We’ve come a long way, baby. One hundred years ago, the most popular baby names were John, Mary, William and Helen – consistently, from one year to the next. Now, baby name trends are influenced by any number of factors – from pop culture to politics – and change continuously. Here’s a look at 2008 baby name trends and surprises.
The top 10 baby names of 2008
When the Class of 2026 graduates, these are the names you’ll likely see in the yearbooks:
Top 10 Boy Baby Names 2008
1. Aiden
2. Jayden
3. Ethan
4. Jacob
5. Caden
Top 10 Girl Baby Names 2008
1. Emma
2. Sophia
3. Madison
4. Isabella
5. Olivia
Movers and shakers
These names impressed us as the biggest movers on the 100 most-popular baby names charts:
Baby Boys Biggest Movers
Brody
Colton
Wyatt
Oliver
Baby Girls Biggest Movers
Peyton
Lila
Leah
Layla
Hot on their heels, these names made the biggest leap onto the Top 100:
New Baby Boy Names
Eli
Grayson
Will
Josiah
Micah
New Baby Girl Names
Aaliyah
Cadence
Carly
Liliana
Jocelyn
These names decreased the most in popularity and made room for all of the above:
Boys Names
Xavier
Jordan
Justin
Isaiah
Brandon
Girls Names
Emily
Gabrielle
Rachel
Ashley
Megan
Read more Popular baby names by decade
Celebrity baby names
From Peanut Kai to Sage Florence, 2008 gave us a great selection of celebrity baby names. Since Frank Zappa named his four children Moon Unit, Dweezil, Ahmet Emuukha Rodan, and Diva Thin Muffin Pigeen, we’ve come to expect unusual baby names from those in the limelight. Take a look at these unexpected – yet likely-to-be-imitated – baby names and the celebrity parents who take responsibility for them:
Celebrity Boy Baby Names
Archie – SNL performers Amy Poehler and Will Arnett
Atticus – actors Casey Affleck and Summer Phoenix
Beckett Robert Lee – fashion designer Stella McCartney
Braydon – Sabrina the Teenage Witch actress Melissa Joan Hart
Bronx Mowgli – musical performers Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz
Buster Timothy – actor Jonny Lee Miller
Callum Lyon – Desperate Housewives actor Kyle MacLachlan
Cash Joshua – The Young and the Restless actor Joshua Morrow
Henry Story – actress Minnie Driver
Ignatius Martin – actress Cate Blanchett
Jagger Joseph Blue – actress Soleil Moon Frye
Knox Leon – actors and philanthropists Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
Matteo – singer Ricky Martin
Maxx – Olympic skater Scott Hamilton
Naviyd Ely – singer Usher
Orion Christopher – Law & Order: Criminal Intent actor Chris Noth
Parker Foster – singer Clay Aiken
Valentino – singer Ricky Martin
Viggo Moriah – pop singer Taylor Hanson
Zev Isaac – Hairspray star Marissa Winokur
Celebrity Girl Baby Names
Avis Ann – actor Daniel Baldwin
Belen Elysabeth – Desperate Housewives actor Ricardo Chavira
Brody Jo – model and volleyball player Gabrielle Reece
Clementine Jane – actor Ethan Hawke
Easton August Anthony – Law & Order actress, Elisabeth Rohm
Finley – Elvis’ daughter Lisa Marie Presley
Gia Zavala – actor Matt Damon
Gisele – Star Trek: Voyager actress Jeri Ryan
Harlow Winter Kate – TV personality Nicole Richie and musician Joel Maddon
Harper – Elvis’ daughter Lisa Marie Presley
Honor Marie – actors Jessica Alba and Cash Warren
Jade Marie – chef Giada De Laurentiis
James Olivia – CSI: Miami star Brendan Fehr
Kieran Lindsay – ER actress Julianna Margulies
Mabel Ray – actor Dermot Mulroney
Murphy Claire – wrestler Triple H
Nahla Ariela – actress Halle Berry and model Gabriel Aubry
Shaya Brave – TV personality Brooke Burke and Baywatch actor David Charvet
Sunday Rose – actress Nicole Kidman and country singer Keith Urban
Sunny Madeline – actor Adam Sandler
Zuma Nesta Rock – singers Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale
Read more Popular celebrity baby names 2008
Political baby names
In decades past, it was common for new babies to be named after political powerhouses – especially the President – making popular names like George and James. In recent years, the trend shifted to presidential surnames – Lincoln, Reagan, Madison and Kennedy – for boys and girls alike. 2008 brought us an entirely new set of names to choose from. Look for combinations of these names to become popular:
The Obamas
Obama
Barack
Michelle
Malia
Sasha
The Palins
Sarah
Todd
Track
Bristol
Willow
Piper
Trig Paxson Van
Tripp Easton Mitchell
Levi
One Tennessee man took it so far as to go behind his wife’s back to name their new daughter Sarah McCain Palin Ciptak. The surprised missus was hoping for Ava Grace Ciptak.
Read more about political baby names
If you’re uninspired by baby name books and your own family tree, take advantage of the historical significance and excitement of 2008. Your baby’s moniker will evoke memories of a truly unforgettable year.