By Kelli Brady, The Name Freak!

　　Now that the 2014 SSA list has been released, I can present the “real” Top 50 to you! By combining the different spellings of each name, we can determine which name is truly more popular. Because when you hear “Sophia!” on the playground, you have no idea how her name is spelled, but you 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 is the spelling given to the most babies in 2014 (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

　　With the 2014 list, we had a very surprising new #1 in Emma. But as you can see below, Sophia is still on top when you also take the alternate spelling Sofia into consideration. Emma was pushed down to #3 after the variants of Olivia were also included. The rest of the list varies as well, sometimes greatly. The largest jumps are by Adalynn (#128 to #22), Elena (#121 to #43), and Madelyn (#59 to #12)

　　Sophia (3) – Sofia

　　Olivia (2) – Alivia, Alyvia

　　Emma (1)

　　Isabella (4) – Isabela, Izabella

　　Ava (5) – Avah, Ayva

　　Emily (7) – Emely, Emilee, Emilie, Emmalee

　　Mia (6) – Miah

　　Zoey (22) – Zoe, Zoie

　　Aubrey (20) – Aubree, Aubri, Aubrie

　　Madison (9) – Maddison, Madisyn, Madyson

　　Abigail (8) – Abbigail

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

　　Chloe (18) – Khloe

　　Ariana (37) – Arianna, Aryana, Aryanna

　　Layla (29) – Laila, Lailah, Laylah, Leila, Leyla

　　Amelia (15) – Emelia, Emilia

　　Avery (13) – Averi, Averie

　　Riley (47) – Rylee, Ryleigh, Rylie

　　Charlotte (10)

　　Elizabeth (14) – Elisabeth

　　Lily (27) – Lillie, Lilly

　　Evelyn (16) – Evalyn, Evelynn

　　Adalynn (128) – Adalyn, Addilyn, Addilynn, Adeline, Adelyn, Adelynn

　　Harper (11)

　　Brooklyn (26) – Brooklynn

　　Natalie (23) – Natalee, Nataly, Nathalie, Nathaly

　　Ella (17)

　　Aria (31) – Ariah, Ariya, Ariyah, Arya

　　Addison (24) – Addisyn, Addyson

　　Allison (38) – Alison, Alisson, Allyson, Alyson

　　Mackenzie (69) – Makenzie, Mckenzie

　　Victoria (19)

　　Kaylee (52) – Caylee, Kailee, Kailey, Kayleigh, Kaylie

　　Hailey (51) – Hailee, Haley, Haylee, Hayley

　　Grace (21)

　　Hannah (28) – Hana, Hanna

　　Lillian (25) – Lilian

　　Leah (35) – Lea, Leia, Lia

　　Maya (74) – Maia, Miya, Mya, Myah

　　Peyton (56) – Paityn, Payton

　　Anna (34) – Ana

　　Scarlett (30) – Scarlet, Scarlette

　　Elena (121) – Alaina, Alayna, Elaina

　　Kylie (73) – Kiley, Kylee, Kyleigh

　　Camila (41) – Camilla, Kamila

　　Nora (49) – Norah

　　Katherine (83) – Catherine, Kathryn

　　Sarah (50) – Sara

　　Gabriella (43) – Gabriela

　　Annabelle (57) – Anabel, Anabelle, Annabel, Annabell

　　If we were to compare this year’s Playground Analysis with last year’s, the following names entered the Top 50 in 2014: Annabelle, Nora, and Scarlett; the following names fell out of the Top 50: Aaliyah, Kaitlyn, and Samantha.

　　Another interesting tidbit: the most popular spelling of Ariana changed from Arianna in 2013 to Ariana in 2014.

　　BOYS

　　While the 2014 list had no major changes to the Top 5, except for Jacob and Mason switching places (Mason moving up to #3 and Jacob moving down to #4), a comparison of the Playground Analyses show a change in the #1 name… Jackson has overtaken Aiden for the top spot! Jayden falls from #3 to #7 and Liam jumps from #7 to #4. The biggest movers, again, were Kayden (#90 to #9) and Jace (#68 to #20). Grayson also makes a big move up from #63 to #37.

　　Jackson (17) – Jaxen, Jaxon, Jaxson

　　Aiden (14) – Aaden, Adan, Aden, Aidan, Aidyn, Aydan, Ayden, Aydin

　　Noah (1) – Noe

　　Liam (2)

　　Mason (3) – Maison, Mayson

　　Jacob (4) – Jakob, Jaycob

　　Jayden (15) – Jaden, Jadon, Jaiden, Jaydon

　　William (5)

　　Kayden (90) – Caden, Caiden, Cayden, Kaden, Kaeden, Kaiden

　　Ethan (6)

　　Alexander (8) – Alexzander

　　Michael (7) – Micheal

　　James (9)

　　Elijah (11) – Alijah

　　Daniel (10)

　　Lucas (19) – Lukas

　　Benjamin (12)

　　Logan (13)

　　Matthew (16) – Mathew

　　Jace (68) – Jase, Jayce, Jayse

　　Carter (27) – Karter

　　David (18)

　　Joseph (20)

　　Caleb (35) – Kaleb

　　Anthony (21)

　　Dylan (29) – Dilan, Dillon

　　Andrew (22)

　　John (26) – Jon

　　Christopher (30) – Cristopher, Kristopher

　　Samuel (23)

　　Gabriel (24)

　　Joshua (25)

　　Luke (28)

　　Isaac (31) – Issac

　　Christian (42) – Cristian, Kristian

　　Landon (43) – Landen, Landyn

　　Grayson (63) – Graysen, Greyson

　　Connor (52) – Conner, Conor, Konner, Konnor

　　Jonathan (44) – Johnathan, Johnathon, Jonathon

　　Nicholas (57) – Nickolas, Nicolas, Nikolas

　　Oliver (32)

　　Henry (33)

　　Cameron (53) – Camren, Camron, Kameron, Kamron, Kamryn

　　Sebastian (34)

　　Owen (36)

　　Ryan (37)

　　Nathan (38)

　　Wyatt (39)

　　Hunter (40)

　　Jack (41)

　　If we were to compare this year’s Playground Analysis with last year’s, the following names entered the Top 50 in 2014: Grayson, Oliver and Sebastian; the following names fell out of the Top 50: Brayden, Dominic, and Isaiah.

　　So what do you think? Does this reflect what you are hearing out there?