristopher

Two girls: Tricia and Trisha, Leah and Leigh, Cami and Camey, May and Mae, Megan and Magan, Sarah and Sara, Melanie and Melany, Mia and Mya

Boy and girl: Gayle and Gail, Aaron and Erin, Don and Dawn, Shawn and Shaun

Anagrams - A creative way of using the same letters to create different names. Here are several examples:

Two boys: Haley and Hayle, Gary and Gray, Raheem and Hareem, Randell and Darnell, Randy and Daryn, Raoul and Lauro, Ray and Ary,

Two girls: Amy and May, Mary and Myra, Abby and Baby, Rachelle and Charelle, Raza and Zara, Maci and Cami

Boy and girl: Ira and Ria, Christian and Christina, Aaron and Anora, Abe and Bea, Gean and Gena, Hale and Leah, Halsten and Shantel, Rafa and Fara, Ares and Sera

Themes - This choice is perhaps the most creative of the options. Non-traditional names are becoming more and more popular and nearly anything can be used as a name. Flowers are a great choice when using themes. Here are some examples of flowers and other themes:

Two boys: Chase and Tag, Houston and Phoenix, Truman and Nixon, Milton and Hamilton, Elvis and Presley, Thunder and Hurricane, Luck and Chance, Kelly and Hunter

Two girls: Summer and Autumn, Violet and Lavender, Jasmine and Ivy, Lilly and Poppy, Faith and Joy, Reagan and Kennedy, Clementine and Peach

Boy and girl: Rome and Paris, Royce and Mercedes, Stone and Sky, Cypress and Briar, Fate and Destiny, Leo and Libra

This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.BabyNameVote.Com/ which is a site for Baby Names.

Tonia Jordan is an author on Writing.com.

She is also a stringer for the Standard Speaker, a Pennsylvania newspaper, and is editor of Word of Mouth Magazine.

Tips For Choosing A Baby Name

Choosing a baby name can be difficult. At first it seems like a fairly straight forward task but when it comes to settling on the final name there is so much choice and the result is often so final that the task can become difficult. If you are choosing a name before the baby is born and you do not know the baby's sex then the task is doubly difficult as you need to have made two selections. So how can you make the job easier and more enjoyable?

First consider the type of name you want for your child. Are you looking for a unique name? Are you or you're partner a member of a religious faith and want a name that reflects your baby's religious culture, are you a member of an ethnic group and want to give the child a name that reflects this background? These are some of the parameters you can set to reduce the search for a name down to a manageable size. You can no doubt come up with other parameters.

The next step is to collate some research on names, their meanings, and their origins. Your sources for this material can be wide and varied. The advent of the internet makes this task easy.

There is a plethora of websites dedicated to helping you choose a name or do a background study into the origins and meanings of names. Often these resources will list names or allow you to input a name into a search to track down their meanings and origins. If you are stuck for internet access you can buy specialist books or loan books from libraries.

Once you have got your research material you can start listing the names you like best or find most suitable. List the name, the meaning and any possible nicknames. Pay good attention to the nick names because any name you choose is likely to be shortened by friends or acquaintances of the child in the future which, if you don't like the nickname, will lead to endless corrections on a daily basis.

Compare your list of names with your partners. Do you share choices or are you completely at odds with one another? Try combining lists and choices, try mixing potential first and middle names to find a choice of name you like and sounds good for both of you. Shortlist a number of options then don't be afraid to ask family and friends what they think of the names you have come up with. Often they will have an opinion good or bad as to how to name your baby, but remember, the final choice is yours, you can't make everyone happy.

Before you make your final choice, consider how the name will affect your child in the future as an adult. Think about how the name will look on a business card or other business stationery. Does it look professional or like a joke? Will the name be dated and unfashionable or can it stand the test of time? Your child has to live with this name forever so be sure to think of their future.

About the Author
Sarah Butler writes for Unusual Baby Name at http://www.unusual-babyname.com/

Trendy Celebrity Baby Names and Their Meanings

Celebrities often choose unique and unusual baby names for their offspring. Some of the trendiest celebrity baby names and their meanings can be found here. These baby names can provide inspiration for choosing a unique name for your own baby.

Girl's Names:

Apple: Origin: English, Meaning: Apple.
Celebrity Parents: Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin

Ava: Origin: German, Meaning: A bird.
Celebrity Parents: Reese Witherspoon, Heather Locklear.

Coco: Origin: Spanish, Meaning: Coconut.
Celebrity Parents: Courtney Cox Arquette and David Arquette

Ella: Origin: English, Meaning: Beautiful fairy woman.
Celebrity Parents: John Travolta, Ben Stiller, Eric Clapton, Mark Wahlberg & Rhea Durham.

Georgia: Origin: Greek Meaning: Female version of George, meaning a farmer.
Celebrity Parents: Harry Connick Jr., Harrison Ford, Mick Jagger & Jerry Hall.

Leila: Origin: Hebrew, Meaning: Dark Beauty.
Celebrity Parents: Greta Scacci & Vincent D'Onofrio

Lola: Origin: Spanish, Meaning: Strong Woman.
Celebrity Parents: Kate Moss, Jennie Garth, Chris Rock.

Matilda: Origin: German, Meaning: Might, Power.
Celebrity Parents: Michelle Williams & Heath Ledger

Sailor: Origin: English, Meaning: Sailor.
Celebrity Parents: Christie Brinkley & Peter Cook

Shiloh: Origin: Hebrew, Meaning: God's Gift.
Celebrity Parents: Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt

Sophia: Origin: Greek, Meaning: Form of Sophie, meaning wisdom.
Celebrity Parents: Francis Ford Coppola, Sylvester Stallone & Jennifer Flavin.

Stella: Origin: Greek, Meaning: A star.
Celebrity Parents: Melanie Griffith & Antonio Banderas.

Suri: Origin: Hebrew, Meaning: Red Rose, Princess.
Celebrity Parents: Tom Cruise & Katie Holmes


Boy's Names:

Banjo: Origin: English, Meaning: Banjo.
Celebrity Parents: Patrick and Rachel Griffiths

Bogart: Origin: German, Meaning: Bowstring.
Celebrity Parents: David "Puck" Rainey & Betty Rainey

Dashiell: Origin: Unknown, Meaning: Unknown.
Celebrity Parents: Alice Cooper. (Also, Mr. Incredible's named his son Dashiell Robert Parr or "Dash")

Indiana: Origin: English, Meaning: The country India.
Celebrity Parents: Casey Affleck and Summer Phoenix

Joaquin: Origin: Spanish, Meaning: Abbreviation of the Hebrew name Jehoichin, meaning "Jehovah has established."
Celebrity Parents: Kelly Ripa.

Jaden: Origin: Hebrew, Meaning: Jehovah has heard.
Celebrity Parents: Will Smith, Christian Slater, Andre Agassi.

Liam: Origin: Irish, Meaning: Unwavering protector.
Celebrity Parents: Calista Flockhart.

Maddox: Origin: Welsh, Meaning: Son of the Patron.
Celebrity Parents: Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt

Marlon: Origin: English, Meaning: Sea of Bitterness.
Celebrity Parents: Dennis Miller

Myles: Origin: German, Meaning: Millstone.
Celebrity Parents: Sherilynn Finn & Toulouse Hardy, Eddie Murphy

Oliver: Origin: Latin, Meaning: Olive Tree.
Celebrity Parents: Bridget Fonda & Danny Elfman

Presley: Origin: English, Meaning: From the priest's meadow.
Celebrity Parents: Cindy Crawford.

Reed: Origin: English, Meaning: Redheaded.
Celebrity Parents: Ron Howard.

Ryder: Origin: English, Meaning: Knight.
Celebrity Parents: Kate Hudson & Chris Robinson

Seven: Origin: Unknown, Meaning: Unknown.
Celebrity Parents: Erykah Badu & Andre Benjamin (Andre 3000 of Outkast)

About the Author
Trisha Jones is the owner of the hip maternity and baby boutique, Stella Maternity offering trendy maternity clothes and cool baby clothes.

Baby girl names - "Abigail"

Abigail (אֲבִיגַיִל / אֲבִיגָיִל meaning "her Father's joy or, fountain of joy" ;leader of/is dance/, Standard Hebrew Avigáyil, Tiberian Hebrew ʾĂḇîḡáyil / ʾĂḇîḡāyil).

Abigail is a female character in the Bible. She is described as the wife of Nabal the Carmelite, whose life she saves when David wishes to kill him. On his death she became the 3rd wife of David (Samuel 1 25).
By her David had a son, whose name appears in the Hebrew of 2 Samuel 3:3 as Chileab, in the Septuagint as Daluyah, and in Chronicles 1 3:1 as Daniel.

Abigail is a very popular german name. It was 4th overall in 2005.

Abbi is short for Abigail.

I digg Dave Matthews Band music

Matthew is the standard English form of the New Testament name Μαθθαιος (Matthaios), a Greek transliteration of the Aramaic diminutive מתי (Mattay, Maty). From Latin Matthæus, the English spelling Matthew (earlier Matheu) comes directly from the French Matthieu. Ultimately derived from the Hebrew name מתתיהו (Matatyahu, Mattathias) or מתיתיהו (Matityahu, Mattithiah), Matthew means "gift of the LORD; gift of the god Yahu". The Hebrew name is also spelled מתניהו (Matanyahu, Mattaniah). Related names include נתניהו (Netanyahu, Nethaniah), and its inversion יהונתנ (Yehonatan, Jonathan).

Saint Matthew was one of the twelve apostles, he was a tax collector. You'd get taxed even in those days ...

A common name in the West, it is traditionally spelled "Matthew", but sometimes "Mathew", and even as the Muslim name Mathyu. "Matthew" can also be a last name, when an "s" is generally added to the end ("Matthews").

In 2004, it was ranked 4th in popularity.

baby boy or a baby girl?

We don't know if we're getting a boy or a girl ... hmmmm
Why don't we call him or her ... Madison!

Madison is a very popular unisex name. In 2005, it finished third for the most female given name.

It's a surname which means "son of Maud" or more like "daughter of Maud" for 2005.

James Madison was a famous bearer of the surname. He wrote the American constitution and later served as president.

Personnaly, it sounds more like a boy name.

Baby boy names - Have you met my baby boy Joshua?

Yup! My son Joshua finished third overall in popularity in 2005.

Joshua, Josue or Yehoshua (Hebrew: יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, Tiberian: jə.ho.ˈʃu.aʕ, Israeli: Yhoshua) is a person mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, especially in the Book of Joshua. In that account, Joshua succeeded Moses as the leader of the Israelites and led their conquest of Canaan.He was Moses' minister, and accompanied him part of the way when he ascended Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments (Exd. 32:17).

Yehoshua which means "YAHWEH" is a name of the Hebrew God. It was considered blasphemous to utter the name of God and so it was only written and never spoken.The name Jesus is a variant of the name Joshua.

So many names are from the Hebrew language. I'm wondering what are the stats on nationalities naming their son with a Hebrew derived name.

Top baby names runner up of 2005

Close but no cigar !

Still, let’s give them a Big Round of Applause !!!

Three cheers for Michael and Emma.

Michael or Micha'el is a given name that comes from Hebrew (מִיכָאֵל / מיכאל "who is like God?" or "likened unto God". This is the only archangel name, out of the seven archangels in Hebrew, identified in the Bible. In the New Testament he is portrayed as the leader of heaven's armies.

"Mike", "Mick", "Mikey", "Mic", and "Mickey" are short forms of, or nick-names for, Michael as a given name. The name is used extensively throughout Ireland. Just watch the movie Snatch and you'll see. I stil can't understand a word that comes out of Mickey's mouth (brad pit).

Meik and Maik are German short forms of Michael. The German pronunciation of both variants is identically to the English pronunciation of "Mike", since both are directly derived from their English counterpart.

Maicol is another spelling of "Michael". It is a name given in Brazil (where it is more usual to write it as Maicon), Italy and sometimes other Latin countries.


Emma is derived from the german word"ermen" meaning "whole" or "universal". Jane Austen wrote a famous comedic first published in 1816 novel entitled "Emma" concerning the perils of misconstrued romance.

Top baby names of 2005

I though I would start out this blog with this year winners.

For the boyz, we have "JACOB" as the unanimous winner and "EMILY" prove to be the most popular name for the girls.

Jacob of course has strong biblical sense. You will find Jacobus in latin and Iakobos from the Greek. However, they are all dervived from the Hebrew name Ya'aqov. Jacob was the son of Isaac and Rebecca in the Old Testament. It's meaning is "holder of the heel" because Jacob was born holding hiw twin brother's heel. Some people believes that Jacob is derived from Ya'aqov'el meaning "may God protect".
Jacob is a very popular english, dutch and scandinavian name.

Emily on the other hand is derived from Aemilia a medieval feminine form of Aemilius which was derived from the latin word aemulus meaning "rival". Emily is a popular name featured in song titles, from bands including Feeder, Pink Floyd, Simon and Garfunkel, Bowling For Soup, From First To Last, Stephen Fretwell, Adam Green, Manic Street Preachers, Leon Russell and Art Brut. The Japanese Imperial Navy Flying Boat used in WWII, Kawanishi H8K, nicknamed "Emily" in the Allied idenitification code.

I've always though of Emily to be very english... A name you would hear at a tea party :)