Around this time every year, we peek behind the Nameberry curtain to see which names are the most popular with our visitors.  This Top 100 for each gender, which reflects views of the name pages on our site, indicates which names have captured the most interest since the start of the year.

　　The girls’ list is evidence of both pop culture events along with future baby name trends.  Some analysis:

　　— The Hunger Games is the obvious inspiration for Katniss at Number 1.  We don’t ever expect to see Katniss — or Primrose or Rue — in the U.S. Top 100 for real live baby girls.  But the appeal of the heroine inspires a great amount of curiosity about her unusual name.

　　— Celebrities and their babies attract a lot of page views, which sometimes translate into baby name trends.  Names high on the Nameberry list thanks to celebrities and starbabies include Harper, Seraphine, Penelope, Violet, Isla, and Scarlett.  And these are all names that will continue to rise in the national name statistics as well, we predict.

　　— The berries are ahead of their time.  While there are some crossovers between the Nameberry and the U.S. Top 100, there are more notable differences.  Most important: Classic, stylish names little used in the country at large are popular among our visitors: Imogen, Maeve, Aurelia, Elodie, Pearl.

　　Here, the Nameberry Girls’ Top 100 for 2012 so far:

　　Katniss

　　Charlotte

　　Harper

　　Seraphina

　　Imogen

　　Penelope

　　Amelia

　　Violet

　　Isla

　　Eleanor

　　Adelaide

　　Alice

　　Quinn

　　Cora

　　Eliza

　　Evelyn

　　Aurora

　　Claire

　　Sophia

　　Lila

　　Maeve

　　Scarlett

　　Nora

　　Hazel

　　Grace

　　Ivy

　　Ava

　　Olivia

　　Elizabeth

　　Stella

　　Lucy

　　Clara

　　Ruby

　　Ella

　　Wren

　　Matilda

　　Beatrice

　　Poppy

　　Clementine

　　Avery

　　Emma

　　Isabella

　　Willa

　　Chloe

　　Aurelia

　　Audrey

　　Evangeline

　　Iris

　　Lily

　　Mila

　　Josephine

　　Maisie

　　Rose

　　Arabella

　　Adeline

　　Aria

　　Elodie

　　Mae

　　Genevieve

　　Lydia

　　Merida

　　Eloise

　　Caroline

　　Jane

　　Juliet

　　Phoebe

　　Gemma

　　Margaret

　　Harlow

　　Emmeline

　　Zoe

　　Emily

　　Delilah

　　Esme

　　Cordelia

　　Georgia

　　Olive

　　Sadie

　　Piper

　　Madeline

　　Mia

　　Hannah

　　Anna

　　Emery

　　Willow

　　Hadley

　　Cecilia

　　Zara

　　Luna

　　Maya

　　Pearl

　　Kate

　　Mabel

　　Lola

　　Isadora

　　Ellie

　　Eden

　　Amelie

　　Eva

　　Beatrix

　　Look for the boys’ list tomorrow.

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