By Kelli Brady, Name Freak!

　　You must be aware of the 2015 SSA top baby name list by now, but are you a bit confused by the #1 names? Maybe you hear a lot more “Jackson!” than “Noah!” yelled at the playground? Well, by combining the different spellings of each name, we can determine which name is truly more popular. Because when you hear a name, you don’t necessarily know how it is spelled, but you do know you hear the name a lot. Where does it really rank compared to other names?

　　Note: These are the combined spellings of the names in the Top 1000 only. When the numbers from the entire list are added, positions could change. The main name listed below is the spelling given to the most babies in 2015 (SSA Rank is in parentheses). The others are in alphabetical order. Opinions vary on how different spellings are pronounced. I went with my best judgment.

　　GIRLS

　　On the 2015 SSA list, Emma remains #1 in 2015 after taking over the top spot from Sophia in 2014. The rest of the Top 5 changes a bit, with Ava and Isabella switching places. However, the top 5 of the Playground Analysis has not changed from last year at all. Sophia is still on top when you add the alternate spelling Sofia. Emma is down to #3 after the variant of Olivia is also included. And Isabella passes Ava with its various spellings added. The changes between the SSA list and the Playground Analysis are plentiful however. The largest jumps that take place after adding the alternative spellings are by Adalynn (#123 to #9), Elena (#106 to #39), and Madelyn (#59 to #12). Adalynn also makes a huge jump in the Playground Analysis from 2014 to 2015 (#23 to #9).

　　Sophia (3) – Sofia

　　Olivia (2) – Alivia

　　Emma (1)

　　Isabella (5) – Isabela, Izabella

　　Ava (4) – Avah

　　Mia (6) – Miah

　　Emily (8) – Emely, Emilee, Emilie, Emmalee

　　Zoey (23) – Zoe, Zoie

　　Adalynn (123) – Adaline, Adalyn, Addilyn, Addilynn, Adeline, Adelyn, Adelynn, Adilynn

　　Amelia (12) – Emelia, Emilia

　　Abigail (7)

　　Madelyn (59) – Madalyn, Madalynn, Madeleine, Madeline, Madelynn, Madilyn, Madilynn

　　Madison (11) – Maddison, Madisyn, Madyson

　　Aubrey (21) – Aubree, Aubrie

　　Charlotte (9)

　　Chloe (17) – Khloe

　　Riley (35) – Rylee, Ryleigh, Rylie

　　Layla (30) – Laila, Lailah, Laylah, Leila, Leyla

　　Avery (16) – Averi, Averie

　　Evelyn (15) – Evalyn, Evelynn

　　Harper (10)

　　Ariana (46) – Arianna, Aryana, Aryanna

　　Elizabeth (13) – Elisabeth

　　Aria (29) – Ariah, Ariya, Ariyah, Arya

　　Lily (25) – Lillie, Lilly

　　Scarlett (22) – Scarlet, Scarlette

　　Brooklyn (31) – Brooklynn

　　Allison (39) – Alison, Alisson, Allyson, Alyson

　　Addison (24) – Addisyn, Addyson

　　Ella (18)

　　Natalie (27) – Natalee, Nataly, Nathalie, Nathaly

　　Leah (36) – Lea, Leia, Lia

　　Grace (19)

　　Victoria (20)

　　Maya (69) – Maia, Miya, Mya, Myah

　　Mackenzie (73) – Makenzie, Mckenzie

　　Nora (41) – Norah

　　Hannah (28) – Hana, Hanna

　　Elena (106) – Elaina, Alaina, Alayna

　　Lillian (26) – Lilian

　　Kaylee (61) – Caylee, Kailee, Kailey, Kayleigh, Kaylie

　　Camila (43) – Camilla, Kamila

　　Hailey (64) – Hailee, Haley, Haylee, Hayley

　　Kylie (66) – Kiley, Kylee, Kyleigh

　　Anna (44) – Ana

　　Sarah (58) – Sara

　　Skylar (42) – Skyler

　　Peyton (72) – Paityn, Payton

　　Katherine (84) – Catherine, Kathryn

　　Paisley (45) – Paislee

　　Skylar and Paisley enter the Top 50 of the 2015 Playground Analysis, while Gabriella and Annabelle fall.

　　BOYS

　　Both the 2014 SSA list and the Playground Analysis had no major changes to the Top 6, however Jayden and all of its spelling alternatives continue to fall as it moves from #7 to #8 in the Playground Analysis (after falling from #3 to #7 last year). William moves up to #7, but the rest of the top names stay in position. The biggest movers were Kayden (#95 to #9) and Jace (#75 to #29).

　　Jackson (17) – Jaxen, Jaxon, Jaxson

　　Aiden (13) – Aaden, Adan, Aden, Aidan, Aydan, Ayden, Aydin

　　Noah (1) – Noe

　　Liam (2)

　　Mason (3) – Maison, Mayson

　　Jacob (4) – Jakob

　　William (5)

　　Jayden (20) – Jaden, Jadon, Jaiden, Jaydon

　　Kayden (95) – Caden, Caiden, Cayden, Kaden, Kaeden, Kaiden

　　Ethan (6)

　　Alexander (8) – Alexzander

　　James (7)

　　Michael (9) – Micheal

　　Elijah (11) – Alijah

　　Benjamin (10)

　　Daniel (12)

　　Matthew (15) – Mathew

　　Carter (24) – Karter

　　Logan (14)

　　Lucas (16)

　　Grayson (47) – Graysen, Greyson

　　David (18)

　　Oliver (19)

　　Joseph (21)

　　Caleb (37) – Kaleb

　　Dylan (27) – Dilan, Dillon

　　Gabriel (22)

　　Samuel (23)

　　Jace (75) – Jase, Jayce

　　John (26) – Jon

　　Anthony (25)

　　Christopher (32) – Cristopher, Kristopher

　　Isaac (31) – Issac

　　Luke (28)

　　Henry (29)

　　Andrew (30)

　　Christian (43) – Cristian, Kristian

　　Joshua (33)

　　Wyatt (34)

　　Landon (46) – Landen, Landyn

　　Sebastian (35)

　　Owen (36)

　　Cameron (56) – Camren, Camron, Kameron, Kamren, Kamron, Kamryn

　　Connor (54) – Conner, Conor, Konnor

　　Nicholas (62) – Nickolas, Nicolas, Nikolas

　　Jonathan (48) – Johnathan, Jonathon

　　Nathan (38)

　　Ryan (39)

　　Jack (40)

　　Julian (45) – Julien

　　Julian rises into the Top 50 of the 2015 Playground Analysis, while Hunter falls.

　　Does this echo what you are hearing on the playground?