Emma, Ryan Top Baby Names for 2006
Emma continues to be the most popular name for baby girls born in Nova Scotia, topping the list for the fifth straight year.
Ryan heads the list of boys' names for the first time, moving up from 12th in 2005, according to figures from Nova Scotia's Vital Statistics office.
According to baby-name websites, Emma is Latin for healer or universal. Ryan means little king in Gaelic.
In 2006, the top five girls' names were Emma (70), Ava (65), Madison (65), Olivia (65) and Hannah (63). The top five boys' names were Ryan (72), Jacob (67), Ethan (66), Noah (65), and Liam (60).
The year before, the top five girls' names were Emma (100), Madison (69), Olivia (65), Emily (63) and Hannah (60). The top five boys' names were Jacob (77), Ethan (68), Alexander (63), Logan (63) and Jack (62).
Ava, which first appeared in the top 20 in 2005, climbed from ninth to second in 2006. Madison remained in the top three for the fifth year in a row. Names new to in the girls' top 20 for 2006 are Sophia, Faith, Elizabeth and Rachel. Elizabeth, which did not make the top 100 names in 2005, is the biggest climber, standing 17th.
Ethan stays in the top three names for boys, where it has been since 2002. Jacob rounds out the top three. Boys' names new to the top 20 in 2006 are Cole and Lucas. Cole is the biggest climber, coming from 27th in 2005 to 11th in 2006.
"Trends in baby names change over time," said Liz Crowley Meagher, deputy registrar general of Vital Statistics at Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. "Traditional names such as Elizabeth, Grace and Lily appear to be gaining popularity."
In all, there were 8,532 births in Nova Scotia in 2006, slightly more than the 8,498 births reported in 2005. There were 4,394 boys and 4,138 girls born last year.
NOTE: Following are the top 20 baby names for boys and girls born in Nova Scotia in 2006, with the number of times the name was registered.
BOYS
Ryan 72
Jacob 67
Ethan 66
Noah 65
Liam 60
Owen 59
Alexander 58
Matthew 58
Jack 57
Benjamin 54
Nathan 52
Evan 51
Cole 49
William 49
Joshua 48
Logan 47
Lucas 45
Connor 44
Cameron 43
Nicholas 43
GIRLS
Emma 70
Ava 65
Madison 65
Olivia 65
Hannah 63
Abigail 57
Emily 57
Sarah 52
Ella 42
Chloe 40
Lily 37
Grace 35
Brooke 32
Sophia 31
Faith 28
Sophie 28
Elizabeth 26
Brooklyn 24
Julia 24
Rachel 24