Mason and Emma are top baby names in Pennsylvania
PHILADELPHIA – Mason and Emma were the most popular names for Pennsylvania babies born in 2014 – with Mason topping the boys’ list for the fourth year in the row.
According to data recently released by the U.S Social Security Administration, 877 baby girls were named Emma and 788 baby boys were given the name Mason in Pennsylvania.
The data also showed Emma, Olivia, Ava, Sophia and Isabella were the top five most popular names for girls. Mason, Liam, Noah, Michael and Jacob were the most popular for male babies born last year.
Except for Michael, the same names were also on the list of top baby names nationwide last year. The name Noah topped the list for baby boys born in the United States.
Despite their popularity, the top five names still account for less than 5 percent of all babies born for each gender.
Some other names made their way on Pennsylvania’s list for the first time: Calliope, Lotus, Layken, Chyna and Daleyza on the girls list and Avian, Casper, Gus, Ruger and Zephaniah on the boys list. Each name occurred five times, the minimum number it takes to be added to the list.
Frieda Schmidt, a spokeswoman with Lancaster General’s Women and Babies Hospital, told LNP Newspapers the staff there has seen many approaches to naming babies. Some parents go with traditional names, she said, while others go with something more trendy and unusual.