PHOENIX — So what makes parents who grew up with people named Jacob, Anthony and Daniel want to name their newborn Liam?
Or choose Olivia even though people most likely to be giving birth are more likely to be familiar with the names Ashley, Samantha and Emma?
Sometimes it’s literature or old-fashioned names, particularly for girls.
The names for boys tend to be less volatile from year to year, with a perennial emphasis on those found in the Good Book. Think Old Testament prophets and figures such as Daniel and Noah and New Testament disciples and saints such as James and Sebastian.
But what explains sudden shifts? Who knows?
Consider: This year in Arizona, the ninth-most popular name for new boys was Ezekiel. That’s according to data compiled by the Arizona Department of Health Services, which keeps those records because it gets all birth certificates. Five years ago, Ezekiel came in at 96; in 2011, it did not even crack the top 100.
Or, for girls, Gianna. Five years ago is placed only No. 80. This year it rose to No. 12.
The bigger shock comes when looking back to when the new parents of today were being named by their parents. Or even when their parents — the current crop of grandparents – were choosing names for them.
Oh, sure, some names withstand the test of time.
Some 45 years ago, more Arizonans chose Michael for their new baby boy than any other name. And while its popularity has waxed and waned over the years, it still is in the top 20 this year.
But Liam? How many parents in 1976 were choosing that for a name for a newborn?
Instead, William was in the top 20 as were more “traditional” names such as David, Robert, Joseph, Mathew, Richard and Anthony.
Even 20 years later, the list of the most popular names had not changed a lot, though there were some less traditional ones starting to sneak in, such as Tyler, Austin and Brandon.
And they did not last long, with nary a Tyler, Austin or Brandon anywhere in this year’s top 100.
Instead, after Liam, we get Noah, Mateo, Oliver and Sebastian rounding out the top of the list.
For girls, however, the situation is much different — and much more subject to change.
Let’s start with this year’s crop of new grandparents.
Back in 1976, their parents chose names for them like Jennifer, Melissa, Amy, Michele and Heather.
None of those name even cracked the Top 100 this year in Arizona.
Want to talk more recent? What happened when all those Jennifers, Melissas and all grew up?
If they were having babies in 1996, they chose names like Ashley, Samantha, Emma, Mia and Emily.
And now? Of those, only Emma and Mia are still in the top 10.
And you will not find an Ashley in the entire top 100 list.
