Popular baby names get a bad rap, especially — okay, we admit it — here on Nameberry.

　　But popular baby names are popular for a reason: A lot of people like them for a lot of good reasons. Popular names often have a sound and feel that’s right in step with the times, they’re fresh but also have meaningful roots, they appeal to a wide range of different kinds of parents.

　　Right now, in fact, the popular baby names hold more intrinsic appeal than ever. Time-honored, noble names for girls; strong, classic names for boys — there’s more to like than to not like.

　　How are we defining popular? If you can pick from the Top 10, great, but any baby name in the Top 100 is fair game.

　　So what’s your favorite  popular name? And why?