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 New
year, new names
A new year dawns and with it comes the latest list of the nation's
favourite names.
Jack and Emily have held the top position in the names chart for 2004
with Jack celebrating ten years at the top. Emily has held the number
one slot for two years.
Overall, there has been no change in the top five boys' names for the
fourth year running, with Joshua, Thomas, James and Daniel holding their
positions since 2001 and reflecting the consistency with which parents
name their sons.
At the other end of the scale, Gabriel makes an entrance at number 100
and over a hundred Freddies born last year has ensured its 96th position.
It's increased popularity is thought to be partly due to sporting stars
of the same name, Arsenal's Freddie Ljunberg and England's cricketing
sensation Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff.
One of the top climbers of 2003, Alfie dropped 9 places to 27 last year,
along with Spencer who fell 47 places ending up out of the top 100. The
success and subsequent slump of both these names is thought to be directly
following the introduction of Alfie and Spencer Moon in Eastenders.
The Blairs' decision to name their youngest son Leo could have influenced
the name's rise of 22 places to number 57.
In the girl's top 100, Emily maintained its number one place for the
second year running while Chloe which was top for six years slumped to
number five. Ellie, Jessica and Sophie are all vying for next year's number
one slot.
Hollywood seems to have played an important role in parents' choice of
girls' names with British actress Keira Knightly thought to be partly
responsible for the name's move of 100 places to number 53. To make it
more pronouncable, the film star changed the spelling of her name from
Kiera which has also climbed 30 places to 94.
Other Hollywood stars who have seen increased popularity in their names
include Sienna Miller, Scarlett Johannson and Charlize Theron.
The highest new entry in the top 50 girls' names is Evie, climbing 22
places to 39. Other notable new entries include Madison and Niamh.
In Wales, Megan and Joshua are number one for the second year running
while Lewis and Emma top the Scottish charts. Northern Ireland sees Katie
overtake Emma for the number one position with no change to the top of
the boys' chart which sees Jack in the number one slot for the fifth year
in a row.
Where to next?
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