What’s in a name? Less than there used to be

Last summer I was wondering about North Carolina’s abundance of Zebs, Flays and Flakes.

Now I’m looking at the Social Security Administration’s data on popular baby names from 1960 forward. Most striking over that half century is the minimal difference between the names chosen by North Carolinians and those chosen by Americans as a whole.  Homogeneity rules — darn few Zebs in anybody’s nurseries!

For the record:

Most popular names for baby girls in North Carolina, 2009:

1. Emma (2 in U.S.)

2. Madison (7)

3. Isabella (1)

4. Ava (5)

5. Abigail (8)

Most popular names for baby boys in North Carolina, 2009:

1. William (5)

2. Jacob (1)

3. Christopher (11)

4. Noah (9)

5. Joshua (6)