‘Twilight’ characters reflected in new list of most popular baby names

  • By Stephen Ohlemacher The Associated Press
  • Friday, May 7, 2010 8:15pm
  • News

By Stephen Ohlemacher

The Associated Press

Isabella was the top baby name for girls, and Jacob for boys, in 2009, the Social Security Administration said Friday. Isabella’s climb to the top ended Emma’s one-year reign. Jacob is on an 11-year run at the top.

“Anything can influence baby names, from pop culture to literature to music and celebrities,” said Jennifer Moss, author of “The One-in-a-Million Baby Name Book” and founder of Babynames.com.

Barack still didn’t crack the top 1,000 for boys, but a version of the president’s daughter’s name, Malia, was the fastest riser for girls. Maliyah moved up 342 spots, to No. 296, while Malia, which is how Obama’s daughter spells it, came in at No. 192, rising 153 spots.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Many of the top names — and the fastest risers — match the popular “Twilight” series of books and movies about teen romance and vampires.

Edward Cullen is one of the lead characters. Edward moved up 11 spots, to No. 137, and Cullen was the biggest riser among boys’ names, up 297 spots to No. 485.

Edward Cullen is a vampire. His girlfriend? Bella, a common nickname for Isabella.

Jacob is another character in the stories, but Jacob’s rule at the top started well before the first “Twilight” book was published in 2005. Isabella has been in the top 10 since 2004.

Following Jacob among boys in the top 10 were Ethan, Michael, Alexander, William, Joshua, Daniel, Jayden, Noah and Anthony. On the girls’ side, Emma dropped to second, followed by Olivia, Sophia, Ava, Emily, Madison, Abigail, Chloe and Mia.

The Social Security Administration started compiling name lists in 1997. The agency offers lists of baby names dating to 1880.

More in News

Julianna Milles of Sequim, left, and Tama Juarez of Seattle-based Inchel Crystals discuss jewelry at the 2025 Rock, Gem and Jewelry Show on Saturday at the Vern Burton Community Center in Port Angeles. The two-day event, hosted by the Clallam County Gem & Mineral Association, featured numerous vendors offering a selection of gems, rocks, fossils, crystals, beads and finished jewelry. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Gem show

Julianna Milles of Sequim, left, and Tama Juarez of Seattle-based Inchel Crystals… Continue reading

Master projects hearing set today

Permitting for Westbay site paused six months

Mark Gebbia, distribution coordinator with the Sequim Food Bank, organizes food for the next distribution day. Staff report that the food bank has budgeted about $600,000 for food this year, and it already has used reserves to match demand. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Crunch continues for Sequim Food Bank and its users

Open house, fundraiser set for Sept. 27

Weekly flight operations scheduled

There will be field carrier landing practice operations for aircraft… Continue reading

Naturebridge educators Ana Shinal, left, and Zach Drake demonstrate how water erosion affects the landscape in a test farm assembled by Wyatt Lutrz, 10, and Westley Lutz, 7, at a hands-on display set up by the Naturbridge educational organization at the fourth annual Forever StreamFest on Saturday at Pebble Beach Park in Port Angeles. The environmentally themed festival, hosted by the Port Angeles Garden Club, featured dozens of information booths, displays and youth activities, as well as food, music and a beer garden. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Forever Streamfest

Naturebridge educators Ana Shinal, left, and Zach Drake demonstrate how water erosion… Continue reading

Robbie Hart, third from left, trains the Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments (GLORIA) team students on how to perform the botanical research in the grid on the first day of the experiment. Elk Mountain is in the background. (Eric DeChaine/Western Washington University)
Research sites to monitor Olympic Mountain plants

Long-term data to track climate impact

Murder trial date moved

Delay awaiting results of lab analysis

A group of fifth-graders from The Evergreen School in Shoreline launches a boat they built as a part of a week-long Northwest Maritime program. (Elijah Sussman /Peninsula Daily News)
Students have maritime experience in Port Townsend

Get a hands-on taste of career possibilities

Michael Thill of Boquete, Panama, formerly of Sequim, practices his putts at the disc golf course on Thursday at Lincoln Park in Port Angeles. The park features a full 18-hole course for disc golf enthusiasts. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Putting practice

Michael Thill of Boquete, Panama, formerly of Sequim, practices his putts at… Continue reading

Dwane Sukert, 38, was killed in a trucking collision Sept. 3 near North Bend.
Procession to honor driver killed in crash

Peninsula trucking industry to celebrate life of Dwane Sukert

Hospital working to fix policies

Firm helps simplify OMC’s procedures