Cherubic Name Gains Popularity in NYC

Fun 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).

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.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on January 20, 2007 5:17 PM

Comments [rss]

Palaverist

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).

Megan

"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.

Jyc

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.

kil

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.

me

pretty sad that asian parents have no sense of ethnic identity

quite shameful

LLL

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

Bryan

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

jj

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

Hal2814

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!