Popular Baby Names of 2003

MSN reports the most popular baby names of 2003 and the results are interesting. Gone are the names derived from place names, and the new names are old-school biblical names. Most telling on this list is the appearance of Zachary on the boy's list. Anglicized versions and names more associated with the dominant culture than the Bible (Joe, John, Jim) are gone, but Joshua, Jacob, Ethan are there. More familiar, Matthew and Micheal are still on the list. There are three British names there. Tyler is English (one who tiles). Aidan and Ryan are Gaelic. Nicholas is there as well, a Greek name.

The girl's names reveals similar trends, but not so clearly as the boys.