Cherubic Name Gains Popularity in NYC

2007_01_bbayfeet.jpgFun statistics about what names are popular amongst new parents in the city. Most notably, the name "Angel" is now the most popular amongst newborn Hispanic boys. The NY Times reports this is the first time a "traditional Spanish name" has been number 1 since the 1980s - usually Hispanic parents choose Kevin and Justin. Angel is the most popular name amongst all males in Arizona and ranks #32 nationally. There are some suggestions about the name's sudden power - it's easy to pronounce, some think some parents want their kids to be angels, it could be a "compromise" name, there are also religious undertones.

What's also fun to learn about: The most popular names by ethnicity. Here they are, from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (note, ethnicity is mother's ethnicity).

2007_01_babynames.jpg

Overall, Emily and Michael are the most popular names for babies in NYC. Check out the Social Security Administration's database of popular baby names and also Name Voyager.

Email This Entry


Comments (11) [rss]

We could do with quite a few less "Mike's" in this world.

user-pic

"Chaya" is the 6th most popular white girls name? Really? And "Esther" at #3?
I didn't even realize the name Chaya existed, much less at #6.

Kids burdened with "angelic" names tend to subconciously rebel and often end up in trouble. Do you know how many kids named "Jesus" are incarerated in this country right now? It's almost a cliche. Good luck to all those new Angels but it's a heavy burden to bear. Parents would be better off naming their offspring Damien. Those kids end up in the priesthood!

user-pic

why don't you name your kid faggot instead of angel? cause that's what he's gonna be called in school.

I think instead of "white," it should say "Jewish."

user-pic

Wanna talk irony? I met a little girl the other day named Virgin. Try living with name.

user-pic

pretty sad that asian parents have no sense of ethnic identity

quite shameful

user-pic

Yeah, Asians are dumb. it doesn't matter if their name is Jen Chung or Kwock Chow Long Dong Chung, they will get beat up in school and get called ching chong no matter what.

user-pic

How do you know those Asian parents haven't also given their child a Chinese name? Growing up with two names is not uncommon, and just because what's on the birth certificate isn't "ethnic" doesn't mean anything. Most times a Chinese name that is Romanized to be put onto American birth certificates is never pronounced the intended way anyway.

"What’s more, when the baby was born, she felt the name fit.

'He is so fair, with the bluest blue eyes,' said Ms. Liriano...."

Oh, wow. The name Angel wouldn't have fit a darker-skinned baby? How embarrassing... that lady's shackles are showing for real.

Actually, the name Chaya is Jewish, and it's very popular with the Chabad Lubavitcher Chassidim these days because Chaya Mushka was the wife of the most recent Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who died in 1994 (or, according to some, is merely taking a kind of hiatus before returning as the messiah).

Post a comment (Comment Policy)

Tips

Get your daily dose of New York first thing in the morning from our weekday newsletter, now in beta.

About Gothamist

Gothamist is a website about New York. More

Editor: Jen Chung
Publisher: Jake Dobkin

Newsmap

newsmap.jpg

Contribute

Latest Tip:

nice inflammatory way to lead into the bike story.
[more]

Latest Photo:

Subscribe

Use an RSS reader to stay up to date with the latest news and posts from Gothamist.

All Our RSS

Follow us