A century of the most popular baby names in America

5/13/24 10:23AM

Popularity contest

The Social Security Agency released the 2023 update of its 1,000 most popular baby names in America list on Friday, with 2 very familiar names clinching the #1 spots again: Olivia won out for the baby girls for the 5th year in a row, while Liam topped the male chart for a staggering 7th consecutive year.

The agency has been compiling the annual ranking for almost 3 decades now, using data from applications for Social Security cards that date back to 1879, meaning that there’s a whopping 144 years’ worth of data to dig into — something of a dream for us at Chartr.

What’s in a name

From 19th Century mainstays such as Ernest and Bertha, all the way to 2023’s fastest risers like Chozen or Kaeli (which saw surges inspired by a Netflix hit and a TikTok influencer, respectively), baby names reveal a lot about the cultural moment we’re in. Indeed, some parents who are feeling particularly uninspired when it comes to picking out a name for their newborns are reportedly enlisting expensive consultants, who charge up to $500 for a set of name recommendations, to help them in their quest to find the perfect moniker.

Check out the full list of the top 1,000 baby names.

Hyunsoo Rim

TAXLIATELLE

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Italian pasta could cost twice as much in the US under new tariffs

New tariffs could take import duties to 107% on Italian noodles.

Uncooked (raw) spaghetti and tomatoes on the national flag of Italy. Illustration of the concept of Italian cuisine and pasta

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Starbucks sells control of China business for $4 billion

Starbucks disclosed on Monday evening in a regulatory filing that it will sell control of its ailing China business to Boyu Capital for about $4 billion.

Under the agreement, Boyu will own a 60% stake in the China segment, which will become a joint venture between Boyu and Starbucks. The coffee chain will retain a 40% interest in the entity and will continue to own and license the brand and intellectual property.

Bloomberg reported earlier this year that the company was looking to sell its China segment. The American coffee giant has struggled to succeed in China, its second-largest market after the US.

Tom Jones

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OPEC and others are boosting oil production as the race to catch up with the US goes on

This month’s 137,000-barrel-a-day boost is a little more modest than some expected.

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President Xi Jinping has announced that China is aiming to slash carbon emissions by up to 10% in the next decade.

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John Wayne Airport in Orange County tops the list of North America’s favorite airports

Despite a record year of passenger numbers, flight cancellations, and delays, a new survey has revealed that flyers have been increasingly satisfied about their experiences in North American airports.

According to this year’s North America Airport Satisfaction Study from data analysts at J.D. Power, overall passenger satisfaction scores were up 10 points (on a 1,000-point scale), largely from “improvements in food, beverage and retail and ease of travel through the airport.” The annual survey measures overall traveler satisfaction across the region’s airports in seven categories (in order of importance): ease of travel, level of trust, terminal facilities, airport staff, airport departure experience, food and retail, and airport arrival experience.

Here are the region’s favorites:

A century of the most popular baby names in America

Popularity contest

What’s in a name

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Starbucks sells control of China business for $4 billion

John Wayne Airport in Orange County tops the list of North America’s favorite airports

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