The most popular baby names in the US were recently revealed to be Liam and Olivia… again. But if you feel like you hear other names more often, there’s a good reason for that!

　　The baby name data released each year by the Social Security Administration lists variant spellings like Aiden and Aidan, Riley and Rylee as totally separate names – which can have a big impact on their standing in the charts.

　　The Playground Analysis groups the names from the official US popularity charts according to their sound and then ranks the groups instead of the individual spellings. Listing the various spellings together gives us a more accurate view of what the #1 name is in the country.

　　So, when all variants are combined, these are the girl and boy names you are actually likely to hear most often on the playground!

Top Girl Names 2022

　　Sophia and her alternative spellings remains firmly on top in 2022, but Amelia skips over Olivia to take over the second spot!

　　While Sophia remains a strong choice for parents, the total numbers show that the rest of the Top 10 are becoming less and less popular overall.

　　When comparing the Playground Analysis of 2021 to 2022, the names in the Top 10 remain the same, but four of the names switch places: Amelia and Olivia switch between #2 and #3, and Isabella and Ava switch between #5 and #8. 

　　Within the Top 50, big movers up are Violet (#44 to #34), Scarlett (#29 to #21), and Lily (#32 to #25). The biggest mover down is Gianna (#20 to #31).

　　Four names have risen into the PA Top 50: Leilani (#64 to #47), Naomi (#61 to #50), Aurora (#51 to #45), and Hannah (#52 to #48).

　　Meanwhile, four names fell out of the Top 50: Aubrey (#46 to #64), Alayah (#43 to #52), Paisley (#48 to #54), and Ariana (#49 to #55).

　　Adeline deserves a special mention: its many variant spellings propel it from all the way down at #92 on the official charts into the PA Top 10!

　　And as an interesting side note, Zoe has replaced Zoey as the name’s top spelling. Zoey had been the more popular spelling since 2011.

　　See the full Top 50 most popular girl names 2022, according to our Playground Analysis, below.

　　NB: Names are given in their most popular form, together with their SSA rankings and total combined births, plus the most common variant spellings.

　　All spellings given to five or more babies are included in the figures, but I have only listed those with 50 or more births due to length. For example, Sophia has 9 alternate spellings used in 2022, but only 3 are listed here.

Playground Analysis Top 50 Girl Names

　　2. Amelia (#4) – 18117 births – Emilia, Emelia, Amilia

　　3. Olivia (#1) – 17941 births – Alivia, Alyvia, Olyvia

　　4. Emma (#2) – 14588 births – Ema

　　5. Isabella (#6) – 13287 births – Izabella, Isabela, Ysabella, Issabella, Izzabella

　　6. Charlotte (#3) – 13010 births – Charlette

　　7. Adeline (#92) – 11924 births – Adalynn, Adalyn, Adaline, Adelyn, Adelynn, Addilyn, Addilynn, Adilynn, Adilene, Addalyn, Addalynn, Addelyn, Adilyn, Adalyne, Adelin, Adelyne

　　8. Ava (#7) – 11608 births – Avah, Ayva, Ayvah

　　9. Mia (#8) – 11589 births – Miah, Miya, Miyah

　　10. Aria (#23) – 11506 births – Arya, Ariyah, Ariah, Ariya, Aarya, Aryah

　　11. Camila (#12) – 10965 births – Kamila, Camilla, Kamilah, Kamilla, Kamyla

　　12. Evelyn (#9) – 10885 births – Evelynn, Evalyn, Evalynn, Evelin

　　13. Madelyn (#60) – 10300 births – Madeline, Madilyn, Madeleine, Madelynn, Madilynn, Madalyn, Madalynn, Maddilyn, Madelin

　　14. Riley (#39) – 10229 births – Rylee, Ryleigh, Rylie, Rhylee, Reilly, Ryley, Rylei

　　15. Isla (#36) – 10156 births – Ayla, Ila, Iyla, Aila, Aylah, Eila, Aiyla, Iylah, Aayla, Ilah, Islah

　　16. Zoe (#38) – 9891 births – Zoey, Zoie

　　17. Layla (#29) – 9641 births – Leila, Laila, Leyla, Laylah, Leilah, Lailah, Leylah

　　18. Elena (#49) – 9240 births – Alaina, Elaina, Alayna, Alena, Elayna, Aleyna

　　19. Eliana (#41) – 9172 births – Elliana, Elianna, Ellianna, Eliyanah, Elyana, Ellyanna, Elyana, Eliyana

　　20. Luna (#10) – 8995 births

　　21. Scarlett (#14) – 8374 births – Scarlet, Scarlette, Skarlett

　　22. Chloe (#18) – 8323 births – Khloe, Kloe, Cloe

　　23. Harper (#11) – 8191 births

　　24. Everly (#57) – 7875 births – Everleigh, Everlee, Everley, Everlie, Everli

　　25. Lily (#30) – 7846 births – Lilly, Lillie, Lili

　　26. Emily (#17) – 7839 births – Emely, Emilie, Emilee, Emmalee

　　27. Nora (#28) – 7660 births – Norah

　　28. Eleanor (#16) – 7755 births – Elinor, Eleanore, Elanor

　　29. Avery (#26) – 7413 births – Averie, Averi

　　30. Elizabeth (#15) – 7276 births – Elisabeth

　　31. Gianna (#22) – 7272 births – Jianna, Giana, Jiana

　　32. Aaliyah (#69) – 6835 births – Aliyah, Alia, Aleah, Aliya, Aliah

　　33. Madison (#34) – 6809 births – Maddison, Madisyn, Madyson, Madisson

　　34. Violet (#20) – 6765 births – Violette, Violett

　　35. Mila (#19) – 6754 births – Milah

　　36. Abigail (#24) – 6594 births – Abbigail

　　37. Penelope (#21) – 6435 births  

　　38. Maya (#51) – 6406 births – Mya, Maia, Myah, Maiya, Mayah

　　39. Ella (#25) – 6402 births – Ela

　　40. Nova (#32) – 6336 births – Novah

　　41. Hazel (#27) – 6307 births – Hayzel

　　42. Leah (#52) – 6292 births – Lia, Lea, Liah, Liya, Liyah, Leigha

　　43. Kehlani (#152) – 6264 births – Kailani, Kaylani, Keilani, Kailany, Kelani, Keilany, Kaelani, Keylani, Kylani, Klani, Kaylanie, Kayloni

　　44. Ellie (#33) – 6163 births – Elly, Elli, Ellee

　　45. Aurora (#31) – 6008 births

　　46. Lyla (#105) – 5899 births – Lilah, Lila, Lylah

　　47. Leilani (#59) – 5461 births – Leilany, Laylani, Leylani, Lailani

　　48. Hannah (#47) – 5431 births – Hanna, Hana

　　49. Grace (#35) – 5289 births

　　50. Naomi (#46) – 5280 births – Nyomi, Nahomi, Nayomi, Naiomi, Naomie, Niomi

Top Boy Names 2022

　　Liam remains at #1 in the Playground Analysis for the second year in a row, but Noah overtakes Jackson for the #2 spot!

　　The rest of the Top 10 stays very similar, except for two new names: Mateo jumps five spots to #7 and Luca continues his rise, jumping five spots to #10.

　　Lucas drops one spot and Grayson and William fall out of the Top 10.

　　Big movers up include Ezra (#44 to #32), Leo (#38 to #30), Hudson (#42 to #34) and Sebastian (#26 to #19).

　　Big droppers are Wyatt (#36 to #50), Mason (#18 to #27), Carter (#25 to #33), and Jacob (#27 to #35).

　　New entries into the PA Top 50 are Maverick (#52 to #43), Elias (#54 to #46), and Ezekiel (#51 to #49). They replace Lincoln (#50 to #64), Cameron (#48 to #54), and Thomas (#49 to #51). 

　　On the boys' side, a special mention goes to Kayden. Never a superstar in the official charts, it actually ranks all the way up at #14 when all of its many variant spellings are combined!

　　Below, see the full Top 50 most popular boy names 2022 according to our Playground Analysis.

Playground Analysis Top 50 Boy Names

　　2. Noah (#2) – 18799 births – Noa

　　3. Jackson (#23) – 16909 births – Jaxon, Jaxson, Jaxxon, Jaxen, Jaxyn, Jaxsen, Jaxsyn

　　4. Oliver (#3) – 15155 births

　　5. Aiden (#29) – 13322 births – Ayden, Aidan, Adan, Aden, Aydin, Aydan, Eiden, Aidyn, Eydan, Eyden, Adin, Aedan, Aiyden

　　6. Elijah (#5) – 12813 births – Alijah, Elyjah

　　7. Mateo (#11) –12614 births – Matteo, Matheo

　　8. Lucas (#8) – 12461 births – Lukas

　　9. James (#4) – 12062 births

　　10. Luca (#28) – 11858 births – Luka, Lucca, Lukah, Lucah

　　11. Grayson (#37) – 11588 births – Greyson, Graysen, Greysen, Gracen

　　12. Henry (#7) – 11391 births – Henri

　　13. William (#6) – 11291 births

　　14. Kayden (#107) – 11290 births – Kaiden, Caden, Kaden, Cayden, Caiden, Kaidyn, Kaeden, Kadyn

　　15. Benjamin (#9) – 10842 births

　　16. Theodore (#10) – 10853 births – Theodor

　　17. Levi (#12) – 9932 births – Levy

　　18. Michael (#17) – 9770 births – Mikael, Micheal, Mikel, Maykel, Mykel 

　　19. Sebastian (#13) – 9558 births – Sebastien

　　20. Daniel (#14) – 9132 births

　　21. Alexander (#17) – 9112 births – Aleksander, Alexzander

　　22. Ethan (#21) – 9001 births – Eithan, Eythan

　　23. Jack (#15) – 8934 births

　　24. Miles (#55) – 8908 births – Myles

　　25. Jayden (#46) – 8858 births – Jaden, Jaiden, Jadon, Jeyden, Jaydon, Jaydan, Jaidyn, Jaeden

　　26. Owen (#18) – 8594 births

　　27. Mason (#24) – 8563 births – Maison, Mayson

　　28. Asher (#19) – 8458 births

　　29. Samuel (#20) – 8402 births

　　30. Leo (#22) – 8283 births

　　31. John (#26) – 8254 births – Jon, Jhon

　　32. Ezra (#25) – 8196 births – Ezrah

　　33. Carter (#47) – 8102 births – Karter

　　34. Hudson (#27) – 8035 births – Hudsyn

　　35. Jacob (#32) – 7993 births – Jakob, Jaycob

　　36. Joseph (#30) – 7865 births – Josef

　　37. David (#31) – 7784 births

　　38. Julian (#35) – 7757 births – Julien

　　39. Logan (#33) – 7575 births

　　40. Dylan (#41) – 7486 births – Dillon, Dilan, Dillan

　　41. Josiah (#51) – 7460 births – Jasiah, Joziah, Jesiah, Jessiah, Jaziah, Jahsiah

　　42. Isaac (#42) – 7430 births – Issac, Izaak, Isaak, Izaac

　　43. Maverick (#40) – 7428 births – Mavrick, Maverik, Mavrik

　　44. Luke (#34) – 7410 births – Luc

　　45. Matthew (#39) – 7306 births – Mathew

　　46. Elias (#43) – 7246 births – Elyas, Ilyas, Alias

　　47. Caleb (#52) – 7230 births – Kaleb

　　48. Gabriel (#36) – 7211 births

　　49. Ezekiel (#49) – 7185 births – Ezequiel

　　50. Wyatt (#38) – 7151 births

　　It’s interesting to note how many more variant spellings there are on average for girl names compared to boy names, with a few notable exceptions.

　　Despite that, it’s also interesting to see how many more boys than girls receive these Top 50 names each year.

　　Readers, do these lists echo what you are hearing on the playground? Have any of you changed your baby name choice based on the Playground Analysis? 

　　Share your comments on the Nameberry forums!

About the Author

Kelli Brady

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　　Kelli Brady is a stay at home mom of two who needed an outlet for her name obsession. She found it at NameFreak!, a blog dedicated to a wide variety of name-related whims and fancies. You can also follow her on Facebook and Twitter. Her eBook, Name-alytics, is a look at the history of the Top 100 names in the United States. Check it out at https://gumroad.com/l/name-alytics!

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