Top Baby Names

Mulling over what to name a baby is probably one of the most important, not to mention most fun parts of expecting a child.

There are of course, many was to do this; some parents decide to name their children after themselves or after their relatives, hence the abundance of names ending in Jr., III (the third), etc. It’s not uncommon for children to be named after saints, either. Plenty of religious couples name their babies after inspiring saints.

Another common method is naming a child after a character in movie or book. In fact, in 2012 and 2013, it’s been found that the name girl name “Arya” suddenly became a popular choice, and we’re guessing it’s because of Arya Stark, one of the strongest and most lovable characters in the hit HBO show Game of Thrones.

In some cases, parents who really can’t decide what to name their children consult baby name lists, so they can get insights on what the most popular names are. If you’re thinking of going down this route, then we’ve got good news: we already did some of the legwork for you.

Below are the top baby names for boys and girls in 2013. You’ll also find the definitions beside their names so you can get more information on what each one means:

Girls:

1. Sophia - Popular among Westerners, this name is derived from the Greek word that means “wisdom”.

2. Emma - This name has Swedish origins. It means “whole” or “universal.”

3. Olivia - It’s Spanish, Swedish, and American definition is straightforward enough. Olivia means Olive. In Latin however, the name has a more profound meaning--peace.

4. Isabella - Common among the religious, Isabella has origins in Hebrew, and it means devoted to God. It can also mean “God’s promise.”

5. Ava - Short, sweet, and simple, Ava in Persian means “pleasant sound.” It also has a Latin meaning, which is “living one.” 

Boys:

1. Aiden - This name’s Gaelic, Irish, Celtic and American meaning is “fire”. Its Anglo-Saxon definition on the other hand is “Name of a saint.”

2. Jackson - It’s not just a place in Florida, it’s also the second most popular boy’s name in 2013. It’s a Scottish name that means “God has been gracious; has shown favor.”

3. Ethan - In Hebrew, this name means “solid” or “enduring.” It could also mean strong.

4. Liam- A common name in many languages, this name means “Will, desire and helmet, protection”.

5. Mason - Another popular name in many languages, the general definition of Mason is “Stone worker.”

Hopefully, this list has given you some insights on what to name (or not to name) your future child. If you need more baby name lists or definitions, the baby names section over at SheKnows.com could prove to be helpful. The site has a wide database of over thirty thousand baby names. On top of that, it enables you to browse more specific categories, such as names by state, decade, year, etc.

Image:  Office for National Statistics on Flickr